Joseph Campbell House

Joseph Campbell House. . , The home of the Campbell Soup Company's founder , As a child in deep South Jersey, Joseph Campbell likely could not dream how successful his life would be – and he would have been stunned to learn that nearly two centuries later his name would appear on millions of cans of preserved foods each year., A rural childhood … and a hard family life , Joseph was the fifth of 12 children of a country blacksmith living near Bridgeton, born in 1817. He was likely sent to work early to support the large family., Over his long life, Joseph lost two wives and three children, including both of his sons. His first wife was gone within just 18 months of their marriage. His third wife, Sarah Boyd Campbell, and three daughters survived him., Building a business , At age 41 he had a fruit business in Philadelphia. His own roots in "Down Jersey" helped him build strong relationships with hundreds of farmers, with whom he was a kindred spirit., Ten years later Joseph partnered with a tinsmith named Abraham Anderson in a venture to preserve produce in metal cans. They called themselves Anderson and Campbell and operated in Camden at 39-43 N. 2nd St., As his fortunes grew, in 1872 Joseph purchased this magnificent Second Empire house in front of you, just a few years old., Anderson and Campbell parted company in 1876 and, with a new name, the Joseph Campbell Company prospered., In a brilliant move, the 65-year-old Joseph Campbell brought Arthur Dorrance into the business in 1882. It was he who modernized the business and later hired his nephew Dr. John T. Dorrance, who originated the idea of condensed, canned soup … and made history., Soon, Dorrances were also living in Riverton., As the business grew more corporate, Joseph retired as president in 1894. He stayed involved, riding the train to the office every day., Life in Riverton , Joseph and Sarah raised three daughters in this house: Ella, Elizabeth ("Lizzy" or "Beth"), and Antoinette ("Nettie"). The 1880 Census also showed his mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and two servants rounding out the household. Joseph kept a carriage and delighted in his pair of matched black horses., Ella was the only child to marry, and the couple lived in this house, too, bearing a daughter in 1889. Grandparents Joseph and Sarah doted upon their only grandchild. She was named Therese and lived a long life in Riverton, passing away in 1990., The whole family soon moved to a new house at 205 Lippincott Avenue and rented out this house, 308 Main St., as a boarding house. It later became a single-family home again., Joseph was active in Riverton affairs, notably serving as a founding trustee and treasurer of Calvary Presbyterian Church., One day in the late winter of 1900 he felt ill and stayed home from work. He died later that day, at age 82., This house suffered a long decline after world war two, subdivided into many apartments. Owners Jan and Dennis DeVries and Morgan and Andy Leone undertook restoring it to its original glory as a single-family dwelling.