History

During the early days of this community the Fire Company was excessively busy due to the rural nature of the land, for the populace was sparse and many lots were weeds and grass, and brush and forest fires were quite frequent. Over the years this demography has evolved to the point where buildings are many and very close together. This change, while gradual, has continually necessitated an evolving Fire Company, one that has led to quick response, with up-to-date equipment and training; a mission that even today\'s volunteers gladly take on.

During the year 1924, the young rural beach community of Laurence Harbor found herself menaced by recurring forest and brush fires that were generated by the sparks of passing locomotives along the Pennsylvania-Jersey Central Railroad. To fight these fires, the men, and at times women, would gather brooms, shovels, buckets or any other implement at hand, and rush to the point of growing conflagration.

One day, during the early part of July, 1924, at the home of John and William Farrell, (in section #5, an area off of Matawan Road, on the southwest side of the Laurence Parkway train-track overpass), while discussing the various ways and means of combating the frequent fires, the idea of organizing a volunteer fire company first took form. This idea further developed through frequent, impromptu, conversations held at the Otto Schwartz Gas Station, then located on Hwy35.

The first \"organized\" meeting of individuals, who were soon to become our \"founding fathers\", was held at 2:30pm, somewhere between the 1st and the 5th of September, 1924. At this meeting the following actions occurred: John Farrell was elected President, Charles Maclean was elected Vice President, Thomas Gilmore was elected Treasurer and Misters Sullivan, Lane and Walker were elected as Trustees. Next, the following men were elected as such: Frank Grob-Foreman, Mr. Vreeland-1st Assistant and Thomas Houlday-2nd Assistant. The following men were taken in as members of the Laurence Harbor Chemical Company: Thomas Madden, John Farrell, C. King, Thomas Houlday, Charles Maclean, Mr. Martin, Robert Allen, Frank Grob, Frank Cadmus, Mr. Vreeland, Mr. Stultz, Otto Schwartz, George Shaw, Thomas Gilmore, John Lang, Joe Lang, Charles Zahn, Garvey Vandrbeck, Bill Boyd and Phil Volk. Additionally, the following men were taken in as Honorary Members: Walter Springer, Garry Cadmus and George Gardner. The next \"official\" meeting of the newly formed, Laurence Harbor Chemical Company, was set for the 6th of September, 1924.

As a point of interest it should be explained that during the early days of Fire Companies these entities were known as Chemical Companies due to the practice of adding two specific chemicals to an enclosed container of water. These catalysts would agitate the water, creating pressure by which the water was expelled through the only opening available: a hose. This was how water was applied to fire prior to the advent of pumping systems.

At the meeting of September 6th, 1924, a Mr. Bergkamp spoke at length regarding the aquisition of apparatus, after which the decision was left in the hands of a committee, comprised of Misters Gilmore, Grob, Vreeland Houlday and Farrell.

The third meeting of the Laurence Harbor Chemical Company was held at 2:30pm on the 7th of September, 1924, at which a Mr. Roberts, of the law firm Snyder and Roberts, spoke at length regarding incorporation. The Company decision was to do just that on the 20th of September, 1924.

On the 20th of September, 1924, at 8pm, Mr. Roberts, of the law firm Snyder and Roberts, presented to the Laurence Harbor Chemical Company papers of incorporation, requiring Executive signatures. All eighteen members present at this meeting agreed to the incorporation. Following this it was moved and carried that the first meeting of the \"incorporated\" Laurence Harbor Fire Company, No. 1, was to take place at the Conover Lumber Company, (located where the current Hoffman\'s Pharmacy stands). Following this action a By-Law and an Entertainment Committee were created. On amendment it was carried that all eighteen members act as the By-Law Committee. President Farrell then read upon the floor a set of By-Laws which was moved and carried by all members present.

At the meeting of October 4th, 1924, it was moved and carried that the incorporation papers be taken to the Township for recognition by their Board.

