Herman John Baker
Herman J. Baker
HERMAN JOHN BAKER was born in Camden in November of 1898 to Benjamin and Annie Baker. The family was living at 1104 Marion Street in South Camden at the time of the 1900 Census, and were still at that address through 1906. The 1910 Census found the Baker family living at 580 Chestnut Street. Herman Baker was still living there in 1917 when he registered for the draft. At that time he was working for the government as a civilian employee at an armory.
Herman Baker married around 1918, and with his wife Emma had three children, Ruth, Viola, and Herman Jr. The Bakers lived at 829 Spruce Street in 1920, when Herman Baker was working at one of Camden’s shipyards. The 1924 City Directory shows him working as a laborer and living at 1112 Marion Street.
Herman J. Baker joined the Camden Fire Department on November 1, 1926, and served for 25 years as a ladderman for Hook & Ladder Company No. 2 at 619 Kaighn Avenue. The 1929 City Directory shows Herman J. Baker and family living at 909 South 7th Street. At the time of the 1930 Census, the Baker family was renting a home at 612 Walnut Street. By 1931 he had moved to 613 Mount Vernon Street. Later in the 1930s he moved to 1297 Decatur Street and was staying there when the 1940 City Directory was compiled.
On Monday, March 10, 1941, a fire near South 7th Street and Pine Streets, South Camden, nearly claimed the life of the occupant. Acting Captain John Naylor and Fireman Joseph A. Gfrorer of Ladder Company 2 rescued a woman from the floor above under punishing conditions. The victim was removed by portable ladder with the assistance of Fireman Herman Baker.
By 1943 Herman Baker had moved to 127 North 25th Street in East Camden. Herman Baker appears to have been widowed or divorced sometime after 1943. His next door neighbor at 125 North 25th Street was another Camden fire fighter, George H. Pursglove. He remarried in the late 1940s.
Early in 1951 Herman J. Baker suffered a heart attack and was assigned to a job as a dispatcher for the Electrical Bureau of the City of Camden. He suffered a fatal heart attack at 125 North 25th Street in East Camden, on December 22, 1951.
World War I Draft Card
Herman J. Baker – World War I draft registration card
Burned Interior of the Olympic Restaurant
Camden Courier-Post —
BURNED INTERIOR of the Olympic restaurant, 1027–29–31 Broadway, is being inspected by Acting Captain Herman Baker, Truck Company 2. Firemen said blaze, which spread to three adjoining properties, started in the basement of the restaurant.
Fireman, Dies
Camden Courier-Post —
Herman J. Baker Sr., 53, a ladderman for Fire Truck 2, Sixth street and Kaighn avenue for 25 years, died of a heart attack at his home, 125 North Twenty fifth street, at 6 a. m. today.
Mr. Baker, who was born in Camden, had been attached as a dispatcher to the Electrical Bureau for several months because of a previous heart attack.
He is survived by his widow Kathryn, a son, Herman Jr., of Camden, and two stepsons.
Service Record
Herman J. Baker Sr. – Camden Fire Department service record