Back

In 1911, four companies, all volunteer, served the Township. Each company owned a hand drawn hose cart, and alarms were sounded by striking a hammer against a locomotive tire.

In 1915, the Volunteer Association's (as they were known) were organized into one municipal Department, with K.V. Ridley as Chief. The Township purchased badges, boots, fire extinguishers, and lanterns for the Volunteers.

During January of 1917, Chairman William Bodine of the Township Committee authorized the town to buy fire apparatus that was on sale in Edgewater, New Jersey for $125.

It was not until 1920, when Martin Veuve was Township Chairman, that an automotive vehicle was purchased. Upon his appeal to the Committee, an American LaFrance 350 Gallon per minute (GPM) pumper totaling $4,285 was obtained. Of course this called for a new building to house it in. Since none was large enough, a proposal to build a combined municipal Building/Fire Station put before the voters of Teaneck. The issue was defeated, but -the taxpayers did agree to a fire bond issue totaling $40,000,

Company No. 1 was established in 1904, and was quartered at the southwest corner of Teaneck Road and Forest Avenue. The Company protected the section of town known as Manhattan Heights, West Englewood Park and Upper Teaneck. Some of the organizers of the company were Walter Kaltenback (later to become the first paid fireman in Teaneck), K.V. Ridley (to become the first Chief) and Carl Carlsen. The company's protective district was north of Cedar Lane to the Bergenfield line, and as the second due engine in -the remaining three- districts.

The owner of the firehouse in which the Company was stationed decided that he no longer wanted the volunteers for his tenants, and they were forced too seek new quarters. A barn for sale on Lafayette Avenue was available, and the Company bought one half of the building and moved it to Fairview Avenue, directly behind the 1920 fire headquarters After clearing the road to make a path to move the structure, the barn was given a complete overhauling, and converted into a firehouse.

 

Next Page

Previous Page

Back