Charles V. Noel

1882 June 27–1937 December 26

bronze plaque with bas-relief head and shoulders portrait of a determined-looking man, seal of the Narberth Fire department to his left — This bronze plaque is affixed to the wall to the right of the Conway Avenue entrance to Borough Hall. It was sculpted by Marcella Broudo, donated by Dr. Albert Barnes, and hung at Narberth's first Fire House at Elm Hall in 1938, on the one-year anniversary of Noel's death in the line of duty.

Our Town, December 31, 1937:

Death came to Charles V. Noel, Narberth's fire chief for 28 years, the day after Christmas. He was directing fire-fighting at a blaze in an attic playroom over the three-car garage at the home of Clarence E. Hall, 612 Zollinger Way, Merion. Standing on an outside stairway at the rear of the garage, 2 o'clock that Sunday afternoon, he was handling a chemical line, when through a door smoke and flame belched out. He staggered back, shouted to the men to hold the line — and collapsed, falling and rolling down the stairway.
Lower Merion's police ambulance carried him to Bryn Mawr Hospital — dead … of asphyxiation from smoke, with the fall as a contributing cause.

Noel was Borough Secretary from 1909 and Fire Chief from 1913. He held both positions until his death.

head and shoulders portrait; might be source for plaque — Who's Who in Philadelphia, 1926

Updated February 21, 2026.

U. S. Census

Census	Age	Race	Gender	Marital	Relation	Address	Birthplace	Father's	Mother's	As transcribed
1910	27	White	Male	Married	Head	232 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania	Charles V Nece	234 N. Narberth
1920	38	White	Male	Married	Head	232 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	France	Georgia	Charles V Neel	232 N. Narberth
1930	47	White	Male	Married	Head	232 N. Narberth Ave.	Pennsylvania	France	Georgia	Charles Noel	232 N Narberth

Census Households

Census	Name	Relation	Age	Own	Race	Marital	Birthplace	Business	Trade
1910	Charles V Noel	Head	27	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Bank	Cashier
	Loretta L Noel	Wife	24		White	Married	Massachusetts
	Clement A Fletcher	Father-in-law	50		White	Married	Massachusetts	Lithograph	Artist
	Loretta J Fletcher	Mother-in-law	50		White	Married	Massachusetts
1920	Charles V Noel	Head	38	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Trust Co.	Assistant Treasurer
	Loretta L Noel	Wife	32		White	Married	Massachusetts
	Clement A Fletcher	Father-in-law	59		White	Married	Massachusetts
	Loretta J Fletcher	Mother-in-law	59		White	Married	Massachusetts
1930	Charles V Noel	Head	47	Own	White	Married	Pennsylvania	Bank	Vice President
	Loretta L Noel	Wife	44		White	Married	Massachusetts
	Clement A Fletcher	Father-in-law	70		White	Married	Germany		Printer
	Loretta J Fletcher	Mother-in-law	70		White	Married	Massachusetts

Borough position

Secretary

1909 Mar 1–1937 Dec 26

died in office

Charles V. Noel on FamilySearch (census & other records; requires free account)

Charles V. Noel on Find a Grave