Winfield Leviseur
Winfield D. Leviseur
WINFIELD DEURY LEVISEUR was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 6, 1898, the son of John G.L. LeViseur and his wife, the former Mary Berger. At some point in his adult life (most likely in the 1920s) Winfield began using the “Leviseur” spelling.
John G.L. Leviseur was a native of the Alsace region of France. He worked as an insurance agent, but sadly, he died during the 1900s, leaving his wife, Mrs. Mary Leviseur, to raise their six children. Winfield was the fifth born of the six, coming after Marie, Carl, Kurt, and Edward, and before the youngest, Elizabeth. All the children were at home at the time of the 1910 Census. Mrs. Leviseur worked as a janitress at a school, and the three oldest children also worked. When the census was taken in January of 1920, Winfield Leviseur and his sister Elizabeth were living with older brother Carl Leviseur and his wife and family. Both men worked at a forge, Carl as a machinist, Winfield as a rigger. He enlisted in the United States Navy shortly thereafter.
The 1924 Camden City Directory shows Winfield Leviseur had married. He and his wife, the former Sarah Stevenson, lived at 1028 Line Street. At that time he was still in Navy. By the time the 1929 Directory was compiled, he had fulfilled his commitment to the Navy. He and wife Sarah were still living at 1028 Line Street. Winfield Leviseur was then working as a cook.
Winfield Leviseur was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 16, 1929. He reported for duty with Engine Company 3 at 1813 Broadway the same day.
The April 1930 Census shows that Winfield Leviseur and his wife were living at 854 Mt. Ephraim Avenue. Their next door neighbor at 856 Mt. Ephraim Avenue was brother fire fighter Arthur Batten and his wife Mabel. Fire Department records from 1931 show that Winfield Leviseur had moved to 803 Haddon Avenue.
On March 18, 1936 Winfield Leviseur was transferred to Ladder Company 3 at North 27th Street and Federal Street in East Camden, where he served until his promotion to Junior Captain on July 1, 1939. Once promoted Winfield Leviseur was transferred to Ladder Company 2, stationed at the old Fire headquarters at North 5th and Arch Streets, where he served until May 1, 1940, when he was returned to Ladder Company 3. Another assignment came on December 13, 1942 which took him to Engine Company 7 on Kaighn Avenue. Winfield Leviseur was promoted to Senior Captain on February 23, 1943 and to Battalion Chief on December 16, 1949.
By 1947 Winfield and Sarah Leviseur had moved to 1034 Princess Avenue in Parkside, where they lived through at least the fall of 1960.
After a career that lasted well over 31 years, Winfield Leviseur retired on pension on September 1, 1960. He was replaced in the Fire Department by Daniel Jianetto.
After leaving the Fire Department Winfield LeViseur moved to the suburbs. Last a resident of Somerdale, New Jersey, he passed away on November 3, 1967.
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 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.
Changes Announced in Fire Department
Camden Courier-Post —
Truck Disbanded, Engine Company Created; 13 Men Transferred
Commissioner Mary W. Kobus yesterday announced a number of changes in the fire department, including the disbanding of Truck Company No. 4; creation of a new engine company, No. 10, and the transfer of 18 officers and men, 12 of them captains.
Most of the new captains have been serving as acting captains and promotion to full rank will involve no pay increases, inasmuch as the men signed waivers foregoing the raises.
Commissioner Kobus explained most of the changes were made to conform with regulations of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. The board, Mrs. Kobus explained, made a survey of the department and advised appointments of acting captains to full rank.
The commissioner also announced she had appointed Junior Captain Raymond Smith as director of the school for firemen at Engine Company No. 10, Ninth and Morgan streets. Smith, one of the youngest of the recently appointed junior captains, will succeed the late Battalion Chief Rollo Jones.
Senior Captain Leonard Megee was appointed acting battalion chief to succeed Jones. He will continue at the Fifth and Arch streets fire headquarters.
Junior Captain William Spencer, of headquarters company, was named relief captain.
Engine Company No. 10 will use the headquarters of the old truck company, at Ninth and Morgan streets.
To the new company Mrs. Kobus assigned Senior Captain Mortica Clark and Firemen Frank Burt, Frank Esperance and Clifford Lane.
Junior Captain Frank Oberman was transferred from Engine Company No. 10 to Engine Company No. 1, at fire headquarters.
