William Scholl

William Scholl was born in Camden, New Jersey on December 1, 1894 to Emma and Carl Scholl. He was one of 10 children. His parents were born in Germany, and had come to America in 1882. The Scholls were living at 1211 Knight Street in 1887, 1104 South 4th Street by mid-1888, and at the corner of Philip Street and Central Avenue by 1890. When the Census was taken in 1900 the family had moved to 690 Tulip Street. The Scholls would maintain a presence in the 600 block of Tulip Street into the early 1970s.

Carl Scholl was a baker by trade, and he operated a bakery in the neighborhood for many years. The 1900 Census shows that the Scholls had 9 children, three of whom had died, and daughter Emma who had wed was not living at home. The children at home were Alma, Robert, Charles, William and Henry. Another son, Albert, was born shortly after the Census enumeration. The Scholl family was still at 690 Tulip Street at the time of the 1910 Census. William Scholl, then 15, was working at his father’s bakery. By 1914 William Scholl had married, and was living with his wife, Mary, at 687 Fairview Street. He was still working at his father’s bakery. Carl & Emma Scholl now lived at 694 Tulip Street.

On June 5, 1917 William Scholl registered for the draft. There were two children by this time, William and Catherine, and the family was now living at Tracy’s Farm, 7th and Morgan Street. William Scholl had gone to work at nearby New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyards as a caulker and chipper. He was still working at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in January of 1920. The Scholls had returned to Tulip Street, taking up residence at 680 Tulip. His parents and brothers Albert and Charles were still living at 694 Tulip Street. William Scholl would remain at 680 Tulip Street through at least October of 1970.

William Scholl was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in the early 1920s. His father retired from the bakery business in 1924. Tragedy struck in January of 1928 when his mother, Emma Scholl, was struck and killed by a bus at South 7th and Tulip Streets. She was buried at New Camden Cemetery on January 6th.

By January of 1927 William Scholl was serving with Ladder Company 4 at South 10th Street and Morgan Street. When Ladder Company 4’s Junior Captain James H. MacDermott retired on October 1, 1932 William Scholl was promoted to Acting Junior Captain to take his place. At this time the United States was in the midst of the Great Depression, and as Camden was experiencing tremendous fiscal pressure William Scholl’s promotion to Captain was never made permanent. Ladder Company 4 was disbanded on July 5, 1936 as a cost-cutting measure. William Scholl transferred to Engine Company 3 at some point thereafter.

The 1930 Census shows that William Scholl’s father, Carl Scholl, had moved to 907 Morgan Street, the home of his daughter Alice and her husband, John Bisinger, 14th Ward Democratic committeewoman and committeeman, respectively. John Bisinger also was a clerk in Camden District Court. Carl Scholl died in September of 1931 and was laid to rest next to his wife.

On Tuesday, July 30, 1940, a fire broke out at the R.M. Hollingshead plant, an industrial complex of large factory buildings between 9th and 10th Streets on the north side of Market Street in center city. The plant manufactured a variety of highly inflammable products including floor wax, furniture polish, and cigarette lighter fluid. The City had been suffering through a two-week heat wave, with temperatures soaring over the 100 degree mark. Box 61 at 9th and Penn Streets was transmitted at 1:15 P.M. following an explosion in the northeast corner of a five story factory building. Just two minutes later, Box 184 at 11th and Cooper Streets was also pulled for the same incident. A raging fire ensued and the fourth alarm was received at 1:39 P.M.

Tremendous radiant heat generated by the blaze, coupled with a water shortage caused by heavy demand during the heat wave, made effective firefighting especially difficult. Engine companies were forced to draft water from the Cooper River, one-half mile away from the fire. Worse, some 28 explosions rocked the plant as stores of gasoline, naptha, paint and grease were ignited. The fire spread to involve other factory buildings in the Hollingshead complex, and also extended to scores of surrounding dwellings and businesses. Fire and ambulance companies from the surrounding South Jersey towns as well as from the city of Philadelphia were called on for assistance.

The fire burned throughout the night and into the following day. The next morning explosive experts had to be called in to dynamite the ruins allowing firemen to get at the remaining fire and finally bring the inferno under control. The fire again flared on Thursday and it was not until Sunday, five days after the initial blast, that the blaze was finally extinguished. Ten employees of the plant were killed in this fire as well as Fireman William Merrigan of Engine Company 3 who died of a heart attack induced by heat exhaustion. Over 400 persons were left homeless and damage exceeded $1 million dollars. William Scholl, who was also serving with Engine Company 3 as a hoseman, also collapsed at one point from the heat as was treated, as was Audubon Policeman A.F. “Dewey” Parker.

William Scholl’s last address was in Blackwood, New Jersey. He was probably living with his son William Scholl Jr., who had resided in that area for many years. William Scholl died in June of 1974.