Introduction
Engine Company 5 was organized and entered service on July 1, 1905 at 1401 Federal Street, from where it could serve the upper reaches of Center City, North Camden, and lend assistance to East Camden and Cramer Hill. Edgar Boulton was selected in May of 1905 to be the new company’s first Captain. Charles Worthington, who would rise to the rank of Chief of Department, was also assigned there.
The Company was displaced from its headquarters in 1926 when the firehouse apron at grade (street) level was obstructed by the newly-built Fourteenth Street Viaduct, which crosses the Admiral Wilson Boulevard adjacent to the railroad line. Engine Company 5 at that point was relocated to the 27th Street and Federal Street headquarters of Engine Company 9 in East Camden. The unit was disbanded on January 1, 1933 for budgetary reasons, as the city like so many other New Jersey municipalities was in dire financial straits brought on by the Depression.
The former firehouse at 14th and Federal Street was used by the City of Camden until 1986, when it was torn down.
Brave Fire-Fighter Heads New Company
Philadelphia Inquirer —
EDGAR BOLTON
Who has been chosen foreman of the new fire company in Camden
The new fire house on Federal street above Twelfth, in the heart of the mill, factory, foundry, textile and lumber district of Camden, is rapidly nearing completion and will soon be ready for occupancy.
Edgar Bolton, of the Second ward, at present a member of the company at Fifth and Arch streets, who has been elected foreman of the new company, was chosen by the Foreign [sic] Commissioners because of his ability and bravery shown at some of Camden’s recent big fires.
One of the institutions of which Camden is proud is its paid fire department, made up of trained fire-fighters, among them Foreman Bolton, who doesn’t know the meaning of the word fear.
Apparatus
Engine Company 5 — 1905
Engine Company 5 — 1906
Engine Company 5 — 1912–1914 — 2nd Size Steamer
Engine Company 5 — 1920s
Fireman in a Mix-Up
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Charles Worthington Accuses Edgar Bolton of Assault
Fireman Edgar Bolton, former foreman of Engine Company No. 5, of Camden, was arrested by Captain of Police Albert yesterday, on a charge of atrocious assault and battery preferred by Charles Worthington, a member of the same company. Worthington, while returning to the fire house after supper, was so badly beaten at the hands of a man he says was Bolton, that he was taken to Cooper Hospital, where a number of stitches were found necessary to close the wounds.
The facts were immediately reported to Chief Elfreth and he suspended Bolton. A special meeting of the Fire Committee of City Council has been called for to-morrow night to take action on the charges preferred by Chief Elfreth against Bolton.
New Fireman in Bolton's Place
Philadelphia Inquirer —
New Fireman in Bolton’s Place
The Fire Committee of Camden City Council last night appointed Arthur Wingate, of the Ninth ward, a fireman to take the place of Edgar Bolton, who resigned.
Engine Company 5 with Electric Hose Wagon
Engine Company No. 5 at 14th and Federal Streets, with newly converted hose wagon. Originally a horse drawn rig, it was modified to electric power by the Commercial Truck Company of Philadelphia PA. A storage battery powered each wheel.
Pictured with apparatus are (l to r): Chief Peter Carter, Fireman Scott Franklin, Chauffeur Bert Coffman, Firemen Edward Kelley, William Buzine, John Prucella, Charles Schultz, Horace Cairns, Daniel Grimes and Chief’s Aide, Fireman Harry Hankins.
Engine Company 5 Personnel
- William E. Hibbert
- Edgar Bolton
- Charles Worthington
- Charles Watkin
Captain Todd Placed on Pension
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Camden Council’s Fire Committee yesterday granted the application of Captain Charles Todd to be placed on pension February 28. Lieutenant Charles Watkins, of No. 5 Company, was advanced to a captaincy, and Harry Chambers, of No 2 Truck, was made a lieutenant. Alfred Lasby, of the Fourth ward, was made a fireman to fill the vacancy in the department. Captain Todd has been in the department for twenty-two years and is head of No 7 Engine Company.
