Introduction
Ladder Company 1 was organized on September 2, 1869 as one of the original units of the paid Camden Fire Department, and entered service on December 7th, 1869 at the old fire headquarters, 29 North 5th Street, at Arch Street in center city Camden. Ladder Company 1 relocated to a new building erected next door at 31 North 5th Street in 1894, and remained at that site until 1930 when it returned to 29 North 5th once again.
Ladder Company 1 received its first motorized truck when it was delivered and unloaded on December 8, 1913. It went into service on December 15, 1913. The first run was made on December 18, 1913 at 7:16 PM to 816 Cooper Street, with Steward Bakley driving and William H. Tatem serving as tillerman.
Ladder Company 1 remained at 29 North 5th Street until 1961 when the Camden Fire Department moved its headquarters to 3 North 3rd Street, a building which had formerly housed the Camden Courier-Post newspaper. Ladder Company 1 moved to its present location on November 7, 1978 at 2 North 3rd Street, the corner of 3rd and Federal Streets, when the current fire headquarters building was opened.
Ladder Company 1 — 1908
Ladder Company 1, 1908: Peter B. Carter, Captain; Peter S. Gray, Lieutenant; Harry Burrough, Tillerman; Steward Bakley, Driver; Howard Currie, Rollo Jones, Harvey Watts, Harry Green, and Edward Finley, Laddermen. One of the laddermen appear to have not been present when this photograph was taken, due to illness or vacation.
Personnel — November 1, 1898 to April 30, 1914
The information below was gleaned from the actual attendance log for Ladder Company 1. Harvey Watts served with Ladder 1 on three occasions during this period. George T. Quinn, Wright Cox, Henry Grosscup, and Joseph Maxwell each served on two different occasions.
| Name | From | To / Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin L. Kellum | November 1, 1898 | February 28, 1900 | Captain |
| Peter S. Gray | November 1, 1898 | February 1, 1913 | Lieutenant |
| William Curliss | November 1, 1898 | January 15, 1899 | Tillerman |
| Steward Bakley | November 1, 1898 | Active on April 30, 1914 | |
| Edward Weston | November 1, 1898 | February 28, 1900 | |
| Harry A. Haines Sr. | November 1, 1898 | February 28, 1900 | |
| John Gray | November 1, 1898 | Sick 2/15/1902 — Died April 19, 1902 | |
| George T. Quinn (1) | November 1, 1898 | November 4, 1902 | |
| Wright Cox (1) | February 1, 1899 | February 28, 1900 | Tillerman 2/1/1899 |
| George P. Cox (Promoted to Assistant Chief) | March 1, 1900 | July 16, 1907 | Captain |
| Robert Colkett | March 1, 1900 | February 28, 1905 | Tillerman 3/1/1900 |
| Howard Currie | March 1, 1900 | August 1, 1911 | Tillerman 1/1/1909 |
| James Navin | March 1, 1900 | July 31, 1903 | |
| Henry Grosscup (1) | July 15, 1900 | July 26, 1900 | |
| Jacob Kellum | July 15, 1900 | February 11, 1901 | |
| Joseph Maxwell (1) | July 16, 1900 | February 12, 1901 | |
| Henry Grosscup (2) | August 31, 1900 | September 12, 1900 | |
| J. William Simpson | April 19, 1902 | April 30, 1903 | |
| Charles Worthington | November 10, 1902 | June 30, 1905 | |
| George T. Quinn (2) | May 1, 1903 | August 26, 1903 | |
| William Hill | August 1, 1903 | June 30, 1905 | |
| Harvey G. Watts (1) | May 10, 1904 | May 14, 1904 | |
| Rollo Jones | February 1, 1905 | January 16, 1909 | |
| Wright Cox (2) | March 1, 1905 | July 16, 1907 | Tillerman 3/1/1905 |
| Charles Cook | July 1, 1905 | January 2, 1908 | |
| Harry Green | July 1, 1905 | Active on April 30, 1914 | |
| Edward Finley | July 1, 1905 | Sick 2/12/1914 — Died March 5, 1914 | |
