USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 15
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As a recreation from his school duties, Mr. Rider has been very successful in the cultivation of the cranberry. He is now one of the largest operators in the country and probably represents more capital in the business than any other grower in New Jersey. He has been Secretary of the Ameri- can Cranberry Growers' Association for over twenty years, and was recently selected by a syndicate of bog-owners to introduce cranberries into Great Britain, where they were almost wholly unknown. He went abroad last winter and succeeded in accomplishing his mission in the face of obstacles which would have discouraged and defeated a less competent man. He is a member of the Trenton Board of Trade, and was its President for three consecutive terms, an honor which has fallen to no other man. During his Presidency were inaugurated and carried out the movements which have given to Trenton Cadwalader Park and the sewerage system. Professor Rider is a Thirty-second Degree Mason.
In 1883, Professor Thomas J. Stewart and William P. Hammond opened the Stewart & Ham- mond Business College. After a few years Mr. Hammond retired. The college has for many years past been in successful operation at No. 10 South Broad street. The reputation which this school enjoys gives it an enviable position among like institutions throughout the country. Its graduates occupy prominent places in every part of the country.
ANDREW J. RIDER.
.
CHARLES M. ABRAHAMSON.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
Charles Magnus Abrahamson recently came to this city from Camden, New Jersey, and has established a business college on the corner of Front and Broad streets. The evening class started September 3d, 1894, and the day school January 7th, 1895. The college is located on the well- lighted third floor of the Ribsam Building, and no more desirable position could be secured in the city of Trenton. The appointments are of the best. In it are two banking departments-national as well as trust company-something of which no other college can boast. Besides this all of the modern languages are taught. It can readily be seen that these new departures will place the college in a position to educate its patrons in any line of business they may desire to follow. Com- petent instructors are engaged and the Trentonians who will impart instruction are : Ex-Judge Buchanan, Lecturer on Commercial Law ; Rev. Maurice Penfield Fikes, Dean and Lecturer on Business Ethics ; Mr. Alfred Robertshaw, Book-keeper and Secretary ; Miss Wharton, assistant teacher in the art of shorthand writing. The remaining instructors are successful teachers of wide experience, whilst Professor Abrahamson devotes his whole time and attention to the school. This institution, the newest claimant for popular recognition, has an excellent curriculum, and is installed in commodious apartments. In 1880 Professor Abrahamson established a business college in Camden. This was the first college started there, and it met with pre-eminent success.
CHAPTER XVIII.
TRENTON'S FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE VOLUNTEER COMPANIES- THEIR NAMES AND THE SERVICES RENDERED THE CITY-EARLY FIREMEN-THE ORGANIZED VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENT FROM 1846 TO 1892-THE PAID DEPART- MIENT-ITS ORGANIZATION AND PRESENT CONDITION.
N THE organization of her local fire department Trenton enjoys the distinction of tracing the continuous history of the oldest fire company in the United States. The early methods of extinguishing fires were of a primitive character. To the last cen- tury belongs the insignificant and feeble hand engine, the bucket brigade, and the woven hose freezing in the shallow wells. But there were as brave men then as now ; men as prompt to respond to the call of duty. This is shown by John O. Raum, whose history of Trenton's fire department is most complete. The first record we have of an organized fire department in Trenton is to be found in a meeting of the citizens on the evening of February 7th, 1747. Upon this occasion Obadiah Howell, George Ely, John Hunt, William Plaskett and Thomas Tindall assembled in a blacksmith shop, on the corner of Broad and Front streets, for the purpose of forming a fire company. Obadiah Howell was appointed a committee to procure buckets, baskets, fire hooks and ladders, whilst to George Ely and William Plaskett was assigned the task of drafting a constitution. After some consideration the name "Union " was adopted and a more perfect organization effected. The regular meetings were annual, and a special meeting was held on the Monday night next after a fire. The oldest complete constitution of the company in their possession was adopted February 13th, 1792, and commences as follows :
"Articles of the Union Fire Company of Trenton, instituted the Sth day of May, 1747 ; revised and corrected the 5th day of May, 1783 ; revised and amended the 13th day of February, 1792."
