Introduction
Laurence W. Newton was born in what was then Stockton Township, New Jersey during the month of April, 1896 to Charles B. and Emma Newton. Stockton Township, which comprised present-day East Camden and Cramer Hill, was united with Camden in 1899, and the street on which the Newton family lived, Sherman Avenue lay in Cramer Hill. Charles Newton had been living in Stockton Township as far back as 1870, had been living in the neighborhood as far back as 1887, and in the home, 2833 Sherman Avenue, as early as 1890. When the census was taken in 1900 the Newton family, which then included older brother Harry Newton and sisters Gertrude and Mary Newton, made their home at 2833 Sherman Avenue in Cramer Hill. Charles B. Newton had worked as a carpenter, then worked as a car builder, and would later be employed as a teamster. There was another Newton sibling then not living at home.
Laurence W. Newton does not appear in the 1914 Camden City Directory, however, by 1917, when he registered for the draft, he had found work as a teamster at the Gately & Hurley Department Store at Broadway and Pine Streets. He was then married and residing with his wife Edith at 2816 Howell Street in East Camden, just across the tracks from his parents home on Sherman Avenue.
By 1924 Laurence and Edith Newton had moved to 2833 Sherman Avenue, the home of his parents. By this time he was working as a member of the Camden Fire Department. The 1929 Camden City Directory shows that they had moved to 927 Beideman Avenue in Cramer Hill, and that Edith Newton was also working as a clerk at the Stockton Coal Company at North 27th and Pleasant Streets in East Camden. The 1930 Census shows that this was still the case in April of that year, and that their son, Joseph, then 14, was still living at home.
Laurence Newton rose through the ranks of the Camden Fire Department and by the early 1940s was serving as a Battalion Chief, based out of the Engine Company 3 firehouse at 1813 Broadway. By 1942 the family had moved back to 2833 Sherman Avenue in Cramer Hill.
Fire Service and Heroic Actions
On Saturday, November 22nd, an elderly woman burned to death in a hot, vicious fire at Front and Danenhower Streets, North Camden; and on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, a spectacular third alarm destroyed the Adams Furniture Warehouse at Locust Street and Kaighn Avenue, South Camden. At 3:45 A.M. a milkman discovered the fire and flagged down a passing police car who sounded the alarm. 3rd Battalion Chief Laurence Newton as the first arriving unit, found heavy fire gaining headway in the building and quickly transmitted a second alarm. Chief of Department Lennox would transmit a third alarm and while the warehouse was heavily damaged, firemen prevented the blaze from extending to nearby dwellings.
Fear of enemy air raids in 1942 spawned a number of Federal Decrees regulating public conduct in the event of air raid warnings. One new Federal Regulation prohibited fire apparatus from using sirens in response to alarms. Under war-time regulations, sirens would be reserved exclusively for air raid warnings.
The use of audible warning devices by fire apparatus was restricted to bells only. The burden to both fire fighters and the public safety was formidable. On March 1, 1942, the inevitable happened. Engine Company 8 while responding to an alarm was involved in a collision with a ten ton truck at Third Street and Kaighn Avenue. Upon impact all of the firemen were thrown into the street. The truck driver declared that he failed to hear the bells of the approaching apparatus. The mishap resulted in injuries to six members and total destruction of the apparatus. Captain Alvin Thompson was listed in critical condition, while Firemen Mitchell Wojtkowiak, Philip Farrow, Leonard Oshushek, Lawrence Boulton and Edwin Robbins were admitted for lesser injuries. Battalion Chief Newton stated that he believed the accident might have been avoided if fire companies were not prohibited from using sirens.
The headlines of the Courier Post for March 24, 1942, read “Six Flee As Heroic Fire Chief Shuts Gas Off Amid Flames.” A second alarm for Constitution and Argus Roads, Fairview, was transmitted for a fire in two dwellings. Chief Lawrence Newton of the 3rd Battalion was credited with preventing a potential “conflagration” when he dashed into a burning building and turned off a leaking gas pipe that was feeding the flames. This action of course, by Department standards was little more than routine, but to the media and citizens at the scene of the fire, Chief Newton was deserving of remarkable praise.
On the morning of February 8th, the dispatcher struck the Box for a reported building at Sixth and Van Hook Streets, South Camden. Arriving first due, 3rd Battalion Chief Lawrence Newton was greeted in the street by a hysterical woman screaming that her baby was trapped on the second floor. The Chief bounded into the building and made his way up the smoke filled stairway. He pushed into a rear bedroom off the stairs and found the child in its crib, the adjoining bed ablaze with fire lapping up the walls. Chief Newton carried the boy to safety just as the first due engine was arriving. 3rd Battalion Aide, Fireman Anthony Valentine, placed the child in the chief s car and rushed him to West Jersey Hospital where he was treated for bums and serious smoke inhalation.
