Rocco Fanelli
Rocco Fanelli was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 3, 1894 to John and Catherine Fanelli. The family, which then included younger brothers Pietro and Matteo, lived in Philadelphia when the Census was taken in 1900. The Fanelli family moved to Camden at some point after the compilation of the 1914 Camden City Directory.
By June of 1917 the Fanellis were living at 320 Mount Vernon Street in South Camden. Rocco Fanelle registered for the draft on June 5, 1917. He was then working as a stock man at the Victor Talking Machine Company factory. Called to service, Rocco Fanelli was serving in the United States Army in the latter half of 1918. The 1920 Census shows him living with his widowed mother and brother Matteo (Matthew) Fanelli at 320 Mount Vernon Street. Rocco Fanelli had already been appointed to the Camden Fire Department when the Census was enumerated on January 20, 1920.
Rocco Fanelli married his wife Katherine around 1921. The 1924 Camden City Directory shows the family, which by then included a daughter, Rita Fanelli, at 917 South 4th Street. By 1927 a son, John Fanelli, had been born. The City Directory for that year shows the family at 323 Spruce Street. The Fanellis stayed at that address through at least 1931.
By the end of 1939 Rocco Fanelli and family had moved to 1302 Van Hook Street. He had also been promoted to the rank of Captain. Rocco Fanelli and his wife are listed in the 1943 Camden City Directory at the Van Hook Street address. He was still serving as a Captain with the Camden Fire Department. By 1947 Rocco Fanelli had left the Camden Fire Department. He had moved to 420 Wyoming Avenue in Audubon, New Jersey and was working as a foreman. The Fanelli family lived at this address as late as the fall of 1970. A resident of Audubon till his last days, Rocco Fanelli passed away in March of 1974.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Rocco Fanelli. Registered June 5, 1917. Address: 320 Mt. Vernon, Camden, NJ. Stock Man at Victor Talking Machine Co. Single. Precinct 7, 5th Ward.
Many Transfers of City Firemen
Camden Daily Courier —
Forces At Various Stations Changed By Most Recent Orders
16 GO TO FAIRVIEW HOUSE
Recent changes in the fire department announced have provided for the transfer of twenty men and the appointment of fourteen during the week to various fire houses in the city.
Sixteen of the men were transferred and given appointments to the two new companies formed to protect Fairview and Yorkship Village. The transfers and appointments went into effect Wednesday.
The following men received transfers and appointments to Engine Company 10, one of the new companies: Horace Cairns, captain; William Miller, lieutenant; Harry Selby, engineer; Charles Gaul, stoker; Spencer Smith, H. Walker, Rocco Fanelli and H. J. Zanders, hosemen.
Truck Company 4, the other new company, at Ninth and Morgan streets, received the following men: Mordecai Clark, captain; James McDermott, lieutenant; James Durkin, driver; Frank Burt, George C. Wade, Samuel Patton, William Reynolds and Harry Hallowell.
H. F. Ferrington and H. Bomgartel, new men, were appointed to Hook and Ladder Company 1, to fill the vacancies left by James McDermott and George C. Wade.
Go to Company No. 1
The following men received appointments to Engine Company 1: Walter Carter, George Henry Johnson, Lewis D. Stevens, Rocco Tribbett and Benjamin Walters. W. Scott Franklin was transferred from Company 9 to Engine Company 1 as lieutenant. George Cattell was transferred from Company 1 to Company 5 as stoker. Joseph Daley, of Company 5, was transferred to Engine Company 2 to fill the vacancy left by Harry Selby, who was transferred to Company 10.
Anthony Valentine and David Smith were transferred to Company 3, in place of William Miller and Charles Gaul, who were transferred to Company 10.
J. Lumbago was transferred to Company 7, in place of David Smith. George Pursglove and John Hunt were transferred to Company 8. Robert Gicks was transferred from Hose and Chemical Company 2 to Company 9, in place of William Reynolds, who was transferred to Company 10.
Nelson Till was appointed to the place left vacant by Robert Gicks, of Hose and Chemical Company 2. Herman Kreher was made lieutenant of Hose and Chemical Company 2.
World War II Draft Card
REGISTRATION CARD — (Men born on or after April 28, 1877 and on or before February 16, 1897) Serial Number: U 487
1. Name (Print): Rocco Fanelli 2. Place of Residence: 1302 Van Hook St., Camden, Camden, NJ 3. Mailing Address: Same 4. Telephone: No 5. Age in Years: 47 Date of Birth: May 3, 1894 6. Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pa. 7. Name and Address of Person Who Will Always Know Your Address: Mrs. Katherine Fanelli, 1302 Van Hook St., Camden, NJ 8. Employer’s Name and Address: City of Camden — Fire Dept. 9. Place of Employment or Business: Camden, Camden, NJ
Registrant’s signature: Rocco Fanelli D.S.S. Form 1 (Revised 4-1-42)