By: JohnLeo Fedorka

PAFD Historian

PERTH AMBOY – This is a follow up to the missing picture from the “Eagle Nine” plaque unveiled on June 15th honoring the nine firefighters that were killed when the Fire Engine they were riding on crashed into the side of the Central Railroad of NJ, Barnegat Express. During the many hours of research and interviews very little information could be learned about “Joseph Kutcher”. One may have noticed on the front page of the Friday edition of the P.A. Evening News there was a picture of a Joseph Schulack; the newspaper articles never mention him, and the interviews conducted with eyewitnesses stated he had nothing to do with the incident. Taking the little information, we had a great many hours of searching was done. The Funeral home that he was buried from had been taken over by another family and they were contacted to search their 100-year-old records, also; it was stated that his funeral was held early Saturday morning at St. Mary’s Church with the funeral of John Donegan and they were the last two bodies in the funeral procession because they were to be buried in St. Mary’s Cemetery. The church records were incomplete from back then and several hours were spent walking through the cemetery as well as an internet search was conducted that found nothing. 

Very late in my research we were able to locate a few members of the Kutcher Family.  As was described to me there were two Kutcher Brothers/Families living in Perth Amboy around that time; Joseph and Edward.  A member of the Joseph Kutcher family advised me that the Joseph Kutcher killed in the accident was a member of the Edward Kutcher side of the family; but not much more information was known.   Just as almost all hope was being given up a phone call was received, and this person identified herself as the Great Grand Daughter of Joseph Schulack (aka Joseph Kutcher). She told us the Story of the Joseph Kutcher killed in the accident.  As the story goes Joseph Schulack was sent by his family in Europe to the US when he was a youngster, and he was taken in by the Edward Kutcher Family. During most of his life in school and when he joined the fire service, he used the name Joseph Kutcher. A day after the June 15, 2021, Memorial Service his head stone and final resting place were located in St. Mary’s Cemetery, and it identified him as Joseph Schulack and it confirmed his passing on June 15, 1921.     

Unfortunately, the lettering and names on the plaques are permanent but we have time before the plaque will be mounted on the wall inside the train station after it is renovated. We have been in contact with the foundry that made the plaque and they told us that the picture of Joseph Schulack can be produced, and it can be mounted in the oval above the name Joseph Kutcher and his correct name will be included inside the oval on the bottom of his picture. May They All Now and Forever Rest In Peace.