Over one hundred years ago (March 1904), 34 civic-minded men --- cognizant of the ever-present danger of fire and what it
could do to their community of predominantly wooden houses, heated with wood-and-coal fired stoves ---- banded together to form the Cape May Court House Fire Company. It was incorporated on March 11,1904.
They had virtually no equipment in the beginning --- not even a ready supply of water, there being only rudimentary underground water pipes and no hydrants. The pipes then were only adequate for household use, but the company persevered and planned for the future.
Their first "truck" was a wagon converted from horse-drawn to a single shaft with cross-bars for the men to pull it. On this wagon they hung, on a makeshift rack, four ladders of various sizes and attached several dozen buckets which they used in their "bucket brigade," their first line of defense.
They built a 20 by 30-foot fire house in the county building's back yard in the rear of the 1849 courthouse. It housed the "truck" and had a small meeting room.
Their alarm was a rim from a locomotive wheel suspended from a tripod and struck with a sledge hammer chained to the tripod. The bell atop the Old Court House building was also used.
John Ross, Chief 1929 - 1931 (l) and Burton D. Corson (r)
Chief 1932 w/fire alarm
The first Fire District in the township was formed in 1909 by the Township Committee after being petitioned by the firemen and the citizenry. The Cape May Court House Fire District covered only Cape May Court House. The new company now had much-needed financial support from the taxpayers.
This support, in 1909, enabled them to purchase their first real piece of firefighting equipment, a two-cylinder (40 gallons each) soda and acid fire extinguisher mounted on a sulky-type vehicle, still hand drawn. It also had 200 feet of three-quarter inch hose coiled up in a wire basket at the rear. Delivery was made in January, 1910.
In August of 1914 another chemical wagon was purchased, this time four-wheeled and horse drawn, which was convenient, as the chief, Walter G. Hurrell, a harness maker by trade, ran a livery stable near the new fire house and his horses were always available.
In the late teens, what with the loss of young men to the country's AEF in World War I, interest in the company lagged and by the early twenties was almost non-existent.
So, in 1921, a movement to revive the company was mounted, and on March 16, 1922, Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Middle Township, was incorporated and 35 volunteers were enrolled. The new name was chosen with the idea that the subsequent companies in the township would use the same name but a different number. This, however, never materialized.
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In August of 1922, the new company took delivery of their first "motorized" fire truck, which was purchased by the Fire Commissioners. It was a Howe-Ford (Model T) combination pumper/chemical engine with a Hale 250 GPM rotary pump.
In 1924, an electric siren replaced the locomotive wheel rim and court house belfry alarms.
The following year, 1925, the company became affiliated with The New Jersey State Firemen's Association, which provides aid to needy firemen and pays a death benefit to firemen who complete seven years service with a required percentage of attendance at fires and drills.
In 1926, the company moved into their first permanent "home" a 31x 50 foot brick, two-story structure, still part of the old fire house on Boyd Street. The building cost $5,000.00 and the land $500.00. The new building was not completed for that price, but the firemen did most of the inside work themselves to save money.
In February, 1929, they acquired their first "real" fire truck, a six-cylinder, Type 91 American LaFrance Service Pumper built by one of the country's leading fire equipment manufacturers - the American LaFrance Foamite Corporation, of Elmira, NY. It was a short-wheelbase truck which was useful for hydrant pumping. The town now had many hydrants and the water mains had been upgraded to accommodate fire truck pumping.
With two motorized trucks in service, the firemen realized they could now service a larger area than the Fire District encompassed, so they petitioned the Township Committee to enlarge the district. The Township Committee agreed and on February 17, 1929, the District was enlarged and the name changed to Fire District No. 1 of Middle Township. It encompassed all the area north of the center line of the North Wildwood Blvd. and Indian Trail Road on the south; the Delaware Bay on the west; the Inland Waterway to the east; and the Middle-Dennis Township boundary on the north. These boundaries still exist today with the exception of the secession of the Goshen area when Fire District No. 4 was created in October, 1985.
In 1931, another step forward was taken with the purchase of another American LaFrance truck. This one, called a "quad,"
for it served four purposes: pumper, had many needed ladders, a 200-gallon water tank and a large hose bed --- and, of course, many soda/acid extinguishers which were used to put out the many chimney fires they were called on to extinguish in those days due to the widespread use of wood stoves. The truck was an open one and became affectionately a the "ladder truck." It had no power steering or power brakes, so the driver had to be big and strong to handle it. Also, in the winter it was a very cold ride if you didn't take time to dress for it.
