Introduction
WILLIAM HERTLINE was born in New Jersey around 1871 to John and Annie Hertline. The family name appears to originally have been spelled “Hertlein.” The Hertline family, which included older brother Harry, was living at 123 Arch Street when the census was taken in 1880. John Hertline kept a restaurant, while Harry, then 18, worked as a baker. Harry Hertlein later went to work for the City of Camden’s water and sewer departments, and had a long and distinguished career in that capacity.
William Hertlein is listed in the 1890 Camden City Directory as living at 231 Royden Street, working as a driver for the Knickerbocker Ice Company. The 1894 Camden City Directory shows him living at 584 Carman Street, working as a machinist for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
William Hertline became a member of the Camden Fire Department in March of 1895. He was assigned to Engine Company 2, which was quartered at Fire Headquarters at the northwest corner of North 5th and Arch Streets. In 1894 the personnel were as follows: Foreman Harry C. Grosscup; Engineer, William Morris; Driver, John P. Long; Stoker, Albert Jones; hosemen, George Wade, William Hertline, and David Andrews. He appears to have left briefly but returned to the Fire Department in March of 1895.
When the Town of Stockton merged with Camden in 1899, the volunteer fire companies of Stockton remained active for several months. On June 25, 1899 the Stockton companies rendered assistance to the Camden Fire Department when the Moro Phillips Chemical Company factory at North Twelfth Street at Linden Street was struck by fire, resulting in $60,000 worth of damage and injury to three Camden firefighters, Joseph Maxwell, David Andrews, and William Hertline.
In the early 1900s William Hertline married a young widow, Lydia Tenner Schwartz, who was the daughter of former Camden Fire Department member and former Camden policeman Christian Tenner. Three of Lydia’s uncles were also Camden firefighters at one time or another, James McCracken, G. Rudolph Tenner, and George Adam Tenner. Her aunt, Amelia Tenner Green, was married to Camden Fire Department member Joseph Green.
The 1910 Census shows William and Lydia Hertline, Lydia’s daughter Helen Schwartz, father-in-law Christian Tenner and brother-in-law Benjamin Tenner living at 530 South 8th Street. This arrangement was still in effect as late as 1927. By 1929 he had moved to 542 Newton Avenue.
William Hertline left the Camden Fire Department on March 5, 1913 after being suspended for disobeying an order from the Chief of the Department, Samuel S. Elfreth. He worked as a watchman for a time. By the early 1920s, probably through the offices of his brother Harry, William Hertline went to work for the City of Camden flushing out water and sewer lines. The 1930 Census shows William and Lydia Hertline, their sons Benjamin, 15, and William, 11; and father-in-law Christian Tenner all living at 542 Newton Avenue. William and Lydia were both still living at the Newton Avenue address when the 1940 Camden City Directory was compiled. By 1947 they had moved to 546 Newton Avenue.
William Hertline passed away at some point after 1946. He is not listed in the 1955 New Jersey Bell Telephone Directory.
Fire Commissioners Appoint Hertline
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Samuel Curriden – William Hertline – Engine Company 2
The Fire Commissioners have discharged Samuel Curriden, of Engine Company, No. 2, and appointed William B. Hertline to fill the vacancy.
Acids in Flames
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Moro Phillips’ Chemical Works in Camden Partly Destroyed by Fire
Firemen’s Good Work
Battled Against Heavy Odds, But Saved Most of the Plant—Loss About $60,000
Nearly two acres of buildings forming the site of the Moro Phillips Chemical Company were partly destroyed by fire yesterday, entailing a loss of about $60,000. It was the worst inferno the Camden Fire Department has been called to fight since the old foundry fire of ’98. The blaze broke out about noon yesterday, and it was noon before the flames were under complete control. Firemen played on the ruins until 1 o’clock in the afternoon.
