Introduction
WALLACE PHIFER was born in New Jersey on May 24, 1893 to Charles and Sarah Phifer. The family was living at 329 Chestnut Street when the 1900 census was taken. The family moved to Haddon Township not long afterwards and did not come back to Camden until after the outbreak of World War I. Wallace Phifer was working as a carpenter and living at 1415 Haddon Avenue when he registered for the draft in June of 1917.
Wallace Phifer was appointed to the Camden Fire Department shortly after the January 1920 Federal Census, and his brother Clarence was appointed to the police department around the same time. The 1924 and 1927 City Directories show both brothers in the City of Camden’s employ, and both living at 1217 Atlantic Avenue. Wallace Phifer married Edith Peters in 1922. By 1929 Wallace and Edith Phifer had moved next door to 1215 Atlantic Avenue, while his parents and policeman brother still lived at 1217 Atlantic Avenue.
Wallace Phifer was still a Camden firefighter and living at 1215 Atlantic Avenue as late as the spring of 1942. The 1956 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory shows Wallace Phifer at 1115 Princess Avenue in Parkside. Both Wallace and Clarence Phifer had moved to Haddon Heights, New Jersey by the fall of 1959, where they lived out their days. Clarence Phifer died on April 29, 1967. Wallace Phifer passed away on November 24, 1968.
World War I Draft Card
Wallace Phifer — World War I Draft Card
5 Firemen Hurt in Traffic Crash
Camden Courier-Post —
5 FIREMEN HURT IN TRAFFIC CRASH
Truck Rams Apparatus Speeding to Blaze in Yorkship Square
Five city firemen are in West Jersey Homeopathic Hospital today suffering from injuries when their apparatus collided with a truck at Ninth street and Ferry avenue while they were racing to a Yorkship square fire late yesterday.
All are attached to Engine Company No. 8. They are:
Captain Charles Erickson, 43, of 579 Line street; bruises of the left leg and left hip.
Wallace Phifer, 37, of 1215 Atlantic avenue; possible fractured vertebrae.
Adam Mead, 32, of 1634 Sheridan street; admitted for observation.
Herbert Baxter, 45, of 320 Liberty street; cuts over the left eye and face, bruises on both knees.
Edward Menzis, 36, of 2402 Berwick street; possible fractured skull and cut over the right eye.
Fire Damage $5000
The fire to which they were hurrying damaged the apartment and drug store of V. I. Chestnut, 1200 Yorkship Square. The blaze was confined to the apartment upstairs, but water and smoke caused damage to the store and fixtures. Total loss was estimated at $5000.
The truck which hit the combination fire apparatus was operated by Joseph Scheurer, 22, of 1859 East Ontario street, Philadelphia, and owned by the Stores Realty Company, of 424 North Nineteenth street, Philadelphia.
Failed to Hear Siren
The fire truck driven by Phifer was speeding south on Ninth street while the machine driven by Scheurer was proceeding west on Ferry avenue. Scheurer said he did not hear the siren until he reached the intersection and that it was then too late to stop. The fire engine was turned around by the impact and the five occupants thrown to the street. Both trucks were damaged.
Scheurer was arrested by Detective Joseph Caputi and held in $1000 bail pending a hearing.
A short circuit in an electric heater caused the blaze in the Chestnut apartment. The fire was discovered by Marvin Chestnut, 8, who called to his father downstairs. It was extinguished with little difficulty.
World War II Draft Card
Wallace Phifer — World War II Draft Card
Wallace Phifer, Retired Fireman
Camden Courier-Post —
Wallace Phifer, 75, of 533 4th Ave., Haddon Heights, died Sunday at home.
He was a retired fireman in Camden and a member of the Police and Fireman’s Association of Camden.
Survivors include his wife, Edith K.; three sisters, four nephews and three nieces.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Ascension Lutheran Church, Haddon Heights.
Friends may call Thursday evening at the Evoy Funeral Home, 129 White Horse Pike, Haddon Heights. Burial will be in Harleigh Cemetery, Camden.