Henry S. Keubler
Henry S. Keubler, Camden Division of Fire
Henry S. Keubler was born in Camden, New Jersey on July 6, 1926 to Mary and Otto Keubler. The family was living at 1018 Newton Avenue in April of 1930.
Henry S. Keubler was inducted into the United States army on September 21, 1944. He married Rose Mason not long afterwards. By the 1950s they had moved to 1306 Mechanic Street.
Henry S. Keubler was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1950 and reported for duty on January 1, 1951. He served with Engine Company 3 at 1815 Broadway during the mid-1950s.
After over 29 years of distinguished service, during which time he was cited for saving lives during a chlorine gas disaster, Henry S. Keubler retired from the Camden Fire Department on February 1, 1980.
By 1969 Henry S. Keubler was living at 558 North 35th Street in East Camden, and he was still there as late as the fall of 1970. His neighbor at 582 North 35th Street was Battalion Chief John Letts. When residency restrictions were lifted for Camden fire fighters in the 1970s, Henry S. Keubler moved to Vincentown, New Jersey, and then to Brigantine, New Jersey. In the late 1990s he returned to Burlington County, taking up residence at Leisuretown. Henry S. Keubler passed away on March 21, 2002. He was survived by his wife and four children, Henry Jr., David, Kathie, and Mark Keubler, and a host of other relations.
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Thirty-seven candidates have passed the Civil Service test for fireman in the Camden City fire department. Thirty-two of those who qualified are former service men and three of them, disabled veterans, were placed at the top of the list under the preference given by law.
Joseph T. Hackett, of 158 Branch Village, is listed first, Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue, second and August L. Johnson, 916½ Chestnut street, third.
The salary on Jan. 1 will begin at $2400 and reach a maximum of $3160 after four years.
Following is the complete list of those who qualified in the test:
Joseph T. Hackett, 158 Branch Village; Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue; August L. Johnson, 916 Chestnut street; Harry Sterling, 112 Ablett Village; Albert A. Stinger, 1423 Bradley avenue; Jesthroe Hunt, 753 Walnut street; Harold H. Pike, 429 Penn street; Roy R. Moffa, 216 Morse street; Allen F. Hess, 2733 Sherman avenue; Franklin W. Whylings, 602 North Thirty-second street; William L. Gosnell, 3303 Crescent drive; David W. Humphries, 3017 Mickle street; William G. Winstanley, 510 Penn street; Joshua H. Robinson, 1934 Kossuth street; Henry S. Keubler, 936 Broadway; Adolph S. Zubrzycki, 1223 South Tenth street; Ralph H. Palmer, 585 Mickle street; Alexander P. Matis, 903 Haddon avenue; Earl G. Robinson, 1036 Penn street; Anthony J. DiMaggio, 530 South Eighth street; Earl A. Smith Sr., 201 Biedeman avenue; Philip J. MacDonald, 123 North Eleventh street; Robert P. Olesiewicz, 321 Mt. Vernon street; Eugene E. Demers, 2034 High street; Chester J. Gedrich, 1154 Thurman street; John F. Chudzinski, 1043 Thurman street; Samuel D. Siniscalki, 803 Line street; Santo DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; Ludwig Polniak, 471 Pfeiffer street; George P. Baxter, 817 Howard street; Ralph F. Schaffer, Canterbury apartments; Joseph J. McTaggart, 3135 Waldorf avenue; Louis J. Monahan, Canterbury apartments; John DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; William N. Stone Jr., 950 Vine street; Casper J. Martelli, 220 Mt. Vernon street; and H. Raymond Dixon, 439 Trenton avenue.
5 Children Die in South Jersey Waters
Camden Courier-Post —
Auto Plunge, Fishing Mishap Hit 2 Families
Five children were drowned Wednesday in two separate water mishaps in the South Jersey area.
A brother and sister lost their lives in a futile attempt to save another sister who toppled into Cooper River in Camden County Park shortly after 4:15 p.m.
At Sea Isle City the two children of an RCA official drowned when a car driven by their mother plunged into a 20-foot channel.
Victims of the Cooper River tragedy were Riley Drummond, 12, and his sisters, Terry, 7, and Mary, 8. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Drummond, of 912 Chestnut st.