| Peter B. Carter (to Engine 1, June 19, 1911) | July 16, 1907 | June 19, 1911 | Captain |
| Harry S. Burrough | July 16, 1907 | Active on April 30, 1914 | Tillerman 7/16/1907 |
| Harvey G. Watts (2) | January 3, 1908 | January 16, 1909 | |
| Samuel Harring | January 16, 1909 | September 22, 1909 | |
| William Tatem | January 16, 1909 | Active on April 30, 1914 | Tillerman 8/1/1911 |
| Harvey G. Watts (3) | September 22, 1909 | September 1, 1911 | Captain |
| Joseph Maxwell (2) | June 19, 1911 | Active on April 30, 1914 | To Engine 5 |
| Charles Gladney | August 1, 1911 | Active on April 30, 1914 | Lieutenant 2/1/1913 |
| Harry C. Anderson | September 1, 1911 | Active on April 30, 1914 | From Engine 5 |
| William Walton | February 1, 1913 | Active on April 30, 1914 | |
| George Hollins | March 11, 1914 | Active on April 30, 1914 |
1914 American LaFrance 75 Foot Aerial Ladder
Ladder Company 1, February 1914: William H. Tatem, Tillerman; Harry Burrough, Driver; Civilian is probably American LaFrance Salesman Clarence Stanford.
Ladder Company 1, 1914: Joseph Maxwell, Captain; Harry C. Anderson, Lieutenant; William H. Tatem, Tillerman; Harry Burrough, Driver; Steward Bakley, William Walton, Charles Gladney, Harry Green, and George Hollins, Laddermen. This picture appears to have been taken after February 10, 1914, which was Ladderman Edward Finley’s last day of work. He died on March 5 and was replaced by George Hollins.
Philadelphia Inquirer — July 30, 1890
CAMDEN’S BIG FIRE.
THE DYE WORKS OF JOHN J. HAYES COMPLETELY DESTROYED.
Two Firemen Injured and an Engine Badly Damaged—Other News From Across the River.
A fire at Sixth and Mechanic streets, Camden, yesterday afternoon, destroyed the dye works of John J. Hayes. About 5 o’clock workmen were startled by the cry of “Fire!” from an outsider. The drying room, which was in the main building, was found to be in flames. The workmen rushed through the building to close down the windows to cut off the draught, but soon had to cease, owing to the rapid spread of the flames. The men had hardly got out before the whole building was enveloped in flames. The two adjoining buildings soon caught, and within fifteen minutes the whole establishment was on fire. The entire fire department was out, but only three engines could get into service. No. 3 engine, while attempting to round the corner at Sixth and Mechanic streets, got in a hole, was upset and so badly damaged that it was totally unfit for use. Driver Samuel Lodge leaped from his seat in time to escape being injured.
At 6 o’clock the front of the main building fell in. Foreman Mortimer Wilson, of No. 3; Hoseman William Bogia, of No. 1, and Ladderman Charles Robinson were at this point and had a close call. Foreman Wilson was badly burned about the face and hands and sustained a scalp wound. He was conveyed to the Cooper Hospital. Hoseman Bogia had his leg injured, Robinson escaped uninjured.
Engine Company 3 — Engine Company 1 — Samuel Lodge — Mortimer Wilson — William Bogia — Charles Robinson — Cooper Hospital — Daniel Scofield — Ladder Company 1
Camden Courier — May 22, 1925
4 FIREMEN HURT FIGHTING BLAZE IN APARTMENTS
Four Families Forced to Flee Down Fire Escape in Cooper St. Blaze
INVALID WOMAN CARRIED TO SAFETY BY RESCUERS
Flames Scorch Rubber-Coated ‘Smoke-Eaters’ on Narrow Stairs
RUSH-HOUR CROWD GAZES
Four firemen were burned, an aged invalid woman was carried to safety and four families were driven down a fire escape to the street when fire swept an apartment house at 620 Cooper street late yesterday.
