Introduction
CHARLES HENRY FITZSIMMONS IV, generally referred to in his own time as Charles H. Fitzsimmons Jr., was born in Camden on September 26, 1877, the son of Charles Fitzsimmons III and his wife, the former Anna Carey. His father was born around 1856 in Philadelphia, and came to Camden in 1874. At the time of the 1880 Census he was married, living with wife Anna and Charles IV at 249 Sycamore Street, and working as a sail maker. He followed that trade into the 1890s. The 1887–1888 Camden City Directory shows him living at 287 Sycamore Street, the 1888–1889 Directory states 272 Sycamore Street. The 1890–1891 Directory gives 1133 South 3rd as his address. He was still following the sailmaker’s trade as late as 1890. By 1900 Charles H. Fitzsimmons had moved next door to 1135 South 3rd Street. He married Nellie Gilmore within a few months of the 1900 Census enumeration.
Charles Fitzsimmons III was appointed to the police force on April 1, 1894 by then-Mayor John L. Westcott. After an exemplary and distinguished career in uniform, he was promoted to detective in 1912 by Mayor Charles H. Ellis. Detective Fitzsimmons retired on December 31, 1931, due to age and problems with his eyesight.
Charles H. Fitzsimmons IV had moved out of his parents home by 1906 and was working as a plumber, residing at 299 Sycamore Street. He had been appointed to the fire department by April of 1910, and had married. When the Census was taken he and wife Nellie, son Charles and daughter Anna lived at 1143 South 3rd Street. They moved to 1126 South 3rd Street by 1914. On December 1, 1916 he was promoted to Lieutenant.
The family was still there as late as September of 1918, according to his draft card. When the 1920 Census was taken, Charles Fitzsimmons was still a fire fighter. He was living with his parents, wife Nellie, and daughter Anna at 1421 Bradley Avenue in the Parkside section of Camden. This would be his home until his death, which came all too soon. Charles H. Fitzsimmons IV died on July 26, 1922. He was survived by his parents, wife and daughter.
Assistant Fire Chiefs Sent to New Stations
Camden Post-Telegram —
Second Assistant Fire Chief George Cox took up his station at the Kaighn avenue fire house this morning. Chas. Fitzsimmons, Jr., of the Fifth ward, a new appointee, reported for duty at the same house this morning.
ASSISTANT CHIEF BUZINE.
Assistant Fire Chief Samuel Buzine, Richard Marter and Harry Selby have been transferred to Headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets. Assistant Chief Buzine, familiarly known to thousands down-town as “Daddy,” will be greatly missed, as a more conscientious painstaking and affable official never held office in this city.
Pallbearers at Funeral of Bert Hibbs
Camden Post-Telegram —
Samuel Price, Charles H. Fitzsimmons, Jr., Morton Clark and John McTaggart, of the Kaighn avenue fire house, were pallbearers at the funeral of Bert Hibbs, who was killed by a negro at Seventh and Sycamore streets, early Sunday morning. Interment was made in the Friends Cemetery, Langhorne, Pa.
Inmates Rescued as Nursery Burns
Camden Post-Telegram —
INMATES RESCUED AS NURSERY BURNS
Firemen Save Dozen Sick Children Who Were in Quarantine Ward.
CARRIED TO SAFETY DOWN THE LADDERS
Changes Among Camden Firemen
Philadelphia Inquirer —
There are a number of changes that become effective in Camden’s Fire Department today. Charles Fitzsimmons, Jr., will become a lieutenant to fill the vacancy occasioned by the removal of Israel Adams owing to physical infirmities. Irwin Price, of the Sixth ward, takes the place of William McCauley, dismissed, and Lewis Newman, of the Twelfth ward, will assume the duties of Harry Suters, resigned. William Cumerford, of the Twelfth ward, has been appointed a fireman to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Fitzsimmons.