The original constitution was signed by the following members : Hezekiah Howell, Conrad Kotts, Charles Axford, Benjamin Smith, Joseph Milnor, John Singer, Abraham Hunt, Isaac Barnes, George Ely, James Ewing, Moore Furman, Samuel Leake, Samuel W. Stockton, Maskell Ewing, James F. Armstrong, Samuel Taylor, Joseph Brumley, William Tindall, Robert L. Hooper, Pontius D. Stelle, John Potts and James M. Mckinley.
The company, in 1772, had purchased a small Gibbs engine, and in 1786, they obtained a large one. In 1791, a horse was employed to draw the large engine. In 1789, the engines were stored in small houses in the city, and in 1798 one finds the company composed of thirty-two active members. The annual expenses at this time were about four hundred dollars, exclusive of the cost of fire buckets and extraordinary expenses. The company had two engines, one stationed in Trenton and one on Mill Hill. Ellett Tucker was captain of the large engine, and John Sutterly of the small one.
In 1813, the company added six fire ladders and seven fire hooks to their apparatus. In 1823, the company's house was erected on State street, near the Government House, and in 1824, the "Union " was incorporated by act of the Legislature. The incorporators were Isaac Barnes, John R. Tucker, James Hillman and John D. Green.
In 1832, they purchased their double-decker, and on October 3d, 1848, they had it rebuilt. It was sold in March, 1855. In 1836, they removed their house from the government lot to Academy street, near the old buttonwood trec.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
In Mareh, 1856, the company purchased a Button hand engine, piano style, which they sold in 1864.
At some period after the organization of the Union Company, a company known as the "Restoration" eame into existenee. Little or nothing is known thereof, except they surrendered their engine to the Hand-in-Hand Company in 1789.
On the second of April, 1772, the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company was organized at the house of Rensselaer Williams. The original members were Joseph Toy, David Cowell, M. D., Rensselaer Williams, Isaae Pearson Rodman, Arehi- bald William Yard, Joseph Clunn, Richard Borden and Samuel Bellerjeau.
As an index of the meth- ods then employed, the fol- lowing eitations were made from the constitution by John O. Raum : It provided in the first artiele, "that each A FIRE DEPARTMENT OF YE OLDEN TIME. member, within the space of three months from the date of the adoption of the same, should provide himself, at his own proper cost and charge, two leather buekets, one bag, and one convenient basket; the bag to be made of strong osnabergs or wider linen, to contain at least three yards, with a running string at the mouth ; which buckets, bag, and basket shall be marked with the name of the person to whom they belong and company, and shall be hung up near the front door, as conveniently as may be, for view, in each member's house, to be ready at hand, and to be applied to no other use than for preserving our own and our fellow- townsmen's houses, goods, and effects from fire ; that each new member who shall be hereafter admitted shall provide themselves in like manner, within three months after his admission." And in case they were not provided, or, after being provided, were not kept in order, a fine of two shillings was imposed for each bueket so neglected, and for bag or basket, one shilling each, unless they were lost or rendered useless by a fire, in which ease the loss was to be made up as soon as possible by the Treasurer, out of the company's stoeks.
On the first notice of fire, "they were immediately to repair to the place, with their buekets, bag, and basket, and there employ their best endeavors to extinguish the same ; and if any house or houses, goods, and effeets belonging to any member of the company were likely to be consumed, two of them were immediately to RECOLLECTIONS OF OLD TIMES-HOLDING A HYDRANT FOR THE BOYS TO COME. repair to the door of each such house or fire, there to stand and deliver sueh goods as may be saved into the hands of such persons as they shall think proper to intrust them with, to be carried to some place appointed by their owner," where one or more were to attend them until they could be conveniently restored to or secured for the owner ; and the other members should, if there be oeeasion, divide themselves as near as may be to be equally helpful and that they were to be ready and willing to help and assist all others. And in case of default in doing this duty, they were to forfeit and pay five shillings, unless they could give a sufficient reason to the company at its next meeting.
Upon an alarm of fire, in the night, every member was to eause two or more lights to be set in his windows ; and such of the company whose houses might be in danger were required to place
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candles in every room to prevent confusion. The company was set on foot by the "Fishing Island Lottery." The fire company suspended its meetings during the early years of the Revolution.
