Camden People - Clarence Fuhrman

CLARENCE FUHRMAN was born in New Jersey on June 18, 1895, the second of six children born to Abraham and Rose Fuhrman. His father was a dealer in jewelry. Clarence Fuhrman graduated from the Camden Manual Training and High School at Haddon and Newton Avenues in 1914. The 1920 Census shows the family living at 444 Broadway. Clarence Fuhrman was already a skilled musician by this time, earning his leaving as a piano teacher and performing in concert. Another branch of the Fuhrman family also conducted a retail furniture store on Broadway for many years. A trained musician, Clarence Fuhrman was teaching piano by 1920. In 1924 he established the Fuhrman School of Music, and was operating at 581 Stevens Street by 1928. This school taught many aspiring musicians in Camden from these days through the 1950s. He employed musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra both to teach, and to play in various bands and orchestras that he led over the years.

Clarence Furhman's Orchestra worked steadily on Philadelphia radio stations as early as 1927 through the the 1930s and 1940s. Some of his early work was on WIP. In the late 30s and early 40s the Clarence Fuhrman Band backed young singer Barbara Hayes on a WCAU radio show called 'Batter Up (with Barbara Hayes)' before each Phillies baseball game. In January of 1940 he was named musical director of radio station KYW in Philadelphia.

The 1930 Census shows Clarence Fuhrman living at 300 Westmont Avenue in Haddonfield NJ as the home of Frank B. Middleton Jr. and his wife Gertrude.

The 1947 Polk's Directory for the Camden area shows Clarence Fuhrman and his wife Mina living at 225 Windsor Avenue in Haddonfield NJ. He lived at that address throughout the 1950s. By 1959 he had moved his music school from Camden to 312 Haddon Avenue in Haddonfield. Clarence Fuhrman also co-wrote the campaign song for Richard Nixon's 1960 presidential race, Click With Dick, with Oliva Hoffman and George Stork during this time.

The 1970 New Jersey Bell Telephone directory shows the Clarence Fuhrman Orchestra on Simpson Avenue in Ocean City NJ.

Clarence Fuhrman spent his last years as a resident of Lancaster CA, before his passing in November of 1977.

Camden Courier-Post - January 7, 1928

FUHRMAN IS CONDUCTOR OF NEW RADIO GROUP

Picked members of the Philadelphia Orchestra are included in a new ensemble that performed for the first time last night from Gimbel Brothers radio station WIP, when the “Newton Coal Hour” was put on the air.

The ensemble was conducted by Clarence Fuhrman, director of the Fuhrman School of Music here.

This is the second orchestra that Mr. Fuhrman conducts each week from the station, the other being the Lord Calvert Coffee Hour. Mr. Fuhrman has also been chosen to supervise a group of Philadelphia Orchestra men, known as the WIP Instrumental Ensemble, who broadcast the Fireside Hour.

Camden Courier-Post - January 7, 1928

FUHRMAN RECITALS
School Will Give Concert Tonight and Radio Program Monday From WIP

The Fuhrman School of Music has announced an addition to the faculty in Walter Podosek, Victor recording artist. Podosek will teach piano and chromatic accordion.

The next pupil’s recital of the academy is scheduled for tonight. Those who will appear at this time are William Van Edre, Dorothy Marino, Laura Easton, Grace Hill, Sylvia Teitelman, Winifred Del Duca, Reba Lukoff, Martha Bagley, Dorothy Bernheimel, Sylvia Oser, Lillian Hughes, Grace Feldman, Miriam Cook, Berth Plevinsky, Dorothy Corr, and Elmer Ponti.

The next radio program to be presented by Fuhrman pupils will be Monday January 9, when a group will play from Gimbel Brothers radio station WIP. The school at the present time has the largest enrollment in its history.

Camden Courier-Post * June 24, 1933

VOCATIONAL CLASS TOLD THEY ARE SURE TO GET JOBS SOON
U. of P. Director Addresses 75 Graduates and 500 Who Attend Exercises
EFFICIENCY REWARDED

By Frank Sheridan

In expressing optimism over the future, Professor William C. Ash, director of vocational training at the University of Pennsylvania told the graduates of the Camden County Vocational Training School last night that they would have jobs within six months.

"Sixty-five percent of the graduates of Harvard University have already obtained jobs," he declared. More than 500 attended the exercises.

