Camden People - Hugh A. Greenan

HUGH A. GREENAN was born in Philadelphia around 1872. His father John was the brother of Peter Greenan, who had moved to Camden in the 1870s, and who had settled around South 7th Street and Ferry Avenue. Grandfather Hugh Greenan had been an innkeeper in Philadelphia before the Civil War, also later had come to Camden, dealing in plaster (lime) by 1880. By 1890 he was manufacturing a patented hair plaster that was used in sidewalk construction. This business was carried forward through the 1890s, at 1729 Master Street in Camden's Eighth Ward. By 1914 John J. Greenan and son Hugh A. Greenan had two businesses going on in Philadelphia, John J. Greenan & Son and the Reliable Odorless Excavating Company. John J. Greenan had moved to 1736 South 7th Street, a property which backed on the old Master Street address, where he engaged in a horsehair business and also was still manufacturing the patented paving cement.. The business which included a stable also had a street address of 1736 South 7th Street. John J. Greenan appears to have passed away during the 1910s.

Hugh A. Greenan was living in Atlantic City when the census was taken in 1920. He was still in business as a contractor, and kept the business on South 7th Street going through at least 1922, when a fire destroyed all the buildings at the South 7th Street address.

The Greenan family, primarily descendants of uncles Peter and William Greenan, maintained a strong presence in Camden well into the 1950s. Greenan family members served on the Fire and Police Departments, worked for the school board, and engaged at different times in the bottling and tavern business, as well as following other trades and occupations.

Camden Evening Courier - January 23, 1922

Alarms of Fire Before and After Carrigan Funeral

Just before Camden firemen were planning to leave headquarters yesterday to march to the home of Captain Martin B. Carrigan, who lost his life in the falling roof at the Economy Store fire, they were summoned to a three alarm fire at the stables of Hugh A. Greenan, 1736 South 7th Street.

When Engine Companies No. 7 and 8 reached their fire houses this morning after the Carrigan funeral, an alarm was received from the drugstore of W.J. Grobiowski, 1250 Everett street.

The Grobowski fire had its origin in a pile of rubbish in the basement and was extinguished with a small loss.

Camden Evening Courier - January 23, 1922

SIX HORSES SAVED IN SUNDAY BLAZE
Nearly All of City's Apparatus At Fire That Destroys Building

Fire, believed to have started through the drying of animal hair, destroyed the frame building of Hugh A. Greenan, 1736 South 7th Street, shortly before noon yesterday. The loss is estimated at $3,000.

When Fire Chief Peter B. Carter arrived at the scene, the building was doomed. Fearing for the safety of adjoining buildings and homes, Chief Carter sounded a second and then a general alarm. nearly every piece of the city's fire apparatus was on the scene of the fire.

A man who resides near the rear of the building saw smoke issuing from the center of the buildings at 11:15 o'clock. An investigation showed hair, used in the manufacture of a patent plaster for building purposes, was ablaze. Another neighbor ran to a nearby fire box and sounded the alarm.

Both men joined in rescuing six horses that were in the stable adjoining the fire. Frank Clements, Policeman Carl Quinton and Samuel Ward arrived on the scene and succeeded in saving harness, two wagons and an automobile before the flames spread to the stables.

Hugh A. Greenan, owner of the buildings and business, said his loss, amounting to approximately $32000, was partly covered by insurance.

Hundreds of persons returning home from church were attracted to the fire scene and viewed the work of the firemen from beyond the fire lines. No one was injured, although falling timber from the building constantly hampered the progress of the fire fighters.