In 1782, the Clerk was authorized to hire out the ladders of the company at the rate of one shilling per day.
In 1784, Mr. Isaac De Cou presented the company with a new ladder, for which he received a vote of thanks, and the ladder was ordered to be hung up at the house of Mr. Chambers, where William Reeder then resided. The Clerk was also ordered to notify the members of the company to give their assistance in removing the engine-house from the place where it then stood to the lot of Abraham Hunt. In those days it was customary to locate an engine-house on any vacant lot, and for it to remain there until the owner desired possession of the property.
In January, 1810, the subject of building one or more cisterns, or erecting pumps for the pur- pose of securing a more sufficient supply of water in time of fire, was agitated.
In January, 1814, the company thinking it necessary for a more speedy and general alarm in case of fire, Garret D. Wall, Jacob Hester and Thomas Ryall were appointed a committee to cause the Academy, Presbyterian Church and State House bells to be rung immediately upon an alarm AN OLD-FASHIONED FIRE ENGINE. of fire ; this was also adopted by the Resolution Company, and a premium of $1 was offered to the person who should first ring either of the above bells, and 50 cents to the person who should ring the second or third bells.
The Hand-in-Hand Company was incorporated in December, 1824. Until 1839, the meetings of the company had been held in the houses of members, but in this year all the companies in the city met in a room in the City Hall. In 1839, the boys were organized to manage the small engine which was called the "Hibernia." The same year the Union Company organized the boys in like manner to take charge of their small engine, under the name of Union, No. 2.
In June, 1851, they purchased a hose carriage, which was run as the "Neptune," the company being divided, one portion running the engine the other the carriage, though both under the same government. They continued these two organiza- tions until 1854, when the Neptune was merged into the Hand-in-Hand, and the engine and car- riage were run as one company.
The Hand-in-Hand Fire Company may be said to be the mother of four companies at present in existence in our city.
First, they furnished the President of the Eagle, Gideon H. Wells, organized in June, 1821. The same year, and about four months later, they furnished a President for the Delaware Fire Com- STARTING FOR A FIRE. pany, in the person of Richard L. Beatty. In 1839, they organized the boys into a company, who volunteered to take charge of the small engine, and be under the control and general supervision of the Hand-in-Hand Company.
This was the original organization of the Good Will Fire Company, and in 1859, a number of the members withdrew and formed the America Hose Company.
The engine-house stood on the Government lot, after which it was removed into Academy street, on the southwest corner of the Academy lot.
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
In June, 1850, it stood on Isaac Heulings' lot, in the rear of the American Hotel. At this time the company entered into a contract with Joseph C. Potts for the use of the building in Chan- cery street, in the rear of the Chancery buildings. They remained here until the year 1861, at which time the city built the house in Willow street. The company took possession September 10th, 1861.
A hand engine built by John Agnew, of Philadelphia, was sold about the first of June, 1867.
The Resolution Fire Company was organized on the fourth day of February, A. D. 1804, and incorporated on the twenty-ninth day of December, A. D. 1824. From what can be gathered from the minutes we conclude that Zachariah Rossell was called to the chair, and that he continued to be President of the company for many years thereafter.
The membership was divided into committees, namely, the Ladder Committee, the Alarm Committee and the Bucket Committee. Each committee was required, under penalty of a fine, to attend strictly to the duties assigned it.
This company had one very peculiar rule, which was that of holding a meeting one week after every fire. This was done in order to give the members who were absent from fires an opportunity of explaining their absence.
On October 2d, 1848, the Resolution Fire Company agreed to recognize the members of the Good Will Fire Company as associate and constituent members of this company, they consenting thereto, to enjoy all the privileges and be subject to all the duties of this company.
"Second. Resolved, That the united members be divided into three sections ; that the duty of No. 1 section, on the alarm of fire, be to take charge of the Resolution fire engine; No. 2 to take charge of the Good Will engine ; No. 3 to take charge of the hose carriages and apparatus."
As a matter of fact, the Good Will Fire Company was formally organized on the twenty-fourth of January, 1848, but having become auxiliary to the Resolution Fire Company, dates its organization from February 4th, 1804. Previous to this organization a number of gentlemen had formed them- selves into a company, calling themselves the Good Will Company, and used the old bucket engine, as it was called, this being the same engine that had formerly been used by the Resolution Company.
