Introduction
CHARLES CONWAY was born in Delaware around 1904 to Mary and Edward P. Conway. The 1910 Census shows him living with his parents in Wilmington, Delaware. The family moved to Camden after the Census, first appearing in City Directories in 1915. Edward P. Conway operated a hotel, i.e., a bar with food, at 103 Kaighn Avenue until his death on August 27, 1918. The Conways were still at that address, operating under a soft drink license, as late as 1923.
The Census enumerated on April 11, 1930 shows Charles Conway and his mother rooming at 109 Kaighn Avenue in Camden, New Jersey. He was then working as a laborer. The Census taken in Fairview on April 22, 1930 shows him and his mother at 2930 Congress Road. Shortly after the Census was taken Charles Conway was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He and his mother are again listed at 109 Kaighn Avenue in the 1931 City Directory, this may be an error. Charles E. Conway was still living at 2930 Congress Road in Camden’s Fairview neighborhood when the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled.
Still active as a fire fighter in 1943, by the time the 1947 Camden City Directory was being put together Charles Conway had left the Fire Department. He was then working as a mechanic. He later worked as a shipfitter at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards. Charles Conway is not listed in Camden in the 1956 or 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories.
Charles E. Conway last resided at 137 Kaighn Avenue. He passed away on June 24, 1959 and was buried at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey.
Fire Hero and Sister He Saved / Boy Saves Sister When Home Burns
Camden Courier-Post —
Fire Hero and Sister He Saved
—Courier-Post Photo
“Well, sis, how do you like your big brother now?” That’s what Nicholas Delaurentz, 5, of 631 West street, said to his sister, Mary, 16 months old, after he saved her from fire in their home yesterday. Children and their mother, Mrs. Elisa Delaurentz, were led to safety by firemen after Nicholas carried Mary from the burning living room.
BOY SAVES SISTER WHEN HOME BURNS
Carries Infant to Mother Whose Screams Bring Rescuers
A boy, 5, probably saved the life of his 16-months-old sister when fire damaged their home at 631 West street, yesterday.
The children, Nicholas and Mary Delaurentz, were playing in the first floor front room when the blaze broke out shortly before 10 a. m.
Screaming, Nicholas tugged and pulled his little sister half-way up the stairs to the second floor, where their mother, Mrs. Elisa Delaurentz, was making beds.
Mrs. Delaurentz snatched the infant from Nicholas’ arms. Believing they were trapped by flames which had started eating their way toward the stairs, Mrs. Delaurentz and the children went to a second story front window and called for help.
A passerby heard them and telephoned an alarm from the store of Joseph Di Maro, West and Royden streets.
Mrs. Delaurentz still was at the window when firemen from Engine Company No. 1, Fourth and Pine streets, arrived. Capt. Harry Wagner and Hoseman Joseph Gentlesk and Charles Conway, dashed into the house. Two of them carried the children while the other led Mrs. Delaurentz to safety.
Mrs. Delaurentz was taken to the home of Mrs. Jennie Ferri, 627 West street. She had become separated from the children in the confusion and thinking they still were in the burning house, she collapsed.
Mrs. Delaurentz’s husband, Louis, was at Cooper Hospital at the time of the fire getting medicine. He suffered a sun-stroke several years ago and has not been well since. He is unemployed.
Three other children, Rose, 10; Eva, 8, and Dominick, 7, were in school.
Firemen said the blaze, which caused about $300 damage, probably was started by a smouldering cigarette stump or by the children. Nicholas denied that he and his little sister were playing with matches.
Named: West Street, Mrs. Elisa DiLaurentis, Nicholas DiLaurentis, Mary DiLaurentis, Engine Company 1, Harry Wagner, Joseph Gentlesk, Charles Conway, Joseph DiMaro, Jennie Ferri, Louis DiLaurentis, Rose DiLaurentis, Dominick DiLaurentis, and Eva DiLaurentis.
2 Firemen Injured as Fire Apparatus Collide in Midcity
Camden Courier-Post —
Big Trucks Collide at Haddon and Federal on Way to Blaze
Two firemen were injured yesterday when two fire trucks collided at Haddon avenue and Federal street while responding to an alarm from North Camden.
Charles E. Conway, 29, of 2930 North Congress road, attached to Engine Co. No. 7, Kaighn avenue, east of Mc. Ephraim, is in Cooper Hospital suffering from a dislocated right shoulder, fractured wrist, sprained back and cuts of the head.
Harry Wagner, 36, of 723 Carman street, also attached to No. 7, was treated at West Jersey Hospital for a sprained back and sent home.
Conway was catapulted from the apparatus as it collided with that of Engine Company No. 1, Fourth and Pine streets. No. 7 apparatus was proceeding north on Haddon avenue with Walter Carter, 1728 Mulford street, as the driver. The siren of the apparatus drowned the siren of No. 1 truck as it sped east on Federal street in charge of Frank Peters, 721 Mt. Vernon street.
The trucks crashed and locked and both swerved to the sidewalk at the northeast corner. The big machines came to a halt against the front of the Bell Telephone Company’s building. Firemen on both trucks were badly shaken up. Both machines were damaged badly, estimated at $2000.
In the meantime other fire companies were battling flames at the homes of Mary Cox, 325 Chester street, and Ada Spencer, 327 Chester street. According to Deputy Fire Chief William R. Harring, the fire broke out in the Cox home and spread next door. The fire was caused by sparks from a coal stove. The flames gained considerable headway before they were discovered.
Several Companies Called
A neighbor telephoned fire headquarters. Then excited residents began pulling alarms from boxes, with the result that a number of companies were called. North, South and East Camden companies responded. The first and second stories of the two houses were damaged badly. The loss is estimated at $1000.
The fire was one of four yesterday afternoon. The first alarm came at 12.25 p. m. from the Vegetable Oil Company’s garage, Twenty-fourth street and Hayes avenues. A gasoline torch was said to have set some burlap bags on fire. The damage was slight.
The alarm for the Chester street fire was sounded at 3 p. m. A third alarm came from the home of Forrest Foster, 2034 Arlington street, where a mattress was on fire. The alarm was sounded at 6.32 p. m. Four minutes later an alarm was received for a grass fire at Twenty-ninth and Buren streets. At 7.01 p. m. firemen received a fifth call to the rear of 1016 Empire avenue. Rubbish was burning.
Charles E. Conway Sr.
Camden Courier-Post —
Charles E. Conway Sr., 55, of 137 Kaighns ave., died Wednesday. A former resident of the Fairview section, he was born in Philadelphia and until six months ago was employed as a shipfitter at the New York Shipyard. Surviving is a son, Charles E. Jr., of Erlton.
High Mass of requiem will be sung at 9.30 a. m. Saturday in St. Joan of Arc Church. Friends will meet at 8.30 a. m. at a funeral home at 1530 Collings rd., where they may also call Friday evening. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.