Introduction
JESTHROE HUNT was born in Conway, South Carolina on August 3, 1920 to Benjamin and Ella Hunt. His family moved to Camden in the late 1920s. The 1927 City Directory lists them at 1007 Francis Street. The 1929 Directory and the 1930 Census shows the Hunt family at 1003 South 2nd Street. Benjamin Hunt was working as a laborer at the RCA-Victor factory. Besides Jesthroe, the family included three younger sisters, Mary, Sarah, and Elizabeth. Another son, Joseph, was born later.
After attending Cooper B. Hatch Junior High School, Jesthroe Hunt graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in January of 1939. The Hunt family was then living at 827 South 5th Street. Known to his classmates as Jay, his yearbook states that in his day he was a bit of a class clown. An interesting feature of the yearbook was a page where the students were characterized by popular songs of the era. Jesthroe Hunt’s song title was “I’m Nuts About Mutts.” Among those in his graduating class were Warren H. Patterson, who was killed in action during World War II, and Howard Unruh, who developed schizophrenia after the war and shot 13 people in Cramer Hill in 1949.
The 1947 Camden City Directory shows the Hunt family residing at 753 Walnut Street. As Jesthroe Hunt’s occupation was listed as student, it is possible that he was attending college on the G.I. Bill. He was still living at 753 as late as 1950. The home, although vacant for years, remains in the Hunt family as of October, 2017.
Jesthroe Hunt was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on August 12, 1950 and reported for duty on September 1, 1950 with Engine Company 1 at 409 Pine Street. He later moved to 340 Pine Street, a stone’s throw from the firehouse.
Jesthroe Hunt retired from the Fire Department on September 1, 1981 after completing 31 years of service to the City of Camden.
A deeply religious man, Jesthroe Hunt was a Deacon in the Fire Baptized Holiness Church. The denomination for many years had a church at 335 Liberty Street known as the Gist Liberty Fire Baptized Holiness Church. In recent times the church relocated to 923 South 8th Street, near the corner of South 8th and Cherry Street.
Jesthroe Hunt was still living at 340 Pine Street as late as 2002. He passed away on October 9, 2005, at the age of 85.
Clare Street, a small street that runs between Pine and Division Streets adjacent to his home at 340 Pine, was renamed Jesthroe Hunt Sr. Way by the City of Camden in his memory after his passing.
Photos
Jesthroe Hunt, Camden Fire Department
January 1939 Woodrow Wilson High School Yearbook
JESTHROE HUNT 827 South Fifth Street | Hatch Junior High
“Jay”
“Jay” is the clown of the class. His clever, witty remarks have given us many laughs. “Jay” made good on our field team. His many friends enjoy him for his pleasant, witty company. “Jay” rates high, both in studies and in sports, with an emphasis on the sports. “Jay” has proven that he can succeed in any undertaking in school as well as outside activities.
Intramural Football (1, 2); Intramural Basketball (1, 2, 3); Track (2,3); Biffo Club (1, 2); Intramural Baseball (2, 3); Intramural Soccer (2, 3); Open House (1, 2).
JESTHROE HUNT
827 South Fifth Street — Hatch Junior High
“Jay”
“Jay” is the clown of the class. His clever, witty remarks have given us many laughs. “Jay” made good on our field team. His many friends enjoy him for his pleasant, witty company. “Jay” rates high, both in studies and in sports, with an emphasis on the sports. “Jay” has proven that he can succeed in any undertaking in school as well as outside activities.
Intramural Football (1, 2); Intramural Basketball (1, 2, 3); Track (2,3); Biffo Club (1, 2); Intramural Baseball (2, 3); Intramural Soccer (2, 3); Open House (1, 2).
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Thirty-seven candidates have passed the Civil Service test for fireman in the Camden City fire department. Thirty-two of those who qualified are former service men and three of them, disabled veterans, were placed at the top of the list under the preference given by law.
Joseph T. Hackett, of 158 Branch Village, is listed first, Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue, second and August L. Johnson, 916½ Chestnut street, third.
The salary on Jan. 1 will begin at $2400 and reach a maximum of $3160 after four years.
Following is the complete list of those who qualified in the test:
Joseph T. Hackett, 158 Branch Village; Owen D. Gale, 320 Marlton avenue; August L. Johnson, 916 Chestnut street; Harry Sterling, 112 Ablett Village; Albert A. Stinger, 1423 Bradley avenue; Jesthroe Hunt, 753 Walnut street; Harold H. Pike, 429 Penn street; Roy R. Moffa, 216 Morse street; Allen F. Hess, 2733 Sherman avenue; Franklin W. Whylings, 602 North Thirty-second street; William L. Gosnell, 3303 Crescent drive; David W. Humphries, 3017 Mickle street; William G. Winstanley, 510 Penn street; Joshua H. Robinson, 1934 Kossuth street; Henry S. Keubler, 936 Broadway; Adolph S. Zubrzycki, 1223 South Tenth street; Ralph H. Palmer, 585 Mickle street; Alexander P. Matis, 903 Haddon avenue; Earl G. Robinson, 1036 Penn street; Anthony J. DiMaggio, 530 South Eighth street; Earl A. Smith Sr., 201 Biedeman avenue; Philip J. MacDonald, 123 North Eleventh street; Robert P. Olesiewicz, 321 Mt. Vernon street; Eugene E. Demers, 2034 High street; Chester J. Gedrich, 1154 Thurman street; John F. Chudzinski, 1043 Thurman street; Samuel D. Siniscalki, 803 Line street; Santo DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; Ludwig Polniak, 471 Pfeiffer street; George P. Baxter, 817 Howard street; Ralph F. Schaffer, Canterbury apartments; Joseph J. McTaggart, 3135 Waldorf avenue; Louis J. Monahan, Canterbury apartments; John DiMaggio, 319 Beckett street; William N. Stone Jr., 950 Vine street; Casper J. Martelli, 220 Mt. Vernon street; and H. Raymond Dixon, 439 Trenton avenue.
