Introduction
HENRY EVANS ZOOK was born in Evesham Township, New Jersey on March 29, 1888 to John Trimble Zook Sr. and his wife, the former Mary B. Evans. He was the youngest of seven known children, coming after Amos, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Anne, and John T. Zook Jr.
J. Trimble Zook brought his family to Camden in late 1893 or early 1894, settling at 553 Grant Street in North Camden. He was in the produce business in Philadelphia and later worked as a commission merchant. Sadly, J. Trimble Zook died shortly before the compilation of the 1898 City Directory.
When the Census was taken, on June 4, 1900 the Zook family was still residing at 553 Grant Street. Henry Zook’s brother Joseph had also passed by this time. Oldest brother Amos supported the family by working as a ticket collector on one of the ferries, while sister Elizabeth worked making neckties.
The Zook family had moved to 422 Pearl Street by 1906. Henry Zook had entered the workforce as a clerk, according to the City Directory for that year. The 1910 Census shows Henry Zook unmarried and working as a railroad brakeman. He was boarding at 203 North 9th Street at that time. He married Florence Collatz not long after the Census was taken. The 1914 Camden City Directory shows Henry and Florence Zook living at 824 Pine Street in South Camden, near Florence’s brother John Collatz, who lived at 832 Pine Street. A daughter, also named Florence was born during the mid-1910s. When he registered for the draft in June of 1917 Henry Zook was working in Philadelphia as a shipping clerk. The Zooks were still at 824 Pine Street at that time. By the fall of 1918 the Zooks and Collatz families had moved to 1057 Princess Avenue in Parkside. On March 1, 1919 Henry Zook was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He was assigned to Engine Company 7 and spent much of his career there.
The 1920 Census shows the Zook and Collatz families still living together at 1057 Princess Avenue. Henry and Florence Zook by then had two children, daughter Florence, aged 2 years and 9 months, and son John T. Zook III, 7 months. The 1924 City Directory has the family at 959 South 9th Street. By the end of 1926 they had moved to 1258 Morton Street, and they were still there in April of 1930. Fire Department records from 1931 show Henry Zook living at 1454 Belleview Avenue in Parkside.
Henry Zook had reached the rank of Captain during the 1930s. He served with Engine Company 7, at 1115 Kaighn Avenue during those years.
The 1940 City Directory lists Henry Zook at 1420 Wildwood Avenue in Parkside. Daughter Florence was working as an office secretary for lawyer Benjamin Asbell, while son John worked for RCA. Henry Zook was still a Captain with Engine Company 7, and was still living at 1420 Wildwood Avenue when he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942. Before the year was out he moved to 72 Tanner Street in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Henry Zook was still living at the Tanner Street address as late as 1947, according to that year’s City Directory. Fire Department records show addresses at 25 North 33rd Street, and at 1176 Mount Vernon Street. These may have been properties he owned and addresses he used to fulfill residency requirements toward the end of his career. He retired with the rank of Acting District Chief.
Henry Zook retired from the Camden Fire Department on May 1, 1953. He appears in the 1956 and 1959 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories at 61 Stiles Avenue in Haddonfield. He is not listed in the 1970 edition, and most likely had passed away.
Henry Zook 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.
Last a resident of Haddonfield, New Jersey, Henry E. Zook passed away on July 24, 1960.
World War I Draft Registration Card
Name: Henry Evans Zook Home Address: 824 Pine, Camden, N.J. Date of Birth: March 29, 1888 Citizenship: Natural Born Birthplace: Marlton, New Jersey, U.S.A. Present Occupation: Shipping Clerk Employer: Lewis Buehn Co., 155 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa. Dependents: Wife and one child — 3 mos. Married. Race: Caucasian. Military Service: None Signed: Henry Evans Zook
REGISTRATION CARD
Name: Henry Evans Zook
Home Address: 824 Pine, Camden, N.J.
Date of Birth: March 29, 1888
Citizenship: Natural Born
Birthplace: Marlton, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Present Occupation: Shipping Clerk
Employer: Lewis Buehn Co., 155 Arch St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Dependents: Wife and one child — 3 mos.
Married. Race: Caucasian.
Military Service: None
Signed: Henry Evans Zook
REGISTRAR’S REPORT — Description of Registrant
Height: 5′8″
Build: Stout
Color of Eyes: Blue
Color of Hair: Dark Brown
Bald: No
Signed by: W. Taylor Wright (Registrar)
Precinct: 1, 5th Ward, Camden, New Jersey
Engine Company 7 — circa 1936
Henry Zook, Captain of Engine Company 7, with Ray Burgess and Russell Benson. Photo dates from about 1936.
Box 315 Association Badge
This automobile ornament remains the only artifact from the long gone association. Box 315 was located at Ninth Street and Ferry Avenue.
