The WALT WHITMAN HOTEL was a project championed by the Greater Camden Movement, a group of business and civic leaders who had begun to come together shortly before and during World War I. They had been especially effective in raising funds county-wide to support America's war effort. After the war, the Greater Camden Movement's grand plan to stimulate economic recovery and optimism was the construction of a bridge between Camden and Philadelphia, and a community hotel on the Camden side of the bridge, along with the building of a road network leading away from the bridge south-east through Camden County towards the Atlantic Ocean. 

In 1920 Eldridge Johnson, the President of the Victor Talking Machine Company of Camden, pledged $100,000 towards the construction of the proposed hotel in order to house the newly formed Chamber of Commerce. In 1923 the Camden Chamber of Commerce, led by LeRoy A. Goodwin, appointed J. David Stern, the owner of the Camden Courier,  chairman of the Hotel Committee. In 1924 the Community Hotel Corporation was incorporated.

In six days, $1,250,000 was raised by a committee of 370 Camden businessmen, led by James J. Scott, partner in the Strandwitz & Scott sheet metal works, in February of 1924. Scott would become treasurer of the new Community Hotel Corporation, and would procure many of the hotel's furnishings. Other members of the fundraising and building committees included Scott's partner William Strandwitz, W. Leonard Hurley (Hurley's Department Store), George A. Munger (Munger & Long Department Store), lumber merchant Volney G. Bennett, Frank Hineline (Camden Lime Company), heating manufacturer Warren Webster, and insurance and real estate agents David Baird Jr., Leon Todd, Ralph D. Baker, and Charles W. Austermuhl. Congressman Charles A. Wolverton played a role as well. Both Munger and Austermuhl's partners, Elmer Ellsworth Long and Andrew B.F. Smith, were also heavily involved in the Greater Camden Movement.

The Camden Chamber of Commerce released an extensive account of the building of the Walt Whitman Hotel in the September 1925 edition of Camden First, the Chamber's official publication.

The Community Hotel Corporation's fundraising team had performed admirably during World War I, and used the same tactics in raising money from within Camden to build the hotel. The name Walt Whitman was chosen to instill civic pride and project a local identity. Every ethnic group in Camden participated, raising money within their communities. The Polish-Americans were led by attorney and realtor Peter S. Gulcz, Meyer Wessell led the Jewish campaign, coat manufacturer Antonio DiPaolo the Italians, and Dr. Clement T. Branch mobilized the Black community. After securing funding, the Walt Whitman Hotel was built, and opened for business in 1925. 

Prior to the building of the Walt Whitman Hotel and the Delaware River Bridge, Broadway ended at Cooper Street, and Cooper Street was where many of the richest and most prominent families in Camden lived. After securing the city government's commitment to extend Broadway to the proposed Bridge Plaza, the Community Hotel Corporation purchased the mansions of J. Lynn Truscott, Alice B. Hanford, and the Hussong family, and razed them in order to make room for the hotel. 

The Home of J. Lynn Truscott 627 Cooper Street, Camden NJ Designed by Arthur Truscott, his brother  Click on Image to Enlarge

The destruction of these homes marked the beginning of the end for Camden's most historic neighborhood. In combination with the destruction of the Linden Terrace neighborhood by the construction of the Delaware River Bridge, many of Camden's business and professional families began leaving the city, a process that within a few decades left the city impoverished of capital both monetary and human. While the Greater Camden Movement's "Gateway to South Jersey" may have done much to develop Camden County, in retrospect it marked the beginning of the end of the City of Camden's prosperity and viability. 

July 5, 1926

Built & Owned By The Community

July 5, 1926

One end of the main lounge of the Walt Whitman Hotel, showing mural of the great poet

January 7, 1928

Camden Courier-Post - January 10, 1928

Federation Leaders To Address Professional Women

 State and National officials of the Federation of Business and professional women will address the Camden branch at its January meeting in the Hotel Walt Whitman on Thursday evening.

Miss Virginia Montgomery, National Federation program chairman and Miss Mary L. Johnston, New Jersey federation president, are slated to make the principal addresses following dinner.

Dr. Lettie Ward, president of the Camden branch will preside.

