John T. Clemmens

JOHN T. CLEMMENS was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 21, 1908 to John and Lillian Clemmens. The 1920 Census found the Clemmens family, which included sisters May, Winifred, Ruth, and Dorothy, living in Laurel Springs, New Jersey. The elder Clemmens worked as a shipyard inspector.

John T. Clemmens wed at an early age. When the Census was taken in April of 1930 he was living with his wife Bertha and son John in Audubon, New Jersey. He was then working as a bread salesman.

John T. Clemmens was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on September 10, 1941. He reported for duty at Engine Company 10 on September 16; however, on September 22 he was reassigned to Engine Company 9 in East Camden. On October 1, 1944 he was transferred to Ladder Company 3, which operated then as today out of the firehouse at Federal and North 27th Street. On September 22, 1946 he was again transferred, this time to Engine Company 11 in Cramer Hill, where he spent the rest of his career.

The 1947 Camden City Directory shows John and Bertha Clemmens living at 360 South 27th Street in East Camden. By 1956 they had moved to 933 North 36th Street in Cramer Hill.

John T. Clemmens retired on pension on February 1, 1965. As he is not listed in the 1970 and 1977 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directories, it would appear that he moved away from Camden after his retirement.

Last a resident of Voorhees Township, New Jersey, he passed away on June 18, 1985, survived by his wife and son. Bertha Clemmens joined her husband in 1996.

Toastmaster: Charles B. Gindele, Captain, Philadelphia Fire Department

Guest Speakers: Hon. William T. Cahill, U.S. Congressman; Hon. Alfred R. Pierce, Mayor, City of Camden; Keith Kauffman, Director of Public Safety; Edward V. Michalak, Chief, Division of Fire

Chaplain: Rev. W. A. Gwynne, Volunteers of America

In Memoriam: E. R. MacDowell, Chief of Department; Howard W. Ways, #8 Engine Company

First Annual Retirement Dinner — City of Camden Fire Department — Tuesday, May 3, 1966 — 6:30 P.M. — Schillig’s Black Horse Farms, Mt. Ephraim — Sponsored by Camden Fire Officers Association

George L. Boone, Captain — Entered Department December 22, 1930 — Promoted to Captain April 8, 1948 — Retired December 1, 1965 — 35 Years of Service

Isaac Muns — Entered Department April 12, 1956 — Retired October 1, 1965 — 9 Years Service

John C. Voll — Entered Department January 15, 1925 — Retired December 1, 1965 — 40 Years Service

John T. Clemmens — Entered Department September 10, 1941 — Retired January 1, 1965 — 25 Years Service

Harrison B. Pike — Entered Department May 29, 1924 — Retired August 1, 1965 — 41 Years Service

Albert A. Weller, Captain — Entered Department November 21, 1938 — Promoted to Captain June 16, 1951 — Retired May 1, 1965 — 27 Years Service

Austin E. Marks, District Chief — Entered Department November 25, 1938 — Promoted to Captain April 8, 1948 — Promoted to District Chief November 1, 1953 — Retired August 1, 1965 — 27 Years Service

Edward Y. Scott — Entered Department November 17, 1938 — Retired February 1, 1965 — 27 Years Service

John W. Yates — Entered Department February 1, 1930 — Retired May 1, 1965 — 35 Years Service