Introduction
ARTHUR A. WINGATE was born in Maryland in September of 1868, according to the 1900 Census. He was one of at least five children born to Reuben and Hannah Wingate. The family was living in New Castle, Delaware when the census was taken in 1880. Reuben Wingate worked as a millwright. The Wingates moved to Camden, New Jersey in the mid-1880s. They are not listed in the 1885 City Directory, but had come to the city by the time the 1887–1888 edition was compiled. Arthur Wingate first appears in the 1887–1888 Directory, living with his parents at 718 New Street. He remained at home through at least 1890, working as a plumber.
Arthur Wingate married to Letitia “Lettie” Wynocker around 1894. There were four children, two of whom, daughters Edith M. and Bertha, were living in 1900. City Directories from 1895 through 1897 show the family at 534 South 7th Street. Arthur Wingate was working as a ropemaker at the Camden Iron Works. In the late 1890s the family left Camden.
The 1900 Census has the Wingates living in the Borough of Scottsdale, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where he worked as a rope maker. The family, which then included Lettie’s 11 year-old sister Helen, returned to Camden shortly thereafter.
Arthur A. Wingate was living in Camden’s Ninth Ward when, on February 19, 1905 he was appointed to the Camden Fire Department to take the place of Edgar Bolton. The 1906 City Directory lists the family at 709 Royden Street, as does the 1910 census and the 1918–1919 City Directory. By January of 1920, Arthur Wingate and his wife and oldest daughter had moved to 540 South 9th Street. By the end of 1923 they had moved to 542 South 7th Street, where they remained through at least 1942. Arthur and Lettie Wingate are listed in Camden City Directories at that address as late as 1943.
Arthur Wingate was still serving with the Camden Fire Department as late as 1930. He retired during the 1930s.
New Fireman in Bolton's Place
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Fire Committee of Camden City Council last night appointed Arthur Wingate, of the Ninth ward, a fireman to take the place of Edgar Bolton, who resigned.
Wish Bone Club in Annual Banquet
Camden Post-Telegram —
The second annual dinner was given on New Year’s eve by the members of the Fire Department at headquarters, known as the Wish Bone Club, after having been called out twice to fires. The evening was spent in music and song, prayer being offered by Engineer Dold. They all sat down to an elaborate dinner prepared by Chef Wingate, assisted by Lieutenant John H. Lutts.
MENU.
Relishes—Celery, olives, pickles, chilli sauce.
Roast—Roast Turkey, oyster filling (a la Wimley), giblet sauce; jellied cranberries, browned sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, stewed corn, stewed tomatoes.
Mince pie, Coffee, Vienna rolls, butter, aqua de lair.
— The following were the guests of the evening: Chief Samuel S. Elfreth, Assistant Chief Samuel Buzine, Captains George B. Wade, Peter B. Carter, Lieutenants John H. Lutts, Peter S. Gray, Engineer John A. Dold, Stoker Newton G. Ash, Drivers Joseph Johnson, Arthur Wingate, Joseph Maxwell, Richard Marter, Harry Barroughs, Laddermen and Hosemen William Elberson, John H. Lennox, Harry Selby, Harry Green, William Tatem; Houseman John Gardner.
Invited guests—Charles Minckle, of Public Service Corporation; Harry Lee, Collingwood; Reserve Chas. Hose.
The old year out and the new year in, they retired to well—just retired to their respective bunks.
Injured Fireman in Restless Night
Camden Post-Telegram —
Arthur Wingate, the driver of the combination chemical and hose wagon at Fire Headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets, who was injured by the team crashing into an iron column of the elevated railroad at Haddon avenue and Line street, yesterday afternoon, passed a restless night at Cooper Hospital, and this morning his condition was not satisfying to the doctors.
Besides suffering from a couple of fractured left ribs and severe lacerations of the scalp he also sustained an exhausting internal shock.
It is also feared that one of the broken ribs penetrated a lung, but an X-ray examination will have to be made to determine that. If such is proven to be the case the wounded fireman’s chances of recovery would be dimmed.
The apparatus was on its way out Haddon avenue to alight fire at the farm house of William Butler, colored, at the head of Pine street, at the time it met with disaster.
There was a trolley car standing under the elevated railroad at Line street and it was while turning out of the tracks at full speed that the team of strapping gray horses crashed into one of the four iron columns of the structure at that point.
Driver Wingate was hurled from his seat a distance of about twenty feet, laiding on his head on the hard earth bleeding and unconscious. Firemen John Lutz, Harry Selby and John Lennox, who were on the back of the wagon, were thrown to the ground by the force of the collision, but escaped injury.
One of the gray horses drawing the apparatus and known as “Nig” was almost instantly killed when it dashed into the pillar; the other steed swerving to one side escaped meeting a similar fate. Outside of the pole of the wagon being snapped off and the dashboard twisted the apparatus was not badly damaged.