Camden Courier-Post January 11, 1928

ROTARY CLUB TOLD OF INDUSTRIAL DRIVE
C. of C. Secretary Outlines Plan to Make Comprehensive Survey

 An industrial campaign for the purpose of inducing new business industries to locate in Camden will be part of the program of the Chamber of Commerce for this year, Loyal D. Odhner, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, told members of the Rotary Club at a luncheon today in the Hotel Walt Whitman.

Odhner’s outline of the chamber’s program, which included an industrial survey for the purpose of determining possibilities for new manufacturers and improving present business facilities, was approved by Francis B. Wallen, new president of the Chamber of Commerce, who attended the luncheon.

“During these last five tears, Camden has had little or no industrial growth. Manufacturers have either chosen other localities in preference to us or else they have not even thought of us. I prefer to believe the latter is the case. Our first step, them is to make our city more appealing to the industrial prospect. This cam be accomplished by an industrial campaign with the cooperation of all business forces.

“I am confident that before this years ends you will see the resources of this community mobilized into one of the greatest campaigns for new industries that has ever been waged in America.

“In conducting this campaign.” Said Odhner “we must not lose sight of the fact that port facilities will be a point of leading interest to the prospective manufacturer. The patronage which our present pier is receiving is only a small indication of the value to our city of adequate port facilities. The port improvement program must proceed with all haste.

Urged to Aid Movement

Odhner urged members of the Rotary Club to get behind a movement to organize a force to meet the financial problems that will accompany the advent of new industries.

“With our survey completed,” Odhner continued “our next step will be to determine the type of industries that can locate in Camden most profitably to themselves and to the community.

“Another important step will be to interest the people of our own city so They will report to us any new firms contemplating a change of location. Most cities which have conducted effective industrial expansion have secured their best leads from their own people.

Still another step is well advised selective advertising, confined to those mediums which actually receive the attention of business executives.”

Odhner said that as a preliminary step in the campaign it is the intention of President Wallen to ask all of Camden’s neighboring towns to join with her in this movement.

“Sometime in March,” he said, “it is hoped a meeting of all leaders of surrounding communities will be held for the purpose of forming a Greater Camden Chamber of Commerce.

Camden Courier-Post - January 12, 1928

DARNELL IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF S.P.C.C. 

William S. Darnell became president of the Camden Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children at the annual meeting and election of officers of the organization yesterday. Other officers are Millwood Truscott, first vice president; Rev. Roland Wringwalt, second vice president; Millwood Truscott, treasurer; Mrs. William P. Walsh, secretary; William P. Walsh and Frank T. Lloyd Jr., solicitor; Dr. A. S. Ross, Dr. Alexander Ellis, Charles Hutchinson and Ernest La Rossa physicians for the society.

A contract was awarded by the society for the erection of a playroom for the children of the Sheltering Arms Home on River Avenue. More than half of the sum needed for the construction of the addition has been collected. A report by Mrs. Walsh revealed that during the past month 43 cases were investigated and that 66 children were involved. Members and nurses of the society made a total of 21 visits during the period..

Camden Courier-Post - January 13, 1928

CAMDEN COUNTY S.P.C.C. RE-ELECTS OLD OFFICERS 

All officers of the Camden County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children were re-elected yesterday afternoon at a meeting at the Hotel Walt Whitman.

William S. Darnell again was named president. Other officers re-elected were Vice-presidents, Millwood Truscott and Rev. Rolland Ringwalt; treasurer, Millwood Truscott; secretary, Mrs. William P. Walsh.

Solicitors appointed are William P. Walsh and Frank T. Lloyd Jr. Physicians named are Dr. Alexander S. Rosa, Dr. Alexander Ellis, Dr. Charles Hutchinson and Dr. E. DeRossi..

Camden Courier-Post - January 13, 1928

STONE DISCOUNTS FUMIGATION VALUE
Camden Health Head Says It Gives False Sense Of Security

Fumigation as a method of preventing disease was discounted by Dr. Arthur L. Stone, city health director, in talk yesterday before the Y’s men’s Club at the Hotel Walt Whitman.

 “It gives a false sense of security,” he declared. “It kills only the germs upon the surface. As a matter of fact diseases are carried by individuals, and spread by contact of persons.  

