Charles L. McKeone
&
The Peppery Pot by MACK

CHARLES LEO McKEONE was a well-known and much loved reporter in Camden, whose career spanned four decades. He was born in Philadelphia in 1867 and first started in journalism there. His father, Irish born Charles McKeone, was a graduate of Trinity College in Dublin who had come to Philadelphia and became wealthy as a soap manufacturer. The elder McKeone, in his later years, dabbled in journalism and as a war correspondent, wrote for The Freeman's Journal from India and Sudan.

Charles Leo McKeone was afforded a college education but did not follow his father's wished to go into business. Instead he followed the path of the reporter, fist in Philadelphia. He came to Camden in the late 1880s and wrote at one time or another for all of the major daily papers in the city, The Post, The Daily Telegram, The Post-Telegram, The Daily Courier, and in the last year of his life after the acquisition of the Post-Telegram by the Courier, the Courier-Post, which published two editions, the Morning Post and the Evening Courier. 

In the late 1910s.... the first found as of this writing is from January of 1919.... Charles L. McKeone began writing a column called "Out of the Peppery Pot", which soon became a daily feature. He was soon given the "by Mack" by-line for his column. In December of 1920 or January of 1921 the column became "The Peppery Pot- By Mack". He also wrote a column from 1925 to 1927 called "Do You Remember" recounting events that happened 20 years previously.

The Peppery Pot was filled with McKeone's reminisces of bygone days in Camden. As his obituary, which is immediately below, relates, he covered everything from sports to hangings, was well known and knew just about everybody. The Peppery Pot set the example for a host of men whose writings about Camden's past graced the Courier-Post for the next 83 years, including Ben Courter, Dan McConnell, Charley Humes, James O'Neill, Stephen O'Keefe, and Tom Bergbauer, whose last column appeared in 2010. 

Charles L. McKeone passed away on December 16, 1927 at Cooper Hospital, he had been ill and in pain for quite some time, but had continued writing his daily column until shortly before his death, with one appearing on December 7, 1927. As no papers from the next 8 days are currently on-line, it is not know n if that was the last "Peppery Pot". What is known is that when it did not appear, the Courier-Post received many inquiries as to where their beloved Peppery Pot was.

Charles L. McKeone was buried at Calvary Cemetery in what was then Delaware Township (present-day Cherry Hill), New Jersey after services at the Church of the Holy Name in North Camden. His funeral was the first requiem mass held at Holy Name's new building which was also dedicated that day. His pall bearers were Will Paul, Ben Courter, Stephen O'Keefe, Edward Teall, Frank Sheridan, and Benjamin Zorek, all members of the Courier's staff.

Charles L. McKeone was a life-long bachelor. When he passed, his parents were long gone and it is unknown if any surviving relatives were located.

Click Here to Read The Peppery Pot by Mack

Click Here to Read Do You Remember by Charles L. McKeone

Camden Courier-Post - December 16, 1927

Camden Courier-Post - December 17, 1927

Camden Courier-Post - December 17, 1927

Camden Courier-Post
December 19, 1927

Charles L. McKeone
Church of the Holy Name
B.F. Schroeder
Rev. Thomas Whelan
Edward N. Teal
William J. Paul
Frank Sheridan
Stephen O'Keefe
Benjamin Zorek
Ben Courter

Camden Courier-Post
January 11, 1938

Excerpt from
Dan McConnell's Scrapbook

Camden Courier-Post
June 20, 1941

J. David Stern

Out of the Peppery Pot & The Peppery Pot by Mack

1919

January 23, 1919

February 2, 1919

March 10, 1919

April 3, 1919

May 10, 1919

June 20, 1919

July 10, 1919

August 3, 1919

September 10, 1919

October 20, 1919

November 10, 1919

December 20, 1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

March 17, 1924

August 22, 1924

October 7, 1924

1925

1926

May 10, 1926

1927

March 29, 1927

October 27, 1927

December 7, 1927

Camden Courier-Post
July 14, 1921

Camden Courier-Post * March 17, 1924

Camden Daily Courier - August 22, 1924

Dr. WIlliam S. Jones - Patrick J. Jordan - Ed Jubb - Mrs. Jolly - Ella Jubilee - William J. Browning - William Jubilee
Locust Street - Berkley Street - Burns Street - Baxter Street - Jacob Justice - Richard S. Justice - Main Street - North 5th Street

Camden Daily Courier - October 7, 1924

Camden Daily Courier - May 10, 1926

Camden Daily Courier - March 29, 1927

Camden Daily Courier - October 27, 1927

Camden Daily Courier
December 7, 1927

Market Street Ferry
Vine Street Ferry
Kaighn's Point Ferry|
West Jersey Hotel