Charles Moore presided at the meeting held in the City Hall on the twenty-fourth of January, 1848, and Peter B. Geary acted as Secretary. At this meeting Charles Moore, William D. McClain and Benjamin K. McClurg were appointed a committee to draft a constitution and by-laws.
At a meeting held on the fourth of February, 1848, a constitution and by-laws were adopted. This meeting was held at the printing office of B. F. Yard. The following persons signed the constitution : Charles Moore, John McMilnor, William B. McClain, Benjamin K. McClurg, David Pullen, Peter B. Geary, James F. Starin, George E. Curslys, Richard Callis, John M. Tunison, Jacob S. Yard and Aaron Dansbury.
In August, 1850, the company purchased a new engine. The first engine-house occupied by the Good Will Company was situated on Front street, near Willow. It was an old one-story house. The next house occupied by theni was situated on Warren street, on the north side of Coleman's mill. This was also an old one-story house, with two planks for a floor to run the engine on. An old stove was rolled against the door for a lock.
In 1849 application was made to Council by the company for a new house, and in the same year one was built on Lafayette street, which at that time was considered a beautiful building for an engine company. It occupied this house until 1861.
Before removing therefrom the company purchased a lot of land on Warren street, where it is now located, from Samuel K. Wilson, which was afterward conveyed to the city in consideration that the city would put up a new house on said land. This the city agreed to do, and until it was completed the company housed its apparatus in a building owned by Casper Martino, on South Broad street. The Good Will Company was incorporated January 31st, 1854.
The original organizers of the Eagle Fire Company met at the house of John Hutchinson, on Friday evening, the fifteenth of June, 1821, and adopted a constitution, which sets forth in its pre- amble the following : "We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Mill Hill and its vicinity, for the greater security of our own and our neighbors' property from loss by fire, do associate and form ourselves into a company to be known and styled the Eagle Fire Company of Mill Hill."
At their first meeting the following officers were elected : Gideon H. Wells, President ; Lewis Evans, Vice President ; Thomas W. Morgan, Secretary ; Jesse Redman, Treasurer ; Robert
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
Chambers, Inspector. Thomas Dearth and Welling Napton were elected Engineers, and John Mount, Jacob Raum, Wollaston Redman, Robert Chambers, James Hope and Fairfax Abell, Assistants.
On the twenty-sixth of February, 1830, the company was incorporated. The capital stoek was 82,000, which was afterwards, by a supplement approved March 11th, 1864, increased to $8,000. The house of the company was a small, one-story building, about sixteen by thirty feet, and located on the lot where the Court House now stands, and in front of the southerly end of it, on Broad street. North of the engine-house, and adjoining the same, the hooks and ladders were located. In August, 1836, it was provided that the company should meet in the lower story of the Mill Hill school-house. At this period the company's motto, "Efficient Aid," was adopted.
May 3d, 1849, it was ordered that the members of the company equip themselves with hat and cape at a cost of $2,50. Device, a spread cagle on hat, with the figures "1821" and the letter "E" on the back.
The engine-house was removed from the Academy, and a small house erected on Market street, near Jackson, which the company continued to occupy until the eity built the present house on Broad street, in 1858, which was dedicated July 5th of that year.
In 1859 a difficulty occurred in the department in consequence of the Board of Engineers numbering the different companies. Those in Trenton proper were given the first numbers, and those in that district which had been annexed were numbered last. This created considerable dis- satisfaction among the companies affected thereby. The Eagle Company rebelled, on the ground that its rights were interfered with, and this was carried to such an extent that the Sheriff closed up the house, levied on the property and sold the hose carriage and other property at public sale.
The Delaware Fire Company was probably organized prior to April 5th, 1821, for upon that date is found in an old minute-book of the company an actual list of the members. The company was incorporated in January, 1833. The engine-house at that time was a small one-story frame building, situated on the southerly side of what is now Bridge street, near Warren. It was long since removed to make way for other improvements.
During the month of March, 1856, the company bought a new hand engine, made by Button, of Waterford, New York, for $1, 100, and at the same time purchased another engine-house, which was located on the north side of Bridge street, near Fair. In the fall of 1868 the company left their building in Bridge street and occupied the new engine-house built by the eity, in Warren street, just above Bridge.
