Charles H. Errickson

CHARLES HERMAN ERRICKSON was born in Vineland, New Jersey around 1888 to Herman and Kate Errickson. The family lived in Vineland through the spring of 1900. By the time the 1906 City Directory was being compiled, the Errickson family had moved to Camden, where they took up residence at 279 Walnut Street. Herman Errickson was then working as a shoemaker in a shoe factory. The Erricksons lived at the Walnut Street address into the 1920s. Besides Charles, known as “Charlie,” there was younger brother George and four sisters, Lillie, Anna, Mary, and Sadie. The 1910 Census shows Charlie Errickson working as a bartender in a saloon. He married shortly thereafter. The 1914 City Directory shows him and wife Nellie living at 225 Senate Street. When he registered for the draft in June of 1917 Charles Errickson was married and the father of two children. He was then working as a restaurant manager and living at 40 Newkirk Place, a small street that ran east from North 3rd Street between Federal and Market Street. When America entered World War I, he was among those who served.

Charles Errickson was living apart from his wife when the 1919 City Directory was compiled and at the time of the January 1919 Census. Mrs. Nellie Errickson and daughter Catherine were then living at 206 Berkley Street. Charles Errickson was serving in the United States Army. Charles Errickson apparently never reunited with his wife.

By 1924 Charles Errickson had been appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He had returned to 279 Walnut Street and was still at that address in 1927. That year he was promoted to junior captain. The 1929 Camden City Directory shows him living at 327 Chestnut Street. In March of 1932 he was promoted to senior captain.

At the time of the Census, in April of that year, he was still married, but at that time was renting a room at 574 Royden Street, where a widow, Emma Socwill, let rooms. By 1931 he moved to 579 Line Street, where the New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows him residing in 1936.

In September of 1932, Charles Errickson was promoted to Battalion Chief. On January 1, 1945 Charles Errickson was promoted to Deputy Chief.

Just after 10 P.M. on February 20, 1946, a major fire occurred in the S.S. Kresge Department Store at 29–33 Broadway near Federal Street. First arriving units found heavy smoke billowing from the building as second and third alarms were transmitted in quick succession.

Shortly after midnight, a backdraft injured five members as flames raced through the building. Firemen William Reed, Thomas Winstanley, Theodore Guthrie, Thomas McParland and Captain Howell Needham were removed to Cooper Hospital for facial burns; whereupon each member insisted on returning to the fire following treatment. At 12:30 A.M. Deputy Chief Charles Erickson directed the Fire Dispatcher to recall a platoon of off duty members and summon them to the fire. By 2 A.M. the flames had broken through the roof and were visible ten blocks away. As the first floor began to collapse Engine Company 8 was forced into the street as a roaring column of tin vented outward some thirty-five feet over Hudson Street. While the Department was making a major effort on Broadway, another fire broke out at the Camden Foundry Company, Front and Elm Streets, North Camden. Engine Company 11 assisted by off duty members staffing reserve apparatus confined this fire to a section of the building.

The 1947 City Directory indicates he still resided at 579 Line Street.

In July of 1947 Chief Erickson was badly injured fighting a warehouse fire on Kaighn Avenue. He was out of work for 207 days. His retirement began June 3, 1949. After his retirement he moved to Haddon Heights, New Jersey. Chief Erickson passed away on November 17, 1960 and was buried at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, New Jersey.

Son’s Photographic Equipment Destroyed on Eve of Starting Work

The savings of a widow were saved last night by Battalion Chief Charles Errickson as flames destroyed a photographic studio in her home at 939 Newton Avenue.

Erickson worked his way through dense smoke at the home of Mrs. Carrie C. Perkinpine to get her savings in a small box in a second story bedroom.

Mrs. Perkinpine lived with her son, Leonard J. Farrar, who has been unemployed two years. He was to have started work as a photographer next Monday but all of his equipment, including a camera, were lost in the fire.

“I had banked the furnace in the cellar for the night and was reading in the dining room when I heard a crackling noise,” Mrs. Perkinpine said. “I opened the cellar door and was nearly overcome by a gust of smoke.”

She ran to the home of neighbors across the street and they called the fire department. Four companies responded under Errickson. The fire spread to the photographic studio set up in the cellar by Farrar and destroyed his developing and enlarging equipment as well as the camera. Firemen were unable to account for the origin of the blaze unless sparks from the furnace ignited a pile of rubbish in the cellar. The fire was confined to the cellar although the upper rooms were damaged by smoke.

Three other families were forced to flee their homes because of smoke from the Perkinpine home.

A fireman was injured slightly last night when a two-alarm fire damaged the Penn Junk Shop at 1190 Chestnut street.

Hoseman Adam Meade, 41, of 1446 South Fourth Street, attached to Engine Company No. 3, suffered an injured ankle when a fence fell on it while he was fighting the blaze. He was taken to West Jersey Hospital where he was treated and released.

The fire, of undetermined origin, started in the single-story frame building owned by Chester Szalanski and had gained good headway in piles of papers and rags before firemen arrived.

The first alarm was turned in at 10:36 p. m. by Alice Saduski, 16, of 1169 Chestnut street, who ran across the snow-covered street in bare feet to pull the fire alarm box.

When Battalion Chief Charles Errickson arrived he ordered the second alarm turned in. No estimate of the loss could be obtained last night.

560 Attending Ceremony at John A. Mathis Plant Startled by Blaze

Five hundred persons attending the launching of a net tender at the John H. Mathis Shipbuilding Corporation were startled Saturday when the cry of “fire” was sounded.

The blaze, although slight, was only a few yards from the crowds of employees, their relatives, and yard and Navy officials watching the launching.

The fire was caused when a large crane dumped hot coals on the railroad tracks, setting fire to the ties and a quantity of oil soaked rags. Employees of the yard watching the ceremonies, rushed to the danger spot and extinguished the flames within a few minutes.

However, due to the proximity of the fire to the ships and its possible danger if it gained headway, the Camden fire department was called.

Battalion Chief Charles Errickson, answering the call, collapsed from the heat a few minutes after returning to the fire house. His condition was not considered serious and he declined hospital treatment.

The ship sent down the ways was the net tender, U.S.S. Teak. It was launched three months ahead of schedule and Navy officials had attempted to keep the ship’s launching a secret until the fire disclosed the story.

Mrs. E. L. Patch, wife of Captain E. L. Patch, supervising naval construction at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, christened the 160-foot vessel. Later, the hull was towed to Port Richmond where Diesel engines will be installed, before it is commissioned into the Navy. The ship cost $471,000 and is the second tender launched at the yard in recent months.

Two others of similar design are under construction on the ways. The yard also holds contracts for three minesweepers and 10 submarine chasers.

The net tenders are used for laying and repairing nets in harbors as a defense against submarines. The nets also are placed around anchored ships to protect them against torpedoes.

Shipyard employees, as a reward for finishing the ship ahead of schedule, were taken yesterday on a picnic to Seaside Heights, sponsored by the company. Ten chartered buses were provided for transportation.