The blaze started at 5.30 o’clock from unknown origin in a wardrobe in the hall on the third floor, burst through the roof, ate its way into the second floor, and spread to several apartments on the third floor. Hundreds of spectators gathered in the street to watch, and rush-hour traffic on Cooper street was blocked.
The firemen were scorched on the faces and hands by a blast of flame from the burning wardrobe, as they fought their way up the narrow, enclosed staircase to the third floor with chemical lines and hand-extinguishers, while a water line was being run up a ladder to third floor windows in the front of the building.
Driven Down Stairs
Despite the protection afforded by rubber coats and helmets, the men were driven down the well-like stairs time and again, their faces, hair and eyebrows scorched from the intense heat.
While they were fighting to get at the source of the blaze, five women, six children and two men, living in second and third floor apartments, made their way to a fire escape in the rear of the building and escaped safely to the ground.
In the meantime, smoke was pouring into open windows of the adjoining house at 622 Cooper street, used as a residence by Dr. Thomas B. Lee and as offices by four other physicians. Dr. Lee, a former member of the State Board of Health, sailed from New York this morning for a two months clinical course in Europe. He and Mrs. Lee had left their home before the fire.
Dr. Lee’s aged aunt, Mrs. Thomas Wescott, convalescing from illness, was in a third-floor room as smoke filled the building. She had to be assisted to the street by other members of the household.
Deputy Fire Chief Hurt
The injured firemen are Deputy Fire Chief Thomas Nicholas, his chauffeur, David Ellis, and Hoseman William Chambers and Leonard Magee, of Engine 2, which company, with Truck No. 1, responded to the one alarm sent in by occupants of one of the third floor apartments. All were treated for burns by Dr. David F. Bentley, Jr., at the physician’s offices next door at 622 Cooper street.
The occupants who fled down the fire escape are Mrs. Benjamin Kennedy and her two children, Mrs. Jenny Cramer and four children, Mr. and Mrs. A. Sutton, Miss Elva Lloyd, Miss Agnes Anderson and James Andrews. Many others had not returned from business, and firemen had to chop down the doors to their rooms to make certain the flames were all extinguished. That required three-quarters of an hour. Firemen estimated the damage at well over $1,000.
“If the fire had occurred in the middle of the night,” said Chief Nicholas, “there would surely have been loss of life. The narrow stairways make that type of house a very difficult one in which to fight a fire.”
1929 American LaFrance 75 Foot Aerial Ladder
1929 American LaFrance 75 Foot Aerial Ladder
Photo from early 1950s — 1929 American LaFrance 75 Foot Aerial Ladder. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
1952 American LaFrance 100 Foot Aerial Ladder
1952 American LaFrance 100 Foot Aerial Ladder. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
1952 American LaFrance 100 Foot Aerial Ladder. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
Camden Courier-Post — August 19, 1957
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, rescue squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNier, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.
Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Guiliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
Philadelphia Inquirer — October 24, 1920
FIREMAN CAUGHT WHEN WALL FALLS, SAVED
His Chief Has Narrow Escape at Blaze Destroying Camden Plant
One fireman was hurt, and Chief Peter B. Carter and several other members of the Camden department narrowly escaped injury by the collapse of a portion of the building while fighting flames which destroyed the old Murphy oilcloth plant at Ferry avenue and Mechanic street, yesterday afternoon. Warned by the cries of onlookers when the roof started to tumble outward the firemen fled. All got safely away with the exception of George Hollins, of No. 1 Truck Company. He was caught under a section of the roof and smoldering timbers. Fellow-firemen quickly extricated him and sent him to the Homeopathic Hospital, where he was treated for shock and lacerations of the scalp. A piece of burning plank struck Chief Carter’s helmet, but he escaped injury.
The Murphy building was burned to the ground with a loss of $10,000. It was a two-story frame structure, 75 by 22 feet. It had not been used for the making of oilcloth for several years, and did not contain any machinery. A fertilizer concern last used the building, which had been vacant for several months. The structure was owned by the Peter J. Murphy estate. Chief Carter suspects that the fire was started by boys or vagrants.