Wingate was rushed to Cooper Hospital in an auto canvassing for funds for the Homeopathic Hospital, and placed in a private ward for treatment.
Committee Named Ten New Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
City Council’s Fire Committee last night made provision for the installation of Engine Company No. 7 by the appointment of ten new members of the department. Some of the new appointees will be assigned to the new company, which will be located at Tenth street and Kaighn avenue, and the rest of the complement will be made up of experienced fire fighters. The company goes into service July 1. The men appointed last night are:
First Ward—H. L. Curry, Jr. Second Ward—Robert Bricee. Third Ward—Clarence Madden. Fourth Ward—William Cason. Fifth Ward—William Laird. Sixth Ward—George Boone. Seventh Ward—Edward Simpson. Eighth Ward—John McTaggart. Ninth Ward—Roy Smith. Tenth Ward—J. Ora Burris.
The committee also made provision for the superior officers of the company by advancing present members of the department. William Buzine was made engineer, Thomas Nichols was elected captain, Joseph Maxwell was chosen lieutenant, Daniel Smith and Arthur Wingate were advanced to stokers and Newton Ash was promoted to extra engineer. Henry Knowles was made houseman for the new company.
The men advanced last night will not necessarily be assigned to No. 7, and the matter of placing them will be disposed of at a later meeting.
Flames Wrecked New High School
Philadelphia Inquirer —
WOODBURY, N. J., Dec. 19.—The William Milligan High School, a practically new institution that has been occupied just about a year, and cost, including the lot, about $88,000, was burned early this morning, and the building, with all its handsome furnishings, is a wreck. Only the walls are standing, with a chemical laboratory, and two gymnasiums. In the commercial room were ten new typewriters, and new and up-to-date desks. These were all purchased at the beginning of the school year. In the basement was a new manual training outfit, which arrived only last week, but not unpacked, and some of this will probably be saved.
Woodbury has over a hundred out of town pupils who come here, and when they arrived this morning, all jubilant over the approaching holidays, some of the girls cried.
The Board of Education held a meeting this afternoon and decided to open the four upper rooms in the academy, rent three more in Green’s Block, two in the old Friends’ School, and it is possible that the old Starr homestead on Broad Street will be used.
The men, who were under Fire Chief Elfreth, of Camden, and those who did good work in connection with the local firemen, were George Weight, Harvey Watson, William Elverson, Harry Hankins, William Ladd, Chappis [sic] Lennox, Joseph Johnson, Josiah Savage, Augustus Dold and Arthur Wingate. The Gloucester firemen aided in every way possible.
Celebrations by 3 Fire Companies
Camden Post-Telegram —
Engine Company No. 7 is the baby company of the fire department, that is, in years of service, but in up-to-date completeness in every respect, harmony and quick response to duty, the men in blue out Kaighn avenue, under Captain Charles Todd, are right there on the tap of the gong.
Under the auspices of the Wishbone Club, firemen at headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets, held their annual dinner on Tuesday evening. A short address was given by Chief Elfreth and Assistant Chief Stockton. John Dold offered prayer before the guests partook of the tasty dishes as prepared by Arthur Wingate and William Laud. Those participating were as follows: S. S. Elfreth, John S. Stockton, Captain George B. Wade, Lieutenant Jos. Ernest, John A. Dold, Josiah Sage, Daniel Smith, Arthur Wingate, Joseph Johnson, Harry Hankins, William Laird, William Elberson, John Lennox, Martin Carrigan, Charles Cook, Harry Selby, Harry Kreher, Charles Menke, Edward S. Gahan, D. P. McConnell.
Engine Company 2, 1912–1913
This 1912 Robinson Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon was assigned to Engine Company 2. It was one of two purchased as the first motorized apparatus in the Department. Pictured in this 1913 photograph are (l to r): Fireman John Lennox, Wagon Chauffeur Harry Hankins, Firemen William Elberson, Joseph Earnest, Martin Carrigan, and Captain George Wade. Accompanying them are members of the engine crew: Stoker Arthur Wingate, Driver Joseph Johnson and Engineer John Augustus “Gus” Dold.
Ninth Warders as Hosts to Victors
Camden Post-Telegram —
There was much fun and good fellowship last night at the Ninth Ward Republican Association where the members of the Fourth Ward Republican Club were guests of the evening. It was given as a result of the Ninth ward pool sharps being bested by the Fourth warders.
Then there was a wind up of the pool tournament between the members of the Ninth Ward Club, in which these prizes were awarded: First, William Brown, cue and case; second, Isaac Gleason, picture; third, Roy Smith, safety razor; fourth, Ulie Andrews, $3 hat; fifth, George L. Bender, short; sixth, Arthur Wingate, box of cigars; seventh, W. C. Davis, jar of tobacco; eighth, Edward Holloway, stickpin.
The playing between Andrews, Bender and Wingate was so close that they played off three ties before a decision was given.
