Harrison Pike

HARRISON BAILEY PIKE was born in Camden, New Jersey on July 17, 1900, the third of four children born to Howard H. Pike and his wife, the former Josephine Hartley. The family was living at 424 Cedar Street in North Camden when the census was taken on June 1, 1900.

The 1906 City Directory and the 1910 Census shows the Pike family living at 941 Point Street in North Camden. Howard Pike worked as a bookkeeper in one of the nearby shipyards, while Josephine ran a cigar store out of this location while not tending to Harrison and his siblings Howard Jr., Paul, and George Pike. In May of 1910 Howard Pike was appointed to the Camden Police Department as a replacement for the retiring George F. Kappell. Howard Pike eventually rose to the rank of Detective.

The 1914 and 1916 City Directories shows the Pike family at 34 York Street. By the Pikes had again moved, to 10 York Street, where they stayed until 1922. By September of 1918 older brother Howard H. Pike Jr. had married and gone out into the world. Harrison Pike was then working as a driver for the Standard Oil Company, out of their office at River Avenue and Federal Street.

Harrison Pike married at the age of 23. He and wife Pauline were living at 211 Grant Street when the 1924 City Directory was compiled. He was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on May 29, 1924. He reported for duty in July 17 and was assigned to Engine Company 6, where he spent his entire career.

Harrison Pike was a charter member of the Box 315 Association. Organized on January 1, 1928, the Box 315 Association was chartered for the mutual benefit of Camden Firemen, its principal purpose being to fund a commemorative badge for all members of the Department retiring at twenty or more years of service. In the event that an active member died before achieving retirement status, a death benefit in the sum of $20.00 would be paid to the member’s estate. Its title, 315, was arbitrarily chosen as the number of the first Box transmitted over the circuits, following the organization’s formation. A cabinet of Officers; a By-Laws Committee; Auditing Committee; and a Board of Trustees comprised of one representative from each fire company in the City, were designated by election and appointment.

All active members of the Department were expected to join the organization. An initiation fee of $1.00 and regular dues assessed at ten cents per month, funded operations. Any member of the Department that failed to join the organization within three months after completing his probationary period in the Uniformed Force, was required to pay an initiation fee of $5.00, plus the average of all dues and assessments incurred from the time he was eligible to join. The association met on the first Wednesday of each month.

Charter members of the By-Laws Committee were Chester Andrus, Chairman; Harry Wagner, Henry Zook, Harrison Pike, William Spencer and Nelson Andrews. The association is believed to have actively functioned until sometime during the 1940s.

Harrison Pike was also active in the Camden Fireman’s Relief Association. The 1943 City Directory shows Chris Moll as president, Harrison Pike as secretary, and John W. Yates as treasurer.

The 1927 and 1929 City Directories and the April 1930 U.S. Census show Harrison and Pauline Pike living in an apartment over the bar at 69 State Street then owned by William Pfeiffer. The bar was later acquired by the Kelly family, who then lived next door at 55 State Street. At 53 State Street lived the Max Dowhy family, son Joseph Dowhy, then 8, would as an adult serve for over 25 years as a Camden firefighter.

Fire Department records from 1931 show Harrison Pike living at 314 Grant Street. He was living at that address with his wife Pauline when the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled. By the time the 1943 edition was 1943 they had moved to 115 State Street.

Harrison Pike completed 41 years of service with the Camden Fire Department. He retired on August 1, 1965. He was then still residing at 115 State Street. Harrison Pike passed away in September of 1968.

Dinner Speakers Predict Camden Man Will Get Association Post

N. J. OFFICERS ATTEND

Robert Wonsetler, of the Camden Fire Department, was hailed as the next state president of the Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association at the 41st anniversary dinner of Camden Local, No. 5, last night. It was held in Kenney’s Cafe, with 150 members and their women folks attending.

The Camden man is now first vice president of the state association and state representative of the local. James Delaney, of Elizabeth, state president, and other state officers who were among the speakers predicted that when the local has its 42nd anniversary next year, it will have occasion to celebrate the election of Wonsetler as 1939 state president.

Other speakers were Mayor George E. Bruner, City Commissioners Mary W. Kobus and Frank J. Hartmann, Assemblyman Rocco Palese, Fire Chief John H. Lennox, Carlton W. Rowand, Bruce A. Wallace and Freeholder Edward J. Quinlan.

State officers attending, besides Delaney and Wonsetler, were Fred Bailey, Weehawken, second vice president; George Steele, Union City, recording secretary; Joseph Burke, Newark, financial secretary, and Jack Reed, Kearny, treasurer.

Surrogate Frank B. Hanna, who was toastmaster, referred to the three city commissioners present as “candidates for re-election without opposition.”

Commissioner Kobus, head of the city fire department, was applauded when she announced wash-stands and showers are being installed in local firehouses and that windbreakers and new fire nets have been ordered.

“The firehouses in Camden are in better condition than ever before,” Commissioner Hartmann said.

Officers of the Camden Local are Chester Andrus, president; W. Samuel Mountney, vice president; Nelson Andrews, recording secretary; Harrison Pike, financial secretary; Henry Zook, treasurer; Ralph Bingemann, sergeant-at-arms; William H. Harrison, chaplain, and Wonsetler, state representative.

Russell J. Anderson was chairman of the dinner committee, which included Harry Wagner, Arthur Batten, Harry Wilkers, David Humphries and Pike.