Introduction
Albert Victor Dukes Sr. was born in Philadelphia on May 2, 1892 to Benjamin and Jane H. Dukes. The 1900 Census shows that his family had moved to Haddon Township, New Jersey. Besides Albert, there was an older step-sister, Mary McCoy, and younger siblings Benjamin F. and Sarah Ruth Dukes, as well as his grandmother Matilda Garrett. Benjamin Dukes worked as a compositor.
Albert V. Dukes Sr. was living in Camden when, in Camden on September 8, 1914, his wife Barbara gave birth to their first child, Albert V. Dukes Jr. Two more sons would follow, Charles Dukes and Robert Dukes. His mother lived with them, sadly, she died in July of 1915. The family was then residing at 3803 Westfield Avenue in East Camden. Albert Dukes Sr. was then out of work but soon landed a job working as a record maker at the Victor Talking Machine Company. Shortly after the January 1920 Census enumeration Albert V. Dukes Sr. joined the Camden Fire Department, serving for many years with Engine Company No. 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal Streets. The Dukes family remained at 3803 Westfield Avenue through at least 1947.
In February of 1938 Albert V. Dukes Jr. joined his father as a member of the Camden Fire Department. Robert Dukes joined the department in 1947 and would serve for over 30 years and rise to the rank of Battalion Chief.
By 1952 Albert V. Dukes Sr. had retired from the Camden Fire Department and had moved to Deland, Florida. He passed away in Florida on May 22, 1953 and was buried there. His widow, Barbara Dukes, was living at 301 Beideman Avenue in Camden’s Westfield Acres Apartments when the 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory was compiled. She died in 1961 and was buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Camden at a Glance
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special to The Inquirer.
Knocked down by a motorcyclist, five-year-old John H Mercer, of 1143 Atlantic avenue, received a probable fracture of the skull and severe lacerations. He was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital. The motorcyclist’s identity is not known by the police.
Miss Ellen Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Thompson, of 828 Federal street, and Joseph McCloskey, of Front and Elm streets, were married at the Church of the Immaculate Conception by Rev. George Welsh.
With a capital of $15,000 the Sturdevant Corporation, whose object is to do a general insurance business, was incorporated yesterday. The incorporators are Frank Sturdevant, Mattie Sturdevant and Malcolm B. Webster.
While sitting on the porch of her home, Mrs. Jane H Dukes, of 3803 Westfield avenue, was fatally stricken with heart disease. Coroner Bushey gave a certificate of death.
World War I Draft Card
Albert V. Dukes Sr. World War I draft card, front.
Albert V. Dukes Sr. World War I draft card, back.
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
Double Shift System Becomes Effective at 8 O’clock on Saturday Morning
ONE TEN HOURS; OTHER 14 HOURS
Saturday morning at 8 o’clock the two-platoon system of the Fire Department becomes effective. At that hour the first shift will go on duty and remain until 8 p. m., when the second squad goes on, remaining until 8 a. m. That will be the procedure in the department henceforth, the schedule being so arranged that every third day there will be a 24-hour shift to let the other off. Every man will have 24 hours off every sixth day.
The arrangements were completed last night at a meeting of Council’s Fire Committee, when assignments were made of the fifty-six recent appointees to the department. With Chief Carter at headquarters will be stationed in resective [sic] shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browninw [sic] will be stationed with their shifts at No. 3 engine house.
At last night’s meeting Congressman F. F. Patterson, Jr., Mayor Charles H. Ellis, President of Council David Jester and Chairman of the Fire Committee Joseph Forsyth made addresses in which they all spoke appreciatively of the fire-fighting force and offered their congratulations to the men in getting what they had sought after many years of effort. Chief Carter was particularly praised for the efficient manner in which he has developed the department. The chief also spoke, thanking the representatives of the city in behalf of the men for the boon given them in the two-platoon system, which means the fire fighters will be able to spend more time with their families.
Everything has been worked out to the least detail and it is anticipated the new system will work without any difficulties.
The assignment of the new men to the various companies follow:
Engine Company No. 1—Alfred E. Green, Charles Errickson, Charles Cook, Leroy Hatchett.
Engine Company No. 2—Howard Lamdon, Edgar Ellander, John K. Voll, Harold E. Loring, Chester J. Andreas, Harry G. Layton.
