Introduction
Carl Wirtz
Carl Michael Wirtz was born in Camden, New Jersey on March 6, 1924 to Edwin Wirtz and his wife, the former Gertrude Magrath. His father worked in one of Camden’s leather factories, as had his grandfather, Philip Wirtz, Carl Wirtz’s uncle, Stanley Wirtz, worked for many years as a detective with the Camden Police Department.
The 1930 Census shows the Wirtz family at 123 York Street, a stone’s throw from the John R. Evans & Company leather works. The family at that time included older siblings Philip, 10, and Doris, 8, and a younger brother, Wallace Wirtz, 3 years and four months of age. By 1935 the family had moved to 816 North 4th Street. Edwin Wirtz was now an assistant foreman at a leather factory, and Philip was also working there. The family was still at that address in the spring of 1942.
A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, he served in the United States Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He married Marge Dougherty shortly after returning home. The 1947 City Directory shows them living with his parents at 816 North 4th Street, with Carl Wirtz then working at the Kind & Knox Gelatin factory in north camden.
Tragedy struck the Wirtz family in 1948 when father Edwin W. Wirtz was killed in a head-on collision on the Delaware River Bridge on January 16th of that year.
Carl M. Wirtz was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on January 16, 1951, initially as a hoseman with Engine Company 2, and later with Rescue Company 1. He lived at 1421 Norris Street in the early 1950s.
Carl M. Wirtz left the department in 1963. His cousin, Edwin S. Wirtz, the son of Stanley Wirtz, had joined the Fire Department in October of 1943, and served for 22 years before retiring.
Carl M. Wirtz died on October 6, 2005.
Carl Wirtz, Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
Carl Wirtz, Camden
Carl Wirtz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Wirtz, 819 North Fourth street, is at the Vero Beach, Fla., air station. His brother, Philip, is in the South Pacific.
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.
Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave home.
A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.
It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.
Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are George Baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendllnger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.
Photo
Camden Courier-Post —
Carl Wirtz, October 18, 1952
Fire Truck-Auto Collision Breaks Store Windows
Camden Courier-Post —
Car Mounts Sidewalk After Crash at Broadway, Stevens
An automobile was driven onto the sidewalk and broke two windows of a store at Broadway and Stevens st. today after colliding with a fire engine returning from a false alarm.
Leonard Chasey, 19, of 1437 S. 9th st., was proceeding west on Stevens st., when his car was in collision with the truck of Engine Co. No. 2 proceeding north on Broadway. The engine was operated by Hoseman Carl Wirtz, 29, of 1421 Norris st.
The impact of the crash sent Chasey’s car onto the sidewalk on the southwest corner and broke the windows of Rolans Clothing Store.
Treated at Hospital
Chasey suffered minor bruises and was treated at Cooper Hospital. Riding with Wirtz on the engine at the time was Capt. George Boone. They were uninjured.
Joseph J. Shapiro, manager of the clothing store, estimated damage at $200. He said windows on the Stevens st. and Broadway sides of the store were broken.
Boone said the engine was returning to its station at 5th and Arch sts, at the time of the crash. He said a telephone operator had called the police and fire board in the electrical bureau, and reported a fire at 516 Powell st. He said that when they arrived at the scene there was no fire.
Fire In Gloucester
Boone said that while the firemen were en route to Pine st., another call was received at the electrical bureau stating that there had been a mistake and the fire was at 516 Powell st., Gloucester.
The Gloucester fire was in the home of Robert Lewis and had been caused by a defective oil burner. The fire was quickly extinguished by Gloucester firemen.
ACCIDENT SCENE at Broadway and Stevens st., is shown shortly after the car above, operated by Leonard Chasey, 19, of 1437 S. 9th st., collided with a fire engine returning from a false alarm.
Fire Department Photo
Camden Courier-Post —
HOSEMAN CARL WIRTZ, attached to Engine Company 2 answers alarm the fast way, down the pole from dormitory section and onto equipment, which is a sharp contrast to apparatus used by an 1810 bucket brigade.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
WIRTZ, Carl Michael, Of Haddon Twp. & formerly of Collingswood, peacefully on October 6, 2005, age 81 years. Beloved husband of 58 years to Margaret “Marge” Wirtz (nee Dougherty); devoted father of Carol Ann Freitag of Mt. Ephraim, Gary Phillip Wirtz (Karen) of Richwood & Mary Beth Harrell of Haddon Twp.; grandfather of Kristina DeLuca, Alicia Frietag St. Jean, Carl M. Wirtz, Jessica A. Shook, Lauren M. Wirtz, Robert W. Frietag, III, Ashley N. Long, Jaclyn Wirtz & Michael Ryan Harrell; 18 great grandchildren.
A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Carl served in the US Navy during WW II, seing action in the Pacific Theater. For 12 years Mr. Wirtz was a fireman in the City of Camden & later a supervisor for 20 years at National Casing in Riverton, retiring in 1991. Mr. Wirtz is a member of VFW Post #9563 in Bellmawr.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Saturday, 10:00 AM in St. Vincent Pallotti RC Church, 901 Hopkins Road, Haddon Twp. Arrangements by BLAKE-DOYLE FUNERAL HOME, Collingswood.