Camden Courier-Post, October 8, 1936View transcription
Weccacoe Company Made Camden History As Leaders of Early Volunteer Fire Fighters
First Steam Engine Used to Stop Flames Was Purchased in 1864 for $850
1300-Pound Bell Suspended From Two Poles Served as Alarm for City
This is the second installment of a history of fire fighting in Camden from the time of the formation of the first volunteer company in 1810 to 1936. It is the first complete history of the fire department written since 1886 and links the old volunteers with the new paid motorized department. It is being published in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which is being sponsored by the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association and the Camden Fire Department. Yesterday's installment told of the formation of the Perseverance Fire Company in 1810, the first in the city's history.
GRILL
WECCACOE
INSTITUTED
OCT 7TH
1830
INCORPORATED
MARCH 19
1852
The famous Weccacoe Fire Company was instituted in 1830 and incorporated in 1852. It was the parent to the Weccacoe Hose Company. The company had its fire house on Plum street, now Arch, between Fifth and Sixth streets. A marble slab between the second and third floors was a marker with its history briefly inscribed. The building, later used as The Grill, was razed for the erection of the new city hall and court house annex.
By FRANK SHERIDAN
The Fairmount Company, later known as the Niagara, was reorganized as the Weccacoe Fire Company, No. 2, in 1848. The headquarters of the company was moved to the old City Hall lot on Federal street, where the Public Service building now stands. William Hanna joined this company in 1835, James M. Cassady in 1838 and James W. Ayers in 1843. Ayers was later fire marshal.
Weccacoe Fire Company, No. 2, should not be confused with Weccacoe Hose Company, No. 2, the "Last of the Mohicans," as far as volunteer fire companies are concerned in the city's history. The Camden paid department succeeded this and other companies in 1869.
Richard Fetters presented the names of Edward Steer and 32 other persons to City Council on September 1, 1848, as the personnel of the new Weccacoe company. Council gave the company the use of the old "Niagara", after giving its recognition.
Frank Sheridan
Steam Engine Bought in 1864
In 1850 the company purchased a better second-hand pumper from the Southwark Commissioners, Philadelphia, for $750. It was rebuilt in 1853 by John Agnew at a cost of $850. The first steam engine was purchased by this company in 1864.
A bell weighing 1300 pounds was suspended from two poles in front of the fire house. It served as an alarm for the entire city. Several attempts by incendiaries to destroy the building finally succeeded on February 17, 1854.
Then the company established headquarters on Fifth street above Arch in a two-story brick building on the site of the old Columbia Gardens, which was originally a cemetery.
The company was incorporated in 1852 with the following as incorporators: John Lanning, James M. Cassady, James W. Ayers, Isaac Shreve, Wesley P. Murray, Joseph F. Murray, Joshua S. Porter, Daniel B. McCully, Richard G. Camp, James Doughten, Stone H. Stow, Charles H. Thorne, and Matthew Miller, Jr.
Mohawks Formed in 1849
Ayers was elected president at the time the company was organized and continued until 1854, when he was absent from the city for a year. He was president until the company was disbanded.
The Mohawk Fire Company was organized in the Spring of 1849, but its career was turbulent and short lived. The company met in a three-story brick house at the northwest corner of Third and Cherry streets. The organizers were men of reputation.
Lambert F. Beatty was president and William S. Frazier secretary. The company was strong in numbers but a lawless element got into the membership with the result there were brawls, riots and other disorder. Fearing incendiarism the company disbanded on April 23, 1851.
Independence Fire Company, No. 3, was organized to take the place of the Mohawk company and Beatty was chosen president and Frazier secretary of the new group. Joseph Wagner was named secretary. Among the early members were Claudius W. Bradshaw, later chief of the paid fire department and still later mayor; Robert S. Bender, also later a chief in the paid department; Jacob Prettyman, David Page, Thomas Stites, Andrew Stilwell, Francis E. Harper, Restore Cook, John Wallace, William H. Hawkins, Christopher J. Mines, later sheriff; Albert V. Mills, Lewis Yeager, Thomas McCowan and William W. Mines.
Fire Destroys Home
The company met in a frame building at Third and Cherry streets for a year. The building was destroyed by fire and Yeager gave the company a plot of ground near Third and Cherry streets. Charles Stockