MONMOUTH FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Monmouth Fire Department has few superiors among the volunteer fire-fighting organizations of the country. As at present constituted it includes Engine Company No. 1, the Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder Company, Hose Company No. 1, and Hose Company No. 3. Most of the apparatus is housed on the first floor of the City Hall on First avenue east of Main street, including the chemical engine of which George Claycomb is custodian; a hook and ladder wagon of which T. 0. Wilcox is custodian: and a hose wagon of which
W. H. Sloan is custodian. Stables in the rear accommodate the three teams belonging to these wagons. At the Hose House No. 3, in the southwest part of the city, in. the factory district, is a hose cart manned by Hose Company No. 3. The "William Hanna" fire engine, now little used, is kept at the city scale building on North First street and Archer avenue.
The department had its beginnings in the purchase of a small fire engine by the city in November, 1855. It was made by Cowan & Co., of Seneca Falls, N. Y., and cost $200 at the shop. The purchase of this engine was followed December 26, 1855, by the organization of the Monmouth Fire Company. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and the following officers elected: Carlos Gamble, captain; Joseph A. Boynton, first foreman; Orrin Gamble, second foreman; Nathan Carr, Jr., treasurer; W. M. Gregg, clerk. The records of this company have been lost and the names of the other original members can not now be learned.
A fire during the night of January 14, 1868, which destroyed a row of business buildings extending along Broadway from First street to the alley east of the present Lahann block, had the effect of waking the city up to the need of a better fire department and more' efficient apparatus. At a meeting a few days later the council appointed Joseph A. Boynton chief fire marshal, Samuel Claycomb first assistant, and W. A. Robison, second assistant.
It also authorized the fire marshal to organize a hook and ladder company of thirty men as early as practicable, and ordered the sale of city bonds to the amount of $10,000 for the purpose of purchasing a new fire engine. The mayor was authorized to purchase the engine, and secured one, a combination of a Holly pump and rotary engine, with Clapp circulating boiler, and manufactured by H. C. Silsby & Co., Seneca Falls, N. Y. A public trial of the machine was held May 21, 1868, and was very satisfactory. Less than a week later Richard Perrott lost his life through this engine. The machine was being drawn to a fire in the south part of town, and Mr. Perrott attempted to get hold of the rope by which it was being hauled, but stumbled and fell, and one of the wheels passed over his chest. He died within a couple of hours.
The Rough and Ready Hook and Ladder Company was organized by Fire Marshal Boynton, February 22, 1868, in pursuance of instruc tions given him by the council. The officers elected were: John E. Alexander, foreman; William A. Grant, assistant; T. H. Lee, secretary; Charles Brown, treasurer. The constitution and by-laws were adopted a week later and the company fully organized
Among the names of the early members of the company were: John E. Alexander, Wm. A. Grant, D. S. Hass, Jacob Krollman, Charles E. Wolfe, Charles Brown, T. H. Lee, D. D. Randall, Wm. Milliken, M. H. Holliday, C.D . Shoemaker, M. L. Standsbury, D. Williams, S. Burns, Jas. Tarbell, E. E. Webb, E. B. Miles, L. D. Robinson, R. H. Randall, J. W. Berger, Hampton Mackey, R. Wagstaff, W. B. Young, Chas. Smilie, J. B. Weir, J. M. Campbell, A. W. Fluke, J. A. Montgomery, G. L, Mitchell, W. C. Shoemaker.