Introduction
HORACE P. CAIRNS was born in Pennsylvania around 1872. The 1906 Camden City Directory shows Horace Cairns living at 515 Newton Avenue. He was then working as a streetcar conductor.
When the census was taken on April 15, 1910 Horace Cairns was living at 497 Newton Avenue in South Camden with his wife Annie, mother-in-law Mary Coile and brother Michael Coile.
On July 1, 1910 the Camden Fire Department’s Engine Company 7 went into service at its new firehouse at 1115 Kaighn Avenue. Horace Cairns was one of the original members of the company. He was then living at 621 Newton Avenue. This was still his address in 1918. Horace Cairns was promoted to captain during the 1920s, and was assigned to the newly formed Engine Company 10. By 1924 he had moved to 623 Newton Avenue. He was still living at 623 Newton Avenue when the census was enumerated in April of 1930. Shortly afterwards he retired. Fire Department records from 1931 show him living in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Horace Cairns was last a resident of 115 Oakland Avenue in Audubon, New Jersey. He passed away on March 11, 1942 and was buried at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey.
Photos
Horace P. Cairns
Camden Fire Department — 1914 Chief Engineer's Report
Location 1115 Kaighn Avenue. Second-class Metropolitan Engine and Combination Chemical and Hose Wagon. Went into service July 1, 1910. Carries 900 feet of 2-1/2-inch hose.
| Name | Rank | Age | Residence | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles A. Todd | Captain | 52 | 618 S. Fourth Street | $1,140.00 |
| Joseph Sparks | Lieutenant | 31 | 624 S. Fifth Street | $960.00 |
| John A. Dold | Engineer | 53 | 1301 Park Boulevard | $1,140.00 |
| Elmer Burkett | Stoker | 47 | 1009 Penn Street | $1,020.00 |
| Roy Smith | Driver | 30 | 607 Carman Street | $960.00 |
| William Hunsinger | Driver | 37 | 741 Walnut Street | $960.00 |
| George Boone | Hoseman | 38 | 605 Mt. Vernon Street | $960.00 |
| Sylvester McGrath | Hoseman | 35 | 605 St. John Street | $960.00 |
| Horace Cairns | Hoseman | 42 | 621 Newton Avenue | $1,020.00 |
Engine Company No. 7, 1115 Kaighn Avenue
Two Firemen Hurt in Crash with Car
Camden Post-Telegram —
Chemical Engine, Responding to Alarm, Sideswipes Kaighn Avenue Trolley.
HURLED TO STREET FROM APPARATUS
Responding to an alarm of fire at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Caston, 740 Sycamore street, last night the chemical apparatus of No. 7 Company sideswiped an east-bound Kaighn avenue trolley car, and two firemen, Horace Cairns, of 439 Haddon avenue, and George Boone, of 605 Mount Vernon street, were thrown to the street and injured.
Cairns was injured about the hips and suffered body contusions. He was taken to the Homeopathic Hospital and later to his home, where he is now confined. Boone had two fingers crushed, but refused to go to the hospital and he remained on duty.
The report made to Chief Worthington by the crew of the fire apparatus blames the trolley company for the accident. It is alleged that a north-bound car trailed ahead of the speeding apparatus, and when the driver Roy Smith, pulled the horses out of the tracks the accident happened. The jolt was not sufficient to damage the wagon, but the men on the rear were jostled off.
The fire, a slight one, was in a rear bedroom of the house. A bureau and some other furniture were damaged.
Engine Company No. 5
Engine Company No. 5 at 14th and Federal Streets, with newly converted hose wagon. Originally a horse drawn rig, it was modified to electric power by the Commercial Truck Company of Philadelphia PA. A storage battery powered each wheel. Pictured with apparatus are (l to r): Chief Peter Carter, Fireman W. Scott Franklin, Chauffeur Bert Coffman, firemen Edward Kelley, William Buzine, John Prucella, Charles Schultz, Horace Cairns, Daniel Grimes and chief’s aide, fireman Harry Hankins.
Here and There in Camden
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The Firemen’s Mutual Benevolent Association has elected these officers: President, Daniel Leach; vice presidents, William Walton and Howard Curry, Jr.; financial secretary, Horace Cairns; recording secretary, John Plum; treasurer, Harry Gerke; trustees, Andrew Miller; State Representative, William Walton.
These officers have been elected by the Associated Charities: President, William L. Cooper; vice presidents, Charles K. Haddon, Mrs. Sarah M. Lacy; secretary, Miss Abbie Davall; treasurer, Elias Davis.
