Herman A. Dreas
HERMAN A. DREAS was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania on October 7, 1890. He was one of six children born to Phoebe and Daniel Dreas. By the summer of 1910 the family had moved to the Cramer Hill neighborhood of Camden. Daniel Dreas was working as a carpenter to support his family. The Dreas lived at 1236 North 25th Street. Beside Herman, older brother Benjamin and younger sisters Bertha and Ruth were also at home. Herman A. Dreas was then working as a laborer in a factory at the time of the Census. Herman Dreas is not listed in the 1914 Camden City Directory, however, his father and brother Benjamin were still living at 1236 North 25th Street. Herman Dreas and Mary Holly of 226 Watkins Street, Philadelphia were issued a marriage license in Philadelphia on January 17, 1918. Herman was working as lineman for Public Service when he registered for the draft in April of 1917. He was then still living at 1236 North 25th Street. He enlisted in February of 1918, and was wounded by machine gun fire on October 19, 1918 during the battle of the Argonne Forest.
The 1920 Census shows Herman Dreas still working as a lineman. He was living with his wife Mary at the home of her parents, Thomas and Veronica Murphy, 936 North 24th Street. Also at home was Mary’s son Albert Holly, a child of her prior marriage. On January 18, 1920 he began service with the Camden Fire Department. Herman Dreas lived around the corner from Camden firefighter Herman Kreher, it may have been through his influence that Herman Dreas was appointed to the Camden Fire Department.
The 1924 Camden City Directory shows Herman Dreas working as a Camden firefighter, and living at 1117 North 26th Street. The 1930 Census shows him living with his wife, in-laws, and Albert Holly at 1241 North 26th Street. He was still at this address as late as the spring of 1942. Herman Dreas was still a member of the Camden Fire Department when the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled.
On March 17, 1941 Herman Dreas was granted a pension by the City of Camden. had left the Camden Fire Department. Shortly after registering for the draft, Herman Dreas moved to 949 Cedar Street in North Camden. They remained at this address for the rest of their days. Herman Dreas passed away in 1961. Mary Dreas joined him in 1966. There were no children.
World War I Draft Card
Herman A. Dreas — World War I Draft Registration Card. Born October 7, 1890 in Pottsville, Pa.; lineman for Public Service, Camden; residing at 1236 N. 25th Street.
Divorce For Herman Dreas
Camden Post-Telegram —
Attorney Albert De Unger has been advised by Chancellor Walker that a decree of divorce has been granted Herman Dreas, of East Camden, from his wife, Anna May Dreas. Desertion was the grounds of the divorce, the wife leaving her husband two years ago. She did not contest the suit. Both were well known in East Camden.
Marriage License
Camden Post-Telegram —
Herman A. Dress, a well-known local resident, was granted a marriage license in Philadelphia, yesterday, he to take as his bride a Quaker City lady in the person of Miss Mary H. Holly, of 226 Watkins street.
River Pirates Blamed for Theft of Launch
Camden Courier-Post —
River pirates were blamed by police last night for theft of a motor launch and ransacking of another moored in the Delaware river off Twenty-sixth street.
Thomas Crosley, of 837 Almond street, Philadelphia, reported his green and white 28-foot launch “Maud” was missing from the basin of the Farragut Motor Club. It bore license number L-3329.
Herman A. Dreas, of 1241 North Twenty-sixth street, a city fireman, reported two fire extinguishers, a barometer and 25 cigars were stolen from his 30-foot motor launch “Arrow” moored nearby.
2 Camden Veterans Get Honor Medals
Camden Courier-Post —
Mathews-Purnell Post Members Awarded Order of Purple Heart
Two members of the Corp. Mathews-Purnell Post 518, Veterans of Foreign Wars, have received the Order of the Purple Heart, one of them with an oak leaf cluster, a special citation.
The honored men are John M. Peterson, of 1049 North Thirty-fourth street, who received the award with cluster, and Herman Dreas, of 1241 North Twenty-sixth street. Both are city firemen with Engine Company No. 11, Twenty-seventh street and Hayes avenue.
