Camden Streets - Decatur Street

DECATUR STREET is named for American Naval hero Commodore Stephen Decatur, who played a decisive role in the War of 1812 and in America's war with Muslim pirates operating out of Tripolia nd other ports in North Africa. Decatur is also known for his quote "...our country right or wrong."

Decatur Street runs from Mount Ephraim Avenue on a straight line roughly north-east towards Haddon Avenue, stopping before the railroad tracks that run parallel to Haddon Avenue at that point. Development began around the turn of the century, and the street was for the most part completely built up by 1950. Many of the early residents of Decatur Street were of Polish descent, and were members of St. Joseph's Church at 10th and Mechanic Streets. Like virtually all other streets in Camden, Decatur Street was always ethnically, if not racially, mixed.

Decatur Street is for the most part residential. The South Camden Bakery was located in the 1200 block at one time, and at the intersection of Norris and Decatur at one time held a grocery, a bar, and a social club. The Victory Cafe stood at 1301 Decatur Street, the 13th Ward Democrat Club was across the street at 1302, and a grocery was located at 1299 Decatur Street. Bar owner Edward Zajac, who boxed professionally out of Camden as Eddie Chaney, lived at 1287 Decatur Street. The most notable building on Decatur Street was St. Joseph's High School.

Shortly after World War II, St. Joseph's High School was erected at the corner of Mount Ephraim and Decatur Street. The school was abandoned by the Diocese of Camden around 1979, and stood vacant and open to the elements, drug dealers, squatters, and other undesirables for many years before it was acquired and converted into the Dayton Manor nursing home. The presence of the empty building, combined with the flood of drugs into Camden in the mid-1980s, and other social factors combined to the overall decline of Decatur Street and the surrounding neighborhood.

Do you have a Decatur Street memory or picture. Let me know by e-mail so it can be included here.

Phil Cohen

1200 Block of Decatur Street Click on Images to Enlarge
	1200 Decatur Street May 15, 2005
	1200 Decatur Street May 15, 2005
	1207 & 1209 Decatur Street 1911-1924 August Scholl December 28, 2011
	1207 Decatur Street December 28, 2011
	1209 Decatur Street December 28, 2011
	1215 Decatur Street 1936 Mrs. Mary Lisowski 1936 Stanley Wojciechowski
	1216 Decatur Street 1917 Peter Kovalenter Camden Post-Telegram May 26, 1917
	1216 Decatur Street 1943 Antonio Maressa & Family Frank Maressa Camden Courier-Post February 10, 1943
	1216 Decatur Street 1950 P.J. Andrella 1969 St. Joseph's Catholic Church 2012 Gone
	1217 Decatur Street about 1928 Click on Image to Enlarge
	1217-1219-1221 Decatur Street about 1928 Click on Image to Enlarge
	1218 Decatur Street 1917 1932 1940 Antonio Maressa & Family Frank Maressa
	1218 Decatur Street 1973-1977 Gary Thompson
	1219 Decatur Street about 1928 Click on Image to Enlarge
	1220 Decatur Street Robert Knighton Camden Courier-Post August 8, 1933
	1220 Decatur Street 1942-1956 Vincent Pavlak Family Vincent & Annie Pavlak 1947-1956 Catherine Pavlak 1947-1956 Nicholas Pavlak police
	1221 Decatur Street about 1928 Click on Image to Enlarge
	1225 Decatur Street 1927 Lottie Medel Camden Courier-Post August 31, 1927 Green Street Jennie Krauss Sycamore Street John Adwntwski Whitman Avenue Anthony Rodansky Rose Rodansky Anna Rodansky
	1226 Decatur Street 1939-1952 Leon F. Puszczykowksi & Family Leon F. & Minnie Puszczykowski Leon C. Puszczykowski - Elaine Puszczykowski Camden-Courier-Post January 29, 1951
	1255 Decatur Street 1929-1933 Fred Klosterman
	1259 Decatur Street 1950s Frank & Angelina DeNinno
	1261 Decatur Street 1952 Vincent Lamonte Camden Courier-Post April 2, 1952
	1264 Decatur Street 1932 Thomas Hines Camden Courier-Post June 13, 1932 Leon Gentek Van Hook Street Purdy's Cafe Oscar Probst
	1271 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1272 Decatur Street 1928 Paul Starzynski Camden Courier-Post December 4, 1928 Van Hook Street Mikoloy Miskiewicz Howe Street
	1271 & 1273 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1273 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1275 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1275 & 1277 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1276 Decatur Street 2012 Tower of Prayer and Deliverance, Inc. Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1276 Decatur Street 2012 Tower of Prayer and Deliverance, Inc. Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1277 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1279 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1279 & 1281 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
Philadelphia Inquirer - March 3, 2012 Arson fire kills homeless man in Camden Authorities have identified a 65-year-old elderly squatter killed Friday morning in a Camden arson fire. After battling a blaze that burned through a rowhouse on the 1200 block of Decatur Street, fire fighters found Paul Johnson on the second floor of the home around 4:15 a.m., police said. An autopsy ruled the man had died from smoke inhalation, and the Camden County Prosecutor's Office ruled the death a homicide	1281 Decatur Street Destroyed by Fire on March 2, 2012
	1281 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1283 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
STORES, HOMES LOOTED; RADIO, PENNIES TAKEN Burglars who broke into two stores and a private home Thursday night got exactly $2.50, a radio, and some cigars for their trouble. At the store of Basile Constantine, 402 Berkley Street, cigars valued at $1.50 were stolen by the intruders, who forced a rear shutter. Michael Kelly, of 11 South Fourth Street, reported his store was broken Into and $2.50 in pennies stolen. Entrance was gained through a rear window. James Hayes, of 1287 Decatur Street, told the police his radio set was stolen by the thieves after they entered his house through a rear window. Detectives Clarence Arthur and Clifford Carr are investigating..	1287 Decatur Street 19333 James Hayes Camden Courier-Post June 17, 1933
	1287 Decatur Street Eddie Chaney
	1290 Decatur Street Photograph taken March 15, 2012
	1291 Decatur Street 1933 John Capello
	1293 Decatur Street 1933 Jennie Barriger
	1295 Decatur Street
	1296 Decatur Street 1957 Vincenzo Gallo & Family Vincenzo & Nicoletta Gallo Dominick F. Gallo Camden Courier-Post December 12, 1957
	1297 Decatur Street 1930s-1940 Herman J. Baker Herman J. & Emma Baker
	1299 Decatur Street 1947 Santo Ardire grocery Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Scheduled for Demolition in March of 2012
	1299 Decatur Street 1947 Santo Ardire grocery Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Scheduled for Demolition in March of 2012

