Introduction
RAYMOND T. AMOS was born in Frankford, Delaware on December 28, 1905 to Albert and Catherine Amos. His father was a minister. The family had moved to Camden by the summer of 1910 and taken up residence at 1004 Central Avenue.
The family had moved to 825 Walnut Street in South Camden by January of 1920. Sadly, by this time, Albert Amos had passed away. Catherine Amos worked as a domestic to support her family, which then also included daughter Mildred and a grandchild, Elva.
Raymond T. Amos was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on May 14, 1937 and reported for duty with Engine Company 1 at 409 Pine Street on May 16. On April 1, 1948 Fireman Raymond Amos was the first black member promoted to the rank of Captain, followed some years later in 1954 by Captain Jesse Jones. Both members remained officers at Engine 1. Captain Amos would later request a transfer to Engine Company 8, South Camden but his Battalion Chief would not approve the transfer because of his high regard for the Captain’s management skills and the efficient standing of the company.
Captain Amos retired on a service connected disability pension on February 1, 1961. Fireman Hadley Pike was promoted to replace him as a Captain with Engine Company 1. In a 1994 interview with Captain Raymond Amos, then at age 90 the oldest surviving black member of the Department, Captain Amos clearly recalled the early years before the advent of Civil Service when politics was the sole basis for meaningful employment and in particular the principal means for entrance into the Department.
Captain Amos vividly recalled his role as the acting Company Officer of Engine 1 responding second due to the great Hollingshead Fire. Also during the week before Christmas 1959 while Engine Company 1 was operating at a Second Alarm for row frame buildings in the 400 block of Mechanic Street South Camden, a major collapse trapped Captain Amos and Fireman George Dixon under tons of debris. The Captain’s right leg was somehow wedged against his chest in a contortionist position. The Captain and Fireman Dixon were trapped for over two hours while Amos suffered a collapsed lung and cracked vertebrae. Fireman Gus Johnson also of Engine 1 suffered severe back injuries while attempting to lift and shore debris to free his Officer and brother member. Shortly before his retirement, Captain Amos also recalled his number one position on the promotional list for Battalion Chief and the City’s failure to appoint him.
The 1947 Camden City Directory shows that Raymond T. Amos was married. He and his wife Esther were living at the 825 Walnut Street home. Raymond T. Amos was still living at 825 Walnut Street when he retired from the Fire Department in 1961. By 1970 he had moved to 109 Thompson Avenue in Chesilhurst NJ. He passed away on November 4, 1995. Captain Amos was survived by his wife Esther Q. Amos, daughters Frieda Bentley of Chesilhurst, Catherine Shepherd of Albany GA, and Nellie Davis of Williamstown; and sons Raymond S. Amos of New Haven CT, John and Charles Amos of Chesilhurst.
Photos
Captain Raymond T. Amos
April 1948 — In the company office of Engine Company 1, South 4th & Pine Streets. (Seated) Captain Raymond Amos; (standing) Captain Jesse Jones.
Circa 1949 — Engine Company 1, wagon and pumper at front of quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden. From left: Firemen Alfred Green, Fred Henderson, Charles Cook, Leroy Hatchett, Robert Thomas, Andrew Robinson, James Richardson, Eugene Alston, James Clinton, Captains Jesse Jones and Raymond Amos.
September 1954 — Roll Call at the housewatch desk of Engine Company 1’s old quarters, South 4th & Pine Streets, South Camden on the occasion of Fireman Charlie Cook’s retirement following his last tour of duty. From left: Firemen Andrew Robinson, Eugene Alston, Theodore Primas, Charles Davis, Captain Jesse Jones presenting wrist watch, Firemen Jesthroe Hunt, Samuel Fisher, Charles Cook, Orville Goldsboro, Captain Raymond Amos, Fireman Alfred Green.
Fire department service record — Raymond T. Amos
Save Man, 88, In S. Camden Home Blaze
Camden Courier-Post —
A neighbor who ran several blocks Friday night when she saw smoke and flames brought firemen to rescue Samuel Liberetti, 88, of 606 Avon st., near West and Beckett sts.
Liberetti was trapped in the cellar by the flames on the stairway and was found by firemen lying semi-conscious on the floor.
August Johnson and Orville Goldsboro, of Engine Co. 1, donned oxygen masks and went into the home as Capt. Raymond Amos, of Engine Co. 1, wet them down and extinguished the flames on the stairs so the firemen could effect the rescue.
Liberetti was treated at Cooper Hospital for smoke inhalation. District Chief Edward McDowell said the flooring of the first floor, the cellar stairway and a large pile of lumber in the cellar were burned.
Mrs. Bertha Alemi, of 602 Avon st., was returning from shopping when she saw smoke and flames and heard shouts of help coming from the Liberetti home. She ran to the 4th and Pine sts. firehouse to sound the alarm. Liberetti’s daughter, Theresa, with whom he lives, was at work at the time of the blaze.
Engine Co. 2 and Truck Co. 1 came from headquarters with McDowell.
Four Firemen Suffer Hurts In Collision
Camden Courier-Post —
Four Camden firemen were among persons injured over the weekend in motor vehicle accidents on South Jersey roads.
The firemen were injured when their engine collided with a tractor-trailer at 2nd and Market sts. Saturday about 4.30 p.m. while they were on their way to answer an alarm which was false.
Admitted to Cooper Hospital with arm, hip and knee injuries was Orville Goldsboro, 33, of 1730 S. 9th st.
Released after treatment were August Johnson, 39, of 916½ Chestnut st., who suffered multiple bruises; Reginald Laws, 36, of 1453 Bradley ave., chest and back injuries, and Capt. Raymond Amos, 52, of 825 Washington st., leg injuries.
Intersection Crash
According to police, the fire apparatus, operated by James Clinton, was traveling north on 2nd st. and collided at the intersection with the tractor-trailer, driven by James E. Tarburton Jr., 32, of St. John’s dr., Wilmington, Dela. The impact of the crash tossed the firemen off the rear step of the fire truck, which was forced over a curb and along a sidewalk for about 35 feet. The vehicle sideswiped two parked cars and knocked down a parking meter.
Tarburton was charged with failure to yield the right of way to a fire apparatus. The false alarm was turned in from a box at Poynt and Erie sts.