Introduction
August Frederick Haverkamp was born on May 13, 1894, in Camden, New Jersey to August F. Haverkampf and his wife, Elizabeth “Lizzie” Haverkampf. His grandfather had also been named August Haverkampf. The family, which included older sister Emma, resided at 573 Van Hook Street when the 1894–1895 Camden City Directory was compiled. The elder Haverkampf was working as a foreman for the J.C. Dunn & Company. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 34. His obituary appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on March 8, 1896.
Mrs. Lizzie Haverkamp is listed in the 1896 Directory at 935 Market Street, but had returned to Van Hook Street by 1897, her address then being 566 Van Hook Street. By 1898 the Haverkamps had taken up residence at 575 Van Hook Street. The 1900 Census shows August Haverkamp and his sister Emma residing with their mother, Lizzie Haverkamp, at 575 Van Hook Street. Also residing at the residence was a roomer, Morris Jeitner, who worked as a shoemaker.
August Haverkamp appears in the 1914 City Directory, still at 575 Van Hook Street. He was working as a plumber. He was still single and working at the Castle Kid Company, a leather manufacturing business, when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. August Haverkamp was then living at 573 Van Hook Street. His draft card indicates that he was taking care of his father; apparently his mother had remarried at some point, but was now gone. He married Ella about that time, and served in the armed forces during World War I.
Returning from the war, August Haverkamp found work as an electrical worker at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. When the Census was taken on January 5, 1920, August Haverkampf was boarding at 1645 Broadway, the home of long-time Camden Fire Department member Francis D. “Frank” Chambers, who served at the nearby Engine Company 3 firehouse at 1813 Broadway.
August Haverkamp was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 24, 1920. He reported for duty on January 1, 1921, assigned to Engine Company 1 at 409 Pine Street. On September 18, 1943, he was reassigned as Battalion Chief’s Aide for the Third District, based at Engine Company 3’s firehouse at 1813 Broadway. August Haverkamp held this post until November 1, 1951, when he was transferred to the First District where he served in the same role.
The 1924 and 1947 Camden City Directory shows that August Haverkamp and his wife Ella lived at 1723 South 6th Street. A daughter, Julia, was born around 1927. The 1947 Directory shows daughter Julia Haverkamp, a bookkeeper, also resided at that address. By October of 1956, August Haverkamp had moved to 3005 Hartford Road in Fairview.
August Haverkamp was still a member of the Camden Fire Department when he passed away on April 6, 1958, at the age of 63. He was replaced on the Fire Department by Joseph Dowhy Sr.
WWI Draft Registration Card
World War I Draft Registration Card for August Frederick Haverkamp, front and reverse
New Firemen Assigned For Two Platoons
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.
Cops And Firemen In First Practice
Camden Post-Telegram —
Members of the police and fire departments held their first joint practice session at the Y.M.C.A. in preparation for the annual cops and firemen field day. Charles Younger, physical director at the Y.M.C.A., supervised the workout. The athletes prepared for events including running, jumping, and other track and field competitions.
WWII Draft Registration Card
World War II Draft Registration Card for August F. Haverkamp
Refresher Course for Firemen
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin —
August Haverkamp (left), assistant instructor at the school conducted by the Camden Bureau of Fire at 9th Street and Morgan Boulevard, shows William Richardson (center), of Engine Co. No. 2, and Louis Martelli, of Engine Co. No. 8, the proper way to handle a fog nozzle.
Fire Service Card
Camden Fire Department service card for August F. Haverkamp