John Gaylor
JOHN GAYLOR was born John Zawojski in Camden on January 25, 1896 to John and Emma Zawojski. The 1900 Census shows the family, which included older brother Frank, at 1256 Sycamore Street in Camden. When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 he was living at 1204 Sycamore Street. He had been working as a teamster but was unemployed at the time. He married soon afterwards. John Zawojski appears to have anglicized his name to Gaylor shortly afterwards. Although he is listed as Zawojski in the 1930 Census and on his 1942 draft card, City Directories from 1942 forward carry the Gaylor surname.
John Gaylor was appointed to the Camden Fire department on November 16, 1920 and reported for duty on January 21, 1921. By 1924 he was making his home with his wife Elizabeth and daughter Marie at 1256 Sycamore Street. Among his assignments during his career as a fire fighter in Camden was time spent at Ladder Company No. 2 at 619 Kaighn Avenue in South Camden. When he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942 he was still at the Sycamore Street address.
John Gaylor died at home on August 20, 1951. He was survived by his wife, daughters Marie, Renee, and Sandra, and a son Donald.
World War 1 Draft Card
World War 1 Draft Registration Card — John Zawojski, June 5, 1917. Registered at Camden, New Jersey. Occupation: Team Driver.
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
Camden Post-Telegram —
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
Double Shift System Becomes Effective at 8 O’clock on Saturday Morning
One Ten Hours; Other 14 Hours
Saturday morning at 8 o’clock the two-platoon system of the Fire Department becomes effective. At that hour the first shift will go on duty and remain until 6 p. m., when the second squad goes on, remaining until 8 a. m. That will be the procedure in the department henceforth, the schedule being so arranged that every third day there will be a 24-hour shift to let the other off. Every man will have 24 hours off every sixth day.
The arrangements were completed last night at a meeting of Council’s Fire Committee, when assignments were made of the fifty-six recent appointees to the department. With Chief Carter at headquarters will be stationed in reserve shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browning will be stationed with their shifts at No. 3 engine house.
At last night’s meeting Congressman F. F. Patterson, Jr., Mayor Charles H. Ellis, President of Council David Jester and Chairman of the Fire Committee Joseph Forsyth made addresses in which they all spoke appreciatively of the fire-fighting force and offered their congratulations to the men in getting what they had sought after many years of effort. Chief Carter was particularly praised for the efficient manner in which he has developed the department. The chief also spoke, thanking the representatives of the city in behalf of the men for the boon given them in the two-platoon system, which means the fire fighters will be able to spend more time with their families.
Everything has been worked out to the least detail and it is anticipated the new system will work without any difficulties.
The assignment of the new men to the various companies follow:
Engine Company No. 1—Alfred E. Green, Charles Errickson, Charles Cook, Leroy Hatchett.
Engine Company No. 2—Howard Lamdon, Edgar Ellander, John K. Voll, Harold E. Lorang, Chester J. Andreas, Harry G. Layton.
Engine Company No. 3—Charles Haines, August Haverkamp, Louis Quinton, Chas. S. Clements, Frank Kuda.
Engine Company No. 4—Frank A. Obermann, Walter P. Gray, Albert Ruber, Fred Schucker, Harry Kleinfelder.
Engine Company No. 5—Richard A. Ferris, Frank Fennrio.
Engine Company No. 6—William H. Reed, Manuel J. Kane, Edward Perairia, Thomas Shanahan, Rocco di Varino.
Engine Company No. 7—August Scholl, Lawrence H. Matthews, Nicholas Romain.
Engine Company No. 8—Adam Mead, Frank Sapp, William J. Taylor, William Wood, Samuel Oshushek, Edward C. Crane.
Engine Company No. 9—Keenard Naylor, Daniel McSurdy, John Mohofeld.
Engine Company No. 10—William Swarts, Hugh Rementer, Harry Greenan, Rocco Abbott.
Hose and Chemical Company No. 2—Lawrence Newton, Edward Hauser, William Getner.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1—Tom Cunningham, Leonard Magee.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 2—John Gaylor, Walter G. White.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 3—David Ellis, George A. Addison, John Mulligan, David Humphreys, Albert Dukes.
Hook and Ladder Company No. 4—George A. Quimby.
Chief’s driver—Tenny G. Hutchinson.
World War 2 Draft Card
World War 2 Draft Registration Card — John Zawojski (John Gaylor), 1256 Sycamore Street, Camden, N.J. Occupation: City of Camden, Fireman.
Fire Personnel Record
Camden Fire Department personnel card — John Gaylor, Badge No. 153, Truck Company No. 2. Appointed November 18, 1920. Reported for duty January 1, 1921.