Other assignments are as follows:
Junior Captain Robert Wonsetler, Engine Company No. 11, to Engine Company No. 2.
Fireman Harry Kleinfelder, Engine Company No. 6, to Engine Company No. 2.
Junior Captain Edgar Ellender, Engine Company No. 2, to Engine Company No. 6.
Junior Captain Ralph Bingemann, Truck Company No. 2, to Engine Company No. 7.
Fireman David Humphries, Truck Company No. 3, to Engine Company No. 11.
Junior Captain Nelson Andrews, Engine Company No. 2, to Truck Company No. 1.
Fireman Albert Dukes, Jr., Truck Company No. 1, to Engine Company No. 2.
Junior Captain Winfield Leviseur, Truck Company No. 2, to Truck Company No. 3.
Junior Captain Edward McDowell retains assignment to Engine Company No. 3.
Junior Captain Maurice O’Brien assigned to Engine Company No. 10.
The changes were contained in notice to the Civil Service Commission, are effective as of June 1 and will appear on the June 15 payroll.
Police, Fire Group to Honor Wallace
Camden Courier-Post —
The Camden Police and Firemen’s Association will hold an informal buffet supper tonight at its headquarters, 1175 Whitman Avenue, for Bruce A. Wallace, counsel for the association and member of the Delaware River Joint Commission. Invitations have been issued to police chiefs throughout the county, as well as to other officials.
Patrolman William Schriver, president of the association, is chairman of the committee. Other members are Fire Captain Winfield Leviseur, Sergeant Edward Carroll, and Patrolman John Kowal, William McGrath and Arthur Batten.
Three Children Rescued, Three Firemen Injured
Camden Courier-Post —
Three small children were rescued Monday after almost being trapped in their smoke-filled apartment, while in another blaze, two firemen were injured when caught in a shower of broken glass.
The children were rescued by their father, David Kaluhiokaleni, 27, after he made his way up a stairway heavy with smoke and carried them from the third-floor bedroom of their home at 216 State street where they were taking their afternoon naps.
Kaluhiokaleni, employed by the Riverside Metals Co., told police he and his wife put the children — Jacqueline, 4; David, 3 and Joseph, eight months, to sleep about 1:30 p.m. and went downstairs to the apartment of his wife’s sister, Mrs. Cora Pantella, for lunch.
Leads 2 to Safety
At about 2:15 p.m., smoke was detected and Kaluhiokaleni groped his way up the stairway to the room where his children were sleeping. He led the two eldest down the stairway and carried the youngest.
Firemen, under the direction of Battalion Chief Harold Gick, confined the fire to the bedroom. Gick said it apparently started in the mattress of a bed adjoining the one in which the three children were sleeping.
The two firemen were injured while fighting a blaze that gutted a second-floor bedroom and damaged a gift shop at 1073 Haddon Avenue.
3 Companies Fight Blaze
Traffic was detoured off Haddon avenue for more than an hour while firemen from two engine companies and one truck company battled the flames.
The injured firemen were Capt. John Hensen, 40, commander of Truck Co. No. 2, and Ladderman James Creato, 52, of the same company.
Hensen suffered a cut on the back of his left hand that required two stitches at West Jersey hospital. Creato was admitted to the hospital for treatment of a puncture wound of his right foot, suffered when he stepped on a nail.
The injured fire captain, who was sent home after treatment, was caught in a shower of glass when a window exploded from the heat.
The gift shop is operated by Mrs. Etta Kocher, 51. With her husband, Fred, general sales manager for a Philadelphia fruit produce company, she occupies the apartment above.
The two-story brick and frame building was vacant when firemen arrived. They had been summoned by a passerby when clouds of smoke began pouring from the upstairs bedroom window.
According to Battalion Chief Winfield Leviseur, the flames started in one of the bedrooms of the upstairs apartment, scorched the walls of an adjacent bedroom, and were threatening the gift shop below.
One Room Is Total Loss
One bedroom was a total loss, the other sustained water and smoke damage, and the gift shop was damaged by water.
Chief Leviseur said his men were hampered by dense smoke from the blazing mattress. He was unable to estimate damages, but said the cause was “possibly a careless smoker.”
Mrs. Kocher and her son, Sgt. Donald Kocher, 23, were away making a bank deposit at the time of the fire. They returned at the height of the blaze.
Sgt. Kocher, on a 20-day furlough from the Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, said he was on orders to report to Officers’ Candidate School at Fort Sill, Okla.