Planning N. J. Home
The two who lost their lives in Sea Isle City were Charles Daly 3d, 10, and his sister, Ellen Patricia, 7, whose parents, Charles and Eleanor K. Daly, recently sold their home at 135 Woodlawn ave., Upper Darby, Pa., preparatory to occupying their new home at 828 Longwood dr., Haddonfield.
The Drummond children drowned shortly after 4 o’clock less than a block from Kaighns ave. They had been fishing all afternoon alongside the park dam bridge.
The lone witness to the tragedy, Albert J. Davis, 11, of 917 Chestnut st., who had been with the three, told police that Mary stepped on a rock, slipped and toppled into the water. Hearing her sister scream, Terry jumped into the river. Riley followed his sisters in an effort to save them. Albert said the two girls disappeared immediately. Riley started back to the bank but slipped backwards into the water.
Soldiers Lend Aid
The Davis boy ran three blocks to the location of B Battery, 19th AA Battalion and told the soldiers there of the accident. They notified police and firemen. At the same time nine enlisted men ran to the river and began diving for the children.
Rescue Squad 1 from 5th and Arch sts. went to the scene and was joined by the Highland Emergency Squad of Pennsauken Township.
Police and firemen grappled from rowboats while the soldiers in bathing suits searched underwater. The bodies of Terry and Riley were recovered half an hour later. Rescue squad crewmen worked for more than 35 minutes in an effort to revive them. Dr. William A. West, of Cooper Hospital, pronounced the two dead.
Third Body Recovered
The body of Mary eluded all recovery efforts until shortly after 9 p.m. when it was located by Edward Brendlinger, a fireman attached to the rescue squad. It was found 25 feet offshore and within 20 feet of the spot where Riley and Terry’s bodies were taken from the water. Firemen said the water is 16 feet deep.
Mary’s body was taken to Cooper Hospital morgue where she was pronounced dead.
The rescue efforts were directed by Fire Chief Harry Wagner.
Father Collapses
The children’s father, a stevedore employed by the Independent Pier Co., Philadelphia, was reported to have collapsed when he learned of the tragedy. He later joined the crowd estimated at 2000 people which lined the river bank to watch the grappling.
Drummond said the three children never had been to the river, having been told to keep away from the water. He said he was surprised to learn the children had been using homemade fishing poles.
Ironically, Mrs. Viola Ringo, 20, a married sister of the three children, was driving by the scene and saw the crowds watching the rescue attempts. She joined the throng and when Riley’s body was brought out of the water, police said she cried hysterically, “That’s my brother.” In addition to Mrs. Ringo, the Drummonds have two other children, Josephine, 15, and Karl, 23.
NO HOPE is expressed in the face of this fireman as he and other firemen vainly try to revive Riley Drummond, 12, and his sister, Terry, 7, two of the three Drummond children drowned Wednesday afternoon at Cooper River Park. The body of the third victim, Mary, 8, was taken from the river five hours later. Shown working (left to right) are Fireman Wesley Faust, Capt. Arthur Batten, Firemen John Yates, of Rescue Squad 1, Mario Fattore, of Engine 2, and Henry Keebler [sic], of Engine 3.
Engine Company 3 — Firebook Photos
Engine Company 3 and the 3rd Battalion in quarters, Broadway & Ferry Avenue, South Camden. 1956. Left to right, standing: Chief Edgar Ellender, Fireman George Wade, Fireman Howard Lewis, Captain Edward Michalak; Kneeling: Fireman George Torgun, Fireman Dominick Dalanni, Fireman Henry Keubler.
Director of Public Safety Edward Garrity presents Chief of Department Edward MacDowell with a municipal proclamation. Witnessing, from left: Fireman George Wade, Fireman Harrison MacNeir, Fireman John Gaffney Sr., Fireman James Troutman, Fireman Ernest Tartaglia, Captain Allen Hess, Fireman John Yates, District Chief Harry Wagner (obscured), District Chief Edward Michalak, Fireman Dominick Dalanni, Fireman Howard Lewis, Fireman Henry Keubler.
