History of the Union Fire Company

by Bruce Mitchell
with Tex Coulton
(written in 1988)  

Perhaps it was a feeling of patriotism. . . .perhaps a renewed sense of the importance of community cooperation that came at the close of the Civil War that had threatened to tear our great nation apart, that moved the Borough Council under the leadership of Mayor Sam P. Hudnit to call a special meeting of the property owners in 1866 for the purpose of forming a fire company of volunteers. Whatever it was, 55 men responded to the call and by Feb. 1st 1866 the first fire company was formed in Frenchtown; “The Vigilant No. 1”.

The name was derived from the hand pumper called Vigilant the Borough Council had purchased along with 500 feet of 2-1/2 inch leather hose and a two wheeled hose cart.

On the morning of June 30th, 1878 the Vigilant was called out to the biggest fire recorded in Frenchtown history. The Vigilant refused to work (supposed to have been tampered with). A call was made to Lambertville and they responded with their new steamer saving several buildings left in the fire area. The fire engulfed buildings from west Second Street down Harrison Street to Bridge Street west to the river. After it was all over 25 homes and businesses had burned to the ground.

After the failure of the Vigilant to operate at the Great Fire the company disbanded. The citizens of Frenchtown tried to revive the company in November 1883 under the name “The Active Fire Company”, with ten active members. But this only survived one year. Consequently from 1884 to 1888 the Borough was without fire protection.

Reorganization of the Present Fire Company

Early in the year of 1888 a meeting was held by a few citizens and Town Council in the printing office of the Hunterdon Independent, to find the ways and means for fire protection. A Fire Apparatus committee was formed who found a second hand Steam Fire Engine and Hose Cart. The apparatus was purchased on July 4, 1888 and tested out with 1000 feet of hose, “which proved satisfactory in every test”. During tests in the following weeks however, the boiler tubes sprung leaks while pumping at the cemetery bridge on Trenton Avenue. The council approved the purchase of a new set of tubes at a price of $1400.00 and the work was completed. With the new piece of equipment available, Mayor Wilbur Slack called a meeting September 10, 1888 for volunteers. A committee on enrollment was appointed and reported back on September 12, 1888.

On September 12, 1888 The Union Fire Company No. 1 was organized and 60 new names enrolled as volunteer firemen with the following officers installed: President Wilbur Slack, Secretary Frank N. Slack, Treasurer Issac Taylor, Foreman Jonas B. Lyons, 1st Asst. Foreman Lewis D. Roberson, 2nd Asst. Foreman Judson Huff, Engineer Alfred Robinson, 1st Asst. Engineer William Britton, 2nd Asst. Engineer Demorest Robinson. (Note: the title of Foreman was the same as the title of Chief is today.)

This same year, the Fireman’s Relief Association was organized, establishing insurance benefits for the volunteers.

The next twenty four years produced three large fires which taxed the courage and abilities of both the volunteers and the steamer. In 1916 a baby coach factory caught fire on West 7th Street where Krauss’s company stands today. And on Jan. 20th, 1917 the Kerr Ice House burned. It stood along with ice ponds where H.J. Opdyke Lumber is now located. The most spectacular and saddening fire was the March 20, 1923 early morning blaze that burned the Hillside Academy, the Frenchtown public school housing grades K through 10, to the ground. (However, in each of these conflagrations the Union Fire Company responded quickly and efficiently). The fire was discovered about 7:00 am and in little more than an hour the frame structure was “only a memory”.

On November 14, 1923 a garage was purchased from William Carver for $1200.00 for the purpose of housing the fire engine. It was located on Second Street where the present fire house with all its additions and improvements is today. With this “permanent” facility available for storage, additional equipment could be purchased. January 1924 was the addition of a Hale Motor Pumper to work along side the Union Steamer until it went out of commission 4 years later, October 12, 1925. This was after 40 years of service and a total of 48 fire alarms and “several false alarms”.

Over the years our Hale Pumper was the only piece of equipment the Union Fire Company owned, until 1945 when we purchased a new Bulldog Mack pumper for $2500.00. The 1924 Hale pumper was retired in 1945 being in service for 21 years.

