Camden Fire Department - Engine Company 1

Camden Fire Department
Engine Company 1

Engine Company 1 was organized on September 2, 1869 as one of the original units of the paid fire department, and entered service on December 7, 1869 at 409 Pine Street in South Camden, occupying quarters that had been built in 1860 and used by the volunteer fire department. New quarters were erected on the same site in 1892, where the company remained until November 2, 1978 when relocated to its present location at Fire Headquarters, 2 North 3rd Street, at North 3rd and Federal Streets, in the center of Camden's downtown district. The former firehouse at South 4th and Pine was sold by the city and was used by a private party as late as 1994.

When first organized, Engine Company 1 consisted of an Engineer, a Driver, a Stoker, and ten extra men (call members).

The first members of Engine Company 1 are as follows.

Position	Badge	Name
Engineer	E-1	George Rudolph Tenner (NOTE: The book Camden Fire Department 1869-1894 has him as Reuben G. Tenner. This is not supported by US Census documents)
Driver	D-1	William H.H. Clark
Stoker	S-1	Thomas McLaughlin
	# 1	Thomas Allibone
	# 2	William Dieth
	# 3	George Horneff
	# 4	John J. Brown
	# 5	William A. White
	# 6	James Sutton
	# 7	Cornelius M. Brown
	# 8	Alexander Peacock
	# 9	Samuel Buzine
	# 10	Jesse Chew

Annual salaries for the members of the paid force in 1869 were $600 for the Engineer, $450 for the Driver and the Stoker and $50 for the extra men. All but the extra men were paid monthly. The Chief Marshall received $800, and the Assistant Marshall $200 per year as well.

On May 16, 1870 Camden City Council authorized a contract with builder Abram Lower to build a brick stable adjacent to the Engine Company 1 headquarters at 409 Pine Street. The building cost $1650.

The first major fire that the new paid Camden Fire Department confronted was on December 320, 1869 at the R.M. English & Company oilcloth factory at Cooper's Point. Almost a year later, on Christmas Morning, December 25, 1870 fire destroyed St. John's Episcopal Church at Broadway and Royden street. This had formerly been a floating chapel anchored on the Philadelphia side of the Delaware River. The wooden church burned to the ground in an hour. A second St. John's was built, only to be lost to fire in 1892, and was replaced by the current building.

Leadership in the Fire Department at this time was not subject to Civil Service regulations. When the Democrats gained control of City Council in 1876, future mayor Claudius Bradshaw was elected Chief Engineer for the City of Camden, George Horneff, of Engine Company 1 was named as Assistant Engineer, and another Engine 1 member, Thomas McLaughlin, was named as Extra Engineer. Bradshaw and Horneff were both re-elected in 1877. Cornelius Brown was promoted to foreman if Engine Company 1.

With Republicans regaining control of the city in 1879, Samuel Buzine of Engine 1 was named foreman of Engine Company 2. Cornelius Brown continued as Engine 1 foreman. Both men remained in these positions until March 27, 1882. George Rudolph Tenner was then named Engine Company 1 foreman. In 1884 Samuel Buzine was named Foreman of Engine Company 1. He was promoted to Assistant Engineer the following year, his place being taken by John Stockton, who later became Chief of the department.