Fire Headquarters Staff Office — 1961
In the staff office at Fire Headquarters (kneeling from left) Fireman Ernest Tartaglia, Fireman Howard Lewis, Fireman Harrison MacNeir; (standing from left) Captain Allen Hess, Fireman Dominic Dalanni, Fireman Henry Keubler, Chief Harry Wagner, Fireman James Troutman, Chief Edward Michalak, Fireman James Smith, Chief Edward MacDowell, Fireman John Yates, and Fireman George Wade. — 1961
Community Blood Drive
Fireman Henry Keubler participating, Community Blood Program. — Fireman John Gaffney Jr.
Fire Headquarters Kitchen — Circa 1975
About 1975, the kitchen at the old fire headquarters, North 5th Street & Arch Street. Left to right: Bill Wickward, Jim Cusick, Capt. R. “Randy” Brooks, Howard “Skip” Murphy, Hank Keubler, Bill Colucci, Ed Decker. Photo courtesy of Robert “Sonny” Frett.
Camden Fire Department — Fire Watch Magazine, Spring 1977
In Recognition… Anniversary Dates — Congratulations to:
Fr. Howard G. Brickner #5 — 26 Years • Fr. Harvey J. Fisher #186 — 26 Years • Capt. James W. Smith — 26 Years • Dep. Chf. Anthony C. Saponare — 35 Years • Fr. Andrew H. Foreman #183 — 26 Years • Fr. William J. Stibi #120 — 26 Years • Batt. Chf. Robert E. Dukes — 30 Years • Fr. Henry S. Keubler #34 — 26 Years • Fr. William M. Stone #29 — 26 Years • Insp. Fr. George C. Hennessey #21 — 30 Years • Fr. Joseph J. Lesniewski #50 — 26 Years • Capt. William G. Winstanley — 26 Years • Dep. Chf. Daniel F. Jiannetto — 30 Years • Fr. Phillip MacDonald #71 — 26 Years • Fr. Adolph S. Zubrzycki #62 — 26 Years • Dep. Chf. Theodore L. Primas — 30 Years • Fr. Joseph J. McTaggart #26 — 26 Years • Batt. Chf. John J. Giuliano — 26 Years • Fr. Eugene F. Alston #7 — 26 Years • Batt. Chf. John J. Mogck — 26 Years • Fr. Alfred D. Nigro #76 — 26 Years • Batt. Chf. Biaggio Pardire — 30 Years • Fr. John E. Moore — 26 Years • Fr. Leon Puszczykowski #100 — 26 Years • Fr. William R. Harring #69 — 29 Years • Capt. Robert P. Olesiewicz — 26 Years • Fr. John L. Sterner #73 — 21 Years • Fr. William E. Hinch #151 — 29 Years • Capt. Anthony T. Orme — 26 Years • Fr. Francis P. Stibi #143 — 21 Years • Capt. Herbert J. Schott — 28 Years • Fr. Ralph H. Palmer #46 — 26 Years • Fr. Carl R. Szalkowski #95 — 21 Years • Batt. Chf. Charles A. Bates — 26 Years.
Members as listed above, have anniversary dates which fall during the first quarter.
Obituary
Camden Courier-Post —
KEUBLER, SR. HENRY S.
Age 75 of Southampton, passed away Thursday, March 21, 2002 at his home. Born in Camden, NJ, Mr. Keubler resided in Leisuretowne for 4 years. He previously resided in Vincentown and Brigantine. A US Army Veteran of World War II, Henry retired in 1981 as a fire fighter after 31 years of service with the City of Camden Fire Department. He is survived by his wife of 57 years Rose (nee Mason); four children and their spouses, Henry Keubler, Jr. and his wife Candy of Vincentown, David Keubler and his wife Jacqueline of Vincentown, Kathie Heritage and her husband John of Atco, and Mark Keubler and his wife Melanee of North Hanover; a brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Fran Keubler of Bellmawr; 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, March 25 at the Mathis Funeral Home, 58 N. Main Street, Medford, NJ. Interment will be private and at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may call from 10:00 AM until the time of the services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Henry’s memory to the Deborah Hospital, 212 Trenton Road, Browns Mills, NJ 08015.