Engine Company No. 3—Charles Haines, August Haverkamp, Louis Quinton, Chas. S. Clements, Frank Kuda.
Engine Company No. 4—Frank A. Obermann, Walter P. Gray, Albert Ruber, Fred Schucker, Harry Kleinfelder.
Engine Company No. 5—Richard A. Ferris, Frank Fennrio.
Engine Company No. 6—William H. Reed, Manuel J. Kane, Edward Perairia, Thomas Shanahan, Rocco di Varino.
Engine Company No. 7—August Scholl, Lawrence H. Matthews, Nicholas Romain.
Engine Company No. 8—Adam Mead, Frank Sapp, William J. Taylor, William Wood, Samuel Oshushek, Edward C. Crane.
Engine Company No. 9—Keenard Naylor, Daniel McSurdy, John Mohofeld.
Engine Company No. 10—William Swarts, Hugh Rementer, Harry Greenan, Rocco Abbott.
Hose and Chemical Company No. 2—Lawrence Newton, Edward Hauser, William Getner.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1—Tom Cunningham, Leonard Magee.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 2—John Gaylor, Walter G. White.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 3—David Ellis, George A. Addison, John Mulligan, David Humphreys, Albert Dukes.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 4—George A. Quimby.
Chief’s driver—Tenny G. Hutchinson.
Notes of 3 and 9 Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Notes of 3 and 9 Firemen
Lieutenant Scott Franklin, formerly of the East Camden house, is invited to visit his old command. Scott has been absent for almost one year.
Dan McCurdy, of Baileytown, used no less than three good brooms in the recent epidemic of prairie fires.
Nine spic and span chairs have been installed in the house, replacing the same number of time-worn seats.
George Schulz told a wierd tale of a trip to Mars, but it occurred, alas, in a dream.
Albert Dukes announced rather proudly to his mates he had finally caught the pike at Grenloch, for which he has been angling during the past year.
Maurice Foley and Gardner Corson, who are on the hospital list, have sent word they are well on the way to recovery.
Ex-sergeant Jake Woodside sprang the surprise of the week when he bested Captain Robinson, house champ, in a series of three pinochle matches.
Firemen Named in Roster Compilation
W. Scott Franklin – Dan McSurdy – Charles Schultz – Albert Dukes Sr. – Maurice P. Foley – Gardner Corson – Jacob Woodside – Charles Robinson – Engine Co. 1 – Alfred E. Green – Charles Errickson – Charles W Cooke – Leroy Hatchett – Engine Co. 2 – Howard Landon – John K. Voll – Edgar Ellender – Harold Lohrang – Chester Andrus – Harry G. Layton – Engine Co. 3 – Charles B. Haines – Charles Clements – August Haverkamp – Frank Kuda – Louis Quinton – Engine Co. 4 – Frank A. Obermann – Walter B. Gray – Albert Raeuber – Fred Schucker – Harry Kleinfelder – Engine Co. 5 – Richard A. Farris – Frank Fennrio – Engine Co. 6 – William H. Reed – Manuel J. Kane – Edward Perairia – Thomas Shanahan – Rocco De Varro – “Frank Fennrio” is for the moment a mystery. – Engine Co. 7 – August Scholl – Nicholas Romaine – Lawrence H. Mathews – Engine Co. 8 – Samuel Oshushek – Edward C. Crane – Adam Mead – Frank Sapp – William J. Taylor Sr. – Engine Co. 9 – Kennard Naylor – Daniel McSurdy – John Mohrfeld – Engine Co. 10 – William Schwartz – Hugh Rementer – Harry Greenan – Rocco Abbott – Hose & Chemical Co. 2 – Laurence Newton – Edward Hauser – William Getner – Ladder Co. 1 – Thomas Cunningham – Leonard Megee – Ladder Co. 2 – John Gaylor – Walter White – Ladder Co. 3 – David Ellis – George W. Attison – John Mulligan – David Humphries – Albert Dukes
Hook & Ladder Company 3, Hose & Chemical Company 1 & Engine Company 9
1924
Hook & Ladder Company 3: Captain Joseph B. Ayres, FF Dave Humphries, Al Dukes, John Mulligan, Bill Mountney, Bill Hopkins. Hose & Chemical Company 1: Captain Charles H. Robinson, FF William E “Pud” Jaeckel, George Townsend, Ken Naylor, Howard Gick. Engine Company 9: Captain John H. Vickers, FF Irv Lederman, Newton Ash, Joe Gentlesk, Al Palmer.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.
