Camden People - John J. Graham

JOHN JAMES GRAHAM was born in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1912 to John James Graham and his wife, the former Elizabeth Olive Hoffman. The family, which included older brother Clair and younger siblings Robert and Emily was still living in Wilkes-Barre in January of 1920. By 1924 the family had moved to Camden. They were at 337 Chestnut Street in 1924.

John Graham was appointed to the Camden Fire Department in 1936. On October 14, 1942 older brother Clair "Reds" Graham, also became a member of the Camden Fire Department.

The 1940 Camden City Directory shows John J. Graham, and his wife Gladys living at 1018 Monitor Road in the Fairview section of Camden. The 1947 Camden City Directory shows John J. Graham living at 603 North 35th Street.

John Graham retired in 1960 on a disability pension due to a bad neck injury that occurred on a fire. By this point in his career he had been promoted to the rank of District Chief, based at the East Camden fire house at North 27th Street and Federal Street.

After Chief Graham retired, he moved to Florida to be with his daughter Carolyn McClure and family. John James Graham passed away on April 15, 1995 at his daughter's house in Florida.

There was another Camden Department firefighter named John Graham, who was one of the original members of Camden's paid fire department, entering service with Engine Company 2 on December 7, 1869.

Boy, 3, Saved During Blaze By Baby Sitter

An 18-year-old baby sitter ran with her three-year-old charge Monday afternoon from a blazing residence at 1145 DuPont Street in the Cramer Hill section.

Bertha Reed, 928 North 21st Street, was watching Michael Moran, while the child's mother, Mrs. Mary Moran, was out. At 3:55 PM, Miss Reed saw smoke curling up from the living room floor. She quickly put Michael's outdoor cloth ing on him and ran with him to the street.

Engines 9 and 11 and Truck 3 responded to a box alarm pulled by a neighbor. The firemen found flames had eaten through a partition in the house to the second floor. They donned gas masks before entering the blazing structure.

The fine spread to the basement and first floor of 1143 DuPont Street occupied by Mrs. Moran's mother, Mrs. Anna Abel. who was not at home at the time.

Main damage was to the dining room of the Moran residence. District Fire Chief John Graham said wood piled near a coal stove in the basement had ignited and had fired the partition of the two-story twin, frame dwelling.

Camden Courier-Post
February 14, 1956

Graduation of Probationary Fireman
1959
Click on Image to Enlarge

Graduation of Probationary Fireman (from left) Chief John Graham, Captain Anthony Dzinski, Assistant Training Officer Nicholas George, Firemen Herman Reed, Bertram Dahl, Joseph Dowhy, Joseph Simpson, Edward Morgenweck, Charles Christensen, Joseph Wolfinger, George Dixon, Edward Ulrich, Reginald Laws, Grant Keller, and Chief Edward MacDowell.