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At this time, once the firemen left the area of the town covered by hydrants, they no longer had a large supply of water and had to rely on streams, lakes or ponds if one was near the fire scene, and this didn't happen often. So, in 1937, they began thinking about solving this problem.
The solution was a large tank truck. The most prevalent trucks at the time were being used by the petroleum ind ustry, so they purchased a 1,000 gallon used truck from Standard Oil Company (now Exxon) in Newark, NJ, for $450.00. They put a 400- GPM Barton pump on the front end and put it in service in February, of 1938. It was thought to be one of the first of its kind in the country and proved to be the solution to the firemen's problem of the lack of water supply in rural areas.
From then on, almost every truck purchased had to have a large water tank as it's prime consideration; all other equipment was incidental.
World War II again put a manpower strain on the Fire Company. Older firemen who had retired to make room for the younger firemen had to come back and lend a hand again.
The ranks of the Fire Company swelled to new highs when the war ended and former members returned along with new enrollees eager to help their community in any way they could.
The surge of new members created a need for more equipment, and so in 1947, a tank wagon was ordered. It was a "Triple Combination" built by the New Jersey Fire Equipment Corp.of Dunellen, NJ. Mounted on a two-ton Chevrolet truck chassis, it had a 750-gallon tank, and a 500-GPM behind-the-cab pump. They waited eighteen months for it, due to the shortage of truck chassis' because of the changeover of car companies from wartime production to their original purposes. To make room for it, the 1929 was traded in.
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This truck worked out so well they ordered another from the same company; same tank and hose capacity, but with a 350- GPM front-mounted pump which saved them some money. It was put into service in 1952.
With the addition of these two tank-wagons, the Fire Company "retired" their first tank wagon, the Standard Oil tank truck, and none too soon, as it was nearly worn out and was easily visible going down the highway trailing a huge cloud of blue smoke from the oil it was consuming.
Nineteen-sixty-three and 1967 saw the acquisition of two 1,000-gallon tankers built by TASC, of Woodbridge, NJ. They were equipped with 750-GPM pumps and were put on GMC chassis. The firemen now had 2,700 gallons of water to take to a fire with them. Moreover, they now had enough tankers to set up a shuttle system when needed.
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In 1970, with five trucks in service, the 1927 fire house was sorely inadequate and something had to be done. The Commissioners at their annual election in February of that year got the approval of the voters to float a bond issue of $110,000.00 to be paid off in 16 years. The new building, built by V. J. Archetto, of Vineland, NJ, added three bays to the north side of the original building. The bays were designed to house all the trucks then in service with room for more. The addition also necessitated purchasing a house on the north side of the firehouse and having it moved out of the way. The old truck space was converted to the present day meeting room, with a day-room and kitchen in the rear. These rooms later were enlarged to their present sizes.
The original "fire alarm," the locomotive wheel rim, has been preserved by the firemen down through the years, and was lovingly mounted at the base of their flag pole as a reminder of those first volunteers!
Upon completion of the new addition with the added space, in 1971 the Fire Company purchased a used American LaFrance 75-foot aerial ladder truck for $10,000.00 from the City of Painesville, Ohio.
Their biggest tanker and pump to date was delivered in 1974, a Brockway Super Huskie pumper-tanker, equipped with a 2,850-gallon water tank and a 1,250-GPM pump. Again, TASC, of Woodbridge, was the builder.
Nineteen-seventy-nine saw the addition of a Hahn truck with a 1,000-gallon tank and pump. Nineteen-eighty-five brought their second largest tanker, a Kenworth, holding 1,800 gallons of water and equipped with a 1,250-GPM pump.
The used 75-foot aerial-ladder truck was replaced in 1986 with a new 105-foot Pierce Arrow with a 1,250 pump. The truck is still in use today in West Cape May.
Another 875 gallons of water was added in 1989 with the acquisition of another Pierce Lance truck with a 1,250-GPM pump.