Theodore Sipe, 5 years old, of 405 Market street, is in Cooper Hospital under observation, it being thought he swallowed a marble.
Shipyard Wages Lure to Firemen
Camden Post-Telegram —
Chief Presents Six Resignations at Meeting of Council Commission.
MERTZ IS CAPTAIN IN WHITSELL’S PLACE
Camden’s Fire Department has been hard hit by the call of the shipyards and death. The report of Fire Chief Peter B. Carter presented last night at the meeting of the Fire Committee of City Council showed six resignations, two deaths and one vacancy from the draft.
The resignations follows: Louis Neuman, No. 3 Truck Company; George H. Pursglove, No. 7 Engine Company; Roy De Haven, Julius Hubert and Harry W. Stone, No. 3 Truck Company, and Lieutenant Joseph Sparks, No. 7 Engine Company.
Deaths reported were Captain Samuel Whitzell, of No. 1 Engine Company, and William Elberson, of Headquarters. William Schucher, of No. 4, was drafted into the Army.
To take the place of Captain Whitzell, Lieutenant Walter Mertz, of the same company, was appointed captain, and Horace Kerns was made lieutenant. The following appointments were made by the Fire Committee: Robert L. Knox, 822 Division street, to fill place of Julius Hubert; Allen Palmer, 120 North Eleventh street, for vacancy of Louis Neuman; Clarence Pursglove, 751 Mt. Vernon street, taking place of his brother George; Anthony Paradise, 658 South Second street, filling place of Roy De Haven; Harry B. Maxwell, 422 North Sixth street, for vacancy of Harry W. Stone; Robert Welsh, 512 Borton street, vacancy of William Schucher, and William Vile, 570 Carman street, to fill place of Captain Whitzell.
The American La France Company was awarded the contract to furnish a new two-in-one motor apparatus for $10,000.
A petition from members of the Firemen’s Pension Fund asked that the rule of ten years’ apprenticeship be abolished in view of the wages paid men employed in other industries. The petition requests that all men in the department be placed on full salary at once. The petition will be presented to City Council.
Six Camden Firemen Quit for Better Jobs
Philadelphia Inquirer —
High wages paid at shipyards is proving a big lure to the members of the Camden Fire Department, resignations of six laddies being presented to the Fire Committee of City Council yesterday by Chief Carter. The men quitting to become shipbuilders are Louis Neuman, George H. Pursglove, Roy De Haven, Julius Hubert, Harry W. Stone and Joseph Sparks. Their places were filled by the appointment of Robert Knox, Allen Palmer, Clarence Pursglove, Anthony Paradise, Harry B. Maxwell and Robert Welsh. Lieutenant Walter Mertz was made a captain to succeed Samuel Whitzell, deceased, and Horace Kerns was made a lieutenant. A contract was awarded to the American-La France Engine Company for a new motor engine. The price is $10,000.
Small Fire Is Spectacular
Philadelphia Inquirer —
In a spectacular fire at the Standard Oil filling station at Fifteenth and Federal streets, Camden, yesterday, Lieutenant Horace Cairns climbed to the top of a blazing tank and sprayed the flames with a chemical. He was at times hidden by the fire and smoke and on several occasions it was thought he had fallen into the flames. But he kept to his post and prevented what would have been a very serious and devastating conflagration. The fire is supposed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion.
14 Firemen Win City Promotions
Camden Daily Courier —
Fortunate Members Of Department Are Being Congratulated By Friends
NEW HOUSE AT FAIRVIEW
Fourteen members of the local fire department were being congratulated today upon their promotions to higher positions in the department.
The promotions were authorized at the meeting of the fire committee of City Council last night and will take effect upon the opening of the new fire house at Yorkship Village.
Lieutenants James White, Horace Cairns, Mordecai Clark and John Vickers have been advanced to the rank of captain. Charles Watkins, Herman Kreher, John Hunt, George Hunt, James McDermott and William Miller will wear lieutenants’ chevrons. Harry Selby has been promoted to the rank of engineer, while Joseph Daley, Roy Smith and Seth Monall were made stokers.
White is to succeed William Madison, who goes on the pension list at No. 5 house, while Watkins will succeed White.
The other eleven men will form the nucleus of the force at the new house in Fairview. The hosemen and laddermen for the house have not as yet been appointed.
Many Transfers of City Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Forces At Various Stations Changed By Most Recent Orders
16 GO TO FAIRVIEW HOUSE
Recent changes in the fire department announced have provided for the transfer of twenty men and the appointment of fourteen during the week to various fire houses in the city.
