Important Note!

This site is a mirror of Phil's old site at dvrbs.com. and is generally not maintained.

For a modern experience, including mobile, please check out: https://camdenhistory.com.

James Young

Camden Fire Captain

Introduction

JAMES YOUNG was born in Pennsylvania around 1898. After serving in the armed forces during World War I, James Young married around 1921. On June 16, 1923 James Young was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. The 1924 City Directory lists James Young and his wife Florence at 1011 Segal Street in North Camden, next door to brother firefighter Elwood Martz, who lived at 1013 Segal Street.

The 1927 and 1927 City Directories show James Young and his wife Florence at 1206 North 24th Street in Cramer Hill. The 1930 Census shows James Young, wife Florence, and children Marjorie and James at the North 24th Street address, and Fire Department Records from 1931 also list him at that address. Brother firefighter Allen Palmer was living with the Youngs in 1931, according to Fire Department records.

By 1935 James Young had been promoted to Captain. He then was serving with Engine Company 8, at 619 Kaighn Avenue in South Camden. He later was assigned to Ladder Company 2, quartered in the same building. The 1940 and 1943 City Directories shows that James Young and his wife Florence were living at 3322 Mitchell Street in East Camden. He was still working as a Captain when the 1947 Directory was compiled. That edition shows him living at 1155 Lois Avenue in Cramer Hill. James Young retired from the Fire Department as a Captain in February of 1950.

James Young was still listed in the 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory at 1155 Lois Avenue. He is not listed in the 1959 edition, however, Florence Young is listed at 3322 Mitchell Avenue, and remained listed there through at least the fall of 1970. James Young passed away on April 12, 1970.

Advertisement

Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today

Camden Courier-Post

Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association

The Camden Police and Firemen's Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.

The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriver, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.

Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.

Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.

Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen

Camden Courier-Post

Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association

Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association.

The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday's balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.

In a three-cornered fight, William I. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.

Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.

Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and Firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.

Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.

After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.

Dismissed as Tipsy, Fireman Is Heard in Civil Service Plea

Camden Courier-Post

Camden Courier-Post, May 25, 1934 — Dismissed as Tipsy, Fireman Is Heard in Civil Service Plea

‘Drunk on Duty’, Former Associates Testify at Garner’s Hearing

DECISION IS RESERVED

Testimony by fellow firemen that he “was so drunk he had to be lifted off a fire truck” marked the hearing of George W. Garner, a city fireman of 1266 Kenwood avenue, before Civil Service Commissioner William S. Etiles yesterday.

The case was the first Civil Service hearing in Camden in two years. Commissioner Stiles reserved decision.

Garner was dismissed on May 4, 1934, by Mayor Stewart in his capacity of director of public safety. The charge was “continued disobedience of orders and intoxication while on duty.” The defendant is married and has two children, one four years and one only three days old.

Capt. James Young, Garner's superior officer at Engine Company No. 2, 619 Kaighn avenue, testified that he found Garner in a saloon with a woman on the evening of April 30 last.

Ignored Orders

“Garner had asked permission to go out about 7 o’clock and get coffee for the men,” said Captain Young. “Two hours later he went out without permission.

“Senior Captain Lawrence Newton and I went looking for him and found him in a saloon operated by Umberto DiClaudio at Sixth and Kaighn avenue. He was sitting at a table with a woman.

“I asked him what he was doing and he said the woman had a toothache.

“At 2.29 a. m. an alarm sounded, and when we went to take out the fire truck Garner was on the running board unconscious. We couldn’t rouse him and I had to assign two men, Chester Price and Irving Bishop, to carry him off. He was too intoxicated to move.”

Price and Bishop corroborated the testimony of their captain, as also did James A. Creato and William Cummerford. Battalion Chief Leonard Magee, of Engine Company No. 3, testified he saw Garner after the fire and “the man was in a stupor.”

Looked Bad Next Day

Acting Fire Chief John H. Lennox said the next morning when he saw Garner, “He looked to me as if he had had a bad night.”

DiClaudio, the saloon proprietor, denied that Garner had bought anything to drink, saying he sold him 12 boiled eggs to eat.

Garner, on the stand, entered a general denial of the charges. He was represented by Morris Tartar.

Assistant City Solicitor Lewis Lieberman showed the court a resignation signed by Garner and dated March 10.

Captain Races to Fight Bus Fire

Trenton Evening Times

Trenton Evening Times, January 17, 1935 — Captain Races to Fight Bus Fire

CAMDEN, N. J.—There’s nothing like delivering a fire to the door of the fire house.

Captain James Young, of Engine Company No. 8, raced three blocks to his fire house when the passenger bus on which he was riding caught fire.

A few minutes later, the fire engine clanged to the street.

There, in front of the fire house, was the burning bus.

Advertisement

Comments