Camden People - William J. Strandwitz

WILLIAM J. STRANDWITZ SR. was born November 20, 1875 in Norway. He came to America in 1893. William Strandwitz married around 1905. He and wife Dorothy had five children, Margaret, William Jr., Norman, Robert, and John.

Around 1906 William Strandwitz established, with partner James J. Scott, the Strandwitz & Scott Company, a sheet metal fabricating firm at Delaware Avenue and Penn Street. The business was quite successful, servicing the many factories in Camden and vicinity. The 1910 Census shows the Strandwitz family at 546 State Street in North Camden. By 1920 William Strandwitz Sr. and his family were living at 325 Hawthorne Avenue in Haddonfield NJ. The Strandwitz family was still in Haddonfield at the time of the 1930 census.

William J. Strandwitz and James J. Scott became involved in the civic life of Camden City and Camden County. They were charter members of the Rotary Club of Camden when it was founded in 1912. In the 1920s partner James J. Scott was deeply involved with the construction and operation of the Walt Whitman Hotel. In the early 1930s, William Strandwitz was one of the leaders of the Citizens Relief Committee, a private sector organization devoted to aiding those most hurt by poverty from the Depression in Camden.

In 1942, youngest son John T. Strandwitz was killed while serving as an officer with the United States Marine Corps at Guadalcanal.

The Strandwitz and Scott Company became the William J. Strandwitz Company, Inc. sometime after November of 1936. By 1942 the firm had relocated to Jefferson Avenue and Master Street in South Camden. By 1947 William Strandwitz Sr. had moved to 18 Gilmore Avenue in Merchantville NJ, where he resided the rest of his years.

The William J. Strandwitz Co., Inc. had closed by the late 1950s. William J. Strandwitz passed away in August of 1967. He was buried at Locustwood Memorial Park in Cherry Hill NJ, where he rests with members of his family.

Camden Courier-Post - January 10, 1931

$2700 GIVEN NEEDY BY SEARS, ROEBUCK
Employees of Camden store Donate Half, Employer Rest to Mayor's Committee

Blazing the trail in a county-wide relief program, Sears, Roebuck & Company, of this city, and 170 of its employees yesterday made a joint contribution of $2700 toward a general campaign fund that will be used to alleviate the sufferings of unemployed and needy persons.

One-half of the $2700 was subscribed voluntarily from the pay envelopes of the company's employees, while the other half was a donation from the concern "matching" the amount raised by the workers.

The money, in check form, was turned over to Mayor Price's committee on employment and relief at brief exercises at the Sears, Roebuck store, Admiral Wilson Boulevard. In behalf of the employees and the company, A. D. Corson, general manager of the Sears, Roebuck store in Camden, presented the check to William J. Strandwitz, general chairman of the mayor's relief committee.

Pioneer In Relief Movement

First in the country to adopt this cooperative method of contributing toward a community relief fund whereby, employee and employer share in giving, is the Sears, Roebuck Company. The new policy has been adopted in stores of the concern throughout the nation.

The plan whereby the local store and employees raised their contribution is unique. Each employee contributed one day's pay at four-week intervals during the last eight weeks of 1930.

This same plan will be followed during the first eight weeks of this year and the amount raised will be turned into the general relief fund which will be raised by the mayor's committee in a drive for $100,000 to open Monday, Corson announced today,

Delivering a brief address at exercises in the store, Corson said:

"The plan whereby the employee gives one day's payout of each four weeks during eight-week periods is intended to make contributions easier for the employee. In this way funds are raised that otherwise would not be available for distribution here. Every division of this company throughout the country has received this suggestion to help the needy with enthusiasm."

Million to be Raised

Corson estimated that the fund to be raised under this plan in Sears, Roebuck stores throughout the country would exceed $1,000,000. In each Instance, he said, money contributed by employees will be "matched" by the concern.

"It gives the men and women with jobs," said Corson, "the opportunity to help those less fortunate who are without work."

Strandwitz, accepting the money in behalf of the mayor's committee, praised the cooperative movement of the store and employees and characterized it as "the most inspiring thing in the relief campaign."

"The Sears, Roebuck Company," said Strandwitz, "has set a fine example for other concerns in Camden county and points the ways by which money may be raised to help the deserving needy in this section."

Loyal D. Odhner, manager of the relief committee's campaign, also commended the Sears, Roebuck Company and the employees.

Camden Courier-Post * October 21, 1931

STRANDWITZ NAMED AIDE TO BARNARD
Business Man Will Have Charge in Camden of State Relief Drive

William J. Strandwitz, chairman last winter of the mayor's committee on employment and relief, yesterday was appointed Camden county director of emergency relief by Chester I. Barnard, state director at Trenton.

As county director of the state program, Strandwitz will be called on to ascertain the relief needs of communities in Camden County, coordinate public and private program throughout the county, stimulate the adoption of employment practices to facilitate the distribution of jobs, see that the county's needy learn how to obtain help.