Cop’s Probe Fails to Fix Cause of Poultry Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
Investigation of $50,000 Warehouse Fire Conducted by City
30 FAMILIES FLEE
A police investigation of the fire which drove 30 families from their homes and caused $50,000 damage to the 3-story warehouse of Bell and Evans, Inc., poultry dealers, near Twenty-seventh and Pleasant streets, Saturday failed yesterday to determine the cause.
Detectives Benjamin Simon and Clifford Del Rossi said they could find no clue in the wreckage. Carlton C. Evans, president of the company, said his opinion is that the fire started from crossed wires near a gulley of the roof.
The fire fanned by a strong wind, swept rapidly through the warehouse.
More than 10,000 chickens were burned to death and thousands of dollars’ worth of dressed stock ruined. Capt. Henry Zook, of the Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenue engine company, was overcome by smoke as he led his men into the first floor of the blazing building. Other firemen were driven from the entrance by the intense heat.
As flames leaped hundreds of feet into the air, firemen tried to keep the blaze from spreading to other buildings and dwellings. They announced shortly after their arrival that the storage house was a total loss.
School Imperiled
Also endangered by the flames was the old St. Joseph’s Parochial School, Sisters’ Home and the old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, at Twenty-fifth and Howell streets. Both buildings are vacant.
The houses endangered were on Howell street, between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-sixth streets. Residents who fled, moving their cars from garages and in some cases furniture and household goods, were assured by firemen that the flames would be confined to the warehouse.
More than a dozen hose lines were set up on the south side of the frame structure, which is 150 feet long and 100 feet wide, to protect the homes.
The fire was discovered by Charles Stevenson, of 2419 Howell street, who shouted to his brother-in-law, Louis Jones, of 2507 Howell street, who was passing, to turn in an alarm.
Stevenson then brought his wife, Florence, and son, Robert, 8, from the house. He moved his automobile from his garage and several pieces of furniture from the house before arrival of firemen.
Flames seared the rear of the home of C. W. Helms, of 2415 Howell street. Forty persons living at the house were force to take to the street.
None In Plant
Evans arrived at the warehouse a short time after the firemen. He said no one was employed in the building at the time the fire started, seven employees having left more than an hour previously. The flames were discovered at 1.30 p.m. Forty persons are employed at the poultry concern during weekdays.
Evans said most of the loss would be covered by insurance. None of the company records were damaged. The office, which was of fireproof construction, was not touched by the flames. Office workers moved the records.
The poultry concern has been located in the fire-swept building for the last seven years. Arthur Bell, vice president, and Howard Bell, chairman of the board of directors, were not present during the fire.
Traffic was tied up for a mile surrounding the section and police lines were formed two squares from the burning building.
Zuck was treated at the scene and later taken home.
10 Homes Leveled in Camden Flames
Trenton Evening Times —
CAMDEN, N.J., Jan. 4.—Fire destroyed ten homes and damaged five others in a row near the centre of East Camden’s business district today, driving 50 persons into the streets.
Four alarms were turned in and every available piece of fire apparatus in the city was brought to the three-hour blaze, which firemen said started in the kitchen of the home of Horace Haines.
Haines ran screaming up and down the block, arousing other residents. Mrs. Martha Drew, 37, carried her two-year-old son to safety, followed by two daughters, and helped Haines spread the alarm.
Firemen rescued Mrs. Katie Hadley, 80, and James Kellum, 70, from one house where they were overcome by smoke. Fire Captain Harry Zook, also overcome, was treated at a hospital.
Wonsetler Hailed as Next President of State
Camden Courier-Post —
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.
World War II Draft Registration Card
REGISTRATION CARD — (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897)
Name: Henry Evans Zook Place of Residence: 1420 Wildwood Ave., Camden, Camden, N.J. Age in Years: 54 Date of Birth: March 29, 1888 Place of Birth: Marlton, N.J. Telephone: Camden 8893 Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Sarah Cook, 3069 Stevens St., Camden, N.J. Employer: City of Camden Fire Department, Camden, N.J. Signed: Henry E. Zook
REGISTRATION CARD — (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897)
Name: Henry Evans Zook
Place of Residence: 1420 Wildwood Ave., Camden, Camden, N.J.
Age in Years: 54
Date of Birth: March 29, 1888
Place of Birth: Marlton, N.J.
Telephone: Camden 8893
Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Sarah Cook, 3069 Stevens St., Camden, N.J.
Employer: City of Camden Fire Department, Camden, N.J.
Signed: Henry E. Zook
Ladder Company 3 & Engine Company 9 — circa 1946
Front Row: Clarence Madden, Newton Ash, Howard “Waxie” Harrington, Dave Humphries, Howard Gick. Back Row: John Mulligan, unknown, Tim Shanahan, Acting District Chief Henry Zook, Harry Allebach.
Ladder Company 3 & Engine Company 9, circa 1946.
Engine Company 9 & Ladder Company 3 — circa 1946
E9: Tim Shanahan, Howard “Waxie” Harrington, Howard Gick, unknown, Newton Ash. L3: Johnny Mulligan, Dave Humphries, Clarence Madden, Harry Allebach, unknown, Henry Zook. John Mulligan passed away on July 28, 1947.