Credits
Many of the Fire Department photographs on this website are from the limited edition book “Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869–1994.” Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.
4 Cops, 4 Firemen, Widow of One Win City Pensions
Camden Courier-Post —
Johnson, Garrity, Crawford, Stahl Retire Aug. 31
Four police officers and four firemen applied for pensions under the mandatory 65-year-old retirement law today.
The applications, all approved by the police-firemen pension board, are in line with Commissioner Aaron’s order in December, 1948, advising chiefs of the respective services that state law requires retirement of all personnel who have reached 65.
Police officers to be pensioned are Detective Capt. Samuel E. Johnson, 71, Capt. John T. Garrity, 65, Detective Frank Crawford, 69, and Patrolman Harry Stahl, 68.
Fire department members include Deputy Chief Clarence Madden, 67, and Firemen John Prucella, 75; Spencer Smith Sr., 68, and Frank L’Esperance, 66.
The eight men will retire Aug. 31, with each receiving one-half of the average annual salary of the last three years.
Also approved today was an application for a widow’s pension by Mrs. Carrie Bean, 1103 North Twenty-sixth street. Her husband, Patrolman Howard Bean, died June 8, eight days after being pensioned. She will receive $1000 annually.
Captain Johnson, of 211 Elm street, is considered the dean of the police department, having served 40 years.
Johnson, who will receive $2019 annually, was appointed in April, 1910, and was made a detective 10 years later. He was elevated to sergeant in November, 1928, and to lieutenant in 1930. One year after he was cited in 1942 by former Public Safety Director Mary Kobus, Johnson was raised to captain. He served as acting police chief from December, 1947, to December, 1949.
Captain Garrity will receive $1601 annually. He served as commander in each of the three city districts. Garrity was appointed in January, 1920; made sergeant July, 1930; lieutenant in 1940, and captain on June 30, 1944. He lives at 2515 Morgan boulevard.
Following a “pep” meeting with city detectives Thursday, Aaron announced he had transferred Captain Garrity to his office for “special assignments.” Sgt. William Schultz was named acting captain to head the third police district to replace Garrity.
Crawford, of 578 Chestnut street, will draw $1501. He was named to the force in 1912 and resigned eight years later. In 1931 he was reinstated and received a promotion to detective status in 1942. He was cited by former Chief John Golden.
Stahl Appointed in 1917
Stahl lives at 1513 Baird avenue. After his appointment in 1917, he saw service in most departments of the bureau. He will receive an annual pension of $1401.
Chief Madden, 2760 Mickle street, is serving as fire commander for the second fire district at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets. He was appointed July 1, 1910 and assigned to Engine Co. 5, Fifth and Arch streets.
In 1922 he was raised to lieutenant, and six years later became senior captain. Madden was named battalion chief Nov. 21, 1944 and deputy chief on Dec. 16, 1949.
Madden will receive about $2000, with the others drawing approximately $1358 annually.
Prucella, 919 Penn street, was sworn in on Nov. 1, 1911 and joined Engine Co. 5. Since 1933 he has been serving at No. 6 Engine Co., Front and Linden streets.
Smith was appointed May 1, 1914 and assigned to No. 1 Engine Co., Fourth and Pine streets. He has been attached to No. 10 Engine Co., Ninth street and Morgan boulevard, since 1920.
Frank L’Esperance, 604 Clinton street, is also a member of No. 10 Engine Co., where he has been attached since 1938. He was appointed June 6, 1918 and served with No. 5 and No. 3 engine companies.
Firefighters Fete ‘Shorty’ Prucella After 39 Years in Service of City
Camden Courier-Post —
A GOLD WATCH in recognition of his many years of service with the Camden fire department was presented Tuesday to John B. “Shorty” Prucella, 75, retiring member of Engine Co. 6, by his “buddies” of the station. Prucella, who will retire July 15 after 39 years, is given the watch by Hoseman Ernest Tartaglia. Standing, left to right, second row, are Capt. William H. Deitz, P. Farrow, E. Callahan, H. Pike, H. Needham and Capt. Harold Megee; back row, Capt. Thomas Winstanley, of No. 2 Engine Co.; M. Fattore, T. McParland and William Reed.
