Harold H. Pike
Harold Hadley Pike Jr. was born on March 22, 1926 to Harold H. Pike and his wife, the former Agnes Lynn. The 1926 and 1927 Camden City Directories show the Pike family at 1302 Green Street; the 1928 Directory lists them at 935 North 20th Street. The 1930 Census records Harold H. Pike and his parents living at 1156 Marion Street with Agnes' parents, Ross and Mary Lynn, and her brother, Robert T. Lynn.
Harold H. Pike's uncle, Robert T. Lynn, was killed in action in France on September 5, 1944.
After serving in the United States Navy, Harold Pike tested for the Camden Fire Department. He was appointed on November 15, 1950 and reported for duty the following day. After serving almost 10 years at Ladder Company 1, he was promoted to Captain and sent to Engine Company 1. On May 30, 1964 he was promoted to District Chief. He was then living at 939 North 31st Street in Cramer Hill. When Camden removed residency restrictions for city employees, Pike moved to Marlton, New Jersey.
Harold H. Pike served as District Chief with the Third Platoon until 1967, when he was transferred to the Fire Academy. In 1968 he was promoted to Fire Marshal and made Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention. He retired on pension on April 1, 1981.
After retiring from the Camden Fire Department, Harold H. Pike moved to Winter Garden, Florida. He died in Florida on September 14, 1998 and was buried at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Gotha, Florida.
Tag: harold-h-pike
Source of Fire Obscure
Camden Courier-Post - December 2, 1980 CAMDEN—The intense heat of a fire that killed four children here yesterday caused so much damage to their Erie Street row home that authorities are having trouble determining the cause of the blaze.
4 Children killed, 2 other persons injured in Camden fire
Philadelphia Inquirer - December 2, 1980 CAMDEN — Four children were killed and two persons were injured early yesterday when a fire swept through a brick rowhouse in a low-income neighborhood here just north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
Bar patrons mourn murdered buddies
Regulars at The Tavern, a North Sixth Street bar, mourned Benjamin Shablack and John Barrett, two retired roommates bound, gagged, and left to die in a fire set in their North Camden rowhouse on Bailey Street. Fire Marshal Harold Pike found the fire was deliberately set in four locations.
Cigarettes or heater sparked fire
Fire Marshal Harold Pike reported that a cigarette or portable heater started the fire that killed five residents of an unlicensed elderly boarding home in Camden in November 1977; the structure lacked a fire escape, smoke alarm, and sprinklers.
Camden Bank, Business Bldg. Targets of Two Firebombings
Two firebombings struck Camden within 16 minutes of each other on December 22, 1971. The first was at 333 Arch Street, housing several businesses including the Puerto Rico Labor Department office. The second struck the Third National Bank of New Jersey at 27th and Federal Streets. Police impounded a red Volkswagen matching witness descriptions. There were no injuries.
5 Juveniles Arrested in Plant Blaze
Five North Camden boys aged 11 to 14 were arrested after a general-alarm fire at the vacant former John R. Evans Co. leather tanning plant at Second and Erie Streets in December 1971; Fire Marshal Harold Pike estimated the loss at up to $200,000.
Fire Death Of Woman Is Probed
Fire Marshal Harold Pike enlisted the Camden detective bureau to investigate the death of Mrs. Elizabeth McLeish, 37, found burned to death in her Woodland Avenue home in November 1971.
Fire Captain Is Promoted
Camden Fire Captain Harold H. Pike was promoted to district fire chief on April 30, 1964, sworn in at City Hall by City Clerk Odorisio before Public Safety Director Kauffman, Fire Chief Edward R. MacDowell, and acting Deputy Chief Edward Michalak.
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.
37 Camden Men Pass Tests for City Firemen
Thirty-seven candidates passed the Civil Service test for Camden firefighter in December 1949 — among them brothers Santo and John DiMaggio of 319 Beckett Street.