Arthur C. Batten
Arthur Cuellen Batten was born on February 27, 1904 in Glassboro, New Jersey, to John Alexander Batten and his wife, the former Mary Emma Gurlin. He was one of ten children, and he had two step-brothers from his father's previous marriage. The John A. Batten family had relocated to Camden by 1906, taking up residence at 807 South 9th Street, and were still at that address as late as 1924. Arthur Batten attended school through the sixth grade and, like many other boys of his era, went to work to help his family. The 1920 Census shows him working as a machinist's helper at a forge. He later worked repairing automobiles.
When the 1924 Camden City Directory was compiled, Arthur Batten was still single and living with his parents and siblings at the South 9th Street address. Older brother Raymond, who had served four years in the Navy prior to America's entry into World War I, was living with his wife Bennetta at 1132 North 22nd Street in Cramer Hill. Arthur Batten would later make his home at this address. This home would remain in the Batten family for over 53 years.
Arthur C. Batten, who was known to friends, family, and his brother firefighters as Artie, was appointed to the Camden Fire Department on March 4, 1927. He married Mabel Greenwood about the same time. The Battens were blessed with a son, Melvin Arthur, in July of 1929, but tragically, he died shortly after his birth. A daughter, Karen, would come later. His early years with the Fire Department were served with Engine Company 2 at Fire headquarters, North 5th and Arch Streets.
Shortly before 8 A.M. on July 11, 1929, a twelve-year-old boy walking along Front Street near Elm saw smoke coming from the West Jersey Paper Company. The factory building, a large structure, was heavily fortified with reinforced doors and steel mesh window screens. The Box at Point and Pearl Streets was transmitted and Engines 6, 4 and 2 with Ladder 1 and Battalion 1 turned out. As the alarm was received shortly before Roll Call, several units responded with the manpower of double strength companies. The building's fortifications posed serious forcible entry and ventilation problems for arriving fire fighters. By the time companies got water on the blaze, the entire paper and lime stock was ruined. The factory erupted into huge clouds of dense, acrid smoke as the fire extended to roll after roll of paper stock. Armed with pike poles and axes, Truckies wore themselves out forcing entry to countless windows and doors along the perimeter of the building.
As handlines were advanced to the interior of the structure, Hosemen Harry Layton and George Kirby became lost inside the factory under worsening smoke conditions. Fortunately, Kirby located a doorway and guided Layton to the outside where both men collapsed in the street. The new mascot of Engine Company 2, Jack the Airedale, belonged to Fireman Artie Batten. This blaze was the dog's first major fire and he caused considerable comment among the men. Dashing into the heavily charged building, accompanying Fireman Batten and braving the dense smoke for twenty minutes at a time, the mascot would only return to the street when Engine 2 would withdraw for a blow of fresh air. For many years to come, Jack would attend hundreds of fires with Engine Company 2, and would later be killed in the line of duty. In all, seven fire fighters were overcome in the dense smoke of the paper factory. The blaze resulted in a $65,000 property loss and was the third serious fire to occur at that location in twenty-five years.
When the census was taken in April of 1930, Arthur and Mabel Batten were renting a home at 856 Mount Ephraim Avenue. Mabel's father, John Greenwood, was living with them, and they supplemented their income by renting a room to Amelia Kellner, who worked at the RCA-Victor factory. The Battens' next door neighbors at 854 were Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Leviseur. Mr. Leviseur was a fellow member of the Camden Fire Department. The Battens moved to 1186 Jackson Street during the 1930s. By 1940 they had moved across the street to 1187 Jackson Street.
During the 1930s both Artie Batten and his wife Mabel were active in the Camden Police and Fireman's Association and the Camden Police and Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary, which maintained a clubhouse at 1175 Whitman Avenue. He was part of a committee that put together a testimonial dinner for Herbert Bott, outgoing president of the association, on February 4, 1938.
In August of 1941, Arthur Batten was selected to be one of the Camden Fire Department members who would serve in the honor guard at the funeral of City Commissioner Henry Magin.
The 1943 Camden City Directory shows Arthur Batten living at 1165 Lansdowne Avenue. By 1947 the Batten family had moved to 1132 North 22nd Street in Camden's Cramer Hill neighborhood, where his brother Raymond and his wife also lived. Arthur and Mabel Batten lived in Fairview during the middle and late 1950s. Raymond Batten passed away in December of 1963, and it appears that Arthur and Mabel Batten returned to North 22nd Street around that time.