Auto Fire Engine Skids Into Window
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Skidding in rounding the corner at Broadway and Kaighn avenue while responding to an alarm yesterday the auto fire engine attached to Company No. 3,
[…continued…] of the Camden Fire Department, jumped the curb and crashed into a display window of a department store. The window was wrecked, one of the pillars of the store knocked out of place and the springs of the machine put out of commission. Several persons on the sidewalk narrowly escaped being hit by the apparatus.
Riding on the back of the machine Engineer Daniel Smith and Stoker Arthur Wingate saved themselves by jumping. Driver Michael Brown stuck to his post and escaped injury. In aiding the firemen to back the engine off the sidewalk, Andrew Fritz, aged 50, of 1425 Broadway, crushed one of his fingers so badly that it was amputated at Cooper Hospital. The fire was at Locust street and Kaighn avenue, where a load of hay on a wagon was destroyed.
Charm Presented to Deputy Chief
Camden Daily Courier —
As a mark of appreciation for their splendid work while he was captain of No. 4 Engine Company, Deputy Fire Chief William Patterson last evening tendered the company members a fine turkey supper at No. 4 Engine House, Vine street near Fourth.
Gathered about the festive board were Deputy Chief William Patterson, Chief Peter B. Carter, Freeholder James M. Walton, Secretary Harvey Watts, Capt. Charles Cook, Firemen Arthur Wingate, Charles Hankins, Si Sage, Joseph Logue, Abraham Kerns, Charles Watkins, Jr., Martin Carrigan, Dollo Jones, Robert Brice, Joseph Daly, Daniel Grimes, John Miller and Frank Sheridan.
No. 3 Fire Company Guests at Banquet
Camden Post-Telegram —
The members of No. 3 Engine Company were tendered a supper last night, prepared at their headquarters at Broadway and Emerald street, through the courtesy of Superintendent William L. Miles, of the MacAndrews & Forbes Manufacturing Company.
The menu, prepared by Chef Arthur Wingate, was: Oyster Cocktail; Salted Peanuts — Cream Mints; Olives — Celery — Pickled Onions; Roast Turkey, a la Miles; Cranberry Sauce — Peas — Corn; Roast Sweet Potatoes; Mashed White Potatoes — Tomatoes; Bread and Butter; Coffee — Cigars.
All complimented Chef Arthur Wingate for the manner in which he had prepared the feast and Lieutenant Rose for the decorations.
Gives Medal to Veteran Fireman
Camden Post-Telegram —
One of the happiest men in Camden is Engineer John A. Dold, who to-day retired on a pension after twenty-five years of faithful service in the Camden Fire Department. To-day the “boys” at No. 7 Engine Company, where Dold was stationed as engineer for several years, presented him with a handsome gold medal as a mark of their esteem and respect.
William Buzine succeeds Dold as engineer at No. 7 Engine Company. Robert Whitley succeeds Buzine at No. 5 Engine Company and Arthur Wingate will be travelling engineer.
Engineer Dodd Retires
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Formally retiring yesterday after twenty-five years of service in the Camden Fire Department, John A. Dodd, engineer of Engine Company No. 7, was presented with a gold medal by his comrades in the company. On one side of the medal is an inscription briefly setting forth his record and on the other side is a reproduction of a fire engine in action. William Buzine takes his place as engineer of No. 7. Robert Whitley goes to No. 5, in Buzine’s place, and Arthur Wingate takes the assignment of travelling engineer.
Heavy Pay Cut Fear Cause of Rush to Retire
Camden Courier-Post —
Four policemen and 12 city firemen yesterday applied for pensions effective at midnight tonight. In the interests of economy, no successors will be named by the city commission.
Sudden decision of the applicants was inspired by the fact that city employes may be given a 30 percent reduction in pay equal to that of county employes. Police and firemen accepted a 10 percent reduction this year. If given an additional 20 percent their salaries would be on a pre-war basis.
The big surprise was announcement that Inspector Charles T. Humes, in charge of personnel of the police department, had applied for a pension. Other policemen to ask for pensions are Sergeants Albert York and Clarence Thorn and Detective David Hunt.
Three fire captains applying for pensions are James R. White, Harry A. Haines and William H. Miller, Jr.
Pensions Awarded 6 Cops, 17 Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Pensions for six policemen and 17 firemen took effect with the dawn of the New Year yesterday.
Proposed salary reductions from five to 30 percent prompted the wholesale requests for pensions which were approved Saturday at noon by the Police and Firemen’s Pension Commission, of which Mayor Roy R. Stewart is chairman.
Those receiving pension awards who are members of the fire department were: Elmer Burkett, 66; Robert M. Coffman, 57; Howard E. Currie, 52; James E. Navin, 67; George W. Hollins, 64; Richard S. Marter, 60; Arthur A. Wingate, 64; Joseph T. Earnest, 63; Samuel E. Harring, 64; Andrew Miller, 73; Stewart Bakley, William K. Buzine, 63, and Daniel Grimes.