Laurence and Edith Newton and their son Joseph appear in the 1943 Camden City Directory, still residing at 2833 Sherman Avenue. Laurence Newton passed away on June 18, 1946 and was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Older brother Harry Newton had a long career with the Camden Police Department
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New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
Named: Hose & Chemical Co. 2, Laurence Newton, Edward Hauser, and William Getner.
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
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 8 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 resective [sic] shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browninw [sic] 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. Loring, 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.
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 Schriber, 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 P. 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 —
‘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 [sic] 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.
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Gravestone
Lester Store Razed By $100,000 Fire
Camden Courier-Post —
Flames on Broadway Are Subdued After Seven-Hour Battle
The clothing and jewelry store of S. Lester, at 713 Broadway, was destroyed by fire of undetermined origin following an explosion late Saturday night.
Eight companies fought the two-alarm fire for seven hours and succeeded in saving adjoining buildings in the block which were threatened by the roaring flames. An invalid woman was carried to safety. Two other persons fled to the street. One fireman was injured.
Damage was estimated at $100,000 by A. Lee Newman, manager. S. Lester, proprietor, returned from Florida yesterday to learn of the misfortune.
Fire Chief John H. Lennox today said the cause of the fire probably never will be known.
“All we know is that it started on the first floor,” Chief Lennox said. “The basement was all right so it was not the heating system that caused it.
“The store was closed at 10.25 p. m. What happened between then and 11.24, when the first alarm came in, we’ll probably never know, except that there was an explosion. So aflame was the building when firemen arrived that it was impossible to trace the fire’s origin.”
Three Explosions
The fire started in the building at 11.18 p.m., the time being fixed by an automatic alarm system. Sheets of flame shot through the first and second floor windows just as the audience was leaving the last show of the Towers Theatre across the street.
Alarms were turned in by three persons. A boy ran into the drug store of Theodore Ellis, at Broadway and Pine street; a pedestrian ran to the firehouse of Engine Company No. 1, at Fourth and Pine streets, and an alarm was sounded by an employe of a private watchman service summoned by breaking of an electric circuit by the explosion.
Engine Co. 1, 2 and 8 and Truck Co. No. 1 answered the first alarm under Acting Deputy Fire Chief William Van Pfefferle, who turned in the second alarm, bringing Engine Co. 3, 6 and 7 and Truck Co. No. 2, together with Fire Chief Lennox and Police Chief George Frost.
Part of the roof fell in shortly after 2 a.m., according to the report of Acting Battalion Chief Laurence Newton.
It was 6.30 a.m. yesterday before the last of the firemen pulled away. During the seven hours traffic was routed off Broadway. Southbound traffic was sent down Fifth street, northbound traffic up Sixth street, diversion points being Royden and Spruce streets.
Some damage was done to the roof and smoke and water did other damage to the Gray Hat Shop at 717 Broadway. Carl Schwartz and his wife, Fay, proprietor of the hat shop, were forced to flee from their apartment above their store.
Mrs. Catherine Burrichter, an invalid living in a two-story house at 711 Broadway, was carried out by firemen. The roof of the Burrichter home was slightly damaged by fire, while smoke and water poured through the house.
Hoseman Stephan Szwack, 37, of 1234 Dayton street, attached to Engine Co. No. 8, suffered a cut on the left hand while fighting the fire. He was treated at West Jersey Hospital.
Crowds were attracted to the scene by the explosions and the flames.
Lester was met in Philadelphia by Newman as he returned from Florida yesterday, and told what had happened.
To Open Temporary Store
Lester said a temporary store will be opened within a few days while a new store is being built. Collection records and account books were saved by their steel containers, Lester explained, and were moved to the office of Dr. Benjamin W. Kauffman at 706 Broadway.
“I am glad the explosions and fire did not occur until after 11 o’clock,” Lester said. “At that time the store was closed, so no customers or employees could be injured.”
Lester had been in business at 713 Broadway since 1935. His first Broadway store was opened at 936 Broadway in 1928.
The proprietor immediately took charge of salvaging unharmed merchandise, moving of records, search for a temporary store location and outlining plans for a new building with an architect.
“We shall start at once to construct the finest store in South Jersey,” Lester said. “Our temporary store will be open with new merchandise for the Easter season.”