I Am Collingswood

I Am Collingswood: Walter Schlitz

Walter Schlitz landed in Collingswood on New Year’s Day 1975, moving in “with the lady there on Knight Avenue” after a honeymoon. She passed on in 2001, but he’s still here. And he can’t find anybody to play canasta with.

My meeting with Walter Schlitz began with a piece of loose-leaf upon which he had written the following three paragraphs: Walter N. Schlitz, born December 23, 1913 in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, NJ. Mother died in 1915 and father died in 1918 leaving 4 sons to need new home. I was taken by a friendly family to be raised as one of their own. Went to Camden High School until I finished the Junior year, at which time it was necessary for me to find a job to help out at home. Probably 16 years old. My first job was at RCA's in Camden as a messenger in the mailing department. After that experience, I sent to work at Petty Island for Cities Service Oil, Co as a laborer. That led to different and better jobs on the island until WWII …

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