Camden People - Minerva Stackhouse

MINERVA C. STACKHOUSE taught and served as principal in the Camden public school system from 1887 until her retirement in 1933. She first taught in the Cooper School in 1887. In 1888 she went to Northeast School, where she became principal of the boys' department. In 1889 she became first assistant principal at the Stevens School, and in 1900 was made principal of the Genge School, located on the present city hall site. She was principal there until it was demolished in 1927, when she became principal of the new Henry H. Davis School.

Minerva Stackhouse was born in Camden in February of 1867 to David T. and Margaret Stackhouse, the fifth of at least six children. Her parents had come to North Camden from Pennsylvania sometime after 1855, the elder Stackhouse supporting his family as a grocer. At the time of the 1870 Census the family lived adjacent to the Himmelein family, whose sons would establish a large leather belting factory in Camden in later years near the intersection of Haddon and Mount Ephraim avenues.

The 1880 census shows the Stackhouse family living at 542 Front Street in North Camden. Older brother Virgil Stackhouse was still residing at home, and had taken up the trade of machinist. Virgil moved out briefly in the mid-1880s residing at 926 North 2nd, before rejoining his family at 235 North Front Street by 1888. In the 1890s he would become one of the first employees hired by inventor Eldridge R. Johnson when he founded the Victor Talking Machine Company, and remained with Victor well into the 1930s. Another brother, D. Trueman Stackhouse, was well known in Camden as an attorney. The 1900 Census shows the Minerva Stackhouse living with her parents and siblings at 225 North Front Street.

By 1910 David T. Stackhouse had passed away. Minerva Stackhouse was living with her brother D. Trueman Stackhouse at 304 Penn Street, along with their mother and another sister, Ecedorah. Next door at 300 Penn Street lived a prominent physician, Dr. Edmund C. Pechin. Minerva Stackhouse would reside with her brother. Minerva Stackhouse was still at 304 Penn Street in January of 1920, along with her sister and mother. By 1929 Minerva Stackhouse had moved to Merchantville, where she resided with her brother D. Trueman Stackhouse. The 1930 Census shows she had bought a home at 3342 Springfield Avenue in Pennsauken, where she lived with her sister Ecedorah.

Minerva Stackhouse retired from the Camden school system in June of 1933. She was still alive in October 1936, when her brother Virgil passed.

Camden Courier-Post * June 16, 1933

PRINCIPALS FETE RETIRING MEMBERS
Association Gives Banquet and Entertainment for 8 at Hotel Here

Eight retiring school principals were honored last night at a banquet in the junior ballroom of Hotel Walt Whitman by the Camden Principals' Association.

Amid decorations of roses and spring flowers these teachers, who have served the city from 35 to 40 years, heard words of praise from their schoolmates and superiors.

They are Miss Daisy Furber, Central School; Mrs. Margaret Thomson, Northeast; Miss Minerva Stackhouse, Davis; Miss Bessie Snyder, McKinley; Miss Clara S. Burrough, Camden High; Miss Helen Wescott, Mulford; Miss Loretta Ireland, Cooper; Miss Charlotte V. Dover, Washington.

Harry Showalter, president of the association, presided. Eighty guests represented the entire school system of 38 institutions. Showalter, Dr. Leon N. Neulen, superintendent of schools, and Dr. James E. Bryan, retired superintendent, joined in paying tribute to the retiring principals as having set a high example for Camden's school system.

The male teachers serenaded the women instructors and vice versa with song. At the closing the teachers joined hands at the suggestion of Dr. Bryan and sang "Auld Lang Syne." .

Camden Courier-Post * June 17, 1933

ASSOCIATION HONORS RETIRING PRINCIPAL
Miss M. C. Stackhouse of H. Davis School Guest of Parent-Teachers

Miss Minerva C. Stackhouse, retiring principal, was honored last night by members of the H. H. Davis School Parent-Teacher Association at a reception at the school, Thirty-fourth and Cramer Streets.

She was the recipient of a silver coffee service. Mrs. John Horner, education chairman of the State Parent-Teacher Association, made the presentation. A large basket of roses from the association's executive board was presented by Lorraine West.

The ceremonies were opened with prayer by Rev. Irving Maxwell, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church. The salute to the flag was led by Mrs. Albert Derickson, president. Vocal selections were given by the following members of Miss Catherine Comerford's class: Eimer Stratton, Dorothy Nicholson, Jean Schuck, Gordon Wells, Nancy Zuckerman, Karl Koehler, Betty O'Brien, Alexander Potter, Mildred Collar, Raymond Getz and William Long. Harmonica selections were given by William Long, Raymond Hansell and Milton Strubel. Gertrude Perkins presented a soprano solo, accompanied by Mrs. Ebba Prattley on the piano.

Miss Stackhouse praised the loyalty of the teachers. The association yesterday morning sponsored physical examinations for 17 pre-school children by Mrs. Margaret Mountford, Drs. William Pratt and Lester Wilson and Miss Elsie Jacques, school nurse.

Miss Stackhouse first taught in the Cooper School in 1887. In 1888 she went to Northeast School, where she became principal of the boys' department. In 1889 she became first assistant principal at the Stevens School, and in 1900 was made principal of the Genge School, located on the present city hall site. She was principal there until it was demolished in 1927, when she became principal of the new Henry H. Davis School.