Introduction
WILLIAM GETNER was born in Lambertville, New Jersey on December 12, 1891. He appears to have come to Camden after 1910. William Getner married Gertrude Selah in the early 1910s. A daughter, Emma, was born around 1914. The 1914 City Directory shows them living at 2306 River Road.
When he registered for the draft on June 5, 1917 William Getner was married and a father. He was living at 2020 River Road in Camden’s Cramer Hill neighborhood. He was then working at the Victor Talking Machine Company factory. Another daughter, also named Gertrude, was born in 1919. When the census was taken in January of 1920, the Getners were still living at 2020 River Road, along with Gertrude’s parents, Joseph and Emma Selah, and their son Abraham. William Getner was then working as a ship carpenter in one of the many shipyards in Camden. By 1924 the family had moved to 1205 North 26th Street. William Getner was appointed to the Camden Fire Department at some point prior to the compilation of the 1927 Camden City Directory.
William Getner was still serving with the Camden Fire Department in the spring of 1942 when he registered for the draft. By 1947 he had left the Fire Department and was working as a guard. He was still living at 1205 North 26th Street. He died on June 19, 1947.
World War I Draft Card
William Getner — World War I Draft Card
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.
Baby Hurled Into Blanket; 3 More Saved
Camden Courier-Post —
Two Other Children and Woman Are Removed To Hospital
NEIGHBORS HOLD EMERGENCY NET
Screams of Infant Wake Mother in No. 17th Street Blaze
An eight-months-old baby was saved from suffocation early today when his mother hurled him out a window of their burning home into a blanket held by neighbors 25 feet below.
The mother and a niece were carried down a ladder and a daughter was carried unconscious through the burning building to safety.
The daughter and niece are in Cooper Hospital; the former is in serious condition.
The fire started in the home of Charles Goetz, 1117 North Seventeenth street, proprietor of the East End Laundry, 1204 Cambridge street. Goetz was working at the laundry when the fire broke out shortly before 1 a.m.
Cries Wake Her
Cries of John, adopted infant son, awoke Mrs. Minnie Goetz, who discovered the house filled with dense smoke.
Running to the bedroom window she held the baby at arm’s length to enable it to breathe fresh air and called to her daughter, Jane, 20, and niece, Eva Carr, 18. Eva was convalescing from a recent appendicitis operation.
Eva, aroused by Mrs. Goetz’s screams ran to her aid, but Jane had not been awakened.
Policeman Fred Scharr, who was passing, heard Mrs. Goetz’s screams and called for the fire department. Neighbors, gathering an alarm, grabbed their blankets.
Drops to Safety
Standing directly under the window, Scharr and the neighbors held the blanket while Mrs. Goetz tossed the screaming child outside of the first floor emergency net.
Then Scharr and Eva turned around to find themselves cut off from the stairway by flames. As firemen arrived, William Getner, a member of No. 11 Engine Company, climbed a ladder and carried Mrs. Goetz and her niece to the ground. Mrs. Goetz screamed that her daughter, Jane, was in the house.
George Garner, of No. 9 Truck Company, fought his way into the house and up the stairs to Jane’s bedroom on the second floor. He carried her unconscious through the building. The two girls were taken to the hospital in the Third district police ambulance.
Garner, who arrived home a few minutes later, took his wife to Cooper Hospital for shock. The house was badly damaged. The fire is believed to have been started by a gas explosion from the roof and upper part of the house.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Camden Courier-Post —
Herbert Bott Is Unopposed for Presidency of Camden Association
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold election of officers today at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, from 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
Herbert Bott is unopposed for re-election as president. William Thorn is unopposed to replace Richard Middleton for financial secretary and Walter Vecander is unopposed for the new post of assistant financial secretary. All these are police officers.
The police trustees will be named from the following nine candidates: William Marter, George Ward, William Britner, Joseph Shreeve, William Schriber, Joseph Mardino, Joseph Dunnett, Leon Feltz and Russell Young. Two police sergeant-at-arms will be chosen from among Stanley Wirtz, Harry Cattell, Joseph Schultz and George Clayton.
Three candidates are seeking the post of vice president, which goes to a fireman. They are William Spencer, Charles Edwards and Albert Dukes. Warren Rich, a fireman, is slated to succeed himself as recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur is unopposed for the new post of assistant recording secretary, which goes to a fireman.
Four fireman trustees will be chosen from ten candidates. They are Charles Cook, Henry Baumgartel, Walter Eastlack, Arthur Batten, William Getner, William Toy, Lawrence Newton, James Young, Russell Anderson and William Taylor. Three firemen are seeking two posts as sergeants-at-arms. They are William Judge, John Mulligan and Furman Price.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Spencer Wins 3-Corner Fight for Vice-President of Association
Lauded by the members for his splendid work in behalf of the club, Herbert Bott, a patrolman attached to the Third Police District, last night was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
The praise was heaped upon the patrolman following announcement that he had received 107 of 110 votes cast in yesterday’s balloting. He was unopposed for reelection.
In a three-cornered fight, William P. Spencer, a fireman, was elected vice president of the association. He received 73 votes. His opponents were Charles Edwards, given 12 votes, and Albert Dukes, 18 votes. Both are firemen.
Others unopposed for office were: William Thorn, financial secretary; Walter Vecander, assistant financial secretary; Warren Rich, recording secretary, and Winfield Leviseur, assistant recording secretary. The last two are firemen while the first two are policemen.
Lieutenant George Ward, Patrolman William Marter, and firemen William Taylor, William Getner, James Young and Lawrence Newton were elected to the board of trustees.
Sergeants-at-arms named were Stanley Wirtz and George Clayton, police, and William Judge and John Mulligan, firemen. All had opposition.
After the ballots had been counted William H. Iszard, former assemblyman, appeared on behalf of the Elks Crippled Kiddies Committee, and asked police to support the wrestling show to be staged by that group February 13.
Fire Chief Guest at Honor Dinner
Camden Courier-Post —
Capt. Kreher, Veteran of 22 Years, Given Send-Off on Eve of Retirement
Fire Capt. Herman Kreher, a veteran of 22 years in the city fire-fighting forces, was tendered a dinner last night by more than 60 comrades upon the occasion of his fiftieth birthday. His efficient supervision of Engine Company No. 11 was lauded by Acting Chief John Lennox, who presented him with a gold wrist watch in behalf of his fellow firemen. George Wonsetter was toastmaster.
The affair was held in Stefiel’s Hall, directly across from the firehouse at Twenty-seventh and Hayes avenue.
Attending the dinner were Mrs. Kreher, their children, Tillie, Wilhelmina, Herman and Edwin, and Motorcycle Patrolman Harry Kreher, brother of Captain Kreher. Addresses were also made by Deputy Chief William Herring and Battalion Chiefs Walter Mertz, Charles Errickson and Waldo Jones.
The committee included Firemen William Mountey [sic], chairman; Howard Curry, Nelson Till, William Gettner, Michael Mungoli, John Mohrfeld, Herman Dreas, John Peterson and Harry Hess.
World War II Draft Card
William Getner — World War II Draft Card