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. |
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1200
Block of Decatur Street Click on Images to Enlarge |
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1200
Decatur Street
May 15, 2005 |
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1200
Decatur Street
May 15, 2005 |
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1207
& 1209 Decatur Street
1911-1924 December 28, 2011
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1207
Decatur Street
December 28, 2011
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1209
Decatur Street
December 28, 2011 |
1215
Decatur Street
1936
Mrs. Mary Lisowski
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1216
Decatur Street
1917 Camden Post-Telegram |
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1216
Decatur Street
1943 Camden Courier-Post |
1216
Decatur Street
1950
P.J. Andrella
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1217
Decatur Street
about 1928 Click
on Image to Enlarge
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1217-1219-1221
Decatur Street
about 1928 Click
on Image to Enlarge
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1218
Decatur Street
1917 1940
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1218
Decatur Street
1973-1977 Gary Thompson
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1219
Decatur Street
about 1928 Click on Image to Enlarge |
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1220
Decatur Street
Robert Knighton |
1220
Decatur Street
1942-1956
Vincent Pavlak Family |
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1221
Decatur Street
about 1928 Click
on Image to Enlarge
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1225
Decatur Street
1927 Lottie Medel Green
Street |
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1226
Decatur Street
1939-1952 Camden-Courier-Post |
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1255
Decatur Street
1929-1933 Fred Klosterman
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1259
Decatur Street
1950s Frank & Angelina DeNinno
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1261 Decatur
Street
1952 Vincent Lamonte Camden Courier-Post |
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1264
Decatur Street
1932 Thomas Hines Camden Courier-Post Leon Gentek |
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1271
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1272
Decatur Street
1928 Camden Courier-Post Van
Hook Street
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1271
& 1273
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1273
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1275
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1275
& 1277
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1276
Decatur Street
2012 Tower of Prayer and Deliverance, Inc. Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1276
Decatur Street
2012 Tower of Prayer and Deliverance, Inc. Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1277
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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1279
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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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. 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
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1281
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
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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 |
1287
Decatur Street
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1290
Decatur Street
Photograph taken March 15, 2012 |
1291
Decatur Street
1933 John Capello |
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1293
Decatur Street
1933 Jennie Barriger |
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1295 Decatur Street | |
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1296
Decatur Street
1957 Camden Courier-Post |
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1297
Decatur Street
1930s-1940 |
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1299
Decatur Street
1947 Santo Ardire Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Scheduled for Demolition in March of 2012 |
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1299
Decatur Street
1947 Santo Ardire Photograph taken March 15, 2012 Scheduled for Demolition in March of 2012 |
1300 Block of Decatur Street | |
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1301
& 1303 Decatur Street October 5, 2003 |
1301 Decatur Street
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1302 Decatur Street |
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1303
Decatur Street
1941 Camden
Courier-Post Left: Charles
Geitz |
1303 Decatur Street | |
1305 Decatur Street | |
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1307
& 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004 |
1307 Decatur Street | |
1309 Decatur Street | |
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1307
& 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004 |
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1307
& 1309 Decatur Street February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
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Decatur
Street
February 22, 2004 |
1319 Decatur Street | |
1321 Decatur Street | |
1323 Decatur Street | |
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1329
Decatur Street
1941 Camden Courier-Post |
1329 Decatur Street | |
1331 Decatur Street | |
1332 Decatur Street | |
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1334
Decatur Street
1939 Camden Courier-Post John L. Morrissey |
1338
Decatur Street
1947 |
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1340 Decatur Street | |
1342 Decatur Street | |
1344 Decatur Street | |
1345 Decatur Street | |
1346 Decatur Street | |
1347 Decatur Street | |
1348
Decatur Street
1947 Roy DeSanctis |
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1351
Decatur Street
1940s-1947 Rocco
DeSanctis |
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1351
Decatur Street
1940s-1945 Romeo DeSanctis |
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1353
Decatur Street
1930s-1940s Camden
Courier-Post |
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SERGEANT LAWRENCE A. SCAVETT JR. (Last name was
shortened to |