 “Modern public health does not depend upon safeguard of the environment, but upon safeguard of the individual. It does little good to choose methods for fumigation, when the dis­ease may be spread by some individual who carries the bacteria.”

Dr. Stone took as his subject “Secrets of Health.”  He pointed vaccination as the only certain way to immunize persons against disease. Smallpox and typhoid fever now are controlled by antitoxins, and diphtheria is well on the way to control. He said that a serum for scarlet fever soon may be discovered.

As a result of his vaccination activities here Dr. Stone predicted that the city will soon have “army of immune children.” More than 10,000 children have been vaccinated against diphtheria, and there will be more as soon as parents learn to lose their fear of the treatment, he said.

Prevention of infantile disease has cut the country’s death rate more than any other source, he declared. Much of the decrease can be ascribed to pre-natal educational work among mothers.

He asserted that playgrounds play an important part in brain development as well as muscular development. Brain development parallels development of the muscular tissues and a sound body is necessary for sound thinking, be stated, reverting to an old maxim.

Although 80 percent of children are born healthy by the time they reach their majority, 10 percent of them are defective in some way, according to the health officer. Inability of humans to take care of themselves was given as the reason.

Prior to Dr. Stone's talk, the club distributed prizes won in a recent bowling tournament. First prize went to Jim Burroughs; second prize, to Winfield S. Wilson; third, Horace Sherman, and fourth, Robert McCay.

It was announced that the club’s bowling team will compete with the Woodbury Kiwanis Club team in that city tonight. On January 3rd the Y’s Men’s team will bowl the Woodbury Y’s Men’s Club team.

CLUB OF MERCHANTS TO ELECT OFFICERS
Broadway Merchants to Hold Annual Banquet at Hotel Walt Whitman, Jan. 25

 An exciting contest is expected in the annual election of officers of the Broadway Business Men’s Association. The elections, preceded by a banquet, will be held Wednesday evening, January 25, at Hotel Walt Whitman.

Three merchants are candidates for the presidency, which will be vacated by Harry Pelouze. There are J.V. Moran, Walter Friant and Morris Futernick. They were nominated at the November meeting of the association.

Another battle is looked for in the naming of a vice-president. M. Fuhrman and J.W. Holmes are the two candidates while Morris Jaffe is the retiring vice president. Edwin C. Norcross, president treasurer, will be unopposed for re-election. Albert S. Dudley will be unopposed when he succeeds David Tattersdill as secretary.

Representatives from every business in every section of the city have been invited to attend the affair, while every one of the 150 members will probably be present. The principle speaker will be former Judge John B. Kates, of the Broadway Merchants Trust Company.

An address on interstate traffic and its relations to the transportation problems of Camden business will be delivered by J.J. Ruster, head of the transportation department of the Camden ­Chamber of Commerce. Francis B. Wallen and Loyal D. Odhner, president and secretary respectively of the Chamber of Commerce will also be guests of the merchants.

A comparison of the work of other commercial organizations will be made by several well-known visitors. Benjamin Shindler, William Lipsitz and H. Zbieratski, presidents respectively of the East Camden, Kaighn Avenue and Mount Ephraim Business Men’s Associations, will speak.

The new constitution and by-laws of the association will be adopted at the January meeting. Eighteen directors will be elected; six for terms of three years, six for two-year terms and a similar number for one year.

The candidates for director are Harry Pelouze, Joseph Kobus, J.W. Holmes, Albert Israel, James V. Moran, Walter Friant, Dr. I.S. Siris, Joseph Fuhrman, William E. Cross, S. Abeson, M. Futernick, Howard B. Lee, Fred W. Schorpp, Morris Jaffe, W. Mitchell, L. Markowitz, Joseph Corbett, M. Lasala, P. Thatcher, W. Falture, G. Lockerman and David Tattersdill. 

BROADWAY MERCHANTS TO DINE TOMORROW

 The third annual banquet and election of officers of the Broadway Business Men’s Association will be held tomorrow evening in the Hotel Walt Whitman. Three candidates seek the presidency of the organization, Morris Futernick and Walter Friant, merchants, and James V. Moran, general manager of the Hurley Store.

Rev. Camille Estornelle, rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church, will deliver the invocation, while Harry Pelouze, president of the association, will be toastmaster. John B. Kates, president of the Broadway Merchants Trust Company, will be the principal speaker.