Among Arthur Batten's later assignments were a captaincy in the 1960s with Rescue Company 1, of which he had been one of the original members. While with Rescue Company 1 he invented an un-patented device called a ring cutter that was used to remove finger jewelry. The Rescue Company responded to many calls where pregnant women were unable to remove their wedding rings and other jewelry, which was necessary at time of delivery. Arthur Batten's tool was refined from the modification of a conventional can opener and the original device is still being used as of August, 2008.
By February of 1967 Arthur C. Batten had been promoted to Acting Battalion Chief.
Arthur C. Batten served for 42 years with the Camden Fire Department, before retiring on February 28, 1969. He had suffered a heart attack while fighting a fire which necessitated his retirement. He was not, however, done serving the City of Camden and his brother fire fighters. Captain Batten had always supported the South Jersey Fire Buffs Association, whose members included Bob Bartosz and Bob Dolan, who with Volunteers of America Col. William Gwynne operated a canteen truck that would come out to provide coffee and refreshments to fire fighters at all hours of the day and night and in all weather conditions. Arthur Batten convinced his doctors to allow him to go out with the Canteen Truck. For as long as his health permitted, Artie Batten continued to respond to fire calls and provided aid and assistance to his comrades.
Eventually deteriorating health made his involvement with the Fire Buffs Association impossible. Arthur C. Batten passed away on April 18, 1972, survived by his wife and daughter. The family was still living at the Cramer Hill address as late as 1977, but by 1980 had left Camden. Mabel Batten, last a resident of Laurel Springs, New Jersey, joined her husband on February 28, 1999.
Fire Mascot Jack
Funeral for Fire Mascot Jack
The American Fire Service has always held domesticated animals as esteemed mascots and the Camden Fire Department was certainly no exception. Through the years there have been many types of mascots in the Department including monkeys, cats, goats, and of course the most popular mascot, the dog. Dating back to the days of horse drawn fire apparatus and even earlier when carriage dogs formed an integral bond with horses, canines distinguished themselves as animals especially attuned to firehouse life.
Jack was the company mascot of Engine 2 and Ladder 1 at old Fire Headquarters for over five years and he was described as an intelligent Airedale of good humored nature. Jack never missed an opportunity to climb aboard the apparatus and answer alarms with his beloved masters. The sight of Engine Company 2 roaring out Federal Street with Jack perched high atop the apparatus, wind blowing in his face amid the shrill pitch of the buckeye whistle and clanging bells was an unforgettable scene. Occasionally and as with all active canines, Jack would be out of quarters and around the corner or down the street when an alarm was transmitted. At such times he would dash down Fifth Street until he caught up with the rolling apparatus and would skillfully leap upward to his accustomed place on the rig. It was under these circumstances that Jack lost his life.
The Department phone jingled and the Housewatchman turned out both companies for an alarm at 119 N. 9th Street. Jack got a late start on the hike and chased the apparatus out Federal Street where he tangled with an automobile at Broadway. While trying to avoid the car Jack darted into the path of the apparatus and was fatally injured. The men of the Engine and Truck were heart broken. Jack was buried the next day in the rear yard of Fire Headquarters in the place that had been his home since puppyhood. Flowers were planted to adorn the fresh grave while some of the toughest Firemen in the house were visibly grief stricken. One year later on the anniversary of Jack's death a memorial service was held after Roll Call in the rear yard of Fire Headquarters. The members erected a tombstone and in a quiet service, Fireman John Yates blew taps over Jack's grave. There were no words spoken. All that needed to be said was inscribed upon the little headstone: "Our Faithful Pal Jack" died in service, November 5, 1934.
Captain Arthur C. Batten with Rescue Company 1 — June 1964
The Ring Cutter in Service
1970 Retirement Dinner
Fire Department Personnel Record
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Tag: arthur-c-batten
22nd Street
22nd Street spans the former Pavonia section — now Cramer Hill — and extends south to Federal Street in East Camden, already laid out by the time the 1887–1888 Camden City Directory was published.
