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Note: Bill:
Here is what I can tell you and some of what I have to say is pure conjecture on
my part. The 1897 city directory has the following information:
Cole, George W. (Martha M.), contractor, *1017 Bulson Ave.
Cole, George W. & Son (George W. and Henry N.), Contractors, 1017 Bulson
Cole, Henry N. (G.W. Cole & Son) h, 1017 Bulson Ave.
The 1904-05 directory seems to indicate that Henry changed his name around:
Cole, Norman H. (Fannie), Contractor, 1008 Bulson Ave.
Here is what I can tell you based on my knowledge of Camden History:
First, the location of George's house was right along the Atlantic City
Railroad's mainline, so I doubt it was the most pleasant place to live. The
facade faced the tracks. However, George did own the house, as indicated by the
asterisk in the city directory listing above.
In 1862, a freed slave named Dempsey Butler left Virginia for Camden. Mr.
Butler became a most influential and affluent man and was the first
African-American in New Jersey history to have made over $100,000 in real estate
and its development. Butler was responsible for building much of what is known
as Kaighnsville (7th Ward). He introduced the Black population of Camden to
Masonry and began the "blue lodge" of Camden on Kaighn's Avenue. Learning that
former U.S. Colored Troop veterans were being denied burial in Camden's
Evergreen Cemetery, Dempsey Butler purchased a piece of ground adjacent to the
rear of Evergreen and established the Dempsey Butler Cemetery for Black burials.
He died about 1900 (I don't quite remember--I will have to check) and left money
to many charities in Camden associated with the Black community.
Now, I have provided you with this very brief bio of Dempsey Butler because I
would not be surprised at all that your George Cole was working as a builder for
Butler. If not, I can tell you that a great deal of construction was also
occurring in Centreville at that time, so he may have working there.
The old 8th Ward was the center of a very powerful political machine, which was
more or less destroyed when other political powers moved in and destroyed whole
blocks of old Centreville and constructed public housing projects. Centreville
was also the "United Nations" of late 19th and early 20th century Camden. It
was not unusual for an African-American to live next door to an Englishman who
may have lived next to a man from Turkey. Everyone got along just fine!
If you would be so kind, please send me the names of all eleven children
produced by George and Martha Cole. The names may be helpful in identifying
some of George's siblings. I am not aware of any photographs existing for
George W. Cole, but will keep my eyes open for one. It also does not register
in my mind about his political incursions. I really don't think a mortgage will
provide you with any names useful in your search.
Paul Shopp, Camden Historical Society
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