The post carries no salary. Barnard stated yesterday no salaries will be paid for relief administration at the expense of the state if it can be avoided. There is one exception, however, he said. That is in the instance of his deputy director, Colonel J. D. Sears.

"We will work under a schedule in Camden county," Strandwitz said "that will virtually eliminate the dispensing of relief to persons who do not really need it. This is one of the most difficult phases of public relief work, but. I am convinced it can be accomplished."

"Greater stress than ever will be made this year in the matter of employment. All efforts will be made to provide work for those who honestly want it. The others will not be looked on with favor."

Strandwitz lives in Haddonfield and is a director of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce. He is of the firm of Strandwitz & Scott, sheet metal concern, Camden.

Camden Courier-Post * October 29, 1931

47 MORE MEN JOIN LEAGUE TO AID BAIRD
Professional and Business Leaders Back Camden Man for Governor

Forty-seven more prominent professional and business men yesterday joined the Baird-for-Governor Business Men's League and pledged themselves to work actively in interest of David Baird Jr., for governor, and add special impetus to his campaign.

The league was organized this week at an enthusiastic meeting of 18 outstanding Baird supporters in professional and business life at the Camden Club, 315 Cooper Street. The league membership is open only to business, professional and industrial leaders who are not holding public office and who are not politicians.

The latest enrollments among community leaders pledging themselves to devote themselves to the Baird cause are the following:

F. Morse Archer, president of the First Camden National Bank; Clinton. L. Bardo, president of the New York Shipbuilding Company and of the New Jersey Taxpayers' Association; George C. Baker, of the BakerFlick Company; Watson Shallcross, president of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce; Howard J. Dudley, Broadway merchant; Thomas E. French, prominent attorney; J. David Stern, publisher of the Courier-Post newspapers and of the Philadelphia Record; Wellington K. Barto, of the West Jersey Trust Company; Dr. Joseph Roberts, Cooper Hospital; William Clement, of the Clement Coverall Paint Company; Robert Wright, of the Haddonfield National Bank; Arthur J. Podmore, of the Camden Pottery Company; Nathan Leopold, Haddonfield druggist; Dr. J. Edgar Howard, of Haddonfield.

Dr. Alfred N. Elwell, of this city; Edward Preisendanz, Clarence Peters, N. Franks, of. Franks & Sweeney; U. G. Peters, Ralph D. Baker, prominent real estate man; Archibald Dingo, George Bachman, Sr., and George Bachman, Jr., Dr. O. W. Saunders, Henry Cooperson, Leon Cooperson, Herman Z. Cutler. Charles Bauman, Harry Rose, George Austermuhl, Walter Gulick, Albert Voeglin, Howard Fearn, John A. Schlorer, Ernest L. Bartelt.

William S. Casselman, George M. Carr, J. Price Myers, Carl R. Evered, former president of the Camden County Real Estate Board; Francis B. Wallen, former president of the Camden County Chamber of Commerce; William H. Alff, Edmund J. Alff, Harry Pelouze, Walter Campbell, Dr. Thomas R. Bunting, Joseph F. Kobus and Henry E. Kobus.

Enrollments, it was announced, may be made through the following committee of the league:

Ludwig A. Kind, Thomas Gordon Coulter, Charles H. Laird, Walter J. Staats, Frank C. Middleton, Jr., Frank J. Hineline, William T. Read, Charles S. Boyer, W. W. Robinson, George R. Pelouze, Paul A. Kind, Dr. Paul A. Mecray, Jerome Hurley, Harry A. Moran, James V. Moran, William J. Strandwitz, former Judge Lewis Starr and Frank C. Norcross.

Camden Courier-Post - June 3, 1933

Stone Ousted for Humanness;
'Gave Too Much Milk, to Poor Children,' Jobless Union Hears
Cramer Refuses Detailed Statement, But Intimates
Ex-Director of Relief 'Let His Heart Run Away With His Head'

Editorial: '-But the Greatest of These Is Charity'" appears on page 10.

Dr. Arthur L. Stone resigned as director of emergency relief in this city because of opposition to his humanness.

This was the inference drawn from both the city health bureau chief and Wayland P. Cramer, director of the Camden County Emergency Relief Administration, who requested Dr. Stone to quit.

According to Cramer a municipal relief director "must not let his heart rule his head."

Dr. Stone, who is credited directly with having brought about extensive reduction in the infantile mortality rate of this; city, said:

"It is true that I took the human side, in the administration of city relief. So far as I know no charges have been made."

May Name Logan

Appointment of a successor to Dr. Stone was a topic of gossip about the city and county buildings yesterday. It was rumored that William W. Logan at presently serving as manager in the county relief office, will be named as city director. Another report linked the name of William J. Strandwitz, who formerly was county director. A successor will be named by John Colt, of Princeton, who is state emergency relief administrator.