5 Cops, 4 Firemen, All War 2 Vets Named by Aaron
Camden Courier-Post —
Replacements Listed For 8 on Pensions, One Resignation
Director of Public Safety Aaron this faternoon [sic] announced the appointment of five new patrolmen and four new firemen. All are War II veterans.
The police are:
James R. Styles, 27, of 3013 Essex street; William B. Reeves Jr., 24, of 431 Chestnut street; Louis E. Walls Jr., 29, of 777 Spruce street; Edward Fulton, 29, of 342 North Tenth street; and Joseph A. Snajkowski, 29, of 1334 Dayton street.
The firemen are:
August L. Johnson, 31, of 916½ Chestnut street; Owen D. Gale, 29, of 312 Marlton avenue; Albert A. Stinger, 25, of 47 North Twenty-fifth street; and Jestroe Hunt, 29, of 753 Walnut street.
All the men will receive $2400 a year and will report for duty September 1. The new firemen will replace four men who have been retired on pension. Four of the new patrolmen will replace men who have been retired on pension, and the fifth replaces a member of the department who has resigned to accept another position.
Nine Safety Aides Sworn by Aaron
Camden Courier-Post —
Five recently-appointed policemen and four firemen were sworn in today by Public Safety Commissioner Aaron in his City Hall office.
The nine men, all veterans of War II, will report for duty in the $2400-a-year posts on Sept. 1. Four of the rookie policemen replace men retired on pension and the fifth fills the job of a department member who resigned to take another position. All four new firemen replace pensioners.
The policemen are James R. Styles, 27, 3013 Essex street; William B. Reeves Jr., 24, 431 Chestnut street; Louis E. Walls Jr., 29, 777 Spruce street; Edward Fulton, 29, 342 N. Tenth street; and Joseph A. Snajkowski, 29, 1334 Dayton street.
The firemen are August L. Johnson, 31, 916½ Chestnut street; Owen D. Gale, 29, 312 Marlton avenue; Albert A. Stinger, 25, 47 North Twenty-fifth street; and Jestroe Hunt, 29, 753 Walnut street.
Engine Company 1 with Hose Wagon, 1953
Engine Company 1 with Hose Wagon at front of quarters, 1953. From left: Fireman Jesthroe Hunt, Fireman Charles Davis, Fireman Eugene Alston, Captain Jesse Jones, Fireman Charles Cooke.
Roll Call at Engine Company 1, September 1954
September 1954—Roll Call at Engine Company 1’s old quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden on the occasion of Fireman Charlie Cook’s retirement following his last tour of duty. From left: Firemen Andrew Robinson, Eugene Alston, Theodore Primas, Charles Davis, Captain Jesse Jones presenting wrist watch, Firemen Jesthroe Hunt, Samuel Fisher, Charles Cooke, Orville Goldsboro, Captain Raymond Amos, Fireman Alfred Greene.
Camden Division of Fire Personnel Record
Name in Full: Jesthroe Hunt Address: 340 Pine St. Age: 30 | Citizen: Yes | Color: N | Sex: M Date of Birth: Aug. 3, 1920 Born in City of: Conway | State: So. Carolina Name of Parents: Benjamin & Ella Marital Conditions: Married Date of Appointment: Sept. 1, 1950 Title of Position: Fireman High School Graduate: Yes Pension - 9-1-81 Deceased: 10-9-05
Death Notice
Camden Courier-Post —
HUNT, JESTHROE SR. Of Camden, on 10/9/05 85yrs. View 9-11am Mon. @St. Peter’s FBH Church 5701 Vine St. Phila, Svc @11am Carl Miller Funeral Home
Hunt Sr., Jesthroe
Camden Courier-Post —
HUNT SR., JESTHROE Of Camden, NJ passed away on October 9, 2005. He was 85 years old. Jesthroe Hunt was one of the first black firemen of the Camden City Fire Department stationed at Company #1, 4th & Pine St. He joined the fire department Sept. 1, 1950, serving for 31 years until his retirement on Sept. 1, 1981. He served his country on the battlefield in World War II in the US Army and he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was a director of the South Camden Recreation Department. He served as coach and board member of the South Camden Little League for many years. He was the co-founder of the Home Sanitation Services. He served as a deacon of the Fire Baptized Holiness Church of God of the Americas.
He was the precious husband of Jeanette L. M. Hunt, father of Jesse Hunt Jr., Jeanette Hunt, Darlene Hunt Johnson, and Shirley Hunt, one daughter-in-law Jacqueline Hunt, one son-in-law Arnet Johnson, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the viewing on Sunday October 16, 2-8 p.m. at the CARL MILLER FUNERAL HOME, 831 Carl Miller Blvd., Camden, NJ 08104. Funeral services will be held Monday, October 17, at St. Peters FBH Church, 5701 Vine St., Phila, PA. Viewing will be held from 9-11 a.m. and services will begin at 11 a.m. Interment, Harleigh Cemetery, Camden, New Jersey.