Built in in 1853 and demolished in 1904 to make way for the second courthouse, its location on Broadway between Federal and Market Street ensured the importance of the intersection. 

The Carman Mansion stood on the southwest corner of Broadway and Federal Street. It was demolished in July of 1902 to make way for the new store building of George A. Munger, to be used as a department store by Munger and Elmer Ellsworth Long. Munger & Long opened their big department store on April 12, 1904. The building was acquired by Stecker & Company in 1926, and by the J.C. Penney Company in the 1930s. 

Above left: the new Courthouse prior to its dedication. Above Right: The new Courthouse after completion in 1906. County business was conducted at Camden's City Hall during the period of construction. 

Note that in these times, Broadway ended at Market Street. The Church of the Immaculate Conception is visible on the far right.

Below: A view of Federal and Arch Street from the roof of the Catholic Lyceum at Broadway and Federal Street, published in 1915.

Above left: the new Courthouse in the early 1900. Above Right: The new Courthouse early 1920s.

The Camden County Courthouse, Camden Catholic High School and  St. Mary's Parochial School are visible on the far side of Federal Street. The tall building at far left with the "M" visible is the Munger & Long building, built in 1903.

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 YMCA & Elks Buildings
Federal Street East of Broadway
About 1910

City Begins Covering Federal Street Trolley Tracks

Photo shows workmen at the start of the resurfacing of Federal Street from Haddon Avenue to front Street. The men are seen leveling the asphalt with rakes at Broadway and Federal Street. The work is expected to be completed in a week. It includes covering the trolley tracks on Federal Street, the same as was done on Broadway recently. The project is part of the city-WPA program for repairing Camden streets. During this work vehicles are being detoureed over Market and Mickle Street.

1937

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It's worth noting that by the time this photo was taken in the fall of 1937, the trolley tracks evident in the picture above had been removed.

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CAMDEN COURIER-POST - OCTOBER 27, 1955

Merchants Laud Crackdown On Street Peddlers
Nuisance Eliminated, They Say, Praising Action by Police

Camden City's police crackdown on the illegal operations of pretzel vendors and other type peddlers in the mid-city business area was hailed today by the merchants.

All merchants contacted agreed the problem has been eliminated and expressed hope the regulation would continue to be enforced, particularly through the Christmas shopping period.

The police action was praised, by each merchant. Many had complained previously against the vendors standing in store doorways or in front of display windows selling their wares such as pretzels, sewing bags, produce, etc.

Photos Tell Story

On October 18, The Courier-Post published several photographs of teen-age children hawking pretzels on the Camden Lits sidewalks and at the doorways during the heavy downpour of rain the previous Saturday night.

The problem was brought to the attention of Police Chief Gus Koerner, who ordered police to enforce the city ordinance on peddlers which requires they keep moving at all times.

Among the merchants commenting the problem has been elim­inated, and praising the police for their cooperation were: G.L. McLean, manager, F. W. Woolworth store; Jack D. Neilson, assistant manager, J. C. Penney store; S. G. Hall, manager W. T.  Grant store; Albert Rose, manager of Crawford Clothes; Furman Shaw, of F. L. Shaw, jewelers; Miss Leah Lipman, manager of the Deb Shop; Charles Reilly, assistant manager of Horn & Hardart Restaurant; a spokesman for Robert F. Hurley, of Bond Wine & Liquor store; Paul Rapp, manager of L. and M. Hausner cigar store.

Several weeks ago 19 merchants in the Broadway and Federal Street area signed a Camden County Chamber of Commerce petition urging city officials to take action on the peddler nuisance and shortly afterwards a Chamber delegation met personally with Director of Public Safety Aaron to present a direct appeal for relief.

Broadway & Federal Street - 1962B

In these photos, dated 1962, two workmen are repairing traffic lights at Broadway and Federal Street. In the left-hand picture, the Parkade Building and the Food Fair grocery is visible. On the right, Chicken Delight, Shellenberger's Candy Store, and HFC Loans on Broadway, in the building that was razed to make way for the Walter Rand Transportation Center and associated stores in the late 1980s. 

The Lit Brothers Department Store, built in the 1950s, closed in 1975. The building has been utilized by Camden County for office space since then.

The Commerce Building, at the southwest corner of Broadway and Federal Street, sits on the land formerly occupied by the Munger & Long building, the home of the J.C. Penney store in Camden for many years. By the mid 1990s the building had very few tenants. Structurally sound, it is one of the very few pre-1980s building left standing on the ground between Mickle and Federal Street west of 10th Street.