Camden People - Matthew Davies

MATTHEW JOHN DAVIES JR. was born on January 6, 1932 in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania to Mary B. and Matthew Davies. By 1947 the family had moved to Camden, where they lived at 942 Pearl Street. The elder Davies worked as a buffer. The Davies family maintained a presence at the Pearl Street address as late as 1980.

Matthew J. Davies was was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on November 23, 1956 and reported for duty at Engine Company 11 on the December 1. He was promoted to Captain on August 16, 1963 and to Battalion Chief on December 31, 1968.

Matthew Davies retired from the Camden Fire Department on December 1, 1981. His father had moved to the Williamstown area and died on August 29, 1993. Last a resident of Maple Shade New Jersey, Matthew J. Davies died on January 7, 1994.

Engine Company 11
Photo by Bob Bartosz

Engine Company 11, rough and dirty after another working fire at the old "starch works" on Lemuel Avenue in East Camden. From left Fire Fighters Phil Stinger, Jack Schott, Herb Baxter, Bill O'Connor and Matt Davies. Circa 1957

The Firehouse Family
Engine Company 11 - 1958
Click on Image to Enlarge
Photo by Bob Bartosz

Seated, From left: Fireman Matthew Davies, Fireman Frank Deal, Captain Edwin Robbins; Fireman William D. O'Connor.
Standing: Fireman Harry J. Allebach, who retired February 1, 1958.

Camden Courier-Post * September 22, 1966

...continued...

John Gryckiewicz - Howard Doerschner - Matthew Davies - Engine Company 6 - Keith Kaufman
Emily Burns - North 2nd Street - Wilmer Porter - George F. Rossner - Leo Mendez

Camden Courier-Post * December 26, 1968

ANTHONY C. SAPONARE

25 Firemen Finish Training

In a move aimed at staffing the Camden Fire Department for a new 42-hour work week. 25 probationary firemen will be graduated from the city fire academy Monday and 10 fire officers will be given promotions Tuesday.

Heading the list of fire officer promotions will be the selection of Battalion Chief Anthony C. Saponare, 51, of 117 S. 27th Street, Camden, as deputy fire chief. The new deputy chief is a 26-year veteran on the city fire force.

Two fire captains to be promoted to battalion chief are Matthew J. Davies, Jr., 36, of 2819 Carman Street, Camden, and James H. Stewart, 54, of 317 Garden Avenue, Camden.

Seven firemen to be named captains include William D. Hillman. 29, of 11 Crestfair Apartments, Camden; Joseph H. Arensberg, 32, of 1041 N. 32nd Street, Camden; Robert E. Briggs, 48, of 2861 Congress Road, Camden; and John Brzozowski, 28, 371 N. 34th Street, Camden.

Also to be named captains are Edmund F. Gorczynski, 36, of 272 N. 33rd Street, Camden; Anthony T. Orme, 44, 3317 River Road, Camden; and William B. Young, 29, of 1126 N. 33rd Street, Camden.

The new firemen include Richard E. Johnson, Thomas H. Eckel, Ronald C. Crowder, John A. DeLuca, Peter P. Carbone, Robert P. Hand, Robert M. Lapp, Jerome A. Kee, Thomas V. Kane, Charles E. Mayo, James C. Peterson and George S. Szychulski, all of Camden.

Other slated fire school graduates are Ronald Angemi, Robert C. Welch, Robert G. Boyle, Glenn H. Moore, Marvin W. Bendy, Thomas J. DiBiaso, Arthur J. Gibson, Daniel J. Galasso, Samuel Battle Jr., Ronald J. Boyle, Jerome J. Watson, George R. Abbey, 3rd., and William H. Huelas, all of Camden.

The appointments of all 35 men become effective Jan. 1, 1969.

Photo by Bob Bartosz