The origin of the fire is a mystery. A watchman on duty in the building nearest Twelfth street did not discover the fire until 5 o’clock. Instead of springing a regular alarm he telephoned to No. 2 engine house. The signal was received about 8 o’clock; the men were about to respond to roll call at the time. Captain Grosscup then sent in a 3-3, which is as much of an alarm as is customary on local alarms. Before long it was found that the fire was getting beyond the capacity of two companies and Captain Harry Grosscup saw the flames in a peculiar situation. He could not give a general alarm for the simple reason the blaze was half way to the building when a regular alarm was given.
All the Firemen Called
Chief Clifford, upon arriving on the scene, turned in a general alarm, calling out the entire department. The fire was mostly in the old buildings and wooden warehouses, and it was apparent that the main portion of the plant was to be sacrificed. The block composed of old frame buildings that burned so furiously, there was not the slightest chance of preventing the flames from spreading. The fire threatened to carry them across a treasury worth of buildings containing vast quantities of fertilizers and phosphorus. Three streams were kept playing on these, keeping these buildings from catching fire. The flames were so hot that the men had to turn their hose on a small brick building which, when the heat began to sift through the mortar, threatened to close the part of the old furnace Grosscup saw the plant.
Deadly Acid Fumes
The fire spread from the fertilizer building and it looked as if the entire plant would be consumed. Dense sheets of heavy black smoke rolled out of the building, and Andrews and Hertline, who went to the rescue of Maxwell, were taken outside for fresh air, and after adjusting to the gases did not have permanent effect.
All that portion of the works used for the storage of acids was abandoned to the flames. The main buildings were saved. The firemen fought valiantly. Speaking of the origin of the fire, Daniel Boughten, who was employed in the building, stated last evening that he could not tell how the blaze started, but that the losses in that most of his department was covered between $50,000 and $27,000.
EIGHTEEN NEW FIREMEN NAMED
Camden Post-Telegram —
Sixteen of the Men Will Not Go on Duty Until July Next.
TWO OTHERS TO FILL VACANCIES
City Council’s Fire Committee last night named 18 new firemen. Sixteen of these men will not go on duty until July 1, next, at which time the new fire house will be ready for service, while the other two, who were named to fill vacancies, will begin duty the first of next year.
It must not be inferred that the sixteen new men will all be assigned to the new company. Experienced men from the several houses, with one or two of the new ones, will make up Company No. 5, while the rest of the raw recruits will be apportioned among the several houses.
Rollo Jones, of the First ward, and William Miller, of the Eighth ward, are the men to go on duty January 1. They fill the vacancies caused by the retirement of John Ware and Samuel Peoples.
The others selected are: First ward—Charles Cook. Second ward—James White, Harry Anderson. Third ward—Samuel Sheer, Edward Finley. Fourth ward—Martin Carrigan. Fifth ward—Joseph Daly. Sixth ward—Joseph Ernest. Seventh ward—Seth Monnell, William Buzine. Eighth ward—Charles Sturgis. Ninth ward—S. T. Whitezell. Tenth ward—Ephraim T. Davis. Eleventh ward—J. Oscar Till. Twelfth ward—J. H. Vickers, Frederick Morse.
All the appointees must pass a physical examination which will be made by Dr. W. H. Iszard.
William Hertline, connected with headquarters, has been suspended pending a trial on a charge made by Chief Elfreth. The case will be heard on Monday night.
Hertline Removed from Fire Department
Philadelphia Inquirer —
William Hertline – John Lennox – Sylvester McGrath
After seeing gallant service for nineteen years, William Hertline, lieutenant of the East Side Fire Company, has been removed by the Fire Commissioners of Council on charges of neglect of duty. Sylvester McGrath has been appointed to the service and John H. Lennox to the vacant lieutenancy.
Hertline Suspended
Bridgeton Evening News —
William Hertline – John Lennox – Sylvester McGrath – Fred Morse
To take the place of William Hertline, who was suspended as a member of the Camden Fire Department for disobeying orders of the chief, Frederick Morse was yesterday appointed lieutenant of No. 1 Hose Company, in the East Side, and John Lennox was made lieutenant of No. 7 Engine Company, Eleventh street and Kaighn avenue. Sylvester McGrath was appointed to fill the vacancy in the department.