Introduction
Alfred E. Green was born in Brookway, New York on November 12, 1890. He had married and was living in Bayonne, New Jersey when he registered for the draft in 1917. By the end of 1919 Alfred and Ruth Green had moved to Camden, renting an apartment at 641 Locust Street. Camden police detective and political boss George V. Murry lived at 649 Locust, and it was without a doubt through Murry’s influence that on November 22, 1920 Alfred E. Greene was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, being one of the first black fire fighters to join the department. Joseph “Polack Joe” Deven, who succeeded Murry to power in the Third Ward, lived next door at 639 Locust Street. By 1929 the Green family had moved to 228 Line Street. The Greens were still at that address in April of 1930. By this time they had three sons, Alfred E. Jr., Theodore, and William Green. Fire Department records from 1931 place Alfred Green at 641 Locust Street. By the spring of 1942 Alfred E. Green and family had moved across the street to 213 Line Street.
When the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled, Alfred E. Green and his wife Ruth were living at 213 Line Street, not far from Engine Company No. 1’s firehouse at 409 Pine Street. Also living at home at that time was Alfred E. Green Jr., then working as an insurance agent, and his wife Helen V. Green.
Alfred E. Green, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 65, went out on pension on December 1, 1955. He was still living at 213 Line Street as late as 1959. By October of 1970 Alfred E. Green had moved to 2075 Berwick Street in East Camden. He last resided at 31 Hodges Avenue in Lawnside, New Jersey. Alfred E. Green Sr. passed away on December 31, 1972.
World War I Draft Card
New Firemen Appointed
Camden Post-Telegram —
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
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 6 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 reserve shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browning 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. Lorang, 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.
World War II Draft Card
Engine Company 1, Circa 1949
Circa 1949 – Engine Company 1, wagon and pumper at front of quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden. From left: Firemen Alfred Green, Fred Henderson, Charlie Cook, Leroy Hatchett, Robert Thomas, Andrew Robinson, James Richardson, Eugene Alston, James Clinton, Captains Jesse Jones and Raymond Amos.
Engine Company 1 Roll Call, September 1954
September 1954 – Roll Call at the housewatch desk of Engine Company 1’s old quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden on the occasion of Fireman Charlie Cook’s retirement following his last tour of duty. From left: Firemen Andrew Robinson, Eugene Alston, Theodore Primas, Charles Davis, Captain Jesse Jones presenting wrist watch, Firemen Jesthroe Hunt, Samuel Fisher, Charles Cook, Orville Goldsboro, Captain Raymond Amos, Fireman Alfred Green. Photo by Bob Bartosz.
Fire Service Card
