Introduction
Joseph H. Arensberg, Camden Fire Department.
Joseph Arensberg was born in Camden, New Jersey on November 22, 1936. His father, Alfred “Jake” Arensberg, was a founding member of the Cramer Hill Boys Club.
The Arensberg family had moved to Cramer Hill from Philadelphia in the late 1900s, taking up residence at 2737 Arthur Avenue, where they resided into the late 1940s. Alfred “Jake” Arensberg and his wife, the former Florence Marlowe, had moved to 874 Beideman Avenue by 1943, where they remained for many years. The family eventually included three other children, Bonnie, Richard, and Alan.
Joseph Arensberg joined the Camden Fire Department in January of 1961. The following November, his wife Patricia bore a son, Douglas. The Arensberg family included four other children, Joseph, Diane, Steven, and Patti.
Joseph Arensberg’s career with the Camden Fire Department began at Engine Company 11 on North 27th Street in Cramer Hill. In 1968 he was promoted to Captain. He served the City of Camden for 20 more years, his career taking him to Engine Company 2 and Engine Company 7 before returning to where it began at Engine Company 11. Captain Arensberg retired after over 27 years service on February 1, 1988.
Joseph Arensberg and his family moved from Camden to Maple Shade, New Jersey in 1973. Sadly, Douglas Arensberg, who worked for the Camden Fire Department in the Apparatus Shop on Wright Avenue, passed away on January 22, 1996.
A New Class of Probies
Recruit Firemen Clarence Hawkins, Joseph Arensberg, Jerise Garten Sr., Richard Brooks, Walter Williams, Commissioner Edward Garrity and Chief of Department Edward MacDowell
Flames Rake Warehouse in East Camden
Camden Courier-Post —
A two-alarm fire raged out of control in an East Camden warehouse for an hour Thursday night.
The warehouse, at 14 S. 35th st., an L-shaped annex to the Cartun Hardware Store, 36th and Federal sts., was formerly a feed store and is now used to store paints, plumbing supplies and other merchandise.
Irving Cartun of 2601 Parkway, Philadelphia, proprietor, reported that the warehouse inventory was valued at an estimated $15,000. Cartun said he had not yet determined the extent of his loss.
According to Cartun, there were 10,000 to 12,000 gallons of paint stored in one-gallon cans in the warehouse.
Fireman Injured
Joseph H. Arensberg, 25, of 1041 N. 32nd st., a hoseman with Engine Company 11, was injured slightly when a door in the flaming warehouse fell on his leg. He was treated at Cooper Hospital.
Robert D. Halsey, 23, of 41 N. 36th st., a clerk in the store, and Capt. Otto Kaiser of Engine Company 11 assisted Arensberg from the scene.
The fire was discovered because of an experiment linking traditional Christmas caroling with electronic gadgetry.
James E. Wright of 17 S. 35th st., his son James Jr., 14, Mrs. Coleman Rosenberg of 16 S. 35th st., and her daughter, Merle, 12, were standing outside their homes listening to recorded Christmas carols through an outdoor amplifier system that the elder Wright had rigged.
They saw smoke billowing from the one and a half story frame and shingle warehouse and the younger Wright sounded a box alarm at about 8 p.m.
Second Alarm Sounded
Engine Companies 9 and 11 and Truck Company 3 answered the call. At 8:28 p.m., a second alarm was sounded bringing Deputy Fire Chief Harry Wagner, Engine Companies 2 and 7, Truck Company 1, and Rescue Squad 1 to the scene.
The fire was declared under control at 9 p.m. and extinguished at 9:15 p.m.
Firemen were hampered in reaching the blaze by a corrugated tin ceiling which separated the main floor of the warehouse from the half floor or attic section, where the fire raged at its worst.
Flames burst through the outside wall and roof of the warehouse, when firemen chopped holes there in order to get a hose into the blazing attic.
Sparks Shower Roofs
Sparks showered the rooftops of the homes of Mrs. Rosenberg and her sister Mrs. Calvin Miller of 18 S. 35th st.
Police had already evacuated Mrs. Miller and her three children Robin, 9, Wendy, 7, and Elyse, 5.
According to police Robin refused to leave her house until her pet cat “Snoozy” was found. “Snoozy” was located hiding under a sofa.
The fire was confined, however, to the warehouse.
Wall Blocks Flames
A fire door between the warehouse and the store prevented the fire from spreading into the store. However the intense smoke drove several customers into the street.
Pennsauken residents reported that smoke from the blaze penetrated their homes, almost a mile away.
A major traffic tie-up was averted when cars were detoured off Federal st. at 34th and 37th sts.
Major William Gwynne of the Volunteers of America was at the scene serving coffee and doughnuts to the firefighters.
Police, Fire Tests Take Heavy Toll
Camden Courier-Post —
Trenton—The high rate of failures on police and fire examinations was repeated yesterday in the Civil Service Department’s announcement of the results of tests for fire captain and patrolman in Camden City.
