Pleasure  Gardens. — The  memory  of  the  old-
est inhabitant,  recalling  the  scenes  of  the  fir.st
years  of  the  present  century,  represents  the  site  of
Camden  as  very  rural  in  its  character. Corn-fields,
pasture-lands,  orchards  and  woods  covered  its
face,  and  the  numerous  tidal  streams  flowing  into
the  Delaware  afforded  excellent  sport  for  anglers,
and  Philadelphians  in  large  numbers,  attracted  by
these  conditions,  made  it  a  resort,  and  sought  the
shade  and  pleasure  it  furnished. The  people  of
"  Pluck-em-in  "  (as  Camden  was  sometimes  called),
with  an  eye  to  gain,  encouraged  these  visitations
hy  establishing  gardens,  with  seats  for  the  weary,
viands  for  the  hungry  and  drinks  for  the  thirsty,
adding  to  the  attractions  by  providing  merry-go-
rounds,  shuffle-boards,  nine-pins,  swings  and  other
means  of  pleasure  and  recreation. Every  ferry
had  a  garden  attached  to  it,  and  others  were  to  be
found  in  the  oak  and  pine  groves  covering  much
of  the  land. The  Vauxhall  Garden  was  the  most
noted  of  these  in  the  olden  time,  on  the  east  side
of  Fourth  Street,  between  Market  and  Arch. It
was  first  opened  by  Joseph  Laturno,  a  Frenchman,
who  ran  the  steamer  "Minette"  from  Market
Street  for  the  accommodation  of  his  patrons. This
was  in  1818. The  garden  was  well  patronized,  but
Laturno  soon  left  for  Washington,  taking  the
"  Minette "  with  him. John  Johnson  succeeded,
and  was  in  the  hey-dey  of  success  when  Camden
was  made  a  city. The  first  City  Council  met  in
his  house. This  garden  was  a  great  resort  while
in  Johnson's  hands,  and  multitudes  sought  its
shades,  the  amusements  it  afl'orded  and  the  ice-
cream and  the  rum  toddies  it  supplied. The
latter  were  sometimes  too  strong  for  weak  heads
and  at  times  brawls,  fights  and  even  riots  resulted
from  too  free  indulgence. Johnson  was  succeeded
by  a  German  named  Geyer,  who  was  noted  for
his  fondness  for  crows,  which  he  shot  and  cooked
in  a  way  of  his  own. This  penchant  for  the  sable
croakers  led  a  number  of  young  men  to  go  with  a
wagon  one  night  to  the  crow-roost  or  rookery  in
the  woods,  near  the  Catholic  Cemetery,  in  Stock-
ton township,  where  they  secured  a  large  number,
and  in  the  morning  dumped  them  before  Geyer's
door,  who,  whether  pleased  or  not,  had  the  discre-
tion to  appear  pleased,  and  requested  a  repetition


of  the   favor. 