CLAY STREET, in Camden's 5th Ward, ran west from the 900 block of South 2nd Street to South Front Street. The street does not appear in the 1891 Sanborn Map, and has no listings in the 1887-1888, 1888-1889, or 1890-1891 City Directories. Its origins appear tied to the construction of the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey's gas plant on the east side of South 2nd Street between Cherry and Walnut Streets in the 1890s. A twin home of brick construction had been put up at 122 and 124 Clay Street by 1896. By 1906 Public Service has built a large storehouse and stables for its horses on the north side of Clay Street, and the S. Canning Childs grocery firm had a warehouse whose rear entrance was on the south side, at 116 Clay street. Contractor William H. Doherty had a large building at the rear of his property at 133 Walnut Street that had access to Clay Street. It is quite probable that the houses on Clay Street were built at the same time as 121, 123, 125 and 127 Walnut Street, and that it was William H. Doherty who had them erected. William H. Doherty owned land in the 100 block of Walnut Street as early as 1890, and made his home in that block of Walnut Street until he passed away in 1901. Late in 1908 Clay Street became front page news when a resident was thought to have leprosy. No residences were recorded on City Street in City Directories after 1908, although newspaper articles indicate that there were residents there as late as 1912. No homes or business had addresses on Clay Street in the 1923 or later Camden City Directories. Clay Street was officially extinguished by the City of Camden in October of 1974. All physical traces of Clay Street are gone. |
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100 Block of Clay Street |
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116 Clay Street | |
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122 Clay Street
Camden Daily Telegram Real Estate Investment
Company Clay Street -
Chambers
Avenue |
122 Clay Street
1898-1900
1900 William Harding |
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122 Clay Street
1899 Jacob Harris |
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122 Clay Street
1900-1901 George Rocker |
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122 Clay Street
1907-1908 |
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124 Clay Street
Camden Daily Telegram Real Estate Investment
Company Line Street -
Arch Street |
124 Clay Street
1896 Allan Newman
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124 Clay Street
1900 |
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124 Clay Street
1901 |
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124 Clay Street
1902 William Chase |
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124 Clay Street
1909-1910 Camden Post-Telegram Moved to 433 Riley Street by April 15, 1910 |
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124 Clay Street
1909-1910 Camden Post-Telegram Thomas Brooks
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124 Clay Street
1910 Lewis Ford Camden Post-Telegram |
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124 Clay Street
1912 Arminto Degrello Camden Daily Courier Dorothy Sheely - Berkley Street Click on Image to Read
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Clay
Street |
Leprosy
on Clay Street Camden Daily Courier * October 14, 1908 |
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Camden Post-Telegram * December 29, 1908 |
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Camden Post-Telegram * January 20, 1909 |
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