A great number of fires occurred in Trenton in the winter of 1838-39. Although Trenton had a sufficient number of fire engines there was room for improvement in the methods of carrying hose. To this end, upon the 25th of February, 1839, a number of gentlemen met at the house of John Van Fleet, on Warren street, and the following was adopted :
"Whereas, the numerous cases of fire oceurring in the city of Trenton renders it necessary, and the undersigned, actuated by a sincere desire to assist their fellow-citizens in the hour of danger," resolved to form themselves into a company, Trenton Hose, No. 1.
On March 8th, 1839, the following officers were elected : A. P. Atkinson, President ; George Furman, Vice President ; Charles C. Bellerjeau, Secretary ; Samuel F. Hart, Assistant Secretary ; George W. Van Hart, Treasurer ; Charles W. Johnston, John R. S. Barnes and David S. Anderson, Directors.
The organization being without a hose carriage, a committee, consisting of Benjamin T. Howell, David S. Anderson, A. P. Atkinson, R. W. Furman and George W. Van Hart, was appointed to wait upon the Resolution Fire Company, and request the loan of their hose carriage until one could be procured ; this request was cheerfully complied with. With the proper apparatus and a full complement of men, they were without a hose-house, and the members were compelled to hold their meetings at private houses, hotels, auction-rooms, or wherever they could find a suitable room for the purpose. In the course of a few months they purchased a new hose carriage, and secured a house in Warren street, opposite the Third Presbyterian Church. This house afforded scarcely room enough to accommodate the members and hose carriage at the same time, but by using the carriage as a presidential chair and for seats, it was considered sufficiently large.
The Harmony Fire Company was organized May 9th, 1849. The first meeting was held at the house of Daniel T. Bellerjeau, in Warren street, above the feeder bridge, for the purpose of forming
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THE CITY OF TRENTON.
a fire company in the northern part of the city. Edward H. Brown was chosen Chairman, and Charles R. Faussett, Secretary. It was resolved "that this meeting believe it to be essential to the citizens of the northern part of the city to have a fire engine, as all the engines are situated in the lower part of the city." A committee was appointed to solicit the aid of the citizens for the purpose of purchasing an engine and house. On the second of March, 1855, the company became incor- porated. At the meeting of July 20th, 1857, they adopted as their motto "We Strive to Save."
The Harmony Company commenced erecting its first building at the forks of Warren and Broad. This was soon abandoned, and the company finally became located on Princeton avenue.
In 1850, the Protection Hook and Ladder Company was organized and lived about five years. It was largely composed of German citizens who were members of the Republican Rifles. Their property later came into the possession of the Good Will Company.
The America Hose Company was organ- ized January 19th, 1859, by members from the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company, and was incorporated February 14th, 1860. The city erected for the company a frame house in Montgomery street, near Perry. The house later occupied by the company, in Perry street, east of the canal, was built by the city in 1870.
On September 22d, 1873, in honor of ex-Chief William Ossenberg, a hose eom- pany was organized which adopted his name. After being furnished with a hand carriage it soon adopted a horse carriage and became thoroughly well equipped.
In 1873, the Washington Hook and Ladder Company was added to the list of Trenton companies. At this time the Tren- ton Hose Company presented the new organi- zation with hooks, ladders and truck.
The Mutual Fire Company of Chambers- burg came into existence in 1876 as the town's needs demanded such a form of pro- tection. The engine-house was located at WILLIAM MCGILL, CHIEF ENGINEER. the corner of Clinton and Annie streets, where there was a thorough equipment. The first officers were Isaac Rouner, President ; James Wallace, Secretary ; William Donnelly, Treasurer ; David Haas, Chief, and the company consisted of about thirty-five active members.
Until the year 1846, Trenton had no regularly-organized fire department. Prior to this time each company aeted independently, and local jealousies were rife. To promote uniformity of action, an ordinanee was passed upon the fifth day of May, 1846, which provided that the depart- ment should consist of a Chief Engineer, two Assistants, eight Fire Wardens and such firemen and hosemen as were then or should thereafter beeome attached to the several fire engine and hose companies of this city.
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