Peterson served with the First Division in France and was a private in Company D, 18th Infantry. He enlisted September 21, 1917, and was discharged September 23, 1919. He served overseas 22 months and was wounded the first time by machine gun fire in the leg July 19, 1918, in the Soissons Drive. He suffered a shrapnel wound in the right lung November 5, 1918, in the Argonne Forest.
Dreas served with Company C, 309th Infantry, 78th Division. He enlisted February 27, 1918, and was discharged January 19, 1919. He left the United States May 18, 1918 and returned Christmas Day, 1918. He was wounded October 19, 1918, by machine gun in the Argonne Forest drive.
Funeral Rites Held for Nicholas Romaine
Camden Courier-Post —
Funeral services were held yesterday for Nicholas Romaine, 48, of 2420 Mickle street, a member of Engine Company No. 11, Twenty-seventh street and Hayes avenue, who died Thursday of injuries suffered while fighting a fire nearly eight years ago. Services took place at the parlors of Gustav Roedel and Son, 804 North Twenty-seventh street, and burial was in New Camden cemetery. The following members of his company were pallbearers: Herman Dreas, Harry Hess, John Mohrfield, William Mountney, Michael Mungioli and John Peterson.
Romaine, a member of the fire department 13 years, was injured when a brick wall fell on him during a blaze in a junk shop July 27, 1925. Five other firemen were also hurt. He is survived by his widow, Pauline, two sons, Joseph and Nicholas, Jr., and two daughters, Mrs. Gladys Green and Frances Romaine.
Fire Chief Guest at Honor Dinner
Camden Courier-Post —
Capt. Kreher, Veteran of 22 Years, Given Send-Off on Eve of Retirement
Fire Capt. Herman Kreher, a veteran of 22 years in the city fire-fighting forces, was tendered a dinner last night by more than 60 comrades upon the occasion of his fiftieth birthday. His efficient supervision of Engine Company No. 11 was lauded by Acting Chief John Lennox, who presented him with a gold wrist watch in behalf of his fellow firemen. George Wonsetter was toastmaster.
The affair was held in Stefiel’s Hall, directly across from the firehouse at Twenty-seventh and Hayes avenue.
Attending the dinner were Mrs. Kreher, their children, Tillie, Wilhelmina, Herman and Edwin, and Motorcycle Patrolman Harry Kreher, brother of Captain Kreher. Addresses were also made by Deputy Chief William Herring and Battalion Chiefs Walter Mertz, Charles Errickson and Waldo Jones.
The committee included Firemen William Mountey [sic], chairman; Howard Curry, Nelson Till, William Gettner, John Mohrfeld, Herman Dreas, John Peterson and Harry Hess.
Slippery Pavement Blamed for Freak Highway Collision
Camden Courier-Post —
P.S. Vehicle Was Trying to Pull to One Side to Allow Engine to Pass
INVESTIGATION ORDERED
A city fireman and four bus passengers were injured yesterday in a collision between a fire engine, enroute to a training school, and a bus at River road and Federal street.
The fireman, Harry Hess of 2733 Sherman avenue, attached to Engine Company No. 11, at Twenty-seventh street and Hayes avenue, suffered cuts of the ear, scalp and wrist and bruises of the chest. He is in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital.
The riders injured, all of whom were treated at Cooper Hospital, are Miss Alice Messmer, 24, of Bedford avenue, Merchantville, who suffered bruises of the left arm; Miss Lillian Foster, 20, of 3313 Highland avenue, treated for shock; Mrs. Edith McCrea, 48, of 2647 Westfield avenue, bruises of the back, and Mabel Stark, 15, of 26 South Thirty-fourth street, cuts of the cheek and bruises of the face and forehead.
Later, a man who said he was Horace S. Gerrick, 60, of 54 West Chestnut avenue, Merchantville, entered Cooper Hospital and said he had been injured while riding on the bus. He was treated for rib contusions and sent home.
Wet streets were blamed by police for the accident. Federal street, off River road, was slick, they said.
Fire Chief Lennox, who went to the scene, said an investigation would be made in an effort to fix responsibility.
“The collision took place this morning at 10:30 o’clock, at the intersection of Federal street and River road,” he explained.
