The Kirkwood Hotel

LONG AFTER THIS SITE played a role in the fight for American independence, it became home to one of the great Camden resorts of the early twentieth century – the Kirkwood Hotel. Prominent during Camden’s Era (1880s-1940s), the stately 200-room manor opened on West Greene Street in 1903 and accommodated 350 wealthy guests looking for a respite from Northern and Midwestern winters. Ensconced in the lap of luxury from the minute they passed by the massive white columns at the main entrance, the lucky vacationers enjoyed myriad activities and services – buggy rides, polo matches, steeplechase races, fox hunts and parties – from morning to night. When you stroll through the neighborhood today, you can imagine the stables, golf course, and gardens and see the old polo field where the Camden team competed.
At its height in the early 1920s, the Kirkwood and several other luxury hotels in this area were a huge boost to the local economy. White and Black townspeople worked at the Kirkwood as maids, butlers, gardeners, laundresses, servers and stable hands. Many families’ lives revolved around the hotel. Edward Gamble was the caretaker and gardener for the Kirkwood between 1915 and 1924. The family lived on Gordon Street, but Gamble’s duties required him to remain at the hotel. His young daughters took turns staying at the Kirkwood with him during the office season so he would not be lonely. Gamble’s wife, a dressmaker, was employed at the Kirkwood. She sewed uniforms for the hotel maids and made clothing and alterations for hotel guest.
Nearby farms and stores provided food, firewood, and other necessities for the constant flow of tourists. Camden’s barbers, livery drivers and clothing stores were thriving. The Great Depression of the 1930’s took its toll on Camden, however, as American lost their fortunes and tightened their belts. The popularity of the charming Southern winter colony began to wane. The onset of World War II eventually brought an end to the grand hotel, which closed its doors in 1943.