A Philadelphia fireboat went over to the Camden side to help if its services were needed, as for a time it was feared that the flames might spread to Danehower’s grocery warehouse and the Waterall paint plant. However, the flames were confined to the Murphy plant, which is a smouldering mass of ruins.
Peter B. Carter — George Hollins — Ladder Company 1 — West Jersey Hospital — Ferry Avenue — Mechanic Street — Peter J. Murphy
September 23, 1959 — Howard Street
Fireman George Baxter, Ladder Company 1, displays the fruits of his labor, a newborn litter of pups rescued from a working fire on Howard Street in North Camden. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Fire Prevention Week 1968 — Concord Chemical Company, 1698 Federal Street
Ladder Company 1 — Evolutions at Concord Chemical Company, 1698 Federal Street, during Fire Prevention Week.
Fire Drill at Camden Day Nursery — 1965
Named: 327 Stevens Street, Camden Day Nursery, and 1965.
May 22, 1965
May 22, 1965
1965 — Chestnut Street from Orchard Street
Looking east on Chestnut Street from Orchard Street — 1965. Camden Fire Department Ladder Company 1 & Ladder Company 2. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
1968 — Fire Training at Steelman Business School, 502 Linden Street
Battalion 1 Chief Allen F. Hess Sr. and Captain Richard Brooks of Ladder Company 1 discuss problem before laddering process began. Fire Training at Steelman Business School, 502 Linden Street, 1968.
Fire training at Steelman Business School, 502 Linden Street, 1968. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
Ladder Company 1 in Action
Ladder Company 1 in action. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
January 3, 1973 — Federal Street
January 3, 1973 — Federal Street in front of Dudley Grange. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
October 9, 1973 — Liberty Public School, 740 Spruce Street
Liberty Public School, 740 Spruce Street. Engine Company 8 & Ladder Company 2 on scene in front of school. Fire Fighter William Hopkins at the Tiller of Ladder Company 1. October 9, 1973. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
March 27, 1977 — The Hurley Store, Broadway and Pine Street
Fire at The Hurley Store, Broadway & Pine Street. Engine Company 7 with Ladder Company 1 & Ladder Company 2. March 27, 1977. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
June 27, 1977 — Fire Headquarters, Third and Arch Streets
Fire Headquarters, Third Street & Arch Streets. June 27, 1977. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
Ladder Company 1 in Action
Ladder Company 1 in action. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
March 24, 1980 — 1128 Haddon Avenue
Fire fighter does effective job of venting front of pool hall as Ladder Company 1 gets into position above. This fire, on March 24, 1980, went to a Third Alarm with many special calls. Parkside Billiards, 1128 Haddon Avenue. Photographs by Bob Bartosz.
Ladder Company 1 in Action
Ladder Company 1 in action.
1970s–1990s
Named: Ladder Company 1, 1970s, and 1990s.
1992 — Front Street and Market Street
Looking south on Front Street from Market Street, this 1992 photo is of Camden Fire Department Ladder Company 1 combating a fire on the 4th floor of the then vacant Campbell Soup plant.
1992 Sutphen 100 Foot Tower Ladder
1992 Sutphen 100 Foot Tower Ladder
2009 PAXT 100’ Extension Ladder
2009 PAXT 100’ Extension Ladder
Ladder Company 1 in Action
Ladder Company 1 in action.
August 14, 1969 — Haddon Avenue and Federal Street
Canteen Corpsman Peter Meyer of the South Jersey Fire Buffs Association serves refreshments to Captain William Ayers of Ladder Company 1 following battle at tough Third Alarm at Haddon Avenue and Federal Street, August 14, 1969. Standing in background, Fire Inspector William Neale. Corpsman Meyer later joined the Philadelphia Fire Department. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
March 22, 1970 — North 4th Street and Vine Street
Fire at North 4th Street and Vine Street — March 22, 1970. Firefighter standing closest to apparatus: Ferdinand J. Meloni.