During this period the biggest fire our Fire Company experienced was the Eddy Fire. On Friday May 3, 1940 the Fire Alarm was sounded at 6:30 am. and the company was called to a fire in Eddy’s Hardware store on Bridge Street (presently the laundromat and carpet store). When it became apparent that danger of the fire might spread, the following companies were called; Milford, Riegelsville, Erwinna, Baptistown, Flemington, New Hope and Lambertville. The damage of the fire was estimated at $50,000.00.

1947 was a year of commitment for our department and its Ladies’ Auxiliary. On July 10th the Ladies Auxiliary talked about the purchase of an ambulance and kept talking about it until it became a reality. By September the fire company had donated $100.00 towards its purchase and by February of 1948 the Ladies’ Auxiliary had placed an order for a Cadillac ambulance with a $200.00 down payment. March saw the fire company housing this life saving piece of equipment owned by the Ladies Auxiliary. A new dimension was added to the life of the Union Fire Company and its service to the community, which will be covered in more detail in a separate section.

Everyone who was alive in 1955 and lived in Pennsylvania and New Jersey remembers Hurricane Diane and the devastating flood it caused as the Delaware surged over its banks destroying bridges and homes throughout the Delaware Valley. Frenchtown was hit badly on August 18 and the Fire Company evacuated residents and pumped basements from flooded homes putting in more than 2000 man-hours in just 3 days and nights. We worked round the clock to help and preserve lives and property. On August let in the middle of the flood clean up, Kerr Hatcheries storage building caught fire and was extinguished by exhausted but committed members of the Union Fire Company.

In 1958 a new one-ton GMC Rescue truck was purchased from Pastore Chevrolet for $3079.00 and in 1959 a new 2-1/2 ton GMC front mount pumper was purchased for $3189.71. Also purchased was a new motor for our rescue boat.

All of these purchases were financed through projects such as carnivals, dances, breakfasts and our annual fund drive.

Our biggest piece of equipment was purchased in 1985 from Mack Truck for $24,975.00. This truck is a Mack CF95 1000 gallon per minute pumper, carrying 500 gallons of water. This unit is currently in service as our second out pumper.

During these years we experienced our first rescue at Devil’s Tea Table south of Frenchtown; the first of many. Today we have developed a team of men capable of rock climbing and rappelling, the H.A.E.U. (High Angle Evac Unit) for such emergencies. We also fought fires at the American Legion Home, March 17, 1965, Miller’s Department Store, Milford, August 24, 1966 assisting the Milford Fire Department and the Mill Apartments in Mt. Pleasant on February 3, 1968. The mill apartments were rebuilt, but caught fire again in June of 1976, which again was fought by the Union Fire Company.

Over a period of twenty years, our company grew from one piece of fire equipment to two pumpers, service truck, rescue truck and an ambulance. In the next several years our company would see a big change in fire fighting and rescue squad equipment purchased. In 1975 a new ambulance was purchased and in 1977 and 1978 two new fire trucks were purchased, a 1978 Ford delivered in August 1978 and a 1978 GMC delivery in February 1979.

During the early 1970’s the trustees were concerned about the condition of our Fire House building. Renovations were needed badly. In 1970 a new heating system was installed by our firefighters at a cost of $2000.00. A crew of firefighters consisting of Herb Hummer, Bruce Mitchell, Ben Burke, George Tinsman and Bill Eddy worked every Sunday for three months until it was completed.

In 1972 a new roof was installed over the old roof on the engine room for $950.00. A new ceiling was also installed in the engine room. In 1974 the firehouse kitchen was remodeled. Storm windows, walk-through doors, controls for heating, insulation, rain gutters and spouts, painting inside and out and renovation of bathrooms was also done.

All of these projects, as in the past, are financed by clam bakes, food baskets, blanket drives, chicken dinners to go, 52 week club and various other projects.

Our firemen and rescue squad not only assist in fires and rescue calls and drills but put a considerable amount of time in fund raising projects to support the company.