The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.
Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.
Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association
Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.
In a three-cornered fight, William Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.
Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.
Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.
Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.
After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.
Two Firemen Injured in East Camden While Fighting Grocery Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
Two firemen were injured last night while combating a slight fire in a grocery store basement at 2401 River avenue.
Harry Leigh, 44, of 28 North Twenty-sixth street, suffered cuts over the right eye while descending stairs in a smoke-filled cellar to combat a fire in a defective oil burner, he said.
Albert Dukes, 44, of 3803 Westfield avenue, received cuts of the hand and a sprained ankle when he fell 12 feet from the roof. Both are hosemen attached to Engine Company No. 9 and were treated at West Jersey Hospital.
Leigh said one of the steps was broken and he did not see it on account of the smoke. Dukes was examining a chimney on the roof when he made a misstep and fell to the sidewalk.
The store is operated by Mrs. Elizabeth Savitz.
Albert Dukes, Jr., Appointed Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Appointment of Albert Dukes, Jr., of 3803 Westfield Avenue, as a fireman, was announced yesterday by Commissioner Mary W. Kobus.
Dukes’ father, Albert Sr., has been a Camden fireman for the past 18 years, connected with Engine Company No. 9, Twenty-seventh and Federal Streets.
Dukes, Commissioner Kobus said, will replace James Monahan, who died last Saturday in the West Jersey Hospital of kidney disease. Monahan had been a member of Engine Company No. 10, Ninth and Morgan Streets, since 1923.
Changes Announced in Fire Department
Camden Courier-Post —
Truck Disbanded, Engine Company Created; 13 Men Transferred
Commissioner Mary W. Kobus yesterday announced a number of changes in the fire department, including the disbanding of Truck Company No. 4; creation of a new engine company, No. 10, and the transfer of 18 officers and men, 12 of them captains.
Most of the new captains have been serving as acting captains and promotion to full rank will involve no pay increases, inasmuch as the men signed waivers foregoing the raises.
Commissioner Kobus explained most of the changes were made to conform with regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The board, Mrs. Kobus explained, made a survey of the department and advised appointments of acting captains to full rank.
The commissioner also announced she had appointed Junior Captain Raymond Smith as director of the school for firemen at Engine Company No. 10, Ninth and Morgan streets. Smith, one of the youngest at the recently appointed junior captains, will succeed the late Battalion Chief Rollo Jones.
Senior Captain Leonard Megee was appointed acting battalion chief to succeed Jones. He will continue at the Fifth and Arch streets fire headquarters.
Junior Captain William Spencer, of headquarters company, was named relief captain.
Engine Company No. 10 will use the headquarters of the old truck company, at Ninth and Morgan streets.
To the new company Mrs. Kobus assigned Senior Captain Mortica Clark and Firemen Frank Burt, Frank Esperance and Clifford Lane.
Junior Captain Frank Oberman was transferred from Engine Company No. 10 to Engine Company No. 1, at fire headquarters.
Other assignments are as follows:
Junior Captain Robert Wonsetler, Engine Company No. 11, to Engine Company No. 2.
Fireman Harry Kleinfelder, Engine Company No. 6, to Engine Company No. 2.
Junior Captain Edgar Ellender, Engine Company No. 2, to Engine Company No. 6.
Junior Captain Ralph Bingemann, Truck Company No. 2, to Engine Company No. 7.
Fireman David Humphries, Truck Company No. 3, to Engine Company No. 11.
Junior Captain Nelson Andrews, Engine Company No. 2, to Truck Company No. 1.
Fireman Albert Dukes, Jr., Truck Company No. 1, to Engine Company No. 2.
Junior Captain Winfield Leviseur, Truck Company No. 2, to Truck Company No. 3.
Junior Captain Edward McDowell retains assignment to Engine Company No. 3.
Junior Captain Maurice O’Brien assigned to Engine Company No. 10.
The changes were contained in notice to the Civil Service Commission, are effective as of June 1 and will appear on the June 15 payroll.
World War II Draft Card
Albert V. Dukes Sr. World War II draft card.