Frank Gondolf
FRANK GONDOLF was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 11, 1885 to Peter and Madeline Gondolf. His parents had emigrated from the Alsace region of France, and after some time in the United States, shortened the family name from “Gondolff” to Gondolf. Only older brother Edward Gondolff kept the original spelling. Older brothers Joseph and Peter Gondolf, along with Frank Gondolf and his parents, were using the shortened name by 1900.
The 1900 Census shows the Gondolf family at 753 Ferry Avenue, next door to Frank Rouh’s saloon at 751 Ferry Avenue. Rouh’s father, Eighth Ward Justice of the Peace F. Joseph Rouh, also lived there. Frank Gondolf was still in school at the time of the census. By 1906 his father had passed away. Frank Gondolf was living with his widowed mother and brother Joseph at 682 Ferry Avenue. He then worked as a plumber. He married his first wife, Mary, shortly after the 1906 City Directory was compiled. The 1910 Census shows him living with his wife and his mother at 620 Van Hook Street. Frank Gondolf was then working as a trolley car conductor.
At some point in the early 1910s Frank Gondolf was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He was assigned to Engine Company 3 at 1815 Broadway. On December 10, 1914 Fireman Gondolf “ascended a ladder and rescued five children from the third story” of an orphanage, the Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery, at 1743 Master Street.
Frank Gondolf had left the Fire Department by September of 1918. It is probable that he, like several other Camden Fire Department members of that time, was lured away to work in the higher paying jobs in the defense industry created by America’s involvement in World War I. His draft card, dated September 12, 1918, shows him living with his wife Mary in Audubon, New Jersey. He was then working as a fireman on Hog Island, most likely for a firm connected with the Philadelphia Navy Yard. At some point between the time he registered for the draft and the January, 1920 Census enumeration, Frank Gondolf’s marriage ended. As of this writing it is not known whether this was due to death or divorce. Frank Gondolf was lodging at 1839 Broadway in January of 1920, and was working at a shipyard, most likely the nearby New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard located a few blocks south on Broadway.
By 1924 Frank Gondolf had remarried. He adopted his wife Ida’s son Robert. The Gondolfs were living at 2038 Arlington Street and working as a driver. The 1927 City Directory shows him working as a foreman and living at 687 Woodland Avenue, just north of Morgan Street. On January 12, 1928 the Gondolfs were blessed with another son, Frank J. Gondolf.
He was still working as a foreman in 1929. The City Directory for that year shows him living at 3010 Fenwick Road in Fairview, across the street from his older brother, former Camden policeman Peter Gondolf, who lived at 3001 Fenwick Road, and who was for many years the proprietor of what was for decades one of only two bars in Fairview, The Fairview Gardens, at 3007 Fenwick Road. Officially “The Fairview Grill Association,” the Fairview Gardens was known to Fairview residents for years as The Pink Cat. After Peter passed away in 1940, his widow and son Richard Gondolf, who also had been a Camden police officer, operated the bar for many years thereafter.
The 1930 Census shows the Gondolfs still living at 3010 Fenwick Road. Frank Gondolf was working as a foreman and according to the Census, working for the City of Camden. The 1940 City Directory shows that he and his family had moved to 2888 Congress Road in Fairview. Frank Gondolf was then working as the chemist at the City Disposal Plant at 3211 Farragut Avenue in Cramer Hill. Son Robert was still at home, and was working as a shipfitter at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard. Sadly, Ida Gondolf passed away not long after the 1940 Census.
Frank Gondolf was still living on Congress Road as late as the spring of 1942. Later that year he was promoted to the post of Superintendent of Sewers for the city of Camden. He remarried, and moved to 1375 Chesapeake Road in Fairview with his new wife, the former Anna T. Flood. Frank Gondolf continued to work in that position into at least the late 1940s. The 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows him still living at 1375 Chesapeake Road in Fairview.
Frank Gondolf passed away on September 20, 1961.