Engine Company 1
	1893 409 Pine Street
	1893 409 Pine Street Engine Company 1 with its two-wheeled Silsby hose cart.
	1896 409 Pine Street Engine Company 1 with its second class Amoskeag steamer, which had been rebuilt by the LaFrance Engine Works of Elmira NY; and its two-wheeled Silsby hose cart.
	1890s 409 Pine Street Engine Company 1 and its Silsby hose cart.
	1902 409 Pine Street
	1934 409 Pine Street 1934 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM
	Early 1950s 409 Pine Street
	June 1952 409 Pine Street 1934 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM The front of the building and the garage door had been remodeled.
	June 1952 409 Pine Street 1934 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM The front of the building and the garage door had been remodeled.
	June 1952 409 Pine Street 1934 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM The front of the building and the garage door had been remodeled.
	June 1952 409 Pine Street 1934 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM The front of the building and the garage door had been remodeled.
	April 17, 1960 Camden Catholic High School Broadway & Federal Street 1952 GMC Hose Wagon 200 GPM Click on Image to Enlarge photo courtesy of Bob Bartosz
	April 17, 1960 Camden Catholic High School Broadway & Federal Street Click on Image to Enlarge photo courtesy of Bob Bartosz
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 American LaFrance Pumper 1000 GPM
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 Dodge - American LaFrance Hose Wagon 200 GPM
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 Dodge - American LaFrance Hose Wagon 200 GPM
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 Dodge - American LaFrance Model K-D-500 Hose Booster Wagon Hale 200 GPM pump 300 gallon booster Captain Jones in charge of company
	July 1960 409 Pine Street 1958 Dodge - American LaFrance Hose Wagon 200 GPM
	August 31, 1972 1967 American LaFrance Pumper
	1986 1986 Hahn Pumper 1500 GPM
	1986 1986 Hahn Pumper 1500 GPM Same Engine as above, Mickle and Riverview Towers apartment buildings in the background.
	1994 At 2 North 3rd Street Right to left: Captain Paul Matyjasik, Firefighter Ed Olleck, Firefighter David Person, Firefighter Daniel Baker.

Engine Company 1 - 1989

Captain John DiMaggio, FFs Rich Marter, Jim Peterson, Greg Murphy

620 Sycamore Street - June 17, 2006 Story and Photo: Bob Bartosz
Busy 24 Hours in Camden NJ - 6 Working Fires along with a Rescue
	Camden Firefighters had a Busy 24 hour tour starting on June 16th and ending on June 17th with Four All Hands Fire and Two second alarms all in the South Camden section of the city. The first job was a working fire in a row of two story dwellings in the 1200 block Morton Street. Later that day they had a working fire in the middle of a row of two story dwellings in the 700 block of Spruce Street a few hours latter in the am hours they were call to the 700 block of Cherry Street. First in companies found heavy fire show in a large 3 story brick dwelling that put all companies to work with in minutes part of the structure collapsed Battalion 1 called for a second alarm. A few minutes latter while to fire was going another alarm came in for a working fire at 908 Haddon Avenue, about 6 blocks away. As the companies were coming in they found another blaze a block away from the first job, in a row of 2 story dwellings at 903 Haddon Avenue. Fire Radio put in a Special call to Camden County Fire Units to respond into the City, Fire Companies from Gloucester City, Oaklyn, Westmont, Collingswood, Pennsauken Township were put to work fight these blazes. By 4:30 AM all the fires were placed under control. A few hours later Firefighters were dispatched to 620 Sycamore Street for an Explosion and Fire with reports of people trapped. Engine 8 was first in with Captain Dan Baker. He reported he had the end of a row brick 2 story dwelling that had exploded and had numerous people injured and one victim still trapped on the collapsed second floor and he requested the Second Alarm to be transmitted. Rescue 1 was arriving with Captain Frank Sandrock and Battalion 1 Chief Daryl Lewison along with Squad 7 and Engine 1 and Ladder Companies 2 and 1 and Battalion Chief 2 Mike Dipascale on the second alarm with Engine Companies 6 and 9, Ladder 3 and Special Operations Rescue unit and Car 3 with Deputy Chief Mike Harper and Chief of Department Joseph Marini in Car 1. Firefighters could hear a female calling for help from the collapsed second floor. Firefighters went to work shoring up the collapsed building. Captain Sandrock of Rescue 1 was OPS Officer. About 30 minutes later firefighters were able to get to the badly injured woman. She had burns over 70 percent of her body. Rescue 1 firefighter Eli Hall was sent up the ladder to bring her down. Camden EMS removed her to Cooper Hospital Trauma. Two other males were blown out of the second floor of the building onto the street and were taken to the hospital by Camden EMS. Two of the victims were admitted in critical condition. Car 3 Harper place the assignment control. The explosion is under investigation by the Camden Fire Marshal Office and Camden Police Arson Unit along with the ATF. Cherry Hill Twp Canteen Unit RIT team and Rehab Unit, and County Fire Police and Camden County Field Com units were Special called. This was a Busy 24 hours with 4 All Hands and 2 second alarm fire and a life saving rescue.
Click on Images for Enlarged and High Resolution Views