World War I Draft Card
Charles H. Fitzsimmons IV – World War I Draft Card
Fire Company From Many Places Called To Battle River Town Blaze
Camden Daily Courier —
FIRE CAPTAIN HURT; BUILDING WRECKED; DAMAGE IS $15,000
Fire Company From Many Places Called To Battle River Town Blaze
ALARM SPREAD BY PUPILS
Boys And Girls Carry Out Books And Desks Until Forced Out of Building
While firemen from Camden and a half dozen other towns battled with flames, scores of children carried books and desks from the two Delair school houses this morning until flames forced them back. The loss is estimated at $15,000.
Captain Charles F. Fitzsimmons, Jr., of Engine Company No. 2, Camden, was badly burned about the hands in fighting the flames.
One school house was burned to the ground, while the other was so badly damaged a new building will have to be erected.
The school buildings were located on Engard avenue above River avenue. They were frame structures connected by a low one-story entrance. They were built in 1890, and conducted by the Board of Education of Pensauken [sic] township. The schools were two-story frame structures with four rooms each.
Teachers Discover Flames
Miss Maude Henke, one of the teachers, smelled smoke when she arrived at one of the schools at 8 o’clock. Smoke was pouring out of a radiator, she said. She began an investigation. On opening the basement door, she was greeted by a burst of flame.
Children Spread Alarm
Running out into the street, Miss Henke found a group of school children. She told them to spread the alarm.
Delair has no fire department. The youngsters ran to homes nearby to get help. Word was telephoned to Pensauken [sic] and Merchantville. When fire companies from those towns arrived on the scene they telephoned for aid from Camden, Palmyra, Riverton and Riverside.
Women in Bucket Brigade
Bucket brigades were organized by the men and women of Delair and they were carrying water to the buildings when the volunteer companies arrived.
The children were forced from the building by the firemen. The youngsters managed to save hundreds of dollars’ worth of books before the flames and smoke comelled [sic] the firemen to stop them. They carried out the teachers’ desks and the school’s old organ.
Miss Mary Schleinkoffer, the principal, Mrs. Helen H. Cubberley and Miss Henke, the teachers aided the children in rescuing the school property.
One Building In Ashes
The volunteer firemen worked with difficulty in battling flames with chemical apparatus. The building on the north side was burned to the ground.
The flames were fast destroying the second structure when the Camden firemen arrived under Deputy Chief W. W. Patterson. They were accompanied by Councilman Joseph H. Forsyth, of the committee.
The local firemen were able to quickly control the flames when they began to pump water into the blazing building from their powerful apparatus. Unable to enter the structure because of the flame and smoke, they scaled the roof and poured tons of water into the building.
Captain Fitzsimmons was burned on the hands as he climbed up the hot tin roof.
Hold School in Church
Before the Camden firemen had extinguished the last embers the school teachers and children were moving their desks and books into the Delair Methodist Episcopal Church nearby. Rev. Ellwood Stevens, the pastor, tendered the teachers the use of the building until a meeting of the board of trustees can be called.
Miss Schleinkoffer said school sessions would be resumed Monday in the church and in the upper stories of a store near the scene of the blaze.
There has been an agitation in Delair for several months to have a new school erected because of the crowded conditions. The Parent-Teachers Association this week drafted resolutions urging the Board of Education to relieve the congestion in the school. About 125 children attended the schools.
Cause Is Unknown
Miss Schleinkoffer was unable to tell just what caused the blaze. Firemen believe spontaneous combustion was responsible. There was a big pile of rubbish in the basement, they say. Another theory is it started in the coal pile in the basement. The flames had gained a big headway when the fire was discovered.
Death Notice of Charles H. Fitzsimmons Jr.
Philadelphia Inquirer —
FITZSIMMONS.—July 26, CHARLES H., JR., husband of Nellie V. Fitzsimmons (nee Gilmore) and son of Charles H., Sr., and Anna P. Fitzsimmons (nee Carey), aged 44. Relatives and friends invited to funeral services, Mon., 2 P. M., residence, 1421 Bradley ave., Camden, N. J. Int. Evergreen Cem. Friends may call Sun., after 7 P. M.