Tag
Arthur Cuellen Batten (1904–1972), known to his fellow firefighters as Artie, joined the Camden Fire Department on March 4, 1927 and served until his retirement on February 28, 1969, rising to captain of Rescue Company 1 and acting battalion chief. He lived for many years at 1132 North 22nd Street in Cramer Hill and invented the un-patented ring cutter used by the rescue company to remove finger jewelry.
John C. Voll Jr. (1900-1979) was born in Camden and served the Camden Fire Department for 40 years, entering the department on January 15, 1925 and retiring on December 1, 1965. He lived his later years at 2737 Garfield Avenue in the Cramer Hill section of Camden.
On the eve of his March 1980 retirement dinner, Camden fire captain John P. Gryckiewicz looked back on 40 years with the department — the rescues, the Garden State Race Track fire, 84-hour weeks and $60 paychecks, and a city he still loved.
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.
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.
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.