February 21, 1986 — North 28th Street and Garfield Avenue
North 28th Street & Garfield Avenue — February 21, 1986
South Camden — 1994
South Camden — 1994
Ladder 1 at the DiMedio Lime Company — 1990s
Ladder 1 at the DiMedio Lime Company — 1990s
1990 — Center City Fourth Alarm
Center City Fourth Alarm — 1990
June 17, 2006 — 620 Sycamore Street
Story and Photo: Bob Bartosz
Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ — 6 Working Fires along with a Rescue
Camden Firefighters had a busy 24 hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with four all hands fires and two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city.
The first job was a working fire in a row of two story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street. A few hours later in the AM hours they were called to the 700 block of Cherry Street.
First-in companies found heavy fire showing in a large 3 story brick dwelling that put all companies to work within minutes. Part of the structure collapsed and Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes later while the fire was going, another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away.
As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2 story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue.
Fire Radio put in a special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the City. Fire Companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, and Pennsauken Township were put to work fighting these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control.
A few hours later firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an explosion and fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2 story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor and he requested the second alarm to be transmitted.
Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike DiPascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1.
Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor. Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. Captain Sandrock of Rescue 1 was OPS Officer. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma.
Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. Car 3 Harper placed the assignment under control.
The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF.
Cherry Hill Township Canteen Unit, RIT team and Rehab Unit, and County Fire Police and Camden County Field Com units were special called. This was a busy 24 hours with 4 all hands and 2 second alarm fires and a life saving rescue.
617-619 Bailey Street — December 13, 2007
Photographs by Bob Bartosz
Camden NJ Fire Fighters Battle Smokey 2 Alarm Blaze
Shortly after 1:00 PM on December 13, 2007 a police car on patrol spotted heavy smoke coming from a row of vacant dwellings in the 600 block of Bailey Street in the North Camden section of the city. At the same time Camden County Fire Radio and Camden Police 911 Center were receiving calls for the same fire location. Companies were now dispatched along with Battalion 2 Chief Mike DiPascale. Fire Radio informed Battalion 2 that they were receiving numerous calls and were adding the extra Engine Company to the box.
Engine Company 6, under the command of Captain Sandrock, was first on location and reported that he had a row of two story vacant dwellings with the first two dwellings heavily involved and that he was going in service. Battalion 2 was now on location and informed Fire Radio to strike an all hands box and requested an additional Engine and Ladder Company to be dispatched.
It was a rainy, misty day and the smoke was so heavy that fire fighters had a hard time trying to see up the street to where the fire was located. All of the dwellings were heavily boarded up, making it extremely hard for the fire fighters to make entry. Truck Companies went up to the roof to ventilate. Six 1–3/4” lines were now in service as fire fighters were making good progress attacking the fire. They were able to contain the blaze to two dwellings with some damage to the third dwelling. About 40 minutes into the fire Chief DiPascale placed the fire under control. The fire is being investigated by the Camden City Fire Marshal’s Office and the Camden Police Department Arson Squad.
Members of Engine Company 6, commanded by Captain Sandrock, going into 617 Bailey Street.
Members of Ladder Company 3 in the command of Captain Andy Magee heading to the roof to ventilate.
Smoke was so heavy that the fire fighters had a hard time seeing up the street.
Members of Ladder Company 1 led by Captain Merklein and Rescue Company 1 under Captain Glassman making entry to the heavily boarded-up dwellings.
Fire fighters force their way through heavy smoke to attack the blaze.
Fire fighter used a chainsaw to cut through the boarded-up door.
Ladder Company 1 on North 3rd Street — May 11, 2010
Ladder Company 1 on North 3rd Street — May 11, 2010
Ladder Company 1 on Federal Street — February 7, 2013
Ladder Company 1 on Federal Street — February 7, 2013
Credits
Many photographs from the limited edition book Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869–1994 and were taken by Bob Bartosz.
Photos from 2010 forward by Phil Cohen.