Philadelphia Inquirer - July 8, 1873

Philadelphia Inquirer - July 30, 1890

South 6th Street - Mechanic Street - John J. Hayes - Engine Company 3 - Engine Company 1 - Samuel Lodge - Mortimer Wilson - William Bogia Charles Robinson - Ladder Company 1 - Cooper Hospital - Daniel Scofield

Philadelphia Inquirer - January 10, 1904

Pine Street - Farr & Bailey's Oilcloth Works - Engine Company 1

*ENGINE COMPANY 1 PERSONNEL MARCH 15, 1909 - APRIL 22, 1910** The information below was gleaned from the actual attendance log for Engine Company 1. Please note that William Buzine served with Engine 1 in September of 1909 and November of 1909, but not in October of 1909. James Navins served as a substitute at least once in each month beginning in September of 1909, through April of 1910. William Morris served as a substitute in July, August and September of 1909. Josiah Sage served as a substitute in August and September, 1909.
JOHN A. STOCKTON	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
WILLIAM O. SAWYER	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
GEORGE R. TENNER	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
ANDREW MILLER	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
JOSEPH B. AYRES	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
JOSEPH DALEY	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
MARTIN CARRIGAN	MARCH 15, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
JAMES P. LEWIS	MARCH 15, 1909	MARCH 1, 1910
FRANK N. STOCKTON	MARCH 15, 1909	APRIL 15, 1910
GEORGE H. HUNTA	MARCH 2, 1910	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910
JOSEPH SPARKS	APRIL 16, 1909	ACTIVE on April 22, 1910

JAMES NAVIN	SEPTEMBER 1909	APRIL 1910
WILLIAM MORRIS	JULY 1909	SEPTEMBER 1909
JOSIAH SAGE	AUGUST 1909	SEPTEMBER 1909
WILLIAM BUZINE	SEPTEMBER 1909 NOVEMBER 1909

Philadelphia Inquirer
June 27, 1914

John A. Stockton - Peter B. Carter
Charles Worthington - Samuel Whitezell
Charles Cook - Engine Company 1

Philadelphia Inquirer - July 22, 1914

Pine Street - Joseph A. Ware - James Ware
Fillmore Street - Cooper Hospital - Locust Street
Joseph A. Ware - Engine Company 1

Philadelphia Inquirer - July 27, 1914	Joseph A. Ware Rev. Martin Stockett Charles Cook Richard Marter James Navin Louis Shaw Spencer Smith Alfred Hayden Engine Company 1 Church of Our Saviour

*Camden Courier-Post July 22, 1941**

...continued...

...continued...

George E. Brunner - William C. Schriver - Leo G. Stephans - Sgt. Ray Smith Fred Vogel - Samuel Shapiro - James H. O'Brien - Albert C. Becker - Roy C. Adams Burnell S. Hartman - Michael Mungioli - Carrie R. Bean - Anne D. Spooner Engine Company 1 - Engine Company 3 - Engine Company 7 - Engine Company 8 Engine Company 9 - Engine Company 10 - Engine Company 11 Engine Company 2 (Fire Headquarters)

Engine 1 helmet belong in firefighter John Meksa

Engine Company 1 - 1990s

From left: Captain Paul Matyjasik, ________, _________, Dan Baker

Be Sure to Click on Images for Enlarged Views

Many of the above photographs are from the limited edition book "Fire Department Camden NJ 125 Anniversary 1869-1994" and were taken by Bob Bartosz. Others are courtesy of Joel Bain of the Camden Fire Department.

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