Dr. Stone's comment regarding "the human side of city relief administration," followed an expression by Clarence Moullette, executive secretary of the Unemployed Union of New Jersey, to the effect that the city physician's ouster probably was motivated "because Dr. Stone was giving too much milk to babies,"

Further attempt to draw from Director Cramer his reason for requesting Dr. Stone to resign disclosed no specific charge, After first declining to comment Cramer did express his opinion as to the qualifications necessary for the city relief directorship.

"Primarily,'" said Cramer, "he must have executive and administrative ability. He must have a good heart, but mustn't let his heart rule his head,"

Pressed further far a statement concerning what Dr. Stone lacked "in the administration of relief, Cramer said:

Thought Stone Best Man

"It is not only my aim," he said, "to be considerate of all people receiving relief, but to be considerate of those within my organization. That is the reason I am not talking about details incident to Dr. Stone's resignation. I drafted him into the Relief office, because I thought he was the best man for the job. Affairs were in fine shape in the city administrative office when he took it over.

"'However, this is a matter for John Colt to discuss. He is my superior”.

Cramer admitted that he has someone in the offing whose appointment to the city relief directorship he will recommend to Colt.

It would be unfair for me," said Cramer, "to mention the name of the man I have in mind, before Mr. Colt had asked for my recommendation".

Dr. Stone said that he was "just as well satisfied" to be relieved of the city relief directorship which carries no salary.

"There was no salary to the job," said Dr. Stone, "and it meant many long hours of work in addition to the duties of the health department. I enjoyed building up the relief organization most for the human side of it. I sent in my resignation to become effective immediately. I tried to do a human job.

"When I went to Cramer's office this week," continued Dr. Stone, "he did not specifically tell me what the matter was. He told me only that he was not satisfied with the way things were going in my department."

Director Colt called today on the telephone at Princeton, said that he had not received Dr. Stone’s letter of resignation. If he accepts the resignation, Colt stated that he will immediately appoint a successor to Dr. Stone on the recommendation of Cramer.

Camden Courier-Post - September 1, 1938

WEBSTER ELECTED EXECUTIVE HEAD OF CAMDEN BOY SCOUTS
30 Men Get Certificates as Leaders and Five Troops Receive Star Awards
TROPHY FOR VETERAN

Warren Webster, Jr., was elected president of the executive board of Camden County Council, Boy Scouts of America, at its annual dinner meeting last night. He succeeds J. William Markeim. The meeting was in the junior ballroom of the Hotel Walt Whitman, with 150 members attending.

Others elected were A. W. Stedman, honorary president; Joshua C. Haines, honorary commissioner; Dr. E. W. Roberts, first vice president; Albert M. Bean, second vice president; Walter G. Garlan, third vice president; Elmer J. Williams, treasurer; Col. G. Barrett Glover, commissioner; S. Lewis Davis, Cub commissioner'; Webster and Davis, National Council representatives; Stedman, trustee for one year, Webster, trustee for two years and Lorenzo J. List, trustee for three years.

All were named by a nominating committee of which William J. Strandwitz was chairman. Bean was chairman of the meeting and List was toastmaster at the dinner which preceded it.

As chairman of the training committee, Bean presented certificates to 30 men who had completed courses in Scout leadership.

Commissioner Davis presented awards to the following "star" troops: 65, of Haddonfield; 117, Runnemede; 112, West Collingswood; 105, Collingswood, and 82, Westmont.

The Council awarded to Edward W. Tomkins a bronze statuette of a Boy Scout as a trophy in recognition of 25 years service as a Scouter.

Tomkins, who began his career as a Scouter in 1913, has been successively assistant scoutmaster of Troop 2, scoutmaster of Troop 3, scout master of Troop 21, assistant camp director of county Scout camps, field executive of Camden city, merit badge councilor and examiner and has held numerous other positions organizing and furthering the Boy Scout movement.

The principal speaker was E. Urner Goodman, national director of program, whose subject was "Building a Stronger Generation," the theme of the anniversary week of the Boy Scouts to be celebrated February 6 to 13.

There was an invocation by Rev. Albert F. Banse, pastor of the Francis Childs M. E. Church, West Collingswood, and a program of vocal selections by Mrs. L. J. List, soloist, and the Franklin Quartet.

Camden Courier-Post - June 11, 1932

William Mozitis - William J. Strandwitz - Engine Company 3 - Broadway Mulford Street - Jasper Street - Garfield S. Pancoast

	Camden Courier-Post June 15, 1932 Master Street William J. Strandwitz Hezetiah Thomas Central Avenue Frank Thomas William Dunn Emil Dethlefs Garfield S. Pancoast

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	Camden Courier-Post June 19, 1932 William J. Strandwitz Engine Company 8 John A. Stutzke Joseph Haleski Fairview Post No. 71, American Legion Kaighn Avenue Mt. Ephraim Avenue Haddon Avenue