Introduction
Casper Joseph Martelli was born on December 1, 1927 in Camden, New Jersey. He was the eighth of ten children born to Frank Martelli and his wife, the former Carmella Ambrose, coming after Nicholas, Louis Joseph, Frank, Anthony, Joseph, Dominic, Angelino aka Charles, and before Annie and Josephine.
Frank Maretlli had come to America from Sicily in 1899, Carmella Ambrose in 1900. They married around 1904. The 1930 Census shows the family living at 220 Mount Vernon Street in South Camden. Frank Martelli was then working as a wool packer. Son Nicholas was working as a plasterer’s helper, and son Louis was working at Campbell Soup.
By 1935 the Martelli family had moved to the Chews Landing section of Gloucester Township, New Jersey, where Frank Martelli operated a farm along Chews Landing-Clementon Road. The family was still there at the time of the 1940 Census. By that time the three oldest sons had moved out of the family home. Frank Mrtelli passed away in the latter half of 1942.
On August 4, 1944 older brother Louis J. Martelli, then living at 569 Line Street, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, and was assigned to Engine Company 8 at 619 Kaighn Avenue.
On November 16, 1950 Casper J. Martelli joined the United States Army. He was discharged on December 5, 1952, and went directly to work with the Camden Fire Department.
Casper J. Martelli was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 1, 1952. He was single and living at 569 Line Street at the time of his appointment.
On May 9, 1953 Casper J. Martelli married Elizabeth “Betty” Hansleman. The Martellis moved to 429 Viola Street and started their family. There were four Martelli children, Casper J. Jr., Joseph, Nancy, and Mary Ellen.
The family stayed on Viola Street into 1970, when they moved to 4103 Camden Avenue in East Camden, where they lived until 1978, when they moved to Maple Shade, New Jersey, where they resided until 1993. At that time they moved to Sicklerville, New Jersey.
Having completed over 27 years of service to the Camden Fire Department, Casper J. Martelli retired on February 1, 1980.
Casper J. Martelli passed away on May 7, 1995. He was survived by his Betty and his four children.
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Thirty-seven candidates have passed the Civil Service test for fireman in the Camden City fire department. Thirty-two of those who qualified are former service men and three of them, disabled veterans, were placed at the top of the list under the preference given by law.
Joseph T. Hackett, of 158 Branch Village, is listed first, Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue, second and August L. Johnson, 916½ Chestnut street, third.
The salary on Jan. 1 will begin at $2400 and reach a maximum of $3160 after four years.
Following is the complete list of those who qualified in the test:
Joseph T. Hackett, 158 Branch Village; Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue; August L. Johnson, 916 Chestnut street; Harry Sterling, 112 Ablett Village; Albert A. Stinger, 1423 Bradley avenue; Jesthroe Hunt, 753 Walnut street; Harold H. Pike, 429 Penn street; Roy R. Moffa, 216 Morse street; Allen F. Hess, 2733 Sherman avenue; Franklin W. Whylings, 602 North Thirty-second street; William L. Gosnell, 3303 Crescent drive; David W. Humphries, 3017 Mickle street; William G. Winstanley, 510 Penn street; Joshua H. Robinson, 1934 Kossuth street; Henry S. Keubler, 936 Broadway; Adolph S. Zubrzycki, 1223 South Tenth street; Ralph H. Palmer, 585 Mickle street; Alexander P. Matis, 903 Haddon avenue; Earl G. Robinson, 1036 Penn street; Anthony J. DiMaggio, 530 South Eighth street; Earl A. Smith Sr., 201 Biedeman avenue; Philip J. MacDonald, 123 North Eleventh street; Robert P. Olesiewicz, 321 Mt. Vernon street; Eugene E. Demers, 2034 High street; Chester J. Gedrich, 1154 Thurman street; John F. Chudzinski, 1043 Thurman street; Samuel D. Siniscalki, 803 Line street; Santo DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; Ludwig Polniak, 471 Pfeiffer street; George P. Baxter, 817 Howard street; Ralph F. Schaffer, Canterbury apartments; Joseph J. McTaggart, 3135 Waldorf avenue; Louis J. Monahan, Canterbury apartments; John DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; William N. Stone Jr., 950 Vine street; Casper J. Martelli, 220 Mt. Vernon street; and H. Raymond Dixon, 439 Trenton avenue.
Photos
Casper & Betty Martelli with sons Casper Jr. & Joseph
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.
Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
Camden Fire Department ID Card
Camden Fire Department identification card