In the captain’s test, 23 passed, 64 failed and two did not show up for the test. In the test for patrolman, 10 passed, 32 failed and 14 failed to show. In the non-residents’ test for Camden patrolman, six passed, eight failed and five did not appear.
In the fire captain’s test, Kenneth M. Clark of 111 North 26th St., Camden, a veteran, qualified with a score of 92.6, highest for the seven veterans who qualified. Joseph R. Gfrorer of 3040 N. Constitution Road, Camden, was highest of applicants with a score of 96.5.
Others who passed the fire captain’s test were: George D. Getty of 1111 N. 34 St., 95.4; John DiMaggio of 319 Beckett St., 94; Joseph J. Anderson of 2406 Denfield St., 92.96; Phillip A. Maycott of 2836 Lincoln Ave., 90.5; James McMaster of 402 N. 37th St., 90.2; William D. Hillman of 3071 Constitution Rd., 89.4; Joseph Arensberg of 1041 N. 32nd St., 88.3; Robert E. Briggs of 2861 Congress Road, veteran, 86.3; John S. Brzozowski of 371 N. 34th St., 86.2; Edmund F. Gorczynski of 272 N. 33rd St., veteran, 85.4; Anthony F. Orme of 3317 River Ave., veteran, 82.4; William J. Young of 1126 N. 33rd St., 80.5; William D. Ayers of 2846 Pierce Ave., veteran, 79.1; Joseph Dowhy Sr., of 866 Beideman Ave., veteran, 78.9; James O. Jones of 3214 Mitchell St., 78.3; Joseph Chelhowski of 1324 Sheridan St., veteran, 75.8; James T. Robinson of 504 Trenton Ave., 75.5; Anthony D. Moffa of 23 Leonard Ave., 73.3; Robert E. Davenport of 1026 Reeves Ave., 73; John F. Gaffney Jr., of 78 S. Dudley St., 72.8, and Albert E. Collum Jr., of 2409 Howell St., 72.6.
Patrolman (residents) who passed: Joseph A. Fox of 2117 Mount Ephraim Ave., 77.1; Charles W. Cahilly 2d of 2015 Westminster Ave., 75; Edward B. Bush of 3210 Mitchell St., 78.9; John F. Oppmann of 550 N. 30th St., 77.7; Gary E. Miller of 486-A Rand St., 77.4; Donald J. Tymusczuk of 2737 Concord Ave., 75.1; Joseph A. Broccoli of 1467 Pershing St., 74.2; Richard W. Merta of 1641 Pulaski St., 72.9, and Robert G. Gibson of 572 Clinton St., 72.6.
Patrolman (nonresidents) who passed: Flem J. Hopkins Jr., 78; Elwood L. Ridge, 75.4; Joseph E. Benton, 74.7; David Vautier Jr., 74.1, and Frank R. Pedano, 73.8.
25 Firemen Finish Training
Camden Courier-Post —
In a move aimed at staffing the Camden Fire Department for a new 42-hour work week, 25 probationary firemen will be graduated from the city fire academy Monday and 10 fire officers will be given promotions Tuesday.
Heading the list of fire officer promotions will be the selection of Battalion Chief Anthony C. Saponare, 51, of 117 S. 27th Street, Camden, as deputy fire chief. The new deputy chief is a 26-year veteran on the city fire force.
Two fire captains to be promoted to battalion chief are Matthew J. Davies Jr., 36, of 2819 Carman Street, Camden, and James H. Stewart, 54, of 317 Garden Avenue, Camden.
Seven firemen to be named captains include William D. Hillman, 29, of 11 Crestfair Apartments, Camden; Joseph H. Arensberg, 32, of 1041 N. 32nd Street, Camden; Robert E. Briggs, 48, of 2861 Congress Road, Camden; and John Brzozowski, 28, 371 N. 34th Street, Camden.
Also to be named captains are Edmund F. Gorczynski, 36, of 272 N. 33rd Street, Camden; Anthony T. Orme, 44, 3317 River Road, Camden; and William B. Young, 29, of 1126 N. 33rd Street, Camden.
The new firemen include Richard E. Johnson, Thomas H. Eckel, Ronald C. Crowder, John A. DeLuca, Peter P. Carbone, Robert P. Hand, Robert M. Lapp, Jerome A. Kee, Thomas V. Kane, Charles E. Mayo, James C. Peterson and George S. Szychulski, all of Camden.
Other slated fire school graduates are Ronald Angemi, Robert C. Welch, Robert G. Boyle, Glenn H. Moore, Marvin W. Bendy, Thomas J. DiBiaso, Arthur J. Gibson, Daniel J. Galasso, Samuel Battle Jr., Ronald J. Boyle, Jerome J. Watson, George R. Abbey, 3rd., and William H. Huelas, all of Camden.
The appointments of all 35 men become effective Jan. 1, 1969.