Thomas Cunningham
Thomas Cunningham was born in New Jersey on February 15, 1884. He married Ida Lang, the daughter of Richard and Elizabeth Lang, on May 18, 1902 at Kaighn Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.
The 1910 Census shows the Cunninghams living with widowed mother-in-law Elizabeth and brother-in-law Richard Lang Jr. at 316 Royden Street. They stayed there into 1912, then moved to 616 South 3rd Street, where they resided for at least 3 years. The 1917 City Directory has the family at 325 Beckett Street.
Thomas Cunningham was living at 325 Beckett Street in Camden with his wife, the former Ida Lang, and daughter Ida Cunningham in September of 1918 when he registered for the draft. He was then working as a truck driver in Gloucester City. When the Census was taken in January of 1920 he was working at a shipyard and living at 600 South 4th Street. His brother-in-law Richard Lang was living with him and his family at the time. By the end of the year they had moved to 320 Beckett Street. Directories from 1923 through 1927 have the Cunninghams at 307 Royden Street.
Thomas Cunningham was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on January 1, 1921. Sadly, tragedy dogged his path over the next few years. His daughter was killed in a fire in 1924. He took it badly, and in 1926 attempted suicide. His wife took ill and died in June of 1928. After her death he moved to 1626 Pierce Avenue in Cramer Hill. Thomas Cunningham resigned from the Fire Department in September of 1929. Two weeks later, he took his own life by jumping from the Delaware River Bridge.
World War I Draft Card
World War I Draft Registration Card — Thomas Cunningham, 325 Beckett Street, Camden, N.J. Truck driver for Mac Arthur Bros., Washington Park, Gloucester, N.J. Registered September 12, 1918.
New Firemen Assigned for Two Platoons
Camden Post-Telegram —
NEW FIREMEN ASSIGNED FOR TWO PLATOONS
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 6 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 reserve shifts Deputy Chiefs Nicholas and Patterson. Battalion Chiefs Wade and Browning 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. Lorang, 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.
Girl Seriously Burned When Iron Fires Dress
Camden Courier-Post —
Physicians See Slight Hope for Life of Young Victim of Accident
Her clothing set afire by a gas iron last night, Ida Cunningham, 16 years old, 307 Royden street, is in a critical condition at the Homeopathic Hospital. She was ironing clothes in her home before retiring when flames shot from the iron, setting fire to her dress.
Screaming as she ran through the house, the girl awakened her father, John Cunningham. He grabbed a rug and smothered the flames. The girl was badly burned on the face, hands and body.
Physicians at the hospital hold but faint hopes for the young woman’s recovery.
Ida S. Cunningham
Camden Courier-Post —
Ida S. Cunningham, wife of Thomas Cunningham, of 307 Royden street, died in the West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital Sunday night after an illness of six weeks. She was 40 years old at the time of her death. She had no children.
Funeral services will be held at her late home at 1 o’clock on Thursday afternoon. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday evening.
Bridge Plunge Kills Resigned City Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Every Bone in Cunningham’s Body Broken by Fall of 135 Feet
CYCLE OF TRAGEDIES WIPES OUT FAMILY
Daughter Fatally Burned, Wife Dead, Sorrow Crushed Latest Victim
Thomas Cunningham, 45, of 1626 Pierce street, a city fireman until two weeks ago, when he resigned, plunged 135 feet to death near the Philadelphia end of the Camden bridge at about 7:30 o’clock last night. Every bone in his body was broken.
Police learned that three years ago Cunningham tried to kill himself with a razor at his home, then at Fifth and Arch streets.
Patrolman George Bolker, Philadelphia, standing beneath the bridge, saw Cunningham’s body falling. None saw the start of the fatal plunge, to tell whether he fell or leaped. A five-foot guard rail protects pedestrians at the point.
Identification was made through papers in the dead man’s pockets. Fire Chief Thomas Nicholas, Camden, sent friends of Cunningham to the Philadelphia City Morgue to make identification positive.
One of the documents found was a note for a $50 loan Cunningham had obtained from the Engle Loan, 513 Market street, Camden.
Detective Casler, of Camden police headquarters, unearthed a moving story of despondency which had marked the closing years of Cunningham’s life.
The former fireman’s daughter was burned to death five years ago. She had been ironing. Her clothes became ignited and she was fatally seared.
A year ago Mrs. Cunningham died. Physicians attributed her death to a nervous breakdown. Friends said Cunningham thought she died of a broken heart, grieving for her child.
Since her death Cunningham lived alone at the Pierce street address. He was moody, and four or five weeks ago, Casler learned, he began drinking heavily.
At one time, Casler said, Cunningham tried to sell the shoes he was wearing to obtain money to drink. During this time he obtained the $50 loan.
Two weeks ago he resigned from the fire department. He had been attached to the station at Sixth street and Kaighn avenue.