John B. “Shorty” Prucella on July 15 is going to stop fighting fires, rescuing cats up poles and trees, returning lost children to anxious parents and marching in parades.
On that date Prucella, oldest member of No. 6 Engine Co., will go on pension after 39 years service.
Shorty, as the other eight members an [sic] two captains of his company call him, is 75. He is one of the two remaining veteran fire fighters in the city who formerly drove horse-drawn apparatus.
The other horse driver is Battalion Chief Clarence Madden.
Prucella joined the city electrical bureau in April, 1910, and after 19 months service, transferred in November 1911 to the fire department. It was at Engine Co. No. 5, formerly at Twelfth and Federal streets, where he drove a horse-drawn fire truck.
Receives Watch as Gift
Later, Prucella served at No. 4 Engine Co., formerly at Fourth and Vine streets. He has been stationed at No. 6 company, Front and Linden streets, for the last 17 years.
Shorty’s comrades, in a surprise ceremony Tuesday, presented him with a gold watch. Attending the affair were Captains William H. Deitz and Harold Megee, of the same company; Firemen P. Farrow, E. Callahan, H. Pike, H. Needham, M. Fattore, T. McFarland, William Reed and Ernest Tartaglia, and Battalion Chiefs Edgar Ellender and Howard Gick.
Prucella lives at 919 Penn street with his wife, Hattie; a daughter, Elizabeth, and a son, Raymond. He has two grandchildren.
Will Take It Easy
The veteran smoke-eater announced his future plans call for “taking it easy” and reminiscing about old times.
“The ‘fire department’ is gone now,” Prucella commented. “What people called the fire department went out with the horses. Horses gave something to fire fighting, and when they left there just wasn’t any ‘fire department.’
“Of course, considering that out [sic] engines get out of the fire house in 20 seconds today, is enough to show that horses could never compare with anything we have today. But the horse drawn wagons got out of the firehouse in two minutes, and Heaven help the man who got in their way.
“It hurt when the old plugs were taken away. The keenest horse we owned was turned over to the street cleaning department.”
Biggest fire in Prucella’s experience was the Hollingshed fire in 1940, but he doesn’t like to think about it because 14 persons lost their lives.
Prucella is a member of the International Firefighters Association, Police and Fire Club, Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association and the Camden Lodge of Moose.
Gives Medal to Veteran Fireman
Camden Post-Telegram —
One of the happiest men in Camden is Engineer John A. Dold, who to-day retired on a pension after twenty-five years of faithful service in the Camden Fire Department.
To-day the “boys” at No. 7 Engine Company, where Dold was stationed as engineer for several years, presented him with a handsome gold medal as a mark of their esteem and respect.
The medal is suitably inscribed with Mr. Dold’s name and his history in the department. On the reverse side is an engraved fire engine in action. The medal is a very fine example of the engraver’s art. He was also presented with a silk American flag.
Fireman William Peters presented the flag and medal. The affair was a great surprise to Dold. He spoke with feeling when he thanked the firemen.
As “Gus” took his departure from the fire house the alarm box sounded a farewell. He placed the flag on his shoulder and with the medal pinned on his chest he marched proudly out Kaighn avenue as the boys gave him a rousing send-off.
William Buzine succeeds Dold as engineer at No. 7 Engine Company. Robert Whitley succeeds Buzine at No. 5 Engine Company and Arthur Wingate will be travelling engineer.
Engineer Dodd Retires
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Formally retiring yesterday after twenty-five years of service in the Camden Fire Department, John A. Dodd, engineer of Engine Company No. 7, was presented with a gold medal by his comrades in the company. On one side of the medal is an inscription briefly setting forth his record and on the other side is a reproduction of a fire engine in action. William Buzine takes his place as engineer of No. 7. Robert Whitley goes to No. 5, in Buzine’s place, and Arthur Wingate takes the assignment of traveling engineer.