Introduction
James Durkin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 7, 1887. He was living at 856 Fairview Street with his wife, the former Matilda “Tillie” Binderwald, and their son James A. Durkin when he registered for the draft in 1918. James Durkin was a bricklayer by trade and followed that line of work throughout most of his life.
James Durkin was appointed to the Camden Fire Department by February of 1920. In September of that year he was assigned to the newly-formed Ladder Company 4 as a driver. By 1923 he had left the Fire Department and moved to Gloucester City in the 1930s.
James J. Durkin died on April 18, 1963, survived by his son and three siblings.
James Durkin’s son, James A. Durkin, served for 35 years with the Gloucester City Fire Department, rising to the rank of Chief of Department in 1961. He retired in 1974.
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.
Go to Company No. 1
The following men received appointments to Engine Company 1: Walter Carter, George Henry Johnson, Lewis D. Stevens, Rosco 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.
No. 10 Engine Company Stag Party
Camden Post-Telegram —
Captain Clark, Lieutenant Miller, Chas. Gaul, Howard Walker, Harry Hallowell, Hugh Rementa, Thomas Clark, James Derken, Al Haley, Adolph Gaul and George Wade, all of No. 10 Engine Company, were among those present at a stag party held last night on the farm of Norris Black at Harrisonville. A chicken dinner and a watermelon party were the features. An orchestra furnished music.
Notes of 3 and 9 Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Notes of 3 and 9 Firemen
Lieutenant Scott Franklin, formerly of the East Camden house, is invited to visit his old command. Scott has been absent for almost one year.
Dan McCurdy, of Baileytown, used no less than three good brooms in the recent epidemic of prairie fires.
Nine spic and span chairs have been installed in the house, replacing the same number of time-worn seats.
George Schulz told a wierd tale of a trip to Mars, but it occurred, alas, in a dream.
Albert Dukes announced rather proudly to his mates he had finally caught the pike at Grenloch, for which he has been angling during the past year.
Maurice Foley and Gardner Corson, who are on the hospital list, have sent word they are well on the way to recovery.
Ex-sergeant Jake Woodside sprang the surprise of the week when he bested Captain Robinson, house champ, in a series of three pinochle matches.
3 Firemen Hurt in $75,000 Fire at Leather Plant
Camden Daily Courier —
Flames of Unknown Origin Wreck Upper Story of Keystone Factory
SMOKE BLOCKS BATTLE
Firm Loses Stock of Hides Valued at $50,000, One Fireman in Hospital
3 FIREMEN HURT IN $75,000 FIRE AT LEATHER PLANT
Flames of Unknown Origin Wreck Upper Story of Keystone Factory
SMOKE BLOCKS BATTLE
Firm Loses Stock of Hides Valued at $50,000, One Fireman in Hospital
Three firemen were overcome with smoke when flames gutted the upper stories of the drying building of the Keystone Leather Company, Seventeenth and Carman streets, last night. The loss is estimated today at $75,000. The origin is unknown.
Captain J. J. Vickers, of the East Camden Company, was overcome by smoke, and revived by City Physician Lippincott. Fireman George Addison, of the same company, was dragged from the building by other firemen, and revived by the physician.
Nelson Andrews, fireman, of Engine Company No. 9, was in a serious condition when taken from the building. He was prostrated by smoke, and was rushed to Cooper Hospital, where he was reported as much improved today.
Smoke Blocks Traffic
Smoke was so dense that vehicular traffic on Federal street, two squares away, was blocked for nearly an hour.
The flames had gained a great deal of headway when discovered by a watchman. When the firemen arrived on the scene, they faced a hard task because of great volumes of smoke pouring from the building, in which was stored a large stock of hides.
It was one of the most stubborn fires the department has faced in years. The firemen were unable to locate the flames at first because of the smoke. Chief Carter sent in two more alarms after arriving on the scene.
After thirty minutes of battle the flames suddenly shot skyward, illuminating the heavens for miles. They leaped to the fourth floor, and through the roof. In a short time the roof collapsed, sending a great shower of sparks in all directions.
It was three hours before the first fire companies were able to leave the scene.
It was estimated today that the damage to the building will reach $25,000. The company lost about $50,000 in stock. A large stock of hides on the first two floors were ruined by tons of water.