In 1989, realizing that the District's population was growing and subsequently so was housing in the district, there was an urgent need to provide for the growth. The Fire Company and the Fire Commissioners started work on a Morton steel two-bay pre-fab sub-station on land they had previously purchased along Route 9 in the Swainton area. Now known as Station 71, this 1,900-square-foot building houses two trucks for quick response in the north end of the District. It was officially put in service in July, 1992.
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Nineteen-ninety-one saw the addition of another Pierce Lance pumper with 900 gallons of water and a 1,250-GPM pump.
Nine-hundred more gallons of water were added in 1992, with the delivery of another Pierce Lance truck with a 1,250-GPM pump.
Increased traffic on the District's roadways, Route 9 and the Garden State Parkway, and the resulting accidents which necessitate the presence of fire equipment for fuel spills and extrication of victims trapped in mangled vehicles, saw the need for special rescue truck and pertinent equipment. The need was filled in 1993 with a Pierce Lance four-door, six-man cab Rescue-Pumper. It was also equipped with a 1,000-GPM pump and 500 gallons of water. Carried on it are "Jaws" extrication devices, self-contained breathing apparatus, and any kind of tool needed for freeing victims from accident-involved vehicles.
Nineteen-ninety-four brought the District an eight-man cab custom Pierce Dash truck with 900 gallons of water and a 1,250-GPM pump. A Pierce Quantum Tanker was acquired in 1997. This one carries 2,000 gallons of water powered by a 2,000- GPM pump, a formidable fire fighter!
Two-thousand and three saw the replacement of the 1986 Pierce Arrow aerial ladder with a Pierce Dash 100' combination platform and ladder called a Aerial Skyarm.
Fire District's No.1's Stations 70 and 71, with 5,700 gallons of water in 70, and 3,700 in 71, have solved the rural company's biggest problem: lack of an initial water supply to knock down a fire quickly --- a problem their predecessors started remedying back in the late 1930's.
It is estimated that 325 men and women --- some for a short time, most for a long time --- have performed this selfless service to their community and in so doing have devoted countless hours of their time, in all kinds of weather to provide fire service to their community.
Upon evaluating the incidents to which Volunteer Fire Co. #1 responds, it was noted the ever-changing needs of the organization dictated the need for a combination pumper-rescue truck.
A recent 6-vehicle accident on the Garden State Parkway underlined the need for just this type of apparatus. It is fully equipped with all the tools needed for the ever-increasing number of motor vehicle accidents, with entrapment, as well as structure fires which require specialized equipment to meet the needs of the firefighters and the community.
Along with the recent building dedication, Volunteer Fire Company #1 housed their new 2009 Pierce Arrow XT Rescue Pumper fire apparatus. Powered by a 515-hp Detroit diesel, the Pierce PUC (Pierce Ultimate Configuration), also carries 500 gallons of water. Equipped with an Allison transmission, the rescue-pumper has a Pierce 1500-GPM single stage pump. Included in the many safety features, the vehicle has a Safety Vision camera, mounted on the rear of the apparatus.
Fire Chiefs 1904 - 2010
Anthony A. Robertson Walter G. Hurrell John H. Ross
1904 - 1905 1905 - 1928 1929 - 1931
Burton D. Corson Frank G. Evans Harry M. McPherson
1932 1933 - 1934 1935 - 1951
Kirk Mathis Joseph DeCinque Robert P. Hand
1952 - 1954 1955 - 1959 1960 - 1976
Calvin L. Back, Sr. Paul N. Hand
1977 - 2009 2010 -
Fire Commissioners 1904 - 2009
Walter G. Hurrell David D. Burch Alfred Cooper Hiram W. Godfrey Hon. Harry S. Douglass
Edwin R. Stiles Burton D. Corson Robert S. Miller Horace E. Richardson Ralph N. Sayre
Robert M. Elmer Winfield S. Jones Raymond M. Burke Milton Lore Charles H. Springer
Harry M. McPherson J. Melvin Watson, Sr. George Spalding Kirk Mathis LeRoy H. May, Jr.
Ralph B. Johnson, Jr. Jerry Costande Alvin Brown Harold R. Arenberg C. Homer Springer
John R. Reardon, Sr. Paul K. Hoffman, Jr. J. Melvin Watson, Jr. Russell Simpkins Maurice C. Evans
David G. Blood Charles Williams Dennis Knoll Carl Chambers Philip Winter
Joseph Trombetta Keith Arenberg John R. Reardon, Jr.
