Hobart Corson
CHARLES HOBART CORSON, generally known as Hobart Corson was born in Camden on July 23, 1902 to W. Penn Corson and his wife the former Catherine Kronenwetter. The family included one older brother, William Wallace Corson, and two younger brothers, Edward Mahlon and John Marvin Corson. W. Penn Corson was a successful building contractor who served a term as Camden County’s sheriff from 1917 through 1920 and was the co-owner with Dr. Charles B. Helm of the Camden franchise of the Eastern Basketball League from 1913 through 1925.
In 1898 W. Penn Corson began working for Frank B. Sweeten, who was a general contractor, where he learned enough about the construction business to set up his own firm, in 1904. After establishing himself paving streets and building sewers in Camden, he completed many large projects in the new suburban towns, including the sewage systems in Westmont and Haddonfield. Perhaps his most notable project was the paving of the White Horse Pike from Haddon Heights to Camden, a distance of four miles.
As early as 1906 through at least 1912 W. Penn Corson, his wife and family lived at 540 Newton Avenue, in Camden’s Ninth ward. By 1914 the family had moved to 506 Haddon Avenue, where they stayed through January of 1920. W. Penn Corson served as Camden County Sheriff from 1917 to 1920. By 1924 he had moved to 119 White Horse Pike in Haddon Heights. W. Penn Corson passed away on November 29, 1927, survived by his wife and three sons, W. Wallace Corson, C. Hobart Corson, and E. Mahlon Corson. Mrs. Corson and her sons returned to the Haddon avenue address, where she resided in the fall of 1936. C. Hobart Corson was still residing at 506 Haddon Avenue as late as 1947. He later moved to 417 Carteret Street.
Hobart Corson began working for the City of Camden as a clerk in Police Court on June 23, 1938. He was drafted into the United States Army on August 23, 1942 at Camden, New Jersey and assigned to an Air Corps unit. He was discharged and upon his return to Camden assigned to a position of Chief’s Clerk for the Camden Fire Department in January 16, 1944. He was also active in the 1940s and 1950s with the Elks and with the 9th Ward Republican Club, serving for a time as its president.
By the fall of 1961 Hobart Corson’s work was being affected severely by his problem with alcohol. He was suspended twice by Chief Edward MacDowell, the first time in September of 1961, then again at Christmas time. A third suspension, this time at the hands of Public Safety Director Borstein, came in March of 1962. Further health problems led to Hobart Corson’s leaving the Fire Department on September 1, 1962. Last a resident of 123 North 23rd Street, he passed away on May 15, 1964.
Man Is Killed Here When Keg of Beer Explodes in Club
Camden Courier-Post —
A Christmas party at a city Republican club ended in tragedy Thursday night when a member was injured fatally as a beer keg exploded.
John W. Kmicic, 56, of 912 North Thirty-first street, a machinist of the Pennsylvania Railroad for more than 25 years, died shortly after 1 a. m. in Cooper hospital from injuries received when the barrel exploded. Part of the interior of the first floor barroom at the Ninth Ward Republican club, 536 Broadway, was damaged.
According to Hobart Corson, chief clerk of the city fire department and president of the club, the accident occurred while more than 100 were making merry at a Christmas party on the first and second floors of the clubhouse.
Peculiar Noise
Standing beside Kmicic at the time was his son, Theodore Kmicic, of 105 Park avenue, Gloucester, and H. Allen Wolfe, acting chief of the city electrical bureau.
Wolfe said Kmicic, known by all his acquaintances as a jovial type of person, came to the end of the bar at the rear of the first floor to inspect the keg, which was making a peculiar noise.
Wolfe said Kmicic leaned over the barrel as the blast ripped the barrel open from the bottom, caused a hole to be made in the flooring and tore a piece off the end of the bar. Kmicic, Wolfe said, fell to the floor beside the keg, his face severely battered. A police ambulance removed him to the Cooper hospital, where he died two hours later.
Skull Fractured
Corson, who was on the second floor at the time of the explosion, said the party was ended immediately.
Although many were showered with beer and flying glasses, no one else was injured.
Coroner Healey was summoned and said County Physician R. Dean Cavalli would perform an autopsy on the body today. When admitted to the hospital the victim was listed as suffering a possible fracture of the skull, fractures of both arms, loss of the left eye and numerous cuts and bruises.
Keg Blast (Continued from Page One)
Kmicic lived in an apartment at the Thirty-first street address with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wychowanec. They formerly lived at Thirteenth street and Keswick avenue in Haddon Heights.
Leaves Widow
A resident of Camden for 35 years, Kmicic was also a member of the Pennsylvania Railroad YMCA.
Also surviving are his widow, Catherine; a daughter, Mrs. Irene Curtis Gerard, New York City; a grandson; his mother, Anna, in Poland; three sisters, Mrs. Helen Polnar, Camden, and Valeria and Mary, both in Poland, and a brother, Michael, in Poland.
Requiem high Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 9 a. m. in St. Joseph’s R. C. Church, Tenth and Mechanic streets. Relatives and friends will meet at 8 a. m. in the funeral home at 1458 Mt. Ephraim avenue, where friends may call Tuesday night. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s cemetery, Chews Landing.
Flag Day Ceremonies Conducted by Elks
Camden Courier-Post —
Flag Day ceremonies were conducted Sunday in the Camden Elks Home, 807 Cooper st.
George I. Shaw and Godfrey C. Misus, both past exalted rulers, gave the history of the American Flag. Franklin P. Kramer, past exalted ruler, and officers, conducted the altar services. Clair V. Cathers, exalted ruler, conducted lodge services, which terminated with a formation of red, white and blue flower bouquets.
David W. Nichols Jr. headed the committee in charge. He was assisted by John Robertson, Sgt. Ray Smith, co-chairman, Shaw, Edwin H. Bishop, William S. Gibson, Joseph R. Mulligan, James A. MacMillan, William H. Jackle, C. Hobart Corson and Wilfred Benoit.
Ex-City Clerk Found Dead
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A retired city clerk, C. Hobart Corson, 62, of 117 N. 23d st., Camden, was found dead on the second floor of the 9th Ward Republican Club Building on Broadway near Royden st. about 3:15 P. M. Friday.
Camden County Coroner Leroy Wooster said Corson had been dead about two days, apparently from natural causes. He said he would perform an autopsy Saturday.
Corson, who retired two years ago as head clerk to the Camden Fire Chief, was found by another club member, William Gallagher, of 306 Warren ave., who said he checks the building daily. Gallagher said he had visited the building Thursday but had not gone to the second floor.
The only known relative of Corson is a brother, Mahlon, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
C. H. Corson, 62, Found Dead In GOP Club
Camden Courier-Post —
C. Hobart Corson, 62, of 117 N. 23rd st., former president of the Ninth Ward Republican Club, was found dead yesterday on the second floor of the club’s headquarters on Broadway near Royden st.
William L. Gallagher, another member of the club, found the body. Coroner Creran said death was “apparently” due to natural causes but that an autopsy would be performed today.
Corson retired two years ago as head clerk in the Camden Fire Chief’s Office where he had been employed 12 years. He was also a former police court clerk. His father, the late W. Penn Corson, was a former Camden County sheriff.
A brother, Mahlon of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., survives.
Fire Department Record
Hobart Corson — Camden Fire Department record