The building is one of the first built by the company, and directly adjoins the main concrete plant at Seventeenth and Mickle streets.
Lieutenant W. Scott Franklin, of Engine Company, No. 1, fell from a one-story roof of an adjoining building while pulling up hose but fortunately escaped injury.
Lieutenant Franklin Returns from Vacation
Camden Post-Telegram —
Lieutenant Scott Franklin, of No. 1 engine house, Fourth and Pine streets, resumed his duties this morning after what he states is the most enjoyable vacation he has ever experienced. He spent his time at a number of seashore resorts and has a good coat of tan.
No Date for Hearing in Franklin's Case
Camden Daily Courier —
NO LATE [sic] FOR HEARING IN FRANKLIN’S CASE
No date has yet been fixed for a hearing in the case of Scott Franklin, a junior captain at No. 1 Fire House, Fourth and Pine streets, who was suspended yesterday afternoon on charges of intoxication. Advised that a uniformed fireman was inspecting Sixth ward business houses, Director Tempest sent Deputy Chief Patterson to investigate. Patterson returned to the City Hall with Franklin, and, observing his condition, Tempest suspended him. Franklin denied being drunk, but admitted, his superiors say, that he had been drinking. The suspended captain is 50 years old and has been on the force 24 years.
Fire Captain Scott Dies from Paralytic Stroke
Camden Evening Courier —
Approximately 95 men, or half of the members of the Fire Bureau, will attend the funeral Wednesday morning of J. Scott Franklin, junior captain of Engine Company No. 1, Fourth and Pine streets, who died suddenly yesterday after an illness of only two days.
Members of Camden Lodge No. 11, Loyal Order of Moose, of which Captain Scott was a member, will also attend.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a. m. Wednesday at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, and interment will be made in Calvary Cemetery. Captain Franklin’s widow is ill at her home, but is expected to recover sufficiently to attend. News of her husband’s death was withheld from her until this morning.
Captain Franklin was 62 years old, and had been planning to retire on pension soon. He was appointed to the fire bureau July 1, 1901, and had been attached to Engine Co., No. 1 for the past 22 years. He lived at 130 North Eleventh street. His death was sudden. He was in apparent good health until Friday, when he was stricken with paralysis, dying 48 hours later.
Moose Will Honor Memory of 57 Dead
Camden Evening Courier —
Sunday Night Services to Include Address by Official of P. O. S. of A.
MOOSE WILL HONOR MEMORY OF 57 DEAD
Sunday Night Services to Include Address by Official of P. O. S. of A.
Fifty-seven members of Camden Lodge of Moose and its affiliated lodges who have died in the past will be honored at the annual memorial services of the lodge tomorrow at 8 P. M. in Moose Home, Market street.
The solemn services will include a memorial ode, solos and quartette selections, and an address by Neil L. Johnson, national master of forms P. O. S. of A.
Members who have died in the past are:
Charles L. Ogden, Horatio Arnold, Albert Dahringer, Frank Elbertson, Thomas Wilkie, oJhn [sic] F. Weaver, Alfred A. Schnitzler, George W. Dudley, Benjamin Emanuel, Augustus J. Drager Sr., Edmund S. Carmany, Boyd Lentz, George R. Batten, George Ender, John Officer, Charles E. [illegible], Charles J. Ruhle, Richard Finch, Harry J. Zimmerman, Ralph Marengo, Andrew Kirk, Wilbert B. [illegible], William S. Bennett, Stanley W. Chudzinski, Pierre J. Waegeman, William M. Geist, John A. Durges, Albert A. Tilton, George H. Bardsley, Ernest F. Jones, David Jester, John W. Connelly, Edward Cunningham, William H. Bell, Charles Baar, William H. Doane, W. Scott Franklin, Edward A. Cahill, Albert Ayres, William H. Stockton, James Lees, Albert Kreder, Emil J. Brandt, Christian Pommerer, Thomas A. Campbell, William G. Middleton, Albert Adams, George Hildebrandt, Patrick J. Brady, A. Weston, David P. Kates, Potter and Thomas Brothers.
Women of Mooseheart Legion: Clara Nixon and Anna Hudson.
Mooseheart Junior Legion: William [illegible] and Frank Guttekorn.