One of the most spectacular fires in our department’s modern history was the Kerr Hatchery fire. On August 18, 1973 as Rev. Culton was bringing his newborn daughter home to the Presbyterian manse the Frenchtown Union Fire Company was summoned to the Kerr Hatchery building on Lott Street and Railroad Avenue in the Borough. First arriving firefighters found the entire second floor of the 100 foot by 100 foot building fully engulfed in flames. Despite efforts of the firefighters all of the building was lost except for the offices on the west side of the building. The radiant heat ignited a smaller building on the north side of the building and it was also lost. All of the garages and surrounding dwellings were saved. by efforts from firefighters from Frenchtown, Milford, Kingwood, Flemington, Erwinna, Upper Black Eddy, and Quakertown. Damages were estimated at $500,000.00, 500,000 eggs and 50,000 chicks were lost in the blaze.

In 1976 the company decided new uniforms should be purchased as the old uniforms were in very bad shape. It was decided to purchase uniforms that were different than the standard blue uniforms most fire companies have and also of a lighter material for the convenience of summer marching. The men looked very sharp in their brown uniforms marching along side our antique steamer in the various parades in which we compete.

Also, in 1976 all fire and rescue squad calls were turned over to be handled by the county communications system. This of course was and is a great convenience to our company. In the past all calls were handled by two or three individuals in the borough who took calls in their homes for rescue and then notified squad members of calls.

In 1977 a defibrillator was purchased for the ambulance. Dr. King our local physician accompanied the ambulance when the defibrillator was needed since an MD. was the only person qualified to use it. Dr. King later was made an honorary member of our company for the time and cooperation he practiced with us.

In 1978 our antique steamer needed a new boiler and four new wooded spoke wheels. The new boiler cost us $3000.00 and the wheels were made by hand in Lancaster County, Pa. by the Amish people.

In 1979 the program of Junior firemen was instituted in the company. These younger firemen were not allowed to enter burning buildings or ride in the back of the fire trucks or ambulance but through education and other service could learn the art of fire and rescue.

In 1984 the borough donated the police car to be used as the fire company chief’s car. It was repaired and painted and still used today. Also this year Mike Kish, one of the borough’s part-time policemen and school teacher was made honorary member of the company for calls made with our rescue squad over the years when we were short of squad members at the time of the calls.

In 1986 our rescue calls were up 32% over the previous years. Today our rescue squad is a vital asset to the community as our citizen’s recognize the need for an up to date and experienced squad to assist them in their time of need. Today, unlike several years ago, our fire and rescue squad members go through more advanced training to be qualified to help our community. We are dedicated people and give our time freely.

In 1973 our Fire Company decided to honor annually, an outstanding firefighter. The Chief was to choose this firefighter for his leadership, integrity, dedication and loyalty. The following are our recipients of the Firefighter of the Years awards: 1973 Herbert Hummer, 1974 Bruce Mitchell, 1975 Fred Dereemer, 1976 Jack Opdyke, 1977 John Smith III, 1978 George Cottman, 1979 Vincent Runyon, 1980 Larry Hummer, 1981 Charles Teats, 1982 Mark Madsen, 1983 Paul Madsen, 1984 Kerry Hornberger, 1985 Lear Slotterback, 1986 Robert Pinckney.

In 1987 purchases were made of a Jaws of Life and air bags at a cost of $14,500.

Let’s all hope the next hundred years will give us the leadership and courage needed to serve the community as it did the last hundred years and that our citizens will continue to be proud of and support their fire company.

Today the Union Fire Co. of Frenchtown consists of 78 members, 20 rescue personnel including a HEAU team, 15 auxiliary members, 2 junior members, 3 trucks, 1 boat, 1 ambulance and answers 75 fire calls and 250 rescue calls a year.

We weren’t always this prosperous or well equipped. We started humbly, but honorably 100 years ago for the “purpose of saving life and property of our fellow citizens from fire”, as the preamble to our constitution states, and have been striving to “live up” to it ever since. We think our history will show we’ve done just that, and with the help of God and the continued support of our community we hope to be doing it for another 100 years.

Some readers may think that the history of a fire company is simply a record of the fires it fought over a period of time, and that is surely a part of it. But it is more. It is a story of commitment and service donated to a community in order to make it a safe place to work and learn and live. It is a story of busy people taking the time to serve and receiving for their service fellowship with other company members, and gratitude from their community. It is a story of events surely, but it is also a story of the people who made the decision, gave the time and answered the calls.