Introduction
William J. Hopkins
CFD portrait
WILLIAM J. HOPKINS was born in Camden on November 22, 1923 to William Hopkins and his wife Mary. His father was a member of the Camden Fire Department.
The 1930 census shows the family, which included younger sister Mary, at 520 Grant Street in North Camden. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows William Hopkins residing at 819 Grant Street.
William J. Hopkins Jr. was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on December 30, 1955. He reported for duty with Ladder Company 1 on January 1, 1956 and served his entire career there.
By the end of the 1960s William J. Hopkins Jr. moved to 127 South 32nd Street in East Camden, and maintained a residence there through at least 1980. He retired from the Fire Department on July 1, 1981.
William J. Hopkins Jr. was last a resident of Villas in Cape May County, New Jersey. He died on May 1, 1985.
13 Given Oath At City Hall as New Firemen
Camden Courier-Post —
Thirteen new firemen were sworn in today by Safety Director E. George Aaron in ceremonies at City Hall.
Beginning Sunday they will start a 90-day probationary period, during which they will receive instruction at the fire training school, 9th and Morgan sts.
All are war veterans and all are replacements in vacancies caused by deaths or retirements on pension. Their initial salary is $3800 a year, which may increase to a maximum of $4800 after two years.
Director Aaron announced that their appointment brings the fire department to its full strength of 250, except for four captaincies.
Those sworn in are Edward T. Irwin, 36, of 910 N. 24th st.; William Johns Hopkins, 32, of 830 Grant st.; Robert Richards Rowan Jr., 23, of 58 Erie st.; Alchester Warren, 34, of 776 Walnut st.; John Lynn Sterner, 27, of 2738 Lincoln ave.; Leon Carl Puszcykowski, 25, 3106 S. Congress rd.; Joseph Anthony Verderosa, 27, of 1193 Thurman st.; William J. O’Connor, 24, Apartment 281, 342 Dudley st.; Kenneth Clark, 23, of Apartment 295, 346 Dudley st.; Carl Richard Szalkowski, 33, of 1071 Thurman st.; Alfred Nigro, 29, of 912 S. 5th st.; Francis Paul Stibi, 26, of 329 Dailey st., and James Hovey Troutman, 28, of 2944 High st.
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
Camden Courier-Post —
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter’s first aid committee.
Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.
All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and truck company 1. These groups include:
Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.
Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.
Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.
Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.
Engine Company 2, 1960
Engine Company 2 with new pumper in front of quarters, 5th & Arch Streets, 1960.
Bottom row, from left: Fireman Harrison MacNeir, Chief Edward MacDowell, Fireman James Troutman, Captain Albert Weller, Fireman Charles Devlin, Fireman William Hopkins, Fireman George Hennessey; Top row, left to right: Fireman Francis Stibi, Fireman Robert Briggs, Fireman Bertram Dahl, Fireman Erwin Brennan, Captain Thomas Winstanley, Fireman Anthony Orme.
Rehearsal for Disaster
Camden Courier-Post — 1965
DISPLAYING the use of the stokes basket in a demonstration fire drill at West Jersey Hospital yesterday, June Peters, a student nurse, is lowered from the fifth floor.
Fire Rescue Drill Held at W. Jersey Hospital
By Mary Archibald
Courier-Post Staff
A demonstration of rescue procedures was given yesterday by the Camden City Fire Department and the hospital for representatives of 14 hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia-Camden area.
All known rescue methods were used to remove theoretically trapped student nurses and hospital personnel from fifth floor windows and rooftops. The drill was climaxed by a two story leap into a net by two firemen.
Several student nurses, assisted by firemen, descended extension ladders first from upper-story windows. This procedure was followed by the lowering of bandaged nurses, masquerading as patients, from the fifth floor in stokes baskets. The stokes basket is a specially shaped wire basket which conforms to the shape of the human body and in which a patient may be strapped safely.
Calm Performance
Although most of the mock patients were unruffled and a few volunteered for a repeat performance, oxygen, though unnecessary, was administered. The girls were lifted then onto stretchers and transported to the street curb by able and willing firemen. As evacuees reached the ground, a group of nurses, headed by Mrs. Jane Born, director of nursing services and education, was put in action.
Exceptional bravery was displayed by several girls in shorts and shirts who slid down stout ropes from fifth floor windows.
Among the hospital personnel who were rescued were two head nurses, Doris Davis and Jacqueline Stauffer. Student nurses participating were Irma Coney, Jean Knepner, Judy Peters, Sue Organt, Judy Bowers, Millie James, Kathi Mullen, Lois Weintraub, Arleen McCormack, Sally Bashaw, Barbara Eddis and Faith Isbell.
Acrobatic Fireman
Showing acrobatic skill was a fireman, William Hopkins, who swung from a rope attached to a fire truck extension ladder. Jumping two stories into a net were firemen Jay Anderson and Jay Getty, who landed in the proper rump-down position according to the fire department’s fire master, Otto Kaiser.
