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HERMAN
JOHN BAKER was born in Camden in November of 1898 to Benjamin and Annie
Baker. The family was living at 1104 Marion
Street in South Camden at
the time of the 1900 Census, and were still at that address through
1906. The 1910 Census found the Baker family living at 580 Chestnut
Street. Herman Baker was still living there in 1917 when he
registered for the draft. At that time he was working for the government
as a civilian employee at an armory.
Herman Baker married around 1918,
and with his wife Emma had three children, Ruth, Viola, and Herman Jr.
The Bakers lived at 829 Spruce Street in 1920, when Herman Baker was
working at one of Camden's shipyards. The 1924 City Directory shows him
working as a laborer and living at 1112 Marion
Street.
Herman
J. Baker joined the Camden Fire
Department on November 1, 1926 and served for 25 years as a ladderman for Hook
& Ladder Company No. 2 at 619 Kaighn
Avenue. The 1929 City Directory shows Herman J. Baker and
family living at 909 South
7th Street. At the time
of the 1930 Census, the Baker family was renting a home at 612 Walnut
Street. By 1931 he had moved to 613 Mount
Vernon Street. Later in the 1930s he moved to 1297 Decatur Street
and
was staying there when the 1940 City Directory was
compiled.
On
Monday, March 10, 1941, a fire near South
7th Street
and Pine
Streets, South Camden,
nearly claimed the life of the occupant. Acting Captain John
Naylor and Fireman Joseph
A. Gfrorer of Ladder Company 2, rescued a woman from the
floor above under punishing conditions. The victim was removed by
portable ladder with the
assistance of Fireman Herman Baker.
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