Bulletin Article - September 2005

MAIN STREET 1908
by Betty Lyons

As talk turns to what type of stores we should encourage to settle in our downtown, a quick look at some of the commercial establishments in Haddonfield in 1908 would prove quite a different selection was available then.

Let's start near the railroad at Number 11. At W.H. Pettibone, Plumbing and Heating, you could go in, discuss your home needs and decide what types of systems you might want to install. They had pictures and ideas for every type of building.

On the corner of Main and Atlantic was the well-known bakery of Mrs. J.J. Schlecht, while the West End Bakery down the street was owned by the Schlecht Brothers. Both bakeries turned out all kinds of bread, pies, cakes, and other goodies. The aroma from these stores filled the air during the week.

On the other side of the railroad, on what is now King's Highway West, stood Moore's Esculent Repository. The name might be unusual, but they had a large variety and huge stock of all kinds of special fruits and vegetables, beautifully arranged, candy for every occasion from the penny variety to special hearts for Valentine's Day, and a big selection of tea and coffee. Soups were advertised; although they had a lot of brands, Campbell's was not one which was mentioned.

Number 1 West Main Street, P. Greengross and Son's, was very close to Mrs. Schlecht's bakery. The store handled groceries and provisions. Housewives would go to this corner to buy what they needed almost every day so they would get really fresh products. Of course, refrigeration was also a problem in 1908.

Flitcraft's was the West End Pharmacy which liked to be known as the store to get photographic supplies. Later they expanded with a soda fountain and regular drug store.

At 112 East Main Street, S.A.Willits had his place of business. He sold primarily fire insurance, although he dealt in other kinds of insurance as well. Perhaps there were more fires in the neighborhoods than burglaries and accidents or people who wanted life insurance.

There were two dentists. Dr. Francis Harry Tomlin advertised that he was a resident dentist. The other, whose office was at 136 East Main Street, Dr. Alex M. Cotton, advertised that he used gas for his patients.

The store of S.P. Hunt occupied 145 E. Main Street. This was a general meat market. After the ladies had picked up their groceries and baked goods from the other block, they would stroll to this store to select their entree for dinner. In those days, almost everyone knew each other; many of the women walked to Main Street each day from their homes. They often bought what they wanted at one store and put the package in the corner. They went on to the next store, returning for the package after they had completed their shopping so that they wouldn't have to carry so much around town. Sometimes children on bikes would offer to deliver the shoppers' goods to their homes at a modest price.

At 252 Main Street, we'd find one of the more interesting stores, an Art Studio. The instructor was Sara Elliot Levis, and there was no indication that she had any helpers. Sara had a good background in art schools and had also taught in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Her basic course was six lessons, each lasting two hours over a three month period, for a total of $5.00. Those who knew they wanted a longer course with slightly longer periods could sign up for six months for $12.00, but payment had to be made in advance.

Many courses were offered at the Art School: painting with live models, still life and statue drawing lessons, photographic work, watercolors, retouching, oils, pastels, the cleaning of paintings. China painting commanded a large number of students. Several classes were held at the same time. Ms. Levis took orders for almost any type of painting and encouraged people to contact her at her home, 31 Estaugh Ave.

At the corner of Ellis and Main Streets, Charles S. Braddock and Son had a general store filled with every day house wares; one of their specialties was Rochester Metal Ware.

B.F. Fowler occupied the area at East Main Street and Haddon Avenue. Often a crowd gathered there on a Friday night because Fowler's handled general merchandise. Almost anything was available in that store: appliances, radios, clothing, shoes, necessities for cleaning such as mops, brooms, and the latest in vacuum cleaners. Decorative items such as paintings were sold as well as dishes, utensils and furniture.

Most of the stores in town were geared to the residents who at that time bought almost everything locally. The shop keepers knew everyone by name. Walking up town every day to buy goods was one way to talk with the neighbors and keep up with the local gossip.