Chief Edward Michalak said he thought the drill was successful.
Emergency Drill
“The drills are a part of our pre-planning program for emergencies and we will be having a second demonstration drill Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Walt Whitman Hotel. We are doing these training all the time at hospitals, hotels and factories as part of a year-round program,” the chief added.
The drill was coordinated by W. J. Gribble, hospital engineer. District Fire Chief Theodore Primas was in charge of firemen and apparatus. Observers were representatives from All Saints, Burlington, Cooper, Delaware Valley, Jeanes, Lower Bucks, Nazareth, Northeastern, Sacred Heart, St. Christopher, St. Mary’s, Stetson, Underwood and Friends Hospitals.
Rehearsal for Disaster
Fire Rescue Drill Held at W. Jersey Hospital
By Mary Archibald Courier-Post Staff
A demonstration of rescue procedures was given yesterday by the Camden City Fire Department and the hospital for representatives of 14 hospitals in the Greater Philadelphia-Camden area.
All known rescue methods were used to remove theoretically trapped student nurses and hospital personnel from fifth floor windows and rooftops. The drill was climaxed by a two story leap into a net by two firemen.
Several student nurses, assisted by firemen, descended extension ladders first from upper-story windows. This procedure was followed by the lowering of bandaged nurses, masquerading as patients, from the fifth floor in stokes baskets. The stokes basket is a specially shaped wire basket which conforms to the shape of the human body and in which a patient may be strapped safely.
Calm Performance
Although most of the mock patients were unruffled and a few volunteered for a repeat performance, oxygen, though unnecessary, was administered. The girls were lifted then onto stretchers and transported to the street curb by able and willing firemen. As evacuees reached the ground, a group of nurses, headed by Mrs. Jane Born, director of nursing services and education, was put in action.
Exceptional bravery was displayed by several girls in shorts and shirts who slid down stout ropes from fifth floor windows.
Among the hospital personnel who were rescued were two head nurses, Doris Davis and Jacqueline Stauffer. Student nurses participating were Irma Coney, Jean Knepner, Judy Peters, Sue Organt, Judy Bowers, Millie James, Kathi Mullen, Lois Weintraub, Arleen McCormack, Sally Bashaw, Barbara Eddis and Faith Isbell.
Acrobatic Fireman
Showing acrobatic skill was a fireman, William Hopkins, who swung from a rope attached to a fire truck extension ladder. Jumping two stories into a net were firemen Jay Anderson and Jay Getty, who landed in the proper rump-down position according to the fire department’s fire master, Otto Kaiser.
Chief Edward Michalak said he thought the drill was successful.
Emergency Drill
“The drills are a part of our pre-planning program for emergencies and we will be having a second demonstration drill Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Walt Whitman Hotel. We are doing these training all the time at hospitals, hotels and factories as part of a year-round program,” the chief added.
The drill was coordinated by W. J. Gribble, hospital engineer. District Fire Chief Theodore Primas was in charge of firemen and apparatus. Observers were representatives from All Saints, Burlington, Cooper, Delaware Valley, Jeanes, Lower Bucks, Nazareth, Northeastern, Sacred Heart, St. Christopher, St. Mary’s, Stetson, Underwood and Friends Hospitals.
Firefighter William Hopkins at the Tiller, October 9, 1973
Firefighter William Hopkins at the Tiller, Ladder Company 1
Fire at the Liberty Public School
740 Spruce Street
Fire scene, Spruce Street, October 9, 1973
Fire Department Personnel Record
Camden Fire Department Personnel Record — William J. Hopkins, Badge No. 14. Appointed Dec. 30, 1955; Reported for duty Jan. 1, 1956. Assigned to #1 Truck Company. Pension: 1-Jul-81.
William Hopkins, retired fireman, World War II vet
Camden Courier-Post —
Services will be tomorrow for William J. “Hoppy” Hopkins, a retired City of Camden fireman who died on Friday following an extended illness. He was 61.
Mr. Hopkins served with Camden’s Ladder Company No. 1 from 1955 until his retirement in 1981. Born and raised in Camden, he attended Camden Catholic High School. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and a longtime member of Camden’s VFW Post 980. Upon retiring he moved to the Villas in Cape May County, where he was a member of VFW Post 5343 and the Villas Fishing Club.
He is survived by his wife, Edna; two sons, William of Bellmawr and Michael of Glendora; three daughters, Mary of Gloucester, Patricia Glover of Camden, and Kathleen of Villas; a brother, Thomas of Kentucky; a sister, Mary Cain of Blackwood, and six grandchildren.
Services are scheduled for 8:15 p.m. tomorrow in Robert J. Blake Funeral Home, 226 Collings Ave., Collingswood. There will be a viewing at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Burial will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in Cape May County VA Cemetery, Cape May Court House.