William P. Spencer
WILLIAM PHILIP SPENCER was born on September 24, 1890 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Richard Spencer and the former Elizabeth “Lizzie” Spencer. His father was a machinist. The family, which included younger sisters Lizzie and Viola, was living in Philadelphia when the 1900 Census was taken.
William Spencer served in the United States Navy from 1998 [sic] to 1914, and went back into the Navy in May of 1914 for ten months. He went into the United States Army in May of 1917, serving in France from August of that year until April of 1919, during which time he survived a bout with spinal meningitis. His mother died while he was overseas, in March of 1918.
After being discharged at Fort Dix on April 29, 1919, William Spencer returned to Philadelphia. When the census was taken in January of 1920 he was living with his father and working as a patternmaker. William Spencer married Ida Amanda Barrett in Manhattan on January 14, 1920.
The Spencers do not appear in the 1924 Camden City Directory. By 1924 William Spencer had brought his family to Camden. In 1925 he secured an appointment to the Camden Fire Department. When the 1927 City Directory was compiled the Spencers lived at 314 Byron Street in the Poet’s Row section of North Camden. When the Census was taken in April of 1930, mother-in-law Ida Barrett and brother-in-law Randolph Barrett also lived there. William and Ida Spencer had three children when the Census was taken, Richard, Emma, and Ida Spencer.
Fire Department Records show that William P. Spencer was still living at 314 Byron Street in 1931. He soon moved to 916 North 3rd Street. William P. Spencer’s father, Richard Spencer, died in Philadelphia in 1933. Sometime during the 1930s, William P. Spencer moved to East Camden. On April 2, 1940 William P. Spencer was promoted to Captain.
William P. Spencer was a charter member of the Box 315 Association. Organized on January 1, 1928, the Box 315 Association was chartered for the mutual benefit of Camden Firemen, its principal purpose being to fund a commemorative badge for all members of the Department retiring at twenty or more years of service. In the event that an active member died before achieving retirement status, a death benefit in the sum of $20.00 would be paid to the member’s estate. Its title, 315, was arbitrarily chosen as the number of the first Box transmitted over the circuits, following the organization’s formation. A cabinet of Officers; a By-Laws Committee; Auditing Committee; and a Board of Trustees comprised of one representative from each fire company in the City, were designated by election and appointment.
All active members of the Department were expected to join the organization. An initiation fee of $1.00 and regular dues assessed at ten cents per month, funded operations. Any member of the Department that failed to join the organization within three months after completing his probationary period in the Uniformed Force, was required to pay an initiation fee of $5.00, plus the average of all dues and assessments incurred from the time he was eligible to join. The association met on the first Wednesday of each month.
Charter members of the By-Laws Committee were Chester Andrus, Chairman; Harry Wagner, Henry Zook, Harrison Pike, William Spencer and Nelson Andrews. The association is believed to have actively functioned until sometime during the 1940s. He was also active in veterans and Masonic circles.
The 1940 Camden City Directory shows William P. Spencer, then a captain with the Camden Fire Department, living at 38 South 32nd Street, apartment 2, in East Camden. He temporarily retired at half-pay due to illness in 1941. When he registered for the draft in the spring of 1942, William P. Spencer was still living at 38 South 32nd Street. When the 1943 City Directory was compiled, William Spencer and family had moved to 109 Terrace Avenue. He was still working as a Captain with the Fire Department at that time. William Spencer died on July 20, 1946 prior to the compilation of the 1947 Camden City Directory. His wife and three children are all listed, however, at 109 Terrace Avenue in East Camden.
World War II Draft Card
Tag: william-p-spencer
Henry E. Zook
Henry Evans Zook was born on March 29, 1888, in Evesham Township, New Jersey, to John Trimble Zook Sr. and Mary B. Evans.
32nd Street
32nd Street runs from the Delaware River through Cramer Hill and East Camden to the city limits at Highland Avenue, with North and South addresses dividing at Federal Street. At Westfield Avenue an acre of cultivated land and an old house called the "Mansion" were razed for the Westfield Acres housing project, which was itself razed in 2000 and replaced by Baldwin's Run.
Fire Capt. Spencer Temporarily Retired
Public Safety Commissioner Mary W. Kobus placed Junior Fire Captain William P. Spencer of 38 South Thirty-second Street on temporary retirement at half pay in April 1941 after illness left him unable to work.
Changes Announced in Fire Department
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.
M.F. Middleton Felled by Gas In House Here
Former Camden City Commissioner Melbourne F. Middleton, Jr., was found unconscious from gas in his former home at 538 Cooper Street; the Camden Fire Department First Aid Squad, including Russell Anderson, worked to revive him.
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.
Bott Chosen Head of Policemen, Firemen
Herbert Bott was re-elected president of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association on February 9, 1933, with William P. Spencer winning a three-cornered fight for vice president.
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.
Cops and Firemen Will Meet Rulers on 30% Pay Slash
Representatives of the Camden Police and Firemen's Association, including firemen John Plum, William P. Spencer and Harry Haines, Jr., were to meet the City Commission on January 6, 1933 over a proposed 30 percent salary cut, with the basis of the reduction for 41 five-year policemen the open question.