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Campbell Street, which runs perpendicular
to Broad Street from Greene Street to Meeting
Street, has a rich history in Camden’s African-
American community -- a history experienced by
some Camden residents who want to preserve it.
“Black people are not the only ones interested
in black history. Historians are interested in
history, period,” said retired Temple University
professor Dr. Ernestyne Adams. Adams grew
up on the north end of Campbell Street and
currently lives in the house built by her
grandfather, Tillman D. James, a carpenter by
trade and a founding member of Camden Second
Presbyterian Church.
Adams stressed the necessity of preserving the industrious members of the black community
African-American contributions which helped had homes … some of them even built their own
to develop Camden into its current prosperity. homes. Many of the original homeowners were
Many of these contributions were economic also professionals. If they were not professionals
as the African-American community founded,
owned and operated a vast number of businesses they were tradesmen which gave them the
opportunity to develop their enterprises, form a
scattered throughout the entire downtown
commercial district. middle class and send their children to college,”
Adams said. “It was a great place to raise
“When you talk about and research the
development of a place, you have to think about children. All of the people on that street knew
one another whether they lived on the south end
everyone who settled it,” Adams said. or the north end.”
Camden Archives and Museum Director Richardson said she hopes the new Campbell Street Cor-
Katherine Richardson said she was approached by ridor brochure map and online audio tour (available at www.
Camden Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford, who asked classicallycarolina.com/audio-tours ) will provide more in-
about digging deeper into that development. sight into this community.
The homes, churches, schools and businesses “(Campbell Street) was the neighborhood
along Campbell Street stood out as an important where prosperous upper-class and middle-class
location for the historic African-American African- Americans built their houses and lived
community. A middle class was built on the from around 1910 through the 1950s. Many
street from the late 1800s to the 1950s. of the residents have gotten older and passed
“A significant part of the Campbell Street away, but it was an absolutely beautiful street,”
Corridor is where some of the more affluent and Richardson said
By Tenell Felder

Camden ~ Classically Carolina / 21