Introduction
EDWARD EARLY PERARIA SR. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 3, 1884 to Frank and Ellen Peraria. The 1910 Census shows him living with his parents, wife Frances and brother Frank in Philadelphia. By September of 1918 Edward Peraria had moved to Camden. He and his family were living at 319 Birch Street in North Camden.
The 1920 Census shows Edward and Frances Peraria and their children Edward Jr. and Francis living at 232 Main Street in North Camden. He was working as a plumber. The family was still living at that address as late as 1930. Sadly, Frances Peraria passed away in 1937. By the time the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled Edward Peraria and his family had moved to 2927 Mickle Street in East Camden. He married in the mid-1940s to Mrs. Minnie Webb. Edward E. Peraria was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 29, 1920. He reported for duty with Engine Company 6 at Front and Linden Streets. On August 27, 1925 he was transferred to Engine Company 7. He returned to Engine 6 on October 19, 1925. On March 27, 1927 he was transferred to Engine Company 4. On April 16, 1928 he transferred once again, this time to Engine Company 9, where he remained through April 28, 1935 when he was sent to Engine Company 2 to serve as District Chief’s Aide. In addition to his duties as a firefighter, Edward E. Peraria Sr. also was employed by the city to perform plumbing maintenance at police and fire facilities from 1928 to 1944.
On January 1, 1950 Edward Peraria Sr. was sent to Ladder Company 3. Having reached the age of mandatory retirement, he was detailed to Commissioner E. George Aaron’s office on November 1, 1951. Edward E. Peraria Sr. retired on pension February 29, 1952. He and his wife Minnie were living at 568 Washington Street in the mid-1960s. Minnie Peraria passed away on January 1, 1966. Edward Peraria spent his last days as a resident of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He passed away on June 3, 1966.
Edward Peraria Jr. joined his father in the Camden Fire department in the late 1930s. He was still with the Department as late as 1942. Edward Peraria Sr.’s brother, William Peraria Sr., served for 34 years with the Philadelphia Fire Department, retiring as a Captain in 1945, and his son, William Jr. was also a career Philadelphia firefighter.
World War I Draft Card
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
Double Shift System Becomes Effective at 8 O’clock on Saturday Morning
One Ten Hours; Other 14 Hours
Saturday morning at 8 o’clock the two-platoon system of the Fire Department becomes effective. At that hour the first shift will go on duty and remain until 6 p. m., when the second squad goes on, remaining until 8 a. m. That will be the procedure in the department henceforth, the schedule being so arranged that every third day there will be a 24-hour shift to let the other off. Every man will have 24 hours off every sixth day.
The arrangements were completed last night at a meeting of Council’s Fire Committee, when assignments were made of the fifty-six recent appointees to the department. With Chief Carter at headquarters will be stationed in reserve shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browning will be stationed with their shifts at No. 3 engine house.
At last night’s meeting Congressman F. F. Patterson, Jr., Mayor Charles H. Ellis, President of Council David Jester and Chairman of the Fire Committee Joseph Forsyth made addresses in which they all spoke appreciatively of the fire-fighting force and offered their congratulations to the men in getting what they had sought after many years of effort. Chief Carter was particularly praised for the efficient manner in which he has developed the department. The chief also spoke, thanking the representatives of the city in behalf of the men for the boon given them in the two-platoon system, which means the fire fighters will be able to spend more time with their families.
Everything has been worked out to the least detail and it is anticipated the new system will work without any difficulties.
The assignment of the new men to the various companies follow:
Engine Company No. 1—Alfred E. Green, Charles Errickson, Charles Cook, Leroy Hatchett.
Engine Company No. 2—Howard Lamdon, Edgar Ellander, John K. Voll, Harold E. Lorang, Chester J. Andreas, Harry G. Layton.
Engine Company No. 3—Charles Haines, August Haverkamp, Louis Quinton, Chas. S. Clements, Frank Kuda.
Engine Company No. 4—Frank A. Obermann, Walter P. Gray, Albert Ruber, Fred Schucker, Harry Kleinfelder.
