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Biography: George L. Dorsey was born on 28 January 1898, and was the son of George W. and Theresa (Magaha) Dorsey.
He met and married Mary Aurelia Yienger on 5 July 1932 and they raised five children together. Occupation information:
George L. became a Baltimore City Firefighter on October 1, 1924 and had listed on his application his prior employment was
a chemical processor. He was assigned as a fire fighter at Engine 52 which is located in what is now called Mondamin. He stayed
at Engine 52 until April 21, 1934 when he transferred to Eng 27 which was then located on West Lombard Street. He was at Eng
27 until December 16, 1934 when he then transfered to Eng 14 located still today on Hollins Street in Southwest Baltimore.
George stayed at Eng 14 until he made Lieutenant and was assigned to Engine Co. 55 located at Bush and Carroll Sts. While
at Eng 55 he was detailed to Eng 58 on July 26, 1941 when a six alarm fire broke out at Continental Oil Company in Fairfield
section of Baltimore, seven city fire fighters were burned, the most serious was Lt George L. Dorsey. He was admitted to South
Baltimore Hospital suffering from burns of the face head and upper body. I remeber as a child my mother telling a story
about my brother Lloyd taking my father fruit to the hospital, but when my father went to eat some after my brother had left
there was nothing left but the pits. He stayed at Engine 55 until being promoted to Captain and was assigned to Truck 22 on
December 11, 1943 until he transferred to Engine Co. # 8 on Layette Ave on May 2, 1946. He stayed at Engine 8, which at the
time and still is one of the busiest in the city, until his retirement on August 8, 1957. George was commended one time on
July 25, 1949. He had departmental charges placed against him twice, once on January 23, 1951 and five days later on January
28, 1951. We are not sure why he was commended or why charges were place against him We will look into that at a different
time.
My thoughts: George
L. Dorsey was my father. Most of his childhood was spent growing up in Southwest Baltimore. George never had a formal education,
but was self taught, I believe he only attended school until the third grade. As I recall he was very good in Math, helping
us kids when we needed it. My father never had any hobbies, too busy working and supporting his family. Being a Baltimore
City Fire Fighter in the 1940's and 50's the average work week was approx 70 hours a week. he also, along with my mother spent
many hours helping out at St Benedict's Church and School. When I was a child, we used to beg my father to tell us stories,
even when he was tired he would tell us stories about Elmer and Pedro, and they always had a moral message to them. I told
those same stories to my children when they were small. There was a game my father used to play with us kids, where my oldest
brother would go out of the room and we would touch something and then my brother would come back in the room and my father
would say, did he touch this etc. and my brother always knew what we had touched, it used to drive us nuts. I don't want to
cherry coat my childhood, because there were times my father could get really agitated with us kids. If he said " what are
you trying to do make a monkey out of me " watch out, but he never stayed mad for too long. My mother and father waited
to later in life to have children, my father was 47 and my mother was 41 when I came into this world. Even though we
were a middle class family, we were rich in the knowledge that our mother and father loved us. I look back on my childhood
now and wouldn't change a thing. Thanks Dad!
George died on February 12, 1961. He died at
home where he was living with his wife and her sister Grace, 1305 Dorchester Ave. in Baltimore County. He is buried in New
Catheral Cemetery along with his wife and her family. the obituary as taken out of the Baltimore Sun Papers reads as follows:
Dorsey---- on February 12, 1961 George L., of 1305 Dorchester Road, Catonsville, beloved husband of Mary A. Dorsey (nee Yienger),
and devoted father of Lloyd C. Dorsey, Mrs. Mary Ann Stricker, Charles D., Catherine Aurelia, and Robert Augustine, of St
Vincent's College, Latrobe, Pa. Funeral services at
the Farley Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 6601 Frederick Ave at Shadynook, on thursday at 8:30 A.M. Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Benedict's
Church at 9 o'clock. Interment in Catheral Cemetery. Friends please call from 2 until 10 P.M.
Dorsey,--------- Baltimore Fire Officers Association Local
964 I.A.F.F. announces with deep regret the passing of our brother George L. Dorsey
Elmer W. Kesting, President
| Dorsey Children |
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| Charles, Bobby, Aurelia, Mary |
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