Introduction
Christopher Moll Jr., Camden Fire Department
Christopher Moll Jr. was born on October 23, 1890 in Camden, New Jersey to Christopher and Anna Moll. He was the youngest of nine children. His father supported his family working as a butcher, and had brought his family to Camden from Philadelphia shortly after the 1880 Census enumeration. The family lived at 1166 Maple Street in the late 1880s and early 1890s. The 1900 Census shows the family at 212 North Twelfth Street, and they still were living there in 1910. Christopher Moll Jr. was still living at home when the Census was taken in 1910.
When the 1914 Camden City Directory was compiled, Christopher Moll Jr. had married. He and his wife Nina then lived at 914 North 4th Street in North Camden. The 1914 Camden City Directory shows him working as a fireman, but not in the firefighting sense of the word, however, as his draft card, filled out in 1917, shows him working for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He then lived at 613 York Street, next door to future City Commissioner Carroll P. Sherwood. He had moved to 610 York Street by the spring of 1918. The 1920 Census shows Christopher and Nina Moll living with their two sons, Thomas and S. Stewart Moll, at 46 South 28th Street in East Camden. Christopher Moll was working as a machinist in a factory. By 1924 Christopher Moll and family had moved to 2833 Yorkship Road in the then relatively new Yorkship Village section. He was then working as an auto mechanic. By 1927 he had joined the Camden Fire Department, and was still serving as late as 1947. His older brother William Moll joined the Camden Police Department, around the same time, where he served for about 30 years. Another older brother, Frank Henry Moll, also served as a police officer in the mid-1920s.
Christopher and Nina Moll were still living on Yorkship Road as late as the spring of 1942. By the time the 1947 Camden City Directory was compiled they had moved to 204 White Horse Pike in West Collingswood. He was then still employed by the Fire Department. He retired on November 1, 1955, having reached the mandatory retirement age. The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories lists him at 311 Richey Avenue in West Collingswood. He was still living there when he passed away in September of 1967. Christopher Moll was survived by his wife Nina, who remained on Richey Avenue through at least the fall of 1970, before moving to Beach Haven, New Jersey. She died in February of 1976.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card
Grief Over Wife’s Death Fatal
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Grief over the death of his wife contributed to the demise of Christopher Moll, an aged resident of Camden, who passed away Friday night at his home, 1182 Lawrence street, from a complication of ailments. Mr. Moll was ill when his wife died last February. His funeral takes place tomorrow afternoon from the residence of his son-in-law, Fred Jackel, 118[?] Lawrence street.
Drowned Swimming to Yacht
Philadelphia Inquirer —
While swimming from the head of Sixth street to a yacht in the Delaware river, Ralph Burrough, 18 years old, of 418 Grant street, Camden, disappeared under the water and was drowned. The body was recovered by J. R. McDonald, of 528 Byron street, and Christopher Moll, of 610 York street. Coroner Pratt issued a certificate of accidental drowning. The boy was employed at the offices of the Camden Fire Insurance Association.
Firemen Back
Camden Post-Telegram —
Vacations are now over for Chris Moll and Joseph Daly, of No. 2 Engine Company, and George Hollins and Howard Harrington, of No. 1 Truck Company.
Moll, who has been up in Maine, where he spent his time hunting, has brought back a fine collection of deer skins.
Captain William Cassion, Howard Lorange, John Strauss and Harry Burrough leave today for their long looked for vacation, which they will spend at various points of interest.
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
Taps Sound for Jack Airedale, Canine Mascot of Fire Laddies
Camden Courier-Post —
By BOB COLLINS
Camden firemen and policemen paid their final respects to stout-hearted Jack Airedale yesterday.
The beloved mascot of Headquarters Fire Company, Fifth and Arch streets, whose life was crushed out under the wheels of truck No. 2, his own wagon, Monday, was accorded a hero’s funeral. His body was interred in the cemetery at the rear of St. Paul’s and the First Baptist churches, close by his fire station home, and taps were sounded at 5 p. m., just as the sun was setting in the west.
People from every station of life visited the fire station to pay homage to the doughty fire-fighter, who was killed answering his last call. Senator Albert S. Woodruff, City Commissioner Harold W. Bennett, Miss Florence Hughes, chairman of the Camden County Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Fire Chief John S. [sic] Lennox and Deputy Chief William Hearn were among the estimated throng of 3500 who passed his bier.
Letters and telegrams of sympathy poured into the headquarters company throughout the day. There were more than 10 offers of dogs to serve as mascots and take Jack’s place. These were kindly but firmly rejected by members of the headquarters company. “There will only be one Jack,” they said. “We appreciate all these offers, but we don’t want another mascot right now.”
The funeral rites for the dog were impressive.
Active bearers included Raymond Stark, John K. Taylor and Everett Joslin, members of the Camden police department; William Spencer and John Strouss, of fire truck No. 1; John McKay, Lester Anderson and Chester Andrews, of truck No. 2.
The honorary members were Captain Van Phefferts, Russell Anderson, Harry Haines and Charles Edwards, of truck No. 1; Nelson Andrews, Christopher Moll, Arthur Batten, George Boone and Rox Abbott, of truck No. 2.
At the appointed hour a dummy alarm was sounded. Jack Airedale was carried to his favorite place on fire truck No. 2. The vehicle moved slowly along Fifth street to Federal, then to Fourth and back to Arch street. When it passed the fire station the bells in the tower tolled.