Five minute talks will be delivered by William Lipschitz, president of the Kaighn Avenue Business Men’s Association; Benjamin Shindle, president of the East End Business Men’s Association; Harry H. Whaland, vice president of the Mount Ephraim Business Men’s Association; Francis B. Wallen, president of the Chamber of Commerce; Lloyd D. Odhner, secretary of the chamber and J. J. Raster, transportation manager of the chamber.

LEVEL CLUB WILL GIVE ITS FIRST ANNUAL BALL

The Camden Level Club will hold its first annual charily ball tomorrow night at the Hotel Walt Whitman. Proceeds will be used for charitable work.

Norman I. Wessel is chairman of the committee in charge. Milton Manheimer heads the ticket committee. Others aiding the arrangements are Fred Siris, secretary of the club, Joseph H. Rickler, treasurer, and Nathan S. Rubin, Dr. Isadore S. Siris, Nathan Friedenberg and Dr. Reuben L. Cutler.

American Legion Card Party
Dated For Friday in Hotel

Tables will be placed for bridge, five-hundred and pinochle at the card party which Corporal Raymond C. Thoirs Post of the American Legion will give in the ballroom of the Hotel Walt Whitman on Friday evening.

Playing will begin at half after eight o’clock. Walter Garland, chairman of the card party committee, has announced.

The card party is one of the post’s main events of the year. The auxiliary is co-operating and it is expected that several hundred persons will attend.

Members of the committee in charge of the affair are Paul Engle, Russell Keen, George Seybold, LeGrande Roberts, Herbert Blizzard, Whitcomb Wright, Albert Smith, William Miller₁ Raymond Van Horn,
Meyers Baker and Albert Wehner.

January 30, 1928

Camden Courier-Post
February 9, 1928

Rev. Elwood A. Harrar
Victor King
Winfield S. Price
Rev. Brendan C. Shea
H. Raymond Staley

February 16, 1928

Mechanic Street
Atlantic Avenue

Frank Chudzinski
Genevieve Chudzinski
Joseph J. Roskowiak

St. Joseph's
Roman Catholic Church

April 4, 1928

Camden Rotary Club

Howard J. Dudley
George A. Wonfor
Charles Wagner
John H. Booth
George Moore
Sam Riggins
Raymond Hance
Thomas W. Pinder
Edward Shelmardin

April 5, 1928

Hotel Walt Whitman
Market Street
Albert S. Woodruff
Lewis Liberman
Carl Kisselman

1930s

Miss Ruth Boogar Becomes Bride of Charles C. Watson

Miss Ruth Viola Boogar, daughter of Mrs. Stella Boogar, of 325 Bailey Street, this city, became the bride of Charles C. Watson, of 1930 Pine Street, Philadelphia, last evening, in the North Baptist Church.

The ceremony took place at 7 o'clock, with Rev. George B. Finney, pastor of the church, officiating, Forrest W. Newmeyer, organist of the church, played the wedding march and accompanied Mrs. Ella Alden Hartung in vocal selections preceding.

The bride, who was given in marriage by her grandfather, Frank Verlander, of this city, wore a gown of ivory satin, rich in its simplicity, with a tulle veil arranged cap effect. Her bouquet was a shower of roses and lilies of the valley.

Miss Mildred Boogar was her sister's maid of honor and Miss Rhandena Ayer Fry, of Camden, and Miss Grace Cleeland, of Highland Park, Pa., were bridesmaids. Miss Boogar's gown was a lovely model of eggshell taffeta and flame colored velvet and with it she wore flame colored velvet hat and slippers. She carried a round bouquet of roses to match her frock. The bridesmaids appeared in taffeta and velvet also, but in a turquoise-blue shade, trimmed in cornflower yellow. Their hats and slippers matched the corn-color velvet that trimmed their frocks and they carried round bouquets of tea roses.

William W. Rowan, of West Philadelphia, was best man and Harold Boogar, of this city, brother of the bride, and James Hilly, of Stonehurst, Pa., ushered.

Mrs. Boogar had selected a gown of black chiffon with black soliel hat and a corsage of white gardenias.

