When They
Wanted to Open
A Bar In City Hall

One of the many strange and interesting stories that I've come across was the proposal to open up a bar on the 12th floor of City Hall. Well, it was a bit more complicated than that. The problem was that two veterans groups, Camden Post 980 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the August F. Walters Post No. 4 of the Disabled American Veterans, were being asked to relocate by the city, and there was a thought that perhaps the city could rent space at City Hall to them. One of the groups wanted to bring their club liquor license with them, and that is how the proposal came about. S. Raymond Dobbs, assistant to Commissioner Frank Hartmann Jr., consulted City Solicitor E.G.C. Bleakly as to the legality of such an idea. Commissioner Harold W. Bennett and Mayor Frederick von Nieda were also opposed to the proposal.

While it was determined that no law prohibited a bar at City Hall, the idea flew like a lead balloon and was dropped immediately.  

Camden Courier-Post - August 12, 1936

Camden Courier-Post - August 14, 1936