Annandale Hose Co. no. 1
1910
A.M. Simon of New York City published this
postcard.
The Annandale Hose Company's first two fire trucks,
1925 & 1945 models, are parked in front of the old firehouse on
West Street. The building is now a home.
From April 1953 Popular Science Magazine
Link - Google Map Street View
A
brief history of the company - Resources: http://www.ahco1.com/history.htm
Northern Hunterdon County was without a single fire department when
flames engulfed Clinton's Main Street about 3a.m. on a November morning
in 1891. While residents battled the blaze with buckets of water and
rushed to douse burning embers falling on other parts of the town, the
mayor telegraphed Flemington, Phillipsburg and Easton for help.
Flemington responded with manpower but couldn't get its equipment to
Clinton. Fire companies from Phillipsburg and Easton sped to the scene
with firefighting apparatus, but a century ago rushing that distance
took two hours. They arrived about 5a.m. and quickly extinguished the
conflagration, but by then 23 buildings had been destroyed and the
business district was devastated. Soon thereafter, Clinton citizens
formed the town's first volunteer fire company.
Annandale residents also got together to protect their town from fire,
but first had to obtain an agreement with the Clinton Water Company to
run mains from Clinton to Annandale. The water company signed the
agreement on June 7, 1897. On June 25, 1897 Dr. William Berkaw
presented a petition signed by 20 citizens to the Township Committee
asking for the creation of a fire district and a fire company.
Annandale Fire District No.1 was established. It included "the entire
village of Annandale and its outskirts".
The first meeting of the Annandale Hose Company No.1, and others for
many years, were held in the Hummer Brothers carriage shop on West
Street. In attendance were John B. Carhart, Manning F. Gano, Alvah
Melick, Mansfield H. Hummer, Theodore J. Starner, Isaac Smith, J.
Haynes Wyckoff, Walter S. Boeman, John W. Fulper, Thomas B. Seals,
Elmer E. Apgar, William T. Astle, Stacy B. Emmons, Walter R. Hoffman,
John Hendershot and Theodore J. Phillips.
The company's first major piece of equipment was a two-wheeled hose
cart which was hauled to fires by hand. It now resides in the meeting
room in the firehouse. The room was built around the antique cart with
its big brass bell and as a result it will not fit through the doorway.
During our 50th anniversary one of the original members, J. Haynes
Wyckoff, recalled the first fire. It broke out "just at church time" on
July 3, 1898, eight months after the company was organised and began
training. Wyckoff was up in a tree picking cherries on what is now
known as the Austin farm when he heard the alarm, an iron locomotive
wheel beaten with a sledge hammer. He sped to the scene. Others hauled
the hose cart. The fire was in the attic of a Center Street home
occupied by Abner Allen. Hose from the cart was connected to one of the
hydrants installed by the Clinton Water Company and the fire was
extinguished.
The Annandale Hose Company No.1 eventually moved to a structure on the
site now occupied by the firehouse and old municipal building. William
Savin donated money to tear down the old building and erect a new one.
The Township Committee added an extension in 1940.
With the help of donations, the company purchased its first motorized
fire truck in 1925. At a meeting in Case's garage on February 14, 1925,
"Committee on Motor Equipment" members Harry M. Seals, C.A. Case, J.
Haynes Wyckoff and Chief Alvah Lindebury voted to spend $440 for a Ford
one-ton chassis. With body, "hand-operated siren", searchlight and
other appurtenances added the total cost was $1,200.
In 1945, the Township Committee purchased a "modern" fire truck for the
company in exchange for an agreement that they protect the entire
township instead of the Annandale Fire District. The township's
administrative code made Annandale Hose Company No.1's volunteers the
Division of Fire under the Township Council, and a second station was
subsequently built on Route 31 to reduce response time to the rapidly
developing southern section of the township. The volunteers conducted
fundraisers to buy equipment for the new truck. A play presented in the
Quakertown School in November 1947 netted $1,191.
The formation of a Ladies Auxiliary was proposed in 1947. The first
meeting was attended by Mrs. Haynes Wyckoff, Mrs. Ormond Eick, Mrs.
LeRoy Eick, Mrs. Charles Deckhut, Mrs. Frank Molnar, Mrs. Wilmer Burns,
Mrs. George Trimmer, Mrs. John Hall and Mrs. W.M. Whiteley.
Links:
http://www.ahco1.com/
http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/otherstates/northnj/Annandale.htm