Engine Company No. 5—Richard A. Ferris, Frank Fennrio.
Engine Company No. 6—William H. Reed, Manuel J. Kane, Edward Perairia, Thomas Shanahan, Rocco di Varino.
Engine Company No. 7—August Scholl, Lawrence H. Matthews, Nicholas Romain.
Engine Company No. 8—Adam Mead, Frank Sapp, William J. Taylor, William Wood, Samuel Oshushek, Edward C. Crane.
Engine Company No. 9—Keenard Naylor, Daniel McSurdy, John Mohofeld.
Engine Company No. 10—William Swarts, Hugh Rementer, Harry Greenan, Rocco Abbott.
Hose and Chemical Company No. 2—Lawrence Newton, Edward Hauser, William Getner.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1—Tom Cunningham, Leonard Magee.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 2—John Gaylor, Walter G. White.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 3—David Ellis, George A. Addison, John Mulligan, David Humphreys, Albert Dukes.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 4—George A. Quimby.
Chief’s driver—Tenny G. Hutchinson.
Engine Company 9, December 1928
John Voll, Edward Peraria, Howard Gick, Captain Eli Hunt and George Townsend, firefighters from Engine Company 9, based on Twenty-seventh Street, take a moment together following a fire on a rainy night in December 1928, seen here in the first row from left to right. The blaze involved the offices of Leon E. Todd at 2623 Westfield Avenue. Todd was a realtor who helped develop Medford Lakes.
World War II Draft Card
Bonds Given To Veteran Firefighters
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In recognition of 20 years of service, War Bonds were presented to two Fire Bureau lieutenants and a matron at ceremonies yesterday in the Park and Cambria sts. station.
Peraria comes from a family of firefighters. His father retired Jan. 9, 1945, after 34 years in the bureau, while an uncle, Edward Peraria, is attached to the Camden Fire Department, and a brother-in-law, Harry J. Hughes, now in the Army, was serving as a ladderman at Truck 7 when he was inducted.
2 in City Service Quit on Pension
Camden Courier-Post —
Two men were granted pensions Friday when the Police and Fire Pension Commission met in the mayor’s office.
Fireman Edward E. Peraria, 65, of 2927 Mickle street, was granted his retirement benefits effective March 1, while District Detective Clarence Barnes received his, effective March 18. Barnes, 54, lives at 545 N. Thirty-second street.
Peraria was appointed Jan. 1, 1921, and long was active as a chief’s driver, with headquarters at Fifth and Arch streets. More recently he was at the station at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets.
Barnes received his pension on the basis of being over 50, with 25 years’ service. Both will receive half of the average of their pay over the past three years, minus two and a half percent for the pension fund.
Attendance Record
Camden Courier-Post —
ATTENDANCE RECORD for firemen to aim at is one set by Edward E. Peraria Sr., right, of 2927 Mickle street, who retired from the fire department March 1 after missing only 62 days work in 30 years. Peraria was a chief’s aide having driven for former Fire Chief Walter Mertz and the late Chief John Lennox. Chief William V. Pfefferle, left, presents cash token to him Wednesday at Twenty-seventh and Federal streets.
Fire Department Index Card
Camden Fire Department index card for Edward E. Peraria Sr. (surname spelled “PAERAIA” on card). Appointed Nov. 29, 1920; reported for duty Jan. 1, 1921; pensioned Feb. 29, 1952.
Edward Peraria, 81, Former Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Edward E. Peraria Sr., 81, of 228 Utah Avenue, died yesterday in Cherry Hill Hospital.
He served in the Camden City Fire Department from 1921 until his retirement in 1952 and was a member of the Police and Firemen’s Club of Camden and the Firemen’s Mutual Benovolent [sic] Association.
Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Frances Doak of Camden; a son, Edward E. Jr. of Philadelphia; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Friends will meet Monday at 9 a.m. in the Harry Leonard Funeral Home, 2850 Federal Street. Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Procathedral Church, 29th and Federal Streets. There will be a viewing in the funeral home tomorrow night.
Photos
