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 —
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.
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
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