A reception was held at the Hotel Walt Whitman following the ceremony, after which Mr. Watson and his bride left for a trip to Bermuda,

On their return they will make their home in the Stenton Hall Apartments, Germantown.

Camden Courier-Post - October 20, 1931

COUNTY IS LAUDED IN AID TO CRIPPLES
Kiwanis Told Movement Leads State in Rehabilitation

Camden county educators in providing special training for crippled children, leads the state in the movement to rehabilitate youths suffering from physical defects.

That opinion was expressed by Joseph G. Buch, of Trenton, chairman of the New Jersey State Crippled Children's Commission, speaking before the Camden Kiwanis Club at Hotel Walt Whitman yesterday.

"Through the efforts of the state organization and the Elks Crippled Kiddies committee," Buch said, "every crippled child in New Jersey is now offered the chance for medical attention, training and vocational guidance.             I '

"More than 13,000 children between the ages of one and 18 years are registered with the state organization at Trenton, and 364 of those able to attend some special training class are being rehabilitated."

Buch urged the service clubs to aid the organization in placing youths in positions in the working world. 

A delegation of Kiwanianians from Brooklyn attended the meeting, headed by the club president, John Kay. The visitors were welcomed by former Judge John B. Kates.

Dr. Martin H. Collier, president of the Camden club, made a report on the annual state convention of Kiwanis held at the hotel last week.

During the meeting musical entertainment was provided by Gene Stroud, singing banjoist and Harry M. Taylor, pianist.

Camden Courier-Post - October 21, 1931

FRENCH VICE CONSUL TO SPEAK HERE TODAY

Paul Raymond, French vice consul, of Philadelphia, will be the principal speaker today at a joint service club luncheon in the Hotel Walt Whitman.

Joint hosts at the meeting will be the Lions Club and the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. Francis B. Wallen, president of the Lions Club, and Watson C. Shallcross, president of the Chamber of Commerce, will preside jointly at the luncheon. William A. Eppright, chairman of arrangements. Raymond will speak on French-American relations.

Camden Courier-Post - October 21, 1931

C. OF C. AND LIONS CLUB TO INSPECT PETTY ISLE

More than 50 members of the Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club will be the guests of Crew Levick Co. in an inspection trip up the Delaware River next Thursday when the guests will be entertained at lunch on Petty Island.

Announcement of the plans for the trip were made by William Eppright at a joint meeting of the Chamber of Commerce and Lions at Hotel Walt Whitman today.

The trip will be made aboard the tug Shankin, leaving the Camden Marine Terminal Pier at the foot of Beckett Street at noon.

Camden Courier-Post * October 29, 1931

BAIRD TO ADDRESS HEBREW LEAGUE

David Baird, Jr., Republican nominee for governor, will make his final appearance in the current election campaign Monday night, in his "own home town," when he will address a monster rally at the Hebrew Republican League, at the Talmud Torah, 621 Kaighn avenue.

The Hebrew league reorganized formally at a luncheon in the Hotel Walt Whitman. Lewis Liberman, assistant city solicitor, was elected president; Sig Schoenagle, Samuel Shaner, Israel Weitzman, vice-presidents; L. Scott Cherchesky, secretary, and Samuel Label, treasurer.

Trustees of the league include Hyman Bloom, Mitchell E. Cohen, Benjamin Friedman, Jacob L. Furer, Isadore H. Hermann, Carl Kisselman, Edward Markowitz, Louis L. Markowitz, Harry Obus, Maurice L. Praissman, Samuel Richelson, Meyer L. Sakin, Julius Rosenberg, Jacob Rosenkrantz and Jack Weinberg.

In addition to former Senator Baird, speakers at the Jewish rally will include Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, Republican state committeewoman and vice chairman of the county committee; Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, Congressman Benjamin Golder, of Pennsylvania, and State Senator Samuel Salus, of Pennsylvania.

Camden High School
Purple & Gold Yearbook Ad
January 1932

Camden Courier-Post - February 3, 1933

BARRISTERS MEET

The Barristers, student organization of the South Jersey Law School held their regular meeting last night. They were addressed by Edward Platt, assistant dean. Elmer Bertman was chairman. 

The annual banquet of the club will be held February 20 in the Hotel Walt Whitman.