1300 Block of Decatur Street
	1301 & 1303 Decatur Street October 5, 2003
	1301 Decatur Street The Victory Cafe
	1302 Decatur Street 13th Ward Democrat Club
	1303 Decatur Street 1941 Nicholas Iacovelli auxiliary fireman Camden Courier-Post July 1, 1941 Left: Charles Geitz Right: Nicholas Iacovelli
	1303 Decatur Street
	1305 Decatur Street
	1307 & 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	1307 Decatur Street
	1309 Decatur Street
	1307 & 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	1307 & 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	Decatur Street February 22, 2004
	1319 Decatur Street
	1321 Decatur Street
	1323 Decatur Street
	1329 Decatur Street 1941 William J. Sbariscia Camden Courier-Post July 24, 1941
	1329 Decatur Street
	1331 Decatur Street
	1332 Decatur Street
	1334 Decatur Street 1939 Thirteenth Ward Italian-American Citizens Democratic Club Camden Courier-Post January 24, 1939 John L. Morrissey Bayard Sullivan Roscoe Lockwood Russian Workers Mutual Aid Society Ferry Avenue Camden County Polish-American Republican Club Van Hook Street
	1338 Decatur Street 1947 Michael Nardelli & Family Michael & Mary Nardelli
	1340 Decatur Street
	1342 Decatur Street
	1344 Decatur Street
	1345 Decatur Street
	1346 Decatur Street
	1347 Decatur Street
	1348 Decatur Street 1947 Roy DeSanctis
	1351 Decatur Street 1940s-1947 Rocco DeSanctis
	1351 Decatur Street 1940s-1945 Romeo DeSanctis
	1353 Decatur Street 1930s-1940s Lawrence A. Scavette & Family Lawrence A. & Concetta Scavette Daniel Scavette - Mildred Scavette Jennie Scavette - Teresa Scavette Achille Scavette - Lawrence A. Scavette Jr. Camden Courier-Post July 23, 1947
	SERGEANT LAWRENCE A. SCAVETT JR. (Last name was shortened to Scavett at enlistment)