Frank Kuda
FRANK KUDA was born in Camden, New Jersey on July 27, 1892 to Joseph and Lena Kuda. His father had come to America in 1890. The 1899 City Directory shows the Kuda family at 709 Jane Street, a small street that ran south from 1062 Line Street for one block to Pine Street. The Kudas soon moved to Camden’s Centerville section, where they remained into the 1970s. The family was living at 1841 Mulford Street when the 1906 City Directory was compiled.
When the Census was taken in 1910 Frank Kuda was living with his parents, older step-brother Joseph Caster, brother George and sister Mary at 1841 Mulford Street. His father’s occupation was given as farmer; there were at that time small farms south of Ferry Avenue near Mulford Street in what was then called Sweet Potato Hill.
Frank Kuda appears in the 1914 Camden City Directory, working as a laborer and living at 1841 Mulford Street. His father is not listed and may have by this time passed away. Frank Kuda was living with his mother at 1821 Tioga Street when he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was then working as a dyer at the R.H. Comey Company plant on Jefferson Avenue and the railroad tracks east of South 6th Street.
When the census was taken in January of 1920 Frank Kuda had returned to 1841 Mulford Street, where he lived with his mother, brother George, and younger sister Mary, who had married James Whitehead, a truck driver. Also living at the address were the Whiteheads’ two daughters, Madeline and Anna. Frank and George Kuda were then working together at a paper mill.
Frank Kuda married around 1921. By 1924 he and his wife Catherine had moved to 1869 Mulford Street. By January 1, 1927 he had been appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He served at Ladder Company 4, South 10th and Morgan Streets, through April 9, 1928 when he was transferred to Engine Company 8.
The 1930 Census shows him living with his wife Catherine and sons Frank, Joseph, and Albert, at 1869 Mulford Street. Fire Department records indicate that he was still at that address in 1931. Before the 1930s had ended, the Kudas had moved to 1875 Mulford Street.
Frank Kuda continued to serve with the Camden Fire Department as late as the spring of 1942, when he again registered for the draft. Frank and Catherine Kuda were then living at 1875 Mulford Street. It is unclear as to when Frank Kuda left the Fire Department. The 1947 Camden City Directory gives no indication of current occupation.
Frank Kuda was still listed in the New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories as late as October of 1959 at 1875 Mulford Street. By the fall of 1970 he had moved to 1841 Tioga Street. Last a resident of Gloucester City, New Jersey, he passed away in July of 1973.
Engine Company 3 Cinders
Camden Daily Courier —
Engine Company 3 Cinders
Frank Kuda is preparing for the opening of the hunting season. He may be seen with several of his beagles, training them as fetchers. He expects they’ll drive out many a rabbit this fall.
Edward Kelly, formerly attached to Engine 3, visited the men yesterday. Kelly is reaping the reward for faithful service in the form of a pension.
Many of the men are reading the Testaments distributed by social workers recently.
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
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 8 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 resective [sic] shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browninw [sic] 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. Loring, 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.
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.
World War I Draft Card
Frank Kuda – World War I Draft Registration Card. Date of Birth: July 27, 1892, Camden, N.J. Address: 1821 Tioga St. Occupation: Dyer at R.H. Comey Co. Date registered: June 5, 1917.
World War II Draft Card
Frank Kuda – World War II Draft Registration Card. Address: 1875 Mulford St., Camden, N.J. Employer: City Fire Dept.