William F. Foehl Sr.

WILLIAM FRED FOEHL SR. was born on April 20, 1892 in what was then Stockton Township, the present-day Cramer Hill section of Camden, New Jersey. His parents were Wilhelmina “Minnie” and John Gottlob Foehl, and he was the youngest of three children coming after brother John and sister Minnie. His parents had come to New Jersey sometime after Minnie was born in July of 1888. The family lived at 1045 Cambridge Street when the census was taken in 1900. John Gottlob Foehl was then in business as a beer bottler, with his place of business next door at 1041 Cambridge Street. John Gottlob Foehl died not long after the 1910 Census. The 1914 Camden City Directory shows the business as John G. Foehl’s Sons with the home and business addresses the same. William F. Foehl Sr. was soon married and in November of 1915 his wife Minnie bore a son, William F. Foehl Jr. On June 5 of 1917 William F. Foehl Sr. registered for the draft. He was still in the bottling business, but by this time was living at 412 North 27th Street in East Camden. In 1919 Prohibition was enacted and by the following year, William Foehl Sr. was working as a streetcar conductor. By 1924 William Foehl Sr. and family had moved to 2731 Sherman Avenue in Cramer Hill. He was then working as a huckster.

On March 16, 1925 William F. Foehl Sr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department. He reported to Ladder Company 2 the same day. In June he was transferred to Engine Company 4. On August 6, 1925 William F. Foehl was again transferred, this time to Ladder Company 3 in East Camden. The 1929 City Directories show William F. Foehl Sr. residing at 2731 Sherman Avenue. He and his family remained at that address through the spring of 1935. By 1940 the Foehl’s had moved to 6220 Westfield Avenue in Pennsauken.

Tragedy struck the Foehl family during World War II when son William F. Foehl Jr. was killed in action in France on July 28, 1944. He was brought home after the war and buried at Arlington Cemetery in Pennsauken.

William F. Foehl Sr. remained with Ladder Company 3 until his retirement on January 1, 1954. He was replaced on the Fire Department by Carmen Ianelli.

William Foehl passed away in July of 1962. He was survived by his wife Florence, who remained in the area until her death on December 31, 1990.

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, sends 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 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. Mertz, of Engine Company No. 1, acting as manager for the firemen, declared he had twenty-nine candidates on his list. These men will compete next Tuesday, but first they will have an opportunity for field day. The events will be run off separately, that is, the “cops” in division and the firemen in another. 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 qualification for field day include Fred Schacker, Harry Wagner, Chris Moll, Harry Huda, Arthur Laird, Herman Havercamp, Frank Huda, Harry Kleinfelder, William Poeble, Tom Shanley, Harrison Pike, William Hood, Lester Anderson, William Wood, George Townsend, Allen Palmer, William Mertz, Nelson Hubbs, James Mogan, John Strauss, Frank Oberman, Edward Mensales, John Mulligan, Frank Kates, William Hare, Joseph Andrews and Harry Leigh. From the present outlook, “Cops” appear strongest, coming out second best. The firemen are confident of finishing once more in front of the bluecoats. The leader will be Stehr’s cohorts at the last Armory meet.

The tug-of-team of eight men will also be selected by the firemen’s leader. Merts will choose his varsity from Layton, Smith, Lennox, Walker, Pike, Palmer, Moll, Greenan, Laird, Mulligan, Haver, Merigan and Camp.

The Camden Athletic Club may stage a free exhibition of a motorcycle polo game during the meet. Stehr favors this arrangement, as no extra minutes of actual time is taken up. The local club is willing to donate their services without charge. Nelson Hubbs, local manager, has dates at the Trenton, Long Harbor, Allentown and Bridgeton fairs, while his riders 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 the east, declares Nelson Hubbs. If they are on the bill at the games, they will also give an exhibition of trick and exhibition stunt.

Blue Devils No. 1 — Joseph Bernurt, captain; Frank De Vivey, Carl Preisman and Edward Moll.

Blue Devils No. 2 — Charles Ellis, captain; George Gummel, Bennett Arnold, Clayton Alberson.

If there is to be a cheerless and joyless Christmas anywhere among the poor, it will not be in the easterly section of the city. That is, not if the firemen of East Camden’s two firehouses and business men know anything about it. For many weeks now, the smoke-eaters have been busy as the proverbial bees in gathering together and reconditioning toys which have been tossed aside by more fortunate children, and have been reconditioning them, painting them in the term of “jargon” could not be felt children. In his two firehouses, above it can easily be seen that the fire-fighting Santas are determined to make many children happy on Christmas Day. In the upper picture, Firemen William Foehl and Charles Schultz are shown at work on a part of the completed gifts. The toys will be distributed the day before Christmas, meanwhile children who write to “Santa Claus” at his headquarters have just about piling up a part of the completed gifts.

William F. Foehl, 70, of 6220 Westfield ave., Pennsauken, died Tuesday in West Jersey Hospital. A city fireman, he was acting captain at the firehouse at 27th and Federal sts. when he retired in 1953.

Mr. Foehl was a member of Local 5, Firemen’s Benevolent Association and served in Camden’s fire department 28 years. A native of Camden, he lived in Pennsauken 22 years. He was also a former employe of the First Camden National Bank, Pennsauken Branch.

He is survived by his wife, Florence E.; a brother, John G. of Pleasantville, and a sister, Mrs. Minnie Brown of Camden.

Services will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Gustav Roedel and Son Funeral Home, 804 N. 27th st., where friends may call Friday night. Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery, Pennsauken.