Artifact Photos

This instrument is called an Amberola, manufactured by the Edison Co in the early 1900’s, and donated by Linda Saucer in the memory of her father and grandfather. It played the kind of music our grandparents and great-grandparents listened and danced to.

Where was the fastest race track in the world located in the 1920’s? Right here in Hammonton! Atlantic City Speedway, a 1.5 mile, 45 degree banked wooden oval, was just 5 miles from the center of our town, 1.5 mi. down Moss Mill Road.

These wooden objects are used for various purposes. They are lightweight, but loud when swung back and forth. Clackers quickly get the attention of anyone in the area and they were used in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s to awaken sleeping patrons or household members in hotels, boarding houses, and homes to warn inhabitants of fire or gas leaks.

This great old blackboard is multi-faceted. Its surface can be pivoted down to act as a desk or drawing board. It has about 40 colorful pictures on top, from the alphabet and numbers to soldiers to farm animals. The rack on the bottom can hold chalk and another rack in back holds books. Perhaps most interesting is the accompanying wooden paddle!

The satchel and instruments shown were donated to the Historical Society of Hammonton by Mr. & Mrs. Philip Helzer. Dr. Jacob A. Waas, D.D.S was a renowned dentist in Hammonton who started his practice in town in 1884.

This is a sketch of the hotel and Judge Richard Byrnes’ mansion, as published in the New Jersey Republican. The people in the foreground are on 12th Street, about to walk over the railroad tracks onto Bellevue Avenue, and cross into downtown Hammonton, circa 1870.

This photo is a tin type, therefore the signage on the building is backwards! Find a mirror and discover for yourself that the sign on the building says ‘Hammonton House’. This is an amazing tin type that depicts one of the earliest hotels in Hammonton, built by Judge Richard Byrnes in the late 1860’s, and was located south of the Camden-Atlantic Railroad on the large block of land owned by Byrnes.

In the mid-20^th Century, the garment industry was booming in Hammonton. This exquisite suit was sold by the Kessler Clothing Factory under of the label of Hammonton Park, as well as other labels.  And the price tag of this suit?  Likely $75.00 – $150.00, and up to $325.00 for the top of the line suit.  In 1960 that was an expensive suit!

A prominent industry in Hammonton from the 1870’s through the turn of the twentieth century was shoe manufacturing. Although not the first, the Osgood Shoe Company and the Hammonton Shoe Company were among the most successful during the 65 years this industry was in Hammonton. Here’s a photo of Osgood employees (c.1885-1886), along with a woman’s shoe found in one of the old factories!

The scale in this photograph came from Godfrey’s Drug Store, a popular store and soda fountain founded in the 1920’s. The Red Cross Pharmacy was one of the first on the north corner of Bellevue Ave and N. Egg Harbor Rd where El Nuevo Mariachi Loco is now located. That particular location has housed Fay’s Drugs, the Red Cross Pharmacy, and Godfrey’s (Rexall) Drugs. 

This painting was done by Irma L. Tilton, date of the painting is unknown, of Tilton’s store (circa 1864-1902), owned by her grandfather, Peter S. Tilton. The store was located on Bellevue Ave, near the Camden and Atlantic railroad tracks, which you can see in the foreground of the painting. This is likely an early painting of Irma’s due to the simplistic painting style and lack of signature.