7 Children Saved in Blaze; City Fireman Overcome
Camden Courier-Post —
ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN RESCUED from a burning house at 444 S. 5th st., Friday, is shown being carried to safety in the arms of a fireman. Three of the children and a fireman were overcome by smoke. Two civilians rescued four of the children before firemen arrived.
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Pine st. company and 5th and Arch sts. station arrived and removed the other three children on a ladder placed at the front of the house.
Cook was overcome by smoke after he had searched the house to make certain no one remained. He collapsed at the front door.
According to Winfield Leviseur, district fire chief, a crowd of 400 spectators attracted to the scene, cheered as firemen and neighbors carried the children from the house.
Six Firemen Cited Here for Heroism
Camden Courier-Post —
Six Camden firemen have been cited for outstanding service by the Fire Department Merit Board for rescuing three Puerto Rican children from a blazing second floor apartment at 444 N. 5th st. last Dec. 26.
Receiving special mention, according to Fire Chief Pfefferle, were District Chief Winfield LeViseur, Capt. Thomas Winstanley, Acting Capt. Eugene Alston, Firemen Frank Deal, Charles Davis and Howard Lewis. The Merit Board, composed of chiefs in the Camden Fire Department, also pointed out the heroic work of Michael Cimini, a bartender, of 925 N. 22nd st., who rescued four other children before arrival of firemen.
Find Boy, 7, Drowned in Camden Pool
Camden Courier-Post —
DEBRIS LITTERED South Camden swimming pool at 9th st. and Ferry ave., where a seven-year-old boy was drowned. The victim, Irvin Gibbs, of 731 Ferry ave., disappeared when sent on an errand Saturday morning. His body was recovered late Monday night by firemen who syphoned more than three feet of rain water from the pool. Among objects in the pool are wood and concrete park benches weighing several hundreds of pounds. Other objects visible are metal pieces stripped from light fixtures, old tires, iron pipes and broken boxes.
ACTS OF VANDALISM at Camden County swimming pool, 9th st. and Ferry ave., made it easy for seven-year-old Irvin Gibbs, to gain access to a spot where he subsequently drowned in five feet of rain water. At the left is shown the size of openings made in the heavy wire cyclone-type fence surrounding the pool. At right photo shows an iron cover removed from a three-foot deep cavity used for connecting wires to a large lamp post. A piece of the iron covering of the post is also missing. Both articles were found at the bottom of the pool.
Find Boy, 7, Drowned in Camden Pool
Camden Courier-Post —
The body of a 7-year-old boy, missing since Saturday morning, was found late Monday night on the bottom of the Camden County swimming pool at 9th st. and Ferry ave. after firemen had syphoned off more than 3 feet of rain water.
Police and county officials said acts of vandalism had made it possible for the child to gain access to the spot where he subsequently met his death in the debris-littered pool.
The body of Irvin Gibbs, of 731 Ferry ave., was discovered by Morris Boone, 41, driver for District Fire Chief Winfield Leviseur, lying in 18 inches of water.
The father of the boy, Edward, 38, a Campbell Soup Co. employe, identified the body in the presence of Coroner Thomas J. Danks.
Sent on Errand
The father told investigators his son had been sent on an errand to a friend’s home at 1507 S. 8th st. at 10.30 Saturday morning by the mother, Willa Mae, but after checking they found the boy had never arrived there. A state police message was sent out in an effort to locate the boy.
According to Chief Leviseur, the father went to No. 8 firehouse at 619 Kaighns ave. early Monday night and told Capt. Otto Kaiser that a neighbor, Mrs. Mary Valentine, of 1847 S. 8th st., had suggested to him that he should look for a boy in the pool, “or in four feet of water in the County Parks pool.”
Kaiser relayed the information to Leviseur who despatched truck 2 and Engine Co. 3 to the pool. Meanwhile, parks officials were notified.
Water Syphon Used
The firemen, combined as a rescue squad under Leviseur’s supervision, first began dragging the pool, but when these efforts were hampered by debris, such as Christmas trees, old tires and boards, Leviseur sent to fire headquarters for flood lights and a syphon rigging.
The syphoning began at 9.10 p. m. as a crowd of more than 500 persons watched from outside a wire fence enclosing the pool property. At 11.18, Boone, poking a stick into the muddy water, came upon the body and Kaiser helped him pull it out.