Frank Gondolf’s older brother Edward was the owner and operator of the Temple Bar & Hotel at 407–409 Market Street in Camden for about twenty years prior to his death in April of 1918. Edward Gondolff’s son, Augustus “Gus” Gondolf Sr. was the superintendent of the New Jersey motor vehicle inspection station in Camden for many years. Grandson Gus Gondolf Jr., was the proprietor of Mickey’s Grille in Magnolia NJ in the 1960s and 1970s. Another grandson, Edward R. Gondolf, was killed in action near Lemberg, France in December of 1944.
Changes Among Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Changes Among Firemen.
Firemen at No. 3 Engine House were tendered a supper last night by Firemen George Wade, Jr., and Elmer Burkett, who have been assigned to duties at No. 7 and No. 1 houses. Frank Gondolf, who was recently appointed, took up his duties this morning, and Robert Whitley is stoker at the Broadway House.
Inmates Rescued as Nursery Burns
Camden Post-Telegram —
Firemen Save Dozen Sick Children Who Were in Quarantine Ward.
Carried to Safety Down the Ladders
Twenty-three children, fourteen of whom were ill and confined in the quarantine ward, were rescued this morning when flames damaged the Mary J. Ball Home and Day Nursery at 1743 Master street. The fire was caused by a defective flue. The building, a three-story frame structure, was damaged to the extent of about $800.
The fire was discovered by the matron, Mrs. Mary McKeown, as she was passing along the second-story hall. Grabbing two small children in her arms she ran to the street yelling “Fire.” Two men were passing at the time but paid no attention to her cry. She handed the two children to a neighbor after telling him to send in the fire alarm.
Re-entering the house Mrs. McKeown called to the other children to rush into the rooms and each seized a younger person, as they are taught in the fire drill.
By this means nine of the children had been rescued when the firemen arrived.
In her efforts to save the children Mrs. McKeown was nearly overcome by the smoke, which filled the entire building from the cellar to the third floor.
On the third floor were eleven children quarantined with measles, while in the second story were three children suffering from chicken pox. The ages of those in the quarantined rooms ranged from 8 months to 10 years, and the firemen at once directed their efforts to save these.
Surrounded by the blinding smoke, Fireman Clark, of the Kaighn avenue house, rescued three children at one time, grasping them in his arms and dashing down the smoke-filled stairway.
Fireman Gondolf, of Engine Company No. 3, ascended a ladder and rescued five children from the third story. He was assisted by Captain Nicholas, of the same company. Firemen Fitzsimmons and Brown, of the Kaighn avenue house, as fast as the children reached the window, they were grabbed by Gondolf who passed them along to the fireman waiting below him. Lieutenant Haines and Fireman McDermott saved the others.
After the children had been removed, Matron McKeown reentered the building to see if any had been overlooked. Before she could descend the stairway she was nearly overcome by the smoke and was led to the street by the firemen. The latter were compelled to chop away part of the wall to get at the fire, which was of a stubborn nature.
Charles Sturgis, who lives opposite the Home, was among the first to open his doors to admit the children, and, by noon he and his family had arranged to provide for all of the little ones.
Mrs. Dr. Emma Richardson, on behalf of the Board of Managers, thanks the firemen for saving her charges.
Had the fire occurred at an earlier hour nothing could have prevented the loss of many lives.
The only person hurt was Eva Grey, a pupil-assistant to the matron. She jumped from a second-story window and sprained her right knee.
This afternoon the nursery managers were given the use of the old Homeopathic Hospital building as a temporary home for their little charges.
Firemen to Play Baseball for Red Cross
Camden Post-Telegram —
Under the direction of Fireman Frank Gondolf, a base ball team is being organized among the down town firemen to play the uptown firemen. The proceeds of the fiasco will be given the Red Cross. The down towners will be represented by Frank Gondolf, Jack Garirty, John McTaggart, Wes McGrath, Harry Chambers, “Bill” Casson, “Chappie” Lennox, George Pursglove and two other “dark horses.”
World War I Draft Card
Frank Gondolf – World War I Draft Registration Card. Date of Registration: September 12, 1918. Address: 416 Maple Ave., Audubon, N.J. Occupation: Fireman at Hog Island, Philadelphia.
World War II Draft Card
Frank Gondolf Sr. – World War II Draft Registration Card. Address: 2888 Congress Rd., Camden, N.J. Employer: City of Camden (City Hall Highway Dept.).