At the meeting of October 18th, 1924, it was reported that the Township Board accepted the incorporation papers of the Laurence Harbor Fire Company, No. 1, and thus we became the first Fire Company in the Township Of Madison, (later to be known as our current Old Bridge Township). At the conclusion of this news the following gentlemen were elected as such: Mr. Gilmore-Chief Driver, Mr. Shaw-1st Assistant Mr. Boyd-2nd Assistant and Mr. Cadmus-3rd Assistant.

During the meetings of November 8th, 1924 and December 6th, 1924, actions were taken to include this Company in the New Jersey State Fireman\'s Relief Association.

On the 17th of December, 1924, at a special meeting, Mr. Springer advised the Company that it should immediately join the New Jersey Relief Association. Such recommendation was moved and carried and the formation of the Madison Township Fireman\'s Relief Association took place. President Farrell was appointed as the first Chair of same.

At 8pm, on the 3rd of January, 1925, Mr. Springer, of the N.J. Fireman\'s Relief Association, gave approval to the formation of the Township Relief Association. Following this report Misters Zahn and Volk were elected as Fire Wardens for the Township.

On the 21st of February, 1925, Mr. Maclean was elected as Foreman of the Company.

During the early period of this year a committee was formed to raise money for the purchase of an apparatus, as well as a committee formed for the construction of permanent quarters for the Laurence Harbor Fire Company, No. 1. On the 4th of June, 1925, it was reported that 2-lots had been purchased, upon which the Fire Company could begin the construction of their quarters.

On the 9th of June, 1925, at 8pm, during a special meeting, Mr. Thomas Gilmore was elected as the Company\'s first \"official\" Chief, with Mr. Maclean elected as 1st Assistant and Mr. Volk elected as 2nd Assistant. It was then decided that the Township was to be notified of these elections for the purpose of the Company receiving a Letter of Recogniton from the Township regarding our having elected Chief Officers.

On June 19th, 1925, the Company decided to go ahead with the construction of permanent quarters, at a cost not to exceed ,500.00.

During the same meeting it was voted on that a letter of thanks be sent to the Ladies Auxiliary, (it should be noted that until 19 March, 1935, there was no \"officially\" formed Ladies Auxiliary; however, the minutes of the Company clearly show that wives, et al were quite active within the Company during it\'s formative years and they were known as a Ladies Auxiliary; it was also in conjunction with the Ladies Auxiliary that on March 2nd, 1948 the Fire Company formed a Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, the members of which were children of the Firemen and Ladies of the Auxiliary of this great Company).

As a point of interest it should be noted that during a brief period of the year 1925 there was in existence a Laurence Harbor Engine Company, No 2. As was common during the early days of Fire Service this Company was most likely formed along political lines. However, this Company did disappear relatively quickly and quietly, the members of which most likely became members of this Company.

During the meeting of 15 November, 1932, the Company assigned a committee, (comprised of: Maxwell Mayer, John McComb, Leonard Massom, and later Andrew Barry and Carl Hultin), to look into the formation of a Fire District, one of the purposes being to alleviate the financial burden of providing fire service to the community, (it need be noted that some of the members at this time were endorsers of notes, held by the banks, on the firehouse). It took the better part of 2-years, but during the election of February, 1935, the good voters of the Township approved the formation of same and elected five Fire Commissioners, they being: Maxwell Mayer, Wilbur Nixon, Cornelius Wall, J. T. Dalcher and Fred Shultz.

During the year 1938 the Company acquired it\'s first mascot, a dog of unknown ancestry, named \"Dusty\". Dusty faithfully answered all alarms by running alon
BAILY, Edward E.
CORBY, Clarence W.
FRANZ, George
HULSE, Eugene R.
MORRIS, Charles H.
MORRIS, John A.
SCHAEFER, Edward
SCHAEFER, Harry C.
STANIK, John T.
SCHMUTZER, George A.
TIER, Gilbert O.
VANSANT, J. William

The Company licensed another mascot during the year 1948. His name was Pal, but little is known at this time of his accomplishments.