William
J.
Hopkins

WILLIAM J. HOPKINS was born in Camden on November 22, 1923 to William Hopkins and his wife Mary. His father was a member of the Camden Fire Department.

The 1930 census shows the family, which included younger sister Mary, at 520 Grant Street in North Camden. The 1940 Camden City Directory shows William Hopkins residing at 819 Grant Street.

William J. Hopkins Jr. was appointed to the Camden Fire department on December 30, 1955. He reported for duty with Ladder Company 1 on January 1, 1956 and served his entire career there.

By the end of the 1960s William J. Hopkins Jr.  moved to 127 South 32nd Street in East Camden, and maintained a residence there through at least 1980. He retired from the Fire Department on July 1, 1981.

William J. Hopkins Jr. was last a resident of Villas in Cape May County, New Jersey. He died on May 1, 1985.

Camden Courier-Post - December 30, 1955

Camden Courier-Post * August 19, 1957

Firemen Here Get Advanced First Aid Course

More than 40 members of the Camden Fire Department have completed the Red Cross course in advanced first aid according to announcement today by Howard F. Keller, Collingswood, chairman of the Camden County Chapter's first aid committee. 

Instruction sessions were under the direction of Fire Chief William V. Pfefferle, Drillmaster Anthony Dzinski, a member of the local chapter first aid group, assisted by Nicholas E. George, were instructors. Dzinski is a member of the Red Cross faculty at the National Aquatic School held in this area each year for instruction in advance safety techniques. Dick Harris, director of Red Cross safety services, supervised.

All members of the graduating class are personnel of several units housed at fire department headquarters here. These include the Headquarters Company, Engine Company 2, Rescue Squad 1 and Truck Company 1. These groups include: 

Rescue Squad: Captains Arthur Batten, Philip A. Stinger and Albert Weller; Edward Brendlinger, Harrison MacNeir, Robert Olesiewicz and James W. Smith.

Headquarters Company: Raymond Banford, John K. Voll and John W. Yates.

Truck Company 1: Captains Daniel Jiannetto, Robert E. Dukes and Otto V. Kaiser; William Watkin, Chester Gedrich, George Baxter, John Mogck, George C. Hennessy, Charles Devlin, Ambrose W. Faust, Joseph McTaggart, Howard R. Taggart, William G. Winstanley and Elmer Johnson Jr.

Engine Company 2: Captains James R. Asher, Thomas Winstanley; Carl Wirtz, James McGrory, Edwin V. Decker, James Stewart, Francis X. McTaggart, Anthony T. Orme, Mario D. Fattore, James O. Jones, Francis P. Stibi, William Hopkins, Robert E. Briggs, John Giuliano, Casper Martelli, Harold H. Pike, John J. Vane, William Stibi, John DiMaggio and Harry Kleinfelder.

Engine Company 2 with new pumper in front of quarters, 5th & Arch Streets, 1960. 
Bottom row, from left: Fireman Harrison MacNeir, Chief Edward MacDowell, Fireman James Troutman, Captain Albert Weller, Fireman Charles Devlin, Fireman William Hopkins, Fireman George Hennessey; Top row, left to right: Fireman Francis Stibi, Fireman Robert Briggs, Fireman Bertram Dahl, Fireman Erwin Brennan, Captain Thomas Winstanley, Fireman Anthony Orme..

October 9, 1973

Firefighter William Hopkins
at the Tiller
Ladder Company 1

Fire at the
Liberty Public School

740 Spruce Street

Click on Image to Enlarge

Camden Courier-Post
June 3, 1985