Introduction
Chester J. Gedrich – Camden Fire Department
CHESTER J. GEDRICH was born on April 16, 1922. He was issued a Social Security Card in Pennsylvania prior to 1951, apparently moving to Camden in the late 1930s or the 1940s. He was one of a group of men appointed to the Camden Fire Department at the end of 1950. He was promoted to captain in 1962 and spent the latter part of his career with Ladder Company 3 in East Camden.
The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows him living at 1226 Morton Street. He was still at that address as late as the fall of 1970, but is not listed there in 1977, apparently moving out of Camden once residency requirements were lifted for the city’s uniformed fire fighters.
Captain Gedrich retired from the Camden Fire department after 30 years of service on February 1, 1981. He was living in Poulsbo, Washington in 1990, but by 2000 had returned to the East Coast. Telephone Directories show him residing in Trenton, New Jersey in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
According to Social Security records, Chester Gedrich last residence was in Trenton, New Jersey. He passed away on February 21, 2009.
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.
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.
In Front of Fire Headquarters
1958
In front of Fire Headquarters, North 5th and Arch Streets, 1958 – Firemen Raymond Banford, James McGrory, James Stewart, Chester Gedrich
Camden Fireman To Be Promoted
Camden Courier-Post —
Camden Fireman To Be Promoted
Fireman Chester Gedrich, of 1212 Morton st., Camden, who finished first in a recent Civil Service examination, will be appointed a full captain at 10 A.M. Thursday, by Acting Public Safety Director Edwin A. Bedell.
Bedell also will present a citation to Fireman Harrison W. Mac Neir, of Rescue Squad 1, for his efforts to save 15-year-old Donna Bender, who drowned last May 21, in Cooper River.
Gedrich who has been Acting Capt. of Truck 1, probably will be assigned to Engine Co. 2, at headquarters. Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell said Tuesday. His salary as a captain will be $6575.
Boy, Girl Saved in City Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Two children were revived by artificial resuscitation last night after being rescued from flames which damaged a bedroom of their home.
The boy and girl, two-year-old Kenneth and eight-month-old Tracy, are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bagby of 2108 Van Buren Street, Camden.
They were rescued after fire broke out in a second floor bedroom of the home at 11:19 PM. They were asleep in the room at the time.
Fought Flames
The girl was rescued by James Robinson, acting captain of Engine Company Three. Robinson went through the building until he reached the bedroom.
According to Battalion Chief Thomas McCabe, Robinson fought his way through the flames and heat in the room to reach the child. The girl was not breathing when rescued, McCabe said, but Robinson performed the artificial resuscitation.
The boy was rescued by Captain Chester Gedrich of Engine Company 10, who climbed a ladder to reach the bedroom. The youth was handed down the ladder and revived by fireman Joseph Lesniewski of Engine Company 10.
Taken to Hospital
The children were taken to West Jersey Hospital Northern Division, Camden, where they were examined and released.
Two other Bagby girls, five-year-old Dawn and six-year-old Kim, were next door, at 2106 Van Buren Street, with their mother when the fire broke out.
Chief McCabe said he did not know the whereabouts of the father at the time of the fire.
Eight Cited For Service Above Duty
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Camden Fire Department Engine Companies were awarded unit citations and eight firemen attached to the companies were each given merit citations yesterday for service above and beyond the call of duty.
Camden Fire Chief Edward V. Michalak awarded the citations to representatives of Engine Companies 3 and 10 in ceremonies held in the department’s headquarters at Third and Arch Streets.
Chief Michalak said the eight firemen under adverse conditions and without regard to personal safety, boldly rescued two children from a burning second story bedroom last August 20.
According to Michalak, captain Chester Gedrich, 47, entered the home located at 2108 Van Buren Street, by ladder and rescued 8 month old Tracy Bagby, passing her to Joseph J. Lesniewski, 40, who took her to the street and gave her artificial respiration.
Meanwhile, Michalak said, acting Captain James Robinson, 31, entered the flaming building, went up the stairway and rescued, Tracy’s, 7-year-old brother Kenneth.
Assisting in the rescue were firemen Clair H. Graham, 58, Harold Johnson Jr., Ronald Gorski, 30, George Kurtyan, 24, and Robert W. Frett also 24.
November 18, 1974
November 18, 1974 – Captain Chester Gedrich with Firefighter Henry Keating on ladder
March 11, 2009
It is with deep regret to announce the passing of retired Captain Chester Gedrich. He passed sometime last week. Captain Gedrich was born in 1922, appointed to the fire department in 1950, promoted to captain in 1962 and retired in 1981. I remember him as the Captain of Ladder 3, Group 1.
— Greg Murphy, Camden Fire Department