History1

STEWARTSVILLE VOL. FIRE Co. 1

A BRIEF HISTORY

The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company was organized on November 29, 1926 in Budd's Store which was located in the center square of Stewartsville. P.S. Kinney was appointed temporary chairmanand Elmer W. Budd was nominated and elected as the first President of the fire company. The following is a list of first offficers of the newly created fire company; John W. Thompson, Vice President; Paul S. Kinney, Secretary Treasurer; Charles Tice, Fire Chief; and Kenneth Rush, Assistant Chief. A call for volunteers was made and it was decided that drills would be held to acquaint the members with their duties.

   After organizing in Budd's Store, the Stewartsville Fire Company met in the Township Hall, which at the time was located in the center of Stewartsville in the 3 story building on the corner of South Main Street and Washington Street.

December 20, 1926   Mr. Stewart Vetter from Lincoln Hose Company in Phillipsburg was present to give the membership advice and recommendations on necessary equipment; hook ladder, 1 or 2 smoke masks, and a 10 lb maul or sledgehammer.

January 3, 1927 The meeting was held in the Township Hall. Notice of the creation of the Stewartsville Vol. Fire Company was posted in the Washington Star. At this meeting the official name, The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company was created with a motion that the period of existence of the corporation is for 50 years. In the minutes of this meeting it was agreed that Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company would always be located in Greenwich Township, Warren County. The objectives of the corporation were to the protection of life an property from fire and for the promotion of the moral, mental, physical and social welfare of its members.

January 11, 1927 An alerting system was created for notifying members of calls. The Lutheran Church bell was used and the following taps were set up for sections of the town: Zone 1, Heights, 6 taps; Zone 2, South Main St. south of Budd's Store till the Lime Kiln, 3 taps. Chief Tice reported at this meeting that sufficient drivers ahd been selected for the first fire truck. After some later researching it is believed it was a pick up truck.

January 17, 1927   The fire company limited membership to 25. All vacancies were filled and all other applicants were put on a waiting list.

July 21, 1941 The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company held its annual fair as a fundraiser. Sixty years later in 2001 we were celebrating our 75th anniversery. We did not realize this until we started to research the history of our fire company.

December 8, 1941 At the regular meeting of the fire company, the blowing of the siren in case of an air raid was discussed. It was agreed that the sire blow 5 times for the air raid, and that all firemen and auxilary would respond to the firehouse for assignment. Also during this year, the fire company appointed a building committee and purchased a piece of land from Sam Stone for $150.00. This lot was across the street from the old school on North Main St. This land was sold in 1947 for $175.00.

August 11, 1947   The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company called a speciall meeting to purchase a garage for $3500.00 from past Chief Charles Tice and his wife. This was the same garage that the fire company rented to store the fire truck. The fire company began renovating this garage and recieved the deed on March 15, 1948. The building was renovated and enlarged for meetins with restrooms, a kitchen and an area to conduct dinners or community gatherings. On May 17, 1948, the first meeting was held in the firehouse. Prior to this the fire company had met in the Township hall since its organization. In 1975, the fire company moved to its present location in the Greenwich Township Municipal Building. The fire company sold the first firehouse for $17,000 on May 2, 1983.

January 5, 1959   The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company Emergency Unit became the Emergency Squad by 10 yes votes to 8 no votes to seperate and form into the Stewartsville Emergency Squad. fire company recordsshow that at least three firemen were appointed first aid personnel. Since 1939, a compartment on the fire truck had first aid supplies in it. Records show a rescue truck was purchased in the 1940's and later replaced with an ambulance. During th late summer or early fall of 1963, the Stewartsville Emergency Squad moved into their new building on North Main Street, their present location. The squad is known now as Greenwich Township Emergency Squad. Today, the fire company and the emergency squad still work together in emergencies for the residents of Greenwich Township and those who visit or pass through our township. They still drill together several times a year.

   The Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company provides fire protection for Greenwich Township, Warren County. The township is 11.3 square miles, but during the 1930's and 1940's our records show our fire company providing fire protection in parts of Franklin Township, Lopatcong Township, Harmony Township, and Pohatcong Township. Today our primary coverage is Greenwich Township, the fastest growing community in the state of New Jersey as per census figures with a 1990 population of 1877 and by 2000, a population of 4365 and growing.

   Since the establishment of our fire company, our records indicate we have had the support of the Greenwich Township Committee through its participation in Fire Company events, in meeting with the fire company, in purchasing fire company equipment, paying rent on the garage where the first fire engine was kept, helping purchase or purchasing fire engines and providing our present location, and working on the present and future needs of the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Company. We thank you for your help and cooperation.

                    APPARATUS OF THE STEWARTSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY

   From the day of its organization, the fire company had a fire truck, believed to be just a pick up truck. In 1939, a Hahn engine was purchased. In 1959 a new 1959 GMC Great Eastern engine was purchased from New Jersey Fire Equipment in Dunellon, NJ. After this the fire company obtained a used 1956 Ford Utility Truck to carry portable equipment. In 1973, we acuqired an Internaional/Pierce Brush Truck. Presently the fire company has a 1979 Ford/Pierce Engine, a 1992 Pierce Dash Engine, a 2000 Pierce Dash Engine, a 1979 GMC Tanker built by the fire company and put in service in 1987, a 1997 Ford Brush Truck, a 1992 Chevrolet Utility Support Truck, a 1990 GMC Suburban Command Unit, and a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice Bureau of Fire Prevention Car.