Camden People - Edwin Stanley Wirtz

EDWIN STANLEY WIRTZ was born in Camden, New Jersey on May 18, 1914 to Stanley R. Wirtz, and his wife, the former Emma McDade. Stanley R. Wirtz was at the time an iron molder. He was born in Pennsylvania on June 20, 1892, the son of Phillip and Mary Wirtz. The Wirtz family lived at 143 Dana Street in Philadelphia PA at the time of the 1900 Census. The elder Wirtz was then working in the leather industry. Besides Stanley, there was a younger brother, Edwin. By 1910 the family had moved to 913 Howard Street in North Camden. Stanley Wirtz was working as a moulder in an iron foundry, while father Phillip and younger brother Edwin were working in the leather industry. Stanley Wirtz married Emma McDade on New Years Day, January 1, 1912. She was the daughter of James McDade, a member of the Camden Fire Department.

Stanley Wirtz married Emma McDade on January,1, 1912. She was the daughter of James McDade, a member of the Camden Fire Department. As stated above, Edwin Stanley Wirtz was born to the couple in 1914. Directories from 1913 to 1916 show them living with Emma's parents at 414 North Front Street. Stanley Wirtz was still working as an iron molder when he registered for the draft in 1917. The family then lived at 511 Cedar street. He served in the United States Navy during World War I and as late as 1922, then returned to his family and iron molder job in Camden. The family made its home at 908 Point Street in 1920 and again with Emma's parents at 414 North Front Street in 1921 and 1922. Emma's father, James McDade, died while serving with the Camden Fire Department in 1922.

The 1923 and 1924 Directories shows the Stanley Wirtz family at 313 Erie Street. Not long after the 1924 Directory was compiled, Stanley Wirtz was appointed to the Camden Police Department. The 1926 Directory shows him working as a policeman and living at 1253 Thurman Street.

By 1930 the Wirtz family was living at 1339 Van Hook Street. Also living there was grandmother Mrs. Emma McDade and grandfather Philip Wirtz, then a watchman at Camden's old City Hall on Haddon Avenue.

Edwin S. Wirtz married Lillian May Dieser shortly after the Census was taken in April of 1930 and the compilation of the 1931 City Directory. The 1940 Census shows him living at 626 Ferry Avenue with his wife Lillian and children Ronald B., 3, Robert, 2, and Nancy, 1. Another child, Richard, had been born in 1938 but had died that same year. At the time of the census Edwin S. Wirtz was working as a truck driver. Three more children would follow, Dorothy, James, and Linda Wirtz

In October of 1943 Edwin S. Wirtz was appointed to the Camden Fire Department, where he served for 22 years, as a firefighter and lastly as an inspector with the Fire Marshall's office. His cousin, Carl M. Wirtz, joined the Camden Fire Department in 1951. After serving in the military during World War II, Edwin S. Wirtz returned to Camden. The 1947 City Directory shows him living in the Civic Center homes that were built for veteran's housing after World War II and razed to make way for the overpass on Admiral Wilson Boulevard near the old Sear Roebuck store.

By the summer of 1957 Edwin S. Wirtz and his family were living at 2662 Berkley Street in East Camden. In 1962 he was living at 1227 North 19th Street. Edwin S. Wirtz retired in March of 1965 after 22 years of service with the Camden Fire Department. He was then living at 2010 River Avenue in Camden. The Wirtz's separated and later divorced. Edwin Wirtz remarried, living in Maple Shade, New Jersey, and lastly in North Wildwood, New Jersey.

Edwin Stanley Wirtz passed away on April 10, 1975.