At the cemetery Jack was placed alongside his predecessors, Alva and Gimp, dogs, and Skibby and Old Black Bill, cats, who were at one time mascots at the fire station.
Boxer Gordon MacKay Training for Bout
Camden Courier-Post —
Boxing article about Gordon Mackay. Also mentions Firmin Michel, Christopher Moll, Jack Fitzgerald, Frank A. Munsey, Walter “Kentucky Rosebud” Edgerton, George E. Brunner
M.F. Middleton Felled by Gas In House Here
Camden Courier-Post —
Former City Commissioner Found Unconscious in Old Home
With gas flowing from a pipe detached from a gas range, former City Commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., was found unconscious in the kitchen of his former home at 538 Cooper street early Saturday night.
Middleton was reported last night to still be in a critical condition at West Jersey Hospital, where he was taken. The Camden Fire Department First Aid Squad worked over him for an hour at the house in a vain effort to revive him.
Middleton, a former president of the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and one time city councilman, was found by a son, C. Barry Middleton, and a friend, John Williams Rossell, who lives with the Middletons on Laurel road, Moorestown. Middleton was clad in overalls and two large pipe wrenches were lying on the kitchen floor near him.
Young Middleton said his father told his family he intended to take up some linoleum in the kitchen of his former home. Middleton first went to his office Saturday and then to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church to a service. From there he was traced to his former home, which is owned by him.
When Middleton failed to return home for dinner at the usual time Saturday his son and Rossell decided to search for him. When young Middleton discovered his father’s plight he notified police. Patrolmen Frank Cavallo, Henry Lutz, Walter Vecander and George Getley responded in radio cars and gave first aid until the fire department squad arrived.
The firemen worked on the former commissioner one hour with an inhalator before ordering his removal to the hospital, where they continued to work on Middleton for another hour but were unable to revive him. Hospital physicians continued working on him without success. They said his condition was critical.
Gas Man Called
At 4 p. m. Saturday the family living next to Middlemen’s home telephoned Public Service that gas was coming from the house. Public Service sent a man to investigate but he was unable to get into the house.
Young Middleton and Rossell said they reached the house at 6.17 p. m.
While he was a member of the first city commission Middleton was director of finance but never missed responding to all alarms of fire. He was a member of the fire committee while serving in City Council as a member from the Second ward. In that capacity he also answered all alarms.
Members of the Firemen’s First Aid Squad responding to the call were Deputy Chief William R. Harring, Hosemen Christopher Moll, William Spencer, Harry Haines, Russell Anderson, William Harry Deitz and Nelson Andrews.
City Detectives Benjamin Simon, Joseph Mardino and William Marter are investigating the cause.
125th Anniversary Celebration
— Camden Fire Department
125th Anniversary of Camden Fire Department (1869–1994). Christopher Moll, Harry Haines Jr., William Van Pfefferle
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Registration Card
Funeral on Friday for Fireman Toy
Camden Courier-Post —
Fellow Members of City Department Will Act as Pallbearers
Funeral services for William Earl Toy, veteran Camden fireman who died Sunday of injuries received when the vehicle he was driving and a bus collided Saturday, will be held at 2 p. m. Friday at the residence, 607 West street.
Members of the Camden Fire Department will act as pallbearers and attend the viewing and funeral in a body. The pallbearers will be Deputy Chief William Herring, Captains Harry Wagner and Frank Oberman and Hosemen Morris Odell, Ervin Brennan and Christopher Moll.
Toy is survived by his widow, Margaret C., nee Voll, and a son William, Jr., a member of the Army Air Force stationed in Colorado, who is on his way home for the funeral.
He is survived also by his father, Lemuel, 86, who lived with his son and who was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering a heart ailment. His condition today was described as fair. He is unaware of his son’s death.
Toy, 45 and a member of the department 17 years, was at the wheel of Acting Chief William Van Pfefferle’s car when it collided with a west-bound Public Service bus at Sixteenth and Federal streets. Pfefferle escaped with severe cuts and bruises but Toy suffered fractures of the thigh, arm and wrist and internal injuries, the latter proving fatal. Both men were taken to Cooper Hospital, where Pfefferle’s condition today was described as good.
Woman Gas Victim Saved by Camden Rescue Squad
Camden Courier-Post —
The hour-long effort of a fire department rescue squad Friday night saved a woman who tried to kill herself by gas.
Police said Mrs. Florence Marshall, 46, of 330 North Tenth Street, locked herself in the bathroom and turned on a gas jet. They added she was despondent because her daughter, Eva, 22, was planning to marry and leave home.
A son, William, 19, broke down the bathroom door and dragged the mother from the room. Patrolmen John Voll and Harrison Wilkinson were called and summoned the rescue squad headed by Captains Godfrey Patterson and George Boone.
It took the squad an hour to revive Mrs. Marshall by artificial respiration. She was taken to Cooper hospital and later to police headquarters, where she was released for a hearing Monday on a charge of attempted suicide.
Other members of Rescue Squad 1 are George Baxter, William Watkin, John Mogck, Edward Brendllnger, Arthur Ballinghoff, Christopher Moll, Edwin Decker, Carl Wirtz, Robert Olesiewicz, John Kolessar and Raymond Banford.
Fire Department Service Cards
Camden Fire Department service record cards