Engine Company 9 & Ladder Company 3, circa 1946.
Police Investigate 3 Fires in 4 Hours In One Section
Camden Courier-Post —
Kaighn School Razed; Blazes Set in Church, Unoccupied House
Police today are investigating the possibility that three fires Wednesday within a quarter-mile area inside of three hours and 46 minutes were the work of a firebug.
The blaze which razed the Kaighn School, 5th and Chestnut sts., seriously damaged Our Lady of Mt. Carmel R. C. Church, 4th and Division sts., and consumed a pile of rubbish in the basement of an unoccupied three-story house at 7th and Pine sts., came on the 12th anniversary of the disastrous Hollingshead fire.
That fire, on July 30, 1940, leveled the R. M. Hollingshead plant, then located at 9th and Market sts., took 10 lives and caused an estimated $4 million damage, according to city fire department records. It was Camden’s worst fire.
Police Chief Koerner, commenting on Wednesday’s fires which caused damage estimated at more than $17,000, said: “We are going to make a thorough study of every available clue to see whether the fires could have been started by one person.”
Koerner, Pfefferle Investigate
Fire Chief Pfefferle agreed with Chief Koerner and said that he had already requested the fire marshal’s office to probe into the circumstances of the chain of fires. He kept the city’s fire department on the go from 12:46 p.m. until well after 9 p.m.
The most disastrous of the series of fires was that which broke out in the cupola of the Kaighn School at 3 p.m. Damage was estimated at “$15,000 or more,” by Joseph C. Ragone, secretary of the Camden Board of Education.
A dozen row houses on Sycamore st. and six homes on Newton ave. were imperilled and Acting District Fire Chief Henry E. Zook ordered the buildings wetted down.
School Closed for Three Years
The three-story abandoned school was a shambles by 6 p.m. One of the oldest schools in the city, the 15-room structure had been unused for the past three years. The last fire apparatus, Engine 3, left the scene at 9 p.m.
Upon arrival on the scene Zook immediately sent in a second alarm while thousands of onlookers gathered in the area. Police emergency cars, an ambulance, fire apparatus and cars belonging to fire and police officials choked the narrow streets. As the blaze continued an enterprising ice cream vender halted his cart and did a thriving business among spectators.
Three firemen were injured slightly. Walter Dilsworth, of Engine Co. 2, William Warren, of Engine 8, and Eugene Alston, of Engine 1, were treated at Cooper Hospital. In this connection Zook told a Courier-Post reporter: “I’d been expecting this place to go for a long time and I always hoped it would be in the daytime. I don’t hesitate to say that if this fire had broken out at night we might have had a fatality. The roof collapsed within the first 25 minutes.”
‘Bottlegangers’ Used School
Still another possibility of tragedy was suggested by Fire Chief Pfefferle. “We found ample evidence that the abandoned school was used as a rendezvous by bottlegangers. Among the debris we saw lots of empty bottles. If any of these bottlegangers had been sleeping off a drunken stupor there is very little chance that he would have been discovered. After all, we do not look for tenants in buildings that are boarded up.”
The chief added that although he would ask Police Chief Koerner to probe into the possibility of an arsonist, he was personally inclined to the belief that children were responsible.
“It looks like kids’ work to me,” Pfefferle declared.
The fire chief declined to estimate the loss in the three fires and said he had no idea as to the cause of the church and school fires. He said the third fire, in the basement of an unoccupied three-story brick apartment at 701 Pine st., was caused by rubbish.
New Truck Used
The chief said the new aerial ladder, used for the first time on a real fire, “worked in first class condition.”
To protect both firemen and civilians Max Dippner, Public Service Gas and Electric Co. employe, disconnected a 2400-volt transformer on a pole near the school and left an area of four city blocks without power or light until 5 p.m., when he restored the service.
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record
Camden Division of Fire Personnel Record — Henry Evans Zook. Badge No. 74. Appointed February 5, 1919. Reported for duty March 1, 1919. Pensioned May 1, 1953.
CAMDEN DIVISION OF FIRE — PERSONNEL RECORD
Name in Full: Henry Evans Zook
Badge No.: 74
Date of Birth: March 29, 1888
Born in: Marlton, N.J.
Name of Parents: Mary B. & John T.
Date of Appointment: February 5, 1919
Reported for Duty: March 1, 1919
Title of Position: Hoseman
Blood Type: A Positive
Previous Employment: West Jersey R.R. — Flagman, 7 years
Pensioned: May 1, 1953
ASSIGNMENTS
3/1/19 — #7 Eng Hoseman
3/12/32 — #7 Eng Jr. Capt.
10/5/42 — Fire Marshall Office
2/15/43 — #7 Eng Captain
9/8/45 — Electrical Bureau
6/6/47 — #7 Eng Captain