Introduction
Frederick Schucker was born on August 20, 1895 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Philip and Mary Schucker. The family had moved to Camden in the 1890s, and were living at 527 Borton Street when the Census was taken in 1900. By 1917 the family was living at 935 Pearl Street in Camden. On April 5, 1917 Frederick and older brother William Schucker registered for the draft in Camden. Frederick was then working as a baker and William was working as a bookbinder. Shortly thereafter William was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. William was drafted in February of 1918. He went overseas as a member of the Machine Gun Company, 309th Infantry Regiment, and was killed in action in France on October 16, 1918 during the Battle of the Argonne Forest.
Fred Schucker also served overseas and was wounded in action. He returned to Camden after the war and received an appointment to the Camden Fire Department in 1920. He began working as a firefighter on January 1, 1921 at Engine Company 4 and was still a member of the department as late as August of 1925.
In the latter part of 1925 Fred Schucker left the Fire Department and went back to work as a baker, taking a position with the Arthur Holler bakery at North 9th Street and Pearl Street. He remained with the Holler bakery for the rest of his working days.
In 1936 Fred Schucker lived at 719 North 8th Street. When he passed away his address was 529 North 9th Street.
Phillip Schucker
Camden Post-Telegram —
Funeral services for Phillip Schucker, husband of Mrs. Mary M. Schucker, who died on Tuesday following an illness, will be held to-morrow afternoon from his late residence, 935 Pearl street. Interment will be made by Funeral Directors B. F. Schroeder & Sons, in Arlington Cemetery. Friends may call this evening.
Will of Phillip Schucker
Camden Post-Telegram —
Surrogate Reeves to-day admitted to probate the will of Philip Schucker. The personal estate is valued at $1,000. The widow, Mrs. Mary Schucker, is given a life interest and on her death the estate goes to two sons and a daughter.
Fireman Schucker Killed in France
Camden Post-Telegram —
Word was received from the War Department this morning by Mrs. Mary Schucker, widow of Philip Schucker, of 935 Pearl street, that her son, William Schucker had been killed in action in France. The son was drafted into service while a city fireman from the Tenth ward and was well known in the vicinity of Pyne Poynt. He was appointed a member of the Fire Department about a year ago. His brother, Frederick, aged 22 years, is now at Camp Dix.
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.
Fireman Fred Schucker
Camden Post-Telegram —
Fireman Fred Schucker, of No. 4 Engine Company, has an invention for the cleaning of windows.
Fireman Fred Schucker Returns from Illness
Camden Post-Telegram —
Fireman Fred Schucker reported for duty yesterday at No. 4 Engine House after a few days illness.
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Post-Telegram —
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, sends 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 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. Mertz, of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager for the firemen, declared he had twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, but first they will have an opportunity for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in division and the firemen in another. 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 qualification for field day include Fred Schacker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Huda, Arthur Laird, Herman Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Poeble, Tom Shanley, Harrison Pike, William Hood, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Mertz, Nelson Hubbs, James Mogan, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Mensales, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, William Hare, Joseph Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook, “Cops” appear strongest, coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats. The leader will be Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of-team of eight men will also be selected by the firemen’s leader. Merts will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Athletic Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this arrangement, as no extra minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services without charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Long Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his riders 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 the east, declares Nelson Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and exhibition stunt.
Blue Devils No. 1 — Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisman and Edward Moll.
Blue Devils No. 2 — Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
Fred Schucker
Camden Courier-Post —
Requiem high Mass for Fred Schucker, 57, will be celebrated Tuesday at 9 a. m. in the Holy Name R. C. Church. Relatives and friends will meet at 8 a. m. in a funeral home at 532 State street, where friends may call tonight. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery.
Mr. Schucker, who was a resident of Camden 55 years, died Thursday in his home, 529 North Ninth street. He was a baker and had been employed by the Arthur Holler bakery, Ninth and Pearl streets, for 26 years.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Dolan Schucker, and three step-children, William Kirchner, Gloucester; James Kirchner, Camden, and Mrs. Theresa Welle, Camden.