At the invitation of a specially appointed Fire Committee of the Kingston Improvement Society, about twenty interested citizens met in the South Brunswick Township Schoolhouse, to discuss the advisability of having a fire apparatus in Kingston. (Excerpted from the minutes of the organizing meeting held February 29, 1924.)
A recent fire on Main Street, which started in a retail store and spread to the neighbors, had cost two families their homes and the lose of the business where the fire originated. The men of the town gathered -- determined to be ready the next time fire reared its ugly head in the town of Kingston. Three members of the Princeton Fire Department were present to help answer questions -- Chief Joseph Briner, Mr. W. L. Briner, and Past Chief Kerr. The minutes note, "Chief Joseph Briner gave us some first hand advice and told some amusing tales of fair ladies who left their keys inside and called up the fire company for a ladder to get in their window. He urged loyalty to the Chief since he had authority to go ahead with responsibility..."
The organizing men were eager to take action. Before the gavel came down closing the first meeting they had:
determined to organize a fire company
appointed a Motor Apparatus Committee
suggested the purchase of Hand Extinguishers
opened the Charter Membership rolls with an initiation fee of $3.00
elected Executive Officers.
The second organizing meeting of the fire company was held less then a week later, on March 6, 1924. It is noted that 18 men had signed up and paid dues, and already the first voices of dissension were being heard. The minutes say, "President Shaw made a few remarks stating that it had come to his ears that some dissatisfaction had arisen due to the fact that the original meeting consisted of picked members rather than of a representation meeting of all people interested." President Shaw went on to explain his appointment as Chief by the Improvement Association and offered to resign if the men present wished. After some discussion, the members present held a new election of officers.
Another milestone was also achieved at this second organizational meeting, as reflected in the minutes. "By invitation, the American LaFrance agents, who had been called upon hitherto many times for suggestions, were now called upon to tell us about their machine and proposition." Mr. Williams of American LaFrance presented information on a "Three tank, two hose equipment, mounted on a Brockway chassis" which would cost $4,150.00. After many questions were asked and answered, President Flemer appointed a committee (Chief Lester Shaw, Foreman Ben Stewart, and William Woolf) to confer with the American LaFrance agents. Kingston was on its way to having its first fire truck. The members even decided that the Presbyterian Church Bell would be used to alert members of a fire call -- "and anyone hearing it ring at off times, would know what it was for."
March 6 also marked the official adoption of the name of the fire company. The original motion was to adopt the name "The Kingston Fire Company," but after considerable discussion a motion passed to adopt the name "The Kingston Volunteer Fire Company Number 1."
The men were very busy during the first month, and they accomplished a lot. The fourth meeting convened on April 3, and the Purchasing Committee reported they had arranged for the purchase of an American LaFrance Type 3 Triple Tank Chemical Combination CO mounted on a Brockway Torpedo Chassis. The committee signed the contract for the purchase of the truck on March 26, 1924 at a cost of $4,000.00. The terms of the contract reflect a payment of $1,000.00 due 10 days after receipt of the vehicle, and four annual payments with 6% interest per annum.
The fire company membership would not accept the terms of the initial signed contract since it called for delivery in 90 working days. (The fact that a legal contract to purchase under these terms was signed by all parties on March 26, 1924, did not seem to present the problems we would expect today.) This meant that delivery of the truck would not be until after the planned July 4th carnival. The Secretary was asked to follow up on this concern, and received written verification that delivery would be "started" June 24, 1924.
The organization of the fire company was really taking shape by this meeting. A contact with local Attorney Vandewater had already started the process to incorporate the newly formed organization. The recommendation of Attorney Vandewater was to elect three individuals to the office of Trustee.
Chief Shaw suggested at the April 17 meeting that four hand fire extinguishers be installed in strategic locations throughout the town. Chief Shaw obtained approval of the property owners in advance of the meeting, and the members approved the suggested placement of the fire extinguishers:
McFaul's
Mr. Moores back porch
Anthony's Barn
John Brabson's
An additional note to the minutes of April 17, 1924, records the first drill of The Kingston Volunteer Fire Company Number 1. "One of the Fire Extinguishers belonging to the Machine was tried out with great success on a pile of burning boxes over by the Graveyard wall." A drill with a fire extinguisher from a truck that had not yet been delivered, and for which no payment had yet been made. Amazing, how times have changed.
There is a reference in the minutes of the May 1 meeting of Princeton Fire Department and Rusling Hose Co. having responded to a fire in Kingston. In fact, this is the first record of Mutual Aid received by the fire company, and it notes in the minutes that both companies returned "their share of the money recently collected and sent to them for responding to our fire." Thanks to both fire companies for contributing to the new truck fund in Kingston.
At the June 5, 1924 meeting. 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. This invitation was tabled until after the carnival.
At last, the big day arrived, and the "machine" (as referred to by Secretary H. Lloyd Haupt) was delivered to Kingston by railroad car on June 11, 1924. The first drill with the new truck was held on June 19 at the Gulick's Barn, and the minutes note "it was greatly enjoyed by all."
And so begins the history of The Kingston Volunteer Fire Company Number 1. On August 7, 1999 we celebrated our 75th Anniversary of serving the Kingston Community with a parade. We were overwhelmed with the community support for this event and truly appreciate everyone who turned out to join in the celebration -- including the marchers and the many citizens who lined the streets to enjoy the parade. The Kingston 1999 Celebration Parade was a huge success, a fantastic way of celebrating our 75th Anniversary, and a fitting gala event commemorating the 325th Anniversary of the settlement of Kingston!
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