Forrest Eisenhart

FORREST H. EISENHART was born in Oklahoma on October 11, 1912 to George and Florence Eisenhart. The Eisenharts were from Pennsylvania and had moved to Oklahoma shortly before Forrest was born, after a brief period around 1910 in which they lived near the White Horse Pike in what was then Center Township. The family lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma when the census was enumerated in 1920. Besides Forrest, the family included older siblings Jack, Emmanuel, Avis, and Thelma, and younger siblings Phoebe and Omar. By 1930 they had returned to Pennsylvania, and were living in Pittsburgh in April of that year. They came to Camden sometime thereafter.

Forrest Eisenhart boxed professionally during the 1930s. He basically was a club fighter, appearing on the undercard in area boxing shows. In the words of his granddaughter Heidi Wilkens, “he lost most of his fights but he was tough and could take a punch real well… he lived in Fairview and worked at Campbell Soup all his life….” Forrest Eisenhart apparently kept his boxing secret from his wife. In Depression-era Camden, times were hard even if you had a job. Forrest Eisenhart would fight, and win or lose go to Campbell Soup and work a full shift. A family story states that he sparred with Jersey Joe Walcott. This is very likely, as his parents lived within a stone’s throw of the future heavyweight champion’s home in the late 1940s.

Forrest Eisenhart may have been living in Westmont NJ in 1936. In 1938 he married Hilda Marie Jensen, of 3022 North Constitution Road in Fairview. They initially lived there with Hilda’s mother. The 1947 City Directory shows Forrest Eisenhart and his wife Hilda had moved to 2916 North Constitution Road in Fairview. His parents were living at 325 North 10th Street in North Camden.

Last a resident of Riverside NJ, Forrest Eisenhart passed away on December 17, 1997.

Forrest “Dutch” Eisenhart is remembered by his nephew George Eisenhart and granddaughter Heidi Wilkens, who helped create this page.

Junior Lightweights Meet Tonight in Main Go at Convention Hall — Straiges Faces Braun

Mickey Duca of Paulsboro, and Paul Enno of the Philippine Islands tangle here tonight in a return bout at the Convention Hall Annex.

The two junior Lightweights met in a spectacular six-rounder a couple months ago and Duca won a clear cut verdict. Tonight they clash in an eight-rounder and local fight devotees are anticipating another sensational scrap.

Their first fight, a rapid-fire battle from the opening gong, was an even Stephen tilt for the first four rounds, both of them throwing myriad punches. Duca, however, had more in reserve than Enno. Mickey threw caution to the winds at the start of the fifth and outslugged the doughty little Filipino club fighter during the final two sessions.

The fracas stole the show and both of the kids got a great hand when they left the ring. Enno has been fighting consistently since that fuss, while Duca hasn’t engaged in many bouts. But Mickey always is in shape and Enno can look forward to another tough fight even though he deserves the decision.

Straiges In Semi-Final

Joey Straiges of South Camden, makes his first start here in many months, when he meets Grover Braun of Trenton, in the eight-round semifinal. Joey is one of the cleverest youngsters in the city, but is expected to be pushed by Braun, who, according to Promoter Lew McFarland, is a tough puncher.

The main preliminary probably has roused as much interest as the main event. Harry Smith of North Camden, and Buddy Goodrich of Third and Federal Streets, are the contestants and they are tilting in a return match.

In the two other six-rounders, Forrest “Dutch” Eisenhardt of Westmont meets Harry Taylor, champion of the Colored Elks, and Joe Mancuso of Maple Shade faces Pat Patitucci of Elmer.

Paulsboro Youngster Again Defeats Filipino In Eight-Rounder Here

LOCAL FIGHT RESULTS

Mickey Duca, 130, Paulsboro, won decision over Paul Enno, 130, Philippine Islands, in eight rounds. Joey Straiges, 134, South Camden, scored technical knockout over Joe Ettore, 137, Philadelphia, in seventh round. Harry Smith, 166, North Camden, won decision over Buddy Goodrich, 161, in six rounds. Harry Taylor, 178, South Camden, knocked out Forrest “Dutch” Eisenhart, 178, Westmont, in second round. Time — 58 seconds. Joe Mancuso, 140, Maple Shade, knocked out Pat Patatucci, 142, Elmer, in second round. Time — 2 minutes, 22 seconds. Referee — Irv Kutchner.

BY JAMES FOODY

Although gaining the nod by the slightest margin, Mickey Duca of Paulsboro, today holds another win over Paul Enno, hard working Philippine Island boxer.

They collided in a return fracas here last night in the 8-round windup at the Convention Hall Annex and the Paulsboro battler was awarded the referee’s nod. Both youngsters weighed 130 pounds. A small gathering of approximately 300 fans turned out for the show.

In their first meeting, the action was fast and both boys threw punches from every direction. Duca grabbed the decision when he punched his way to fair margins in the first four rounds, the last three being credited to the tanned Invader. The fifth session was about even.

The Jersey boxer, who hails from a fighting family, landed the most damaging punches and had Enno’s nose and mouth bleeding in the late stages. The latter retaliated and drew gore from Mickey’s nose in the last chucker.

Taylor Scores Knockout

Taylor, 178, South Camden battler, stowed away Forrest “Dutch” Eisenhardt, 175, of Westmont, after 58 seconds of action at the second round in the second bout.

Eisenhardt had compiled a big lead, smacking his rival for a nine-count knockdown in the first round. However, in the second round “Dutch’s” head hit the canvas hard and he staggered to his feet at the count of 10 with Taylor then throwing the haymaker.