Albert V. Dukes Sr.

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.

Death of Jane H. Dukes

Philadelphia Inquirer — July 1, 1915

Philadelphia Inquirer obituary notice for Jane H. Dukes, July 1, 1915 — Camden at a Glance
Camden at a Glance
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

Fire Department Appointments

Camden Post-Telegram — December 30, 1920

Fireman Rescues Woman Overcome by Gas

Camden Daily Courier — October 29, 1921

Camden Daily Courier article about fireman rescuing a woman overcome by gas, October 29, 1921 — 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

Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today

Camden Courier-Post — February 9, 1933

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 — February 10, 1933

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.

Firemen Rescue Woman, Save Baby from Flames

Camden Courier-Post — October 13, 1936

Camden Courier-Post article about firemen rescuing a woman and saving a baby from flames, October 13, 1936 — Named: Albert Dukes Sr., Harry Leigh, Mrs. Elizabeth Savitz, Engine Company 9, West Jersey Hospital, River Avenue, North 26th Street, and Westfield Avenue.

Albert Dukes, Jr., Appointed Fireman

Camden Courier-Post — February 5, 1938

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 — June 5, 1940

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.