Ironically, the pool had been drained and closed for the season, and all the pumping equipment had been winterized, explained William W. Messenger, superintendent of Camden County Parks, making it impossible for the regular pumping equipment to be used.
Another Child Rescued
Investigators said the Gibbs boy had evidently gained entrance to the pool through one of the many holes ripped through the cyclone fence by vandals.
“We are continually patrolling the various county pools and chasing boys from the property. Many reports have been received from our police on vandalism, such as torn fences and removal of articles. We simply cannot keep up to making repairs because the damage occurs so frequently.
“In the South Camden pool where this child was drowned the water, when the pool is in operation, is 10 feet deep. After the pool is drained for the season the depth of the opening at this point below the normal pool is about 5 feet. This depth is below the sewer level and when we have heavy rains the water builds up to more than 4 feet deep.
Would Buy Pumps
“At the end of the season the pool is closed and drained and the equipment is winterized. There is no heat in the building where the pumps are housed. The only answer, as I see it, is to purchase pumps which are small enough to transport, yet strong enough to syphon off the water after each rainfall.”
A boy at the scene, Elmer Hammond Jr., 12, of 254 Branch Village, said he was playing near the pool with six other children on Saturday morning and that he had gone into the pool up to his waist and pulled out a five-year-old girl resident of the Franklin D. Roosevelt housing development.
City Detectives William Neale and Nathaniel Jones are investigating the Hammond boy’s story.
The dead boy was wearing cowboy boots and a new leather jacket he had received as Christmas presents. He had on blue dungarees and a red shirt.
Named: Irvin Gibbs, Winfield Leviseur, Maurice Boone, Otto Kaiser, William H. Neale, and Nathaniel Jones.
Thomas Carr Heads Police, Fire Group
Camden Courier-Post —
THOMAS J. CARR SR. Who has been reelected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
Thomas J. Carr Sr. has been reelected president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association, it was announced today.
Other officers elected for 1958 are John K. Voll, vice president; Harrison Pike, treasurer; Joseph Gfrorer, financial secretary; Arthur C. Batten, recording secretary; Winfield Leviseur, chairman of the board of managers; Joseph Ballinghoff, John Moore and Howard Brickner, members of the board of managers, and Joseph Dmochowski, Leon Puszczykowski, Ernest Tartaglia and Spencer Smith, sergeants-at-arms.
$150,000 Fire Hits E. Camden School; Fireman Overcome
Camden Courier-Post —
A $150,000 fire ripped through the 74-year-old Garfield School at 29th and Cramer sts. Friday night. One fireman was overcome battling the two-alarm blaze.
Estimate of damage was made by Dr. Anthony Catrambone, Camden superintendent of schools, who ordered the building closed. There was no immediate indication as to whether or not it would be repaired or abandoned as an active unit in the local school system.
Acting Fire Chief Winfield LeViseur said he thought the fire started in a teacher’s cloakroom and had been burning for several hours prior to the first alarm at 7:30 p.m.
Flames were shooting from three windows on the south side of the second floor on Cramer st. as the first of four engine companies arrived. Two truck companies also battled the blaze with 50 firemen taking part.
Fire Chief MacDowell said today that an investigation was underway by Deputy Fire Marshal John Gaffney as to the cause. It is thought the fire began around 4:30 p.m. when the building was closed for the day.
Firemen, wearing gas masks, chopped holes in the ceilings of two classrooms, the cloakroom and the hallway to extinguish flames and hot spots within the loft.
The second floor and part of the first floor was a soggy mess of water, plaster, paper, and glass. An estimate of damage was not available.
Garfield School, built in 1886, is attended by 333 pupils from kindergarten…
Rites Set For Former Fire Chief
Camden Courier-Post —
Requiem high Mass for Winfield D. (Blackie) LeViseur, 69, of 905 Beverly Drive, Somerdale, will be celebrated tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church, Somerdale. Friends will meet one hour earlier in the Robert J. Blake Funeral Home, 226 Collings Avenue, Collingswood, where they may call tonight. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.
Mr. LeViseur, who died yesterday at home, was a retired district fire chief in Camden and former South Jersey independent baseball star. He was a veteran of World War I and a member of the Mathews-Purnell VFW Post 518 and past president of the Camden Police and Firemen’s Association.
Surviving are his wife, Sarah; a brother and two sisters.
Personnel Card
Winfield Leviseur — Camden Fire Department personnel card