“The fire engine was making a right turn onto Federal street, off River road. The bus, owned and operated by Public Service Coordinated Transport Company, was traveling west on River road and had come from Merchantville, and was en route to the ferries.
“As far as can be learned so far by talking to witnesses to the accident, the bus pulled over to the left side of the street. As it did, the rear end skidded into the truck.
“As matters appear now, we do not intend to arrest the bus driver, but an investigation will be made to place responsibility for the crash.”
The fire apparatus was headed for the fire training school at Ninth street and Morgan boulevard. It was driven by Herman Dreas, 43, of 1241 North Twenty-sixth street, who said the siren was going as the engine approached Federal street.
Michael Mungioli, 34, of 795 North Thirtieth street, one of the firemen on the truck, said the bus driver, hearing the siren, attempted to swerve his vehicle quickly, and the collision resulted.
Neither machine overturned. A score of passengers in the bus were shaken up. The girl and three women who were more seriously injured were taken to Cooper hospital in automobiles.
The engine, a combination pumper, hose and chemical truck, valued at $10,000, was in charge of Captain Herman Kreher, 51, of 1003 North Twenty-sixth street, commander of Engine Company No. 1. He escaped injury, as also did Mungioli, Dreas, John Morefield, Howard Curry, William Mountney and Harry Curry, 54, of 1035 Beideman avenue, other firemen on the vehicle.
The driver of the bus, K. J. Chard, 27, of 1185 Haddon avenue, also was uninjured.
Neither vehicle was badly damaged, although it was necessary to tow the truck back to its station. No estimate of the damage done either machine has been made.
The bus driver stated he saw the fire apparatus in the middle of the street at a distance of 40 feet. As he approached he applied his brakes but the rear wheels skidded and struck the engine on the right side.
5 Hurt in Fire Crash
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Five persons were injured yesterday when a fire truck and a bus collided at River rd. and Federal sts., Camden.
Police asserted that the truck, en route from Engine Company No. 11, 27th st. and Hayes ave., to the Camden Fire Training School at 9th st. and Morgan blvd., was turning a corner when the bus skidded into it on a wet street.
Ladderman Harry Hess, 32, of 2733 Sherman st., was thrown to the street by the impact and was treated at the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital for bruises. Four bus passengers were treated for minor injuries at the Cooper Hospital. They are Miss Mabel Stark, 15, of 29 S. 34th st.; Mrs. Edith McCrea, 48, of 2647 Westfield ave.; Miss Lillian Foster, 20, of 3313 Island ave., and Miss Alice Messner, 24, of Bedford ave., Merchantville. The driver of the bus, according to police, was K. J. Chard, 27, of Haddon ave., Camden, and the fire truck driver was Herman Dreas, 43, of N. 26th st., Camden. Neither was injured.
World War II Draft Card
Herman A. Dreas — World War II Draft Registration Card. Age 51; residing at 1241 No. 26th St., Camden, N.J.; born October 7, 1890 in Pottsville, Penn.; unemployed.
Herman A. Dreas
Camden Courier-Post —
Herman A. Dreas, 71, of 949 Cedar st., died Tuesday. Born in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., he lived in Camden 50 years. A retired fireman with 21 years service, he had served with Engine Company 11. He was a member of the Police and Firemen Association of Camden. A veteran of World War I, he was awarded the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was a member of Cpl. Mathews-Purnell Post 518 VFW.
Surviving are his wife, Mary; and three sisters, Mrs. George Morad of Camden, Mrs. Emily Schlitze of Maple Shade, and Mrs. Ruth Escott of Evesham Township.
Services will be held Monday at 10 a.m. in the Gustav Roedel & Son Funeral Home, 804 N. 27th st., where friends may call Sunday night. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken.
Mrs. Mary H. Dreas
Camden Courier-Post —
Mrs. Mary H. Dreas, 83, of 949 Cedar Street, died yesterday in Cooper Hospital.
She is survived by a step-sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson of Philadelphia.
Services will be Friday at 10 a.m. in the Gustav Roedel & Sons Funeral Home, 804-06 N. 27th Street, where friends may call Thursday night. Requiem high Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. in Holy Name Church, Fifth and Vine Streets.