Sixteen of the men were transferred and given appointments to the two new companies formed to protect Fairview and Yorkship Village. The transfers and appointments went into effect Wednesday.
The following men received transfers and appointments to Engine Company 10, one of the new companies: Horace Cairns, captain; William Miller, lieutenant; Harry Selby, engineer; Charles Gaul, stoker; Spencer Smith, H. Walker, Rocco Fanelli and H. J. Zanders, hosemen.
Truck Company 4, the other new company, at Ninth and Morgan streets, received the following men: Mordecai Clark, captain; James McDermott, lieutenant; James Durkin, driver; Frank Burt, George C. Wade, Samuel Patton, William Reynolds and Harry Hallowell.
H. F. Ferrington and H. Bomgartel, new men, were appointed to Hook and Ladder Company 1, to fill the vacancies left by James McDermott and George C. Wade.
The following men received appointments to Engine Company 1: Walter Carter, George Henry Johnson, Lewis D. Stevens, Rocco Tribbett and Benjamin Walters. W. Scott Franklin was transferred from Company 9 to Engine Company 1 as lieutenant. George Cattell was transferred from Company 1 to Company 5 as stoker. Joseph Daley, of Company 5, was transferred to Engine Company 2 to fill the vacancy left by Harry Selby, who was transferred to Company 10.
Anthony Valentine and David Smith were transferred to Company 3, in place of William Miller and Charles Gaul, who were transferred to Company 10.
J. Lumbago was transferred to Company 7, in place of David Smith. George Pursglove and John Hunt were transferred to Company 8. Robert Gicks was transferred from Hose and Chemical Company 2 to Company 9, in place of William Reynolds, who was transferred to Company 10.
Nelson Till was appointed to the place left vacant by Robert Gicks, of Hose and Chemical Company 2. Herman Kreher was made lieutenant of Hose and Chemical Company 2.
Engine Company 10
Photo from 1924. Horace Cairns, Captain; Howard Walker, chauffeur.
Rites Monday
Camden Courier-Post —
HORACE P. CAIRNS — Former Camden fire captain who died Wednesday night. He was 63. Solemn Requiem Mass will be celebrated at SS. Peter and Paul Church, at 9.30 a.m., Monday. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Horace Cairns Dies, Was Fire Captain
Camden Courier-Post —
Retired Officer Served as GOP Aide; Services to Be Held Monday
Horace P. Cairns, 63, retired Camden City Fire Department captain, died last night at the home of a granddaughter, Mrs. Edward Connelly, 115 Oakland avenue, Audubon, following an illness of four months.
Captain Cairns was widely known in political and fraternal circles. He served as a member of the executive committee of the Ninth Ward Republican Club after his retirement several years ago. His wife, Annie Marie, died last September.
At the time of his retirement, Captain Cairns was in command of No. 10 fire house. He was a member of the Firemen’s Mutual Beneficial Association and the Exempt Firemen’s Association of New Jersey.
Surviving also are another granddaughter, Mrs. David H. Officer, of Bellfont, Del., and two grandsons, George and Warren Beauchamp. Solemn requiem mass will be in SS. Peter and Paul Church at 9.30 a. m. Monday. Relatives and friends will meet at the funeral home of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway, at 8.30. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Death Notice
Camden Courier-Post —
CAIRNS—On March 11, 1942, Horace P., beloved husband of the late Anna M. Cairns (nee Coyle) of 115 Oakland Ave., Audubon, N. J. Relatives and friends of the family, also members of the Ninth Ward Republican Club, F. M. B. A. Local No. 5 and the Exempt Firemen Association of New Jersey are invited to attend the funeral on Monday morning at 8.30 from the funeral home of Frank J. Leonard, 1451 Broadway, Camden. Solemn Requiem Mass at the Church of SS. Peter and Paul at 9.30. Interment at New St. Mary’s Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday evening.
Family Thanks
Camden Courier-Post —
CAIRNS—The family of the late Horace P. Cairns, of 115 Oakland Ave., Audubon, N. J., wishes to thank their neighbors, friends, Ninth Ward Republican Club, F. M. B. A., Camden Fire Department, New York Shipyard Guards and Mr. Edward F. Haggarety for their cars, beautiful floral offerings and many tokens of sympathy extended them during their recent bereavement in the death of a beloved grandfather. Mrs. David Officer and Mrs. Edward Connelly.