William Van Pfefferle
William Van Pfefferle was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 17, 1891. William Van Pfefferle married Elsie Maxwell. Her father, Joseph Maxwell , was a career Camden Fire Department fire fighter.
Arthur C. Batten
Death notice of Arthur C. Batten, 60, of 1132 North 22nd Street, Camden; a Camden police and fire association member and past captain of the Fifth and Arch Streets Rescue Squad.
A. C. Batten Services Set For Friday
Obituary of Capt. Arthur C. Batten of 1132 North 22nd Street, retired Acting Battalion Chief of the Camden Fire Department and former captain of the department's Rescue Squad, who died at Cooper Hospital on April 18, 1972 after 42 years of service.
Probe Set In Blaze; Two Hurt
Acting Battalion Chief Arthur Batten requested an arson investigation after two fires damaged bedrooms at 223 Milton Street in North Camden and injured firemen Richard Francesconi and Truman Maples.
4 Trapped in Blaze Saved by Firemen
A rash of overnight fires in Camden during a February 1967 snowstorm destroyed Ray's Tavern at 5th and Mickle Streets and damaged four buildings; police and firemen rescued four elderly residents, and Acting Battalion Chief Arthur Batten's crew answered the second call for aid after fighting two North Camden blazes.
Thomas Carr Heads Police, Fire Group
Thomas J. Carr Sr. was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association for 1958; Arthur C. Batten was elected recording secretary and Winfield Leviseur chairman of the board of managers.
Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course
More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department — Rescue Squad, Headquarters, Truck and Engine company men housed at fire headquarters — completed the Red Cross advanced first aid course. Robert Olesiewicz was among the graduates.
5 Children Die in South Jersey Waters
Three Drummond children of 912 Chestnut Street drowned in the Cooper River at Camden County Park while fishing; two more children died at Sea Isle City the same day. Camden firemen including Wesley Faust worked the recovery.
Drowning Spurs Move for Fence Along Riverfront
After 10-year-old Robert Allebach of 533 Bailey Street drowned falling from a raft in the Delaware River, North Camden neighbors petitioned the city in February 1950 to build a fence along the riverfront between Seventh and Eighth streets.
Henry Magin Laid to Rest by War Veteran Buddies
Funeral services for Camden City Commissioner Henry Magin were held in August 1941, with trucks of flowers in the funeral cortege and his war veteran comrades among those paying final honors.
Police, Fire Group to Honor Wallace
The Camden Police and Firemen's Association planned a buffet supper at 1175 Whitman Avenue honoring Bruce A. Wallace; committee included Arthur Batten and Winfield Leviseur.
Firemen Pallbearers for Lester Anderson
Funeral arrangements for Lester R. Anderson, 38, of Engine Company No. 2, who died in his sleep at the Fifth and Arch Streets fire house; Arthur Batten was among the pallbearers, all members of the engine company.
Wonsetler Hailed as Next President of State
Robert Wonsetler of the Camden Fire Department was hailed as the next state president of the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association at the 41st anniversary dinner of Camden Local No. 5, held at Kenney's Cafe in February 1938. Arthur Batten served on the dinner committee.
City Police Praised at Fete Honoring Acting Lieutenant Bott
Camden police and firemen gathered at Kenney's on February 3, 1938 to honor Acting Lieutenant Herbert Bott, retiring after five years as president of the Policemen and Firemen's Association. Commissioner Mary W. Kobus and Mayor George E. Brunner praised the force, and Arthur Batten served on the dinner committee.
Heads Auxiliary
Mrs. Anna Gleason, widow of Lester A. Gleason, was elected president of the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association at 1175 Whitman Avenue; Mrs. Mabel Batten was elected secretary.
Taps Sound for Jack Airedale, Canine Mascot of Fire Laddies
Camden firemen and policemen gave Jack, the Airedale mascot of the Headquarters Fire Company at Fifth and Arch Streets, a hero's funeral in November 1934 after he was crushed under the wheels of his own truck. An estimated 3500 people passed his bier, and taps were sounded over his grave at sunset; Arthur Batten was among the honorary bearers.
Cops and Firemen Will Elect Today
Notice of the February 9, 1933 election of officers of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association, with Herbert Bott unopposed for president. Russell Anderson was among ten candidates for fireman trustee.