Albert A. Weller

Introduction

Albert A. Weller fire department book photo

Albert A. Weller was born March 6, 1910. He was 18 when he married Jessie Havlick. Twin sons, Russell and Albert were born soon afterwards. The 1930 Census shows that Albert A. Weller had married while still quite young. He was living with his wife Jessie, twin sons Robert and Albert, and mother-in-law Marie Havlick, at 253 Burns Street in North Camden. Albert then worked as a driver.

Albert A. Weller joined the Camden Fire Department on November 21, 1938. He was promoted to Captain on June 16, 1951. After his promotion, he served with Ladder Company 2 and Rescue Company 1.

Albert and Jessie Weller appear to have separated by 1947. He lived at 638 Bailey Street in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, while Mrs. Weller first moved to North 35th Street and later to Collingswood.

Captain Weller retired on May 1, 1965. He had left Bailey Street by the fall of 1969. Albert A. Weller passed away on March 12, 1972.

253 Burns Street

Camden Courier-Post — June 3, 1933

Twins, Baby Sister Saved From Fire

Camden Courier-Post — June 3, 1933

Father and Great Grandmother Carry Children from Blazing Shed

Twin brothers, 5, and their sister, 9 months, were rescued yesterday from their North Camden home by their father, and great-grandmother from a fire caused by the upsetting of a flaming bucket of gasoline into which a lighted match had been thrown.

The blaze, in a rear shed of the home of Mrs. Mary Havlick, 74, of 253 Burns Street, great-grandmother of the children, also ignited the adjoining dwelling of William Bolopue, a huckster, at 251 Burns Street. The Bolopue family was not at home. The fire occurred shortly after 11 a. m.

Albert Weller, the father of the children and grandson of Mrs. Havlick, told firemen that the fire started after he had carelessly tossed a lighted match into a pail of gasoline which he had drained from his auto-mobile in the rear of the house.

When Weller tried to extinguish the blaze in the pail, he told firemen, he stumbled over and upset it. The flames caught afire the shed at the rear of the house.

Slamming shut the shed door to cut off the draft, Weller seized his twin boys, Russell and Albert, Jr., Mrs. Havlick snatched the baby, Doris, from a high chair. The grandmother and her grandson took the children to the home of a neighbor, Mrs. Mae Bard, 252 Burns Street.

Meanwhile, someone had sent in a fire alarm, and firemen arrived in time to put out the fire in both houses before much damage resulted.

During the blaze, Mrs. Jessie Weller, mother of the children, was visiting the headquarters of the Emergency Relief Administration to apply for more food for her babies.

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

Camden Courier-Post — August 19, 1957

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 MacNeir, 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.