kingston nj fire department

Concerned that this would eventually prove disastrous for the town and perhaps motivated by a recent fire, a number of its citizens gathered at the Sign of the College 1 to discuss the situation: Held on the evening of February 11th, 1778 the meeting concluded with the following declaration:   "In all well regulated cities, towns and villages the establishment of Fire Companies, for the purpose of extinguishing houses on fire and for the removal and security of the property of the inhabitants seems to have claimed early and general attention - a number of citizens of Princeton and its vicinity, sensible of the utility of such an institution, and desirous of forming themselves into a company for these benevolent purposes, held a meeting at the home of Jacob C.T. Completed by December of 1949, No.

Thirty-one individuals would return to the tavern on the 18th to sign their names to its Constitution. Its first ambulance was purchased in June of 1941 and remained in service until 1951 when it was replaced by a new Packard. To correct this, the Borough purchased two identical 1250 GPM pumpers. Supplied by pumps from the Water Company's main plant on lower Alexander Street, the hydrants provided water at pressures equal to or exceeding those produced by either of the two hand engines.Because of this, the engines were being employed less frequently at fires, the firemen choosing instead to run hose from the nearest hydrant directly to the fire. Princeton's third fire company, like its first, had its beginnings at a public meeting that was called to discuss ways for improving the town's fire protection. an invitation to attend a movie show being sponsored by Somerville Fire Company was received and “a delegation promised to attend.” Somerville Fire Company also invited the members of Kingston to attend one of their drills. When Princeton's firemen returned home at the end of the Civil War, they discovered that the fire department had been so neglected in their absence, that the organization and much of its apparatus was now virtually destroyed. Exactly how long the Kingston Fire Engine Company stayed in operation is unknown. The mule was subsequently sold at a premium price to the Delaware and Raritan Canal and the engine, which was already 71 years old, provided yet another 30 years of fire protection for Hightstown.

Both Hook and Ladder and Engine Company No.1 still owned their houses at this time.The Borough's continued willingness to cooperate with the fire companies slowly began to change some of the old attitudes which had prevented them from working together in the past. Realizing that the new Nassau Inn, as well as several buildings recently constructed on the University Campus, were beyond the reach of their ladders, the Fire Department began efforts to replace the old city service truck.

The Kingston Volunteer Fire Department serves the five square mile village of Kingston primarily, in addition to assisting the township's other two fire departments. Two years later, upon the completion of new kitchen facilities, this engine house was torn down and the equipment moved to new quarters between Nassau Hall and the new kitchen. In 1955, a 750 GPM Seagrave pumper was purchased for Hook and Ladder, and in '59, a John Bean International High Pressure Engine was given to No.3.

In 1988, No. While under the direct control of the Borough Council and its Fire and Water Committee, expenditures from March of 1861 to March of 1865 amounted to only $110.78.

Having ignored the maintenance of the fire equipment for over five years, the Borough Council now faced the new year knowing that it would have to make a greater contribution towards the Fire Department or run the risk of losing its control over it.Taking full advantage of this situation, the Mercer Fire Co. notified the Council on February 6th that their engine was unfit for service and would have to be replaced. A contact with local Attorney Vandewater had already started the process to incorporate the newly formed organization. None of the older organization's officers however, or any of its older members could be convinced to join the new company and for the most part, these individuals would stay away from the fire department throughout the Civil War. This engine, which had protected the town for several weeks during No. Their old engine house at 36 Canal Street was reoccupied shortly thereafter by the Hook and Ladder Co., many of whose members still lived in that section of town.

Again, because of inadequate supplies at the fire scene, water had to be relayed from sources some distance away. to raise the remainder on its own.A year later, enough capital had been collected to place the order and on May 5, 1853 a new Engine One arrived from Philadelphia. While many of the early records documenting this history have been lost or destroyed, there is record of an ACT by the New Jersey State Legislature approving the incorporation of the Kingston Fire Engine Company on February 24, 1834. In June of 1985, only ten years after first admitting women, Hook and Ladder elected its first female officer.In 1788 a small group of Princetonians, with only their time and energy to offer, organized themselves to provide the town with fire protection. C. agreeing to their terms. On June 28, 1933, the new building was officially dedicated and the apparatus moved to it shortly thereafter. Their anger finally surfaced in 1850, when the Council attempted to appropriate an additional $50.00 for more hose for Engine Three. Within two short weeks, its reorganization was completed and its officers elected. Immediately following the fire of 1920, the Borough did begin to discuss the problem; however, nothing was done to correct the situation until after the two 1924 fires. After having done this, the Company assigned several of its newest members to this engine; requiring them to res pond directly to its quarters when an alarm was sounded.

As a result, a new aerial ladder was purchased and efforts were undertaken to replace the two old engines with more powerful steam driven engines.fter experiencing just how destructive a fire could be in its central business district, the Borough Council reacted by passing its first fire code in 1899. "While the decision to form a volunteer fire company had been made at this meeting, two more meetings would be held that month to actually organize it.