Introduction
David W. Humphries
David W. Humphries was born on January 24, 1925, the only child of David Humphries and Rhoda Humphries. His father had been born in Stockton prior to the 1899 merger with Camden, and like his father lived all his days out in East Camden. His father was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Camden Fire Department.
When the 1924 and 1929 City Directories were compiled, the David Humphries family lived at 2925 High Street, and they were still at that address in April of 1930. During these years their neighbors included a brother fire fighter, Harry J. Allebach, who lived at 2931 High Street.
The family had moved to 56 South 28th Street when the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled. When David Humphries registered for the draft in the spring of 1942, he and his family were still at 56 South 28th Street and he was still with the Fire Department. Shortly thereafter they moved again, to 14 Leonard Avenue. David Humphries appears to have left the Fire Department by 1943. He died on February 22, 1947. The Humphries were still living at the Leonard Avenue address when the 1947 Directory was compiled, but apparently David W. Humphries moved to 208 North 35th Street shortly thereafter.
David W. Humphries attended school through the 9th grade and then, like the majority of boys of his time in Camden, went to work. The 1947 City Directory states he was an apprentice, but does not say where or for what trade.
David W. Humphries was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1950. He reported for duty the following day to Ladder Company 3 at North 27th Street and Federal Street in East Camden. He was by this time married and was living at 208 South 35th Street.
Between the time of his appointment to the Fire Department and his death in 1974, David W. Humphries does not appear in any New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories. Fire Department records indicate that he lived at various addresses on South 35th Street. His mother, Rhoda Humphries, is listed at 3017 Mickle Street in the 1956 and 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories. She died on September 1, 1964 and was buried next to her husband at Beverly National Cemetery.
During his career with the Camden Fire Department, David Humphries received a citation for the rescue of three children.
David W. Humphries passed away on April 19, 1974.
David W. Humphries’ uncle, Elwood R. Humphries, was a Camden police officer from the late 1920s into the early 1940s.
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 $3150 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 Aleibt Village; Albert A. Stinger, 1123 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, 336 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 Biederman avenue; Philip J. MacDonald, 123 North Eleventh street; Robert F. Olesiewicz, 921 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 S. Polniak, 471 Pfeiffer street; George P. Baxter, 817 Howard street; Ralph F. Schaeffer, 909 Berkley 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; H. Raymond Dixon, 439 Trenton avenue.
Fire Department Personnel Cards
David W. Humphries — Camden Fire Department personnel records. Appointed December 30, 1950; reported for duty January 1, 1951 to Truck Company 3. Badge No. 56. Citation: Special mention for rescue of three children. Died 4-19-74.