Professor Ash congratulated the board of freeholders on its decision to continue the school after voting to close it at the end of the present term. He criticized public officials for urging the closing of such schools. He called it "silly" to interrupt the work.

"I know the advantage of a vocational training school because I began as a worker myself and I have always associated with them," he declared. "Industrial education is highly important today. It is intricate and must ever change to meet the time."

He said he worked 10 and 12 hours a day when he first started. Now a 30-hour week is being advocated, he declared. He predicted that in 50 years from now men will retire at 40 and enjoy the fruits of their labors.

The graduating class was presented by Joseph M. Hall, director of the school, and Burleigh B. Draper, president of the board of education for the school, presented the diplomas.

John S. Ray, assistant director. presented a gold watch to Donald Koerner for the highest average in plumbing. Special certificates were presented the following for safety efficiency: Fred Shords, Theodore Ratzel, Frederick Young, Daniel Shaw and Harold Tompkinson.

A musical program was given by Clarence Fuhrman's orchestra and vocal selections by Edward Rhein.

Rev. Pennington Corson, pastor of Frances Childs M.E. Church, West Collingswood, offered the benediction.

Camden Courier-Post * February 1, 1938

*Retires Today*	TEACHES 35 YEARS, SHE’LL KEEP HOUSE Miss Taylor's Fondest Wish to Come True After Retirement Today Miss Carolina W. Taylor bids goodbye today -to the second grade class room at the Broadway School where she has taught for 35 years. In that time this quiet little teacher has seen the surrounding neighborhood change from a languid residential area to a business center and methods of teaching and even the attitude of the school children transformed. Now comes the biggest change of all for Miss Taylor. She is going to retire and keep house. And believe it or not, all the time she has been earning the title of a most efficient teacher, Miss Taylor confesses she has longed to do but one thing, keep house! The scene of Miss Taylor's homemaking activities will be the residence at 104 Powelton Avenue, Woodlynne, where she makes her home with a sister, Miss Harriet Taylor, formerly a teacher at Central School, and a brother, Thomas A. Taylor. Attended School Here Miss Taylor’s experience with Camden schools dates back

MISS CAROLINA W. TAYLOR
even further than her teaching career for she was born and educated in this city. Discussing her education in the old high school at Second and Federal Streets, Miss Taylor laughed as she recalled lapses in class work while the teachers hastened to tend the coal stoves. She graduated from high school in 1901 and finished the normal school course, then included in the high school, in 1902. Her first assignment was substitute work at Broadway School and with the exception of a couple of months spent at Liberty School, she has instructed second grade there ever since. Miss Taylor thoroughly approves of the newer methods of education in which more freedom is allowed the pupil. She declares much, more can be accomplished with a class and the children do not dread school. "We have no bashful pupils any more," she declared. If I can remember how I suffered from shyness when I was the age of these little tots." Recalls Many Pupils Despite her many years in the classroom and her long procession of pupils, Miss Taylor can rapidly recall their names to mind. There was Judge Clifford A. Baldwin, who she remembers as a quiet, lovable little boy; Dr. Alexander Ellis, who she terms her "cutest" pupil; Clarence Fuhrman, Dr. Byron Tuttle, the late Dr. Russell Atkinson, Anna Snow, of Temple University; E. Howard Broome, Dr. Everett Hemphill, Dr. Paul Ironside, and Warren Mainak. Many of her boys, she declares, seem to have become professional men, while few of her girls, so far as she has been able to ascertain, have followed the teaching profession. Miss Taylor's niece, Miss Ella Ellis, also is a teacher at Broadway School.

Camden Courier-Post - February 26, 1938

Clarence Fuhrman, director of the Fuhrman School of Music, will present the following students in recital on Friday evening, March 11. Barbara Ball, Eugene Vogel, Charles Liebich, Dolores Schwartz, Ralph Bause, Dorothy Partridge, Burwell Merkh, Fredrick Merkh, Margaret Dobbins, Walter Neebart; Renee Neebart, Esther DiFelic, Rita Morrow,
Clair Stringfellow, Joan Strahle, George Richards, Mark Martin, Dolores Marie Catado.

Recital will be held in the School auditorium, 581 Stevens Street, Camden, at 8 p. m.

Camden Courier-Post - October 2, 1936

Click on Image to Enlarge