Introduction
Peter Laird was born in Pennsylvania on September 1, 1883 to Peter and Zilla Laird. The family moved to Camden in the early 1890s, and were living at 1235 Liberty Street when the Census was taken in 1900. When the Census was taken, the elder Laird was working at a sugar refinery, and Peter Laird and his older brother John were working at a leather factory. There were three younger sisters at home, Henrietta, Jill, and Doris. Two other children had not survived.
Around 1905 Peter Laird married Amelia Bleidorn, daughter of George Bleidorn, who owned a farm near Walnut Street in what is now the Parkside section of Camden. A son Peter Jr., was born in the spring of 1907 but died at the age of six months from cholera. Another son, George, was born the following year.
The Lairds and their two year-old son George were living with Amelia’s parents on the farm when the Census was taken in 1910. Peter Laird was then working as a stoker at a leather factory, at that time referred to as a morocco works.
By the summer of 1918 the Lairds had moved to 1414 Haddon Avenue. Peter Laird had taken a job as a helper in the boiler shop at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard at Broadway and Morgan Street. By the end of the year he had taken a job as a turnkey at the Camden County jail.
When the 1927 Camden City Directory was compiled, Peter Laird had already been appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He and Amelia Laird were living in a house the owned at 1342 Lansdowne Avenue. The Lairds were still there when the Census was enumerated in April of 1930. Son George, then 22 was still at home, and three Bleidorn relatives, Harry, William, and Elizabeth also resided there. George Laird and Harry Bleidorn worked together as tile setters. Both Harry and William were widowers, Elizabeth was the daughter of one of them. The Lairds remained at 1342 Lansdowne Avenue into 1940.
Peter Laird continued to served with the Camden Fire Department as late as the spring of 1942, when he again registered for the draft. Peter and Amelia Laird were then living at 1254 Park Boulevard. It is unclear as to exactly when Peter Laird left the Fire Department, but the 1943 City Directory indicates that he was no longer working when it was compiled, in late 1942. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows that they were still living at the Park Boulevard address. They were not listed in the October 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card for Peter Laird
Cops and Firemen in First Practice
Camden Courier —
Bluecoats and Ladder Climbers Get Ready for Field Day
MR. YOUNGER IN CHARGE
Firefighters Have Large Team of Athletes
Charles Younger, physical director of the Camden Y. M. C. A. and in charge of the candidates for the police and firemen teams which will compete in the first annual police and fire field day on September 19 at Forest Hill Park, sent his proteges through their stiffest workout of the season yesterday morning with several of the committee in attendance.
Plans were arranged between Younger and Captain Stehr, of the First district, to build a temporary track around the local high school’s gridiron. Meanwhile both the police and fire candidates will do their stuff under the watchful eye of Professor Younger on the the Forest Hill track, outside of the enclosed athletic field.
In a confab over the arrangement of the cinder track, Stehr suggested that a 100 and 220-yard straightaway be constructed on the west side of the field.
Joe Connell, of the Highway Department, also gave the field a once-over, as did Captains Golden and Humes. After the members of the committee had inspected the grounds, they witnessed the candidates going through the paces.
Archie Riess, who is in full charge of the “cops,” declared that but nineteen men would be candidates for his team, while Walter A. Merts [sic], of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager of the ladder-climbers, counted up twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, the first three in each event to qualify for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in one division and the firemen in the other. The bluecoats who will compete this Tuesday are as follows: Everett Joslin, Joseph McDonald, Vernon Jones, Frank Nelson, Bill Rogers, Harold Dunnit, John Bright, Edyard Callahan, Walter Larson, Gus Pfliderer, Clarence Phifer, Thomas Welch, Stanley Wirts, Charles Naylor, George Rothwell, Richard Donnelly, Lester Gleason and Joe Keefe.
The firemen who will also attempt to qualify on Tuesday include Fred Schucker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Layton, Edgar Ellender, August Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Foehle, Tom Shanahan, Harrison Pike, William Rudd, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Swartz, Nelson Fill, William Mourtvey, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Menzies, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, Clifford Hare, Nelson Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook the “Cops” seem to be coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats, they having beaten Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.
The tug-of- team of eight men will also be selected by the firemens’ leader. Mertz will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.
The Camden Motorcycle Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this performance, as but forty minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services free of charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Egg Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his teams have already performed in many eastern states. The “Camden Blue Devils,” as they are known, will furnish more thrills in the forty minutes than sport lovers have ever seen in this locality, according to Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and expert riding stunts. Those on his teams, there being four on each, are well known in riding circles, some of the best hill climbers and polo players being included in the personnel of the teams are as follows:
Blue Devils No. 1—Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisandanz, Edward Paul.
Blue Devils No. 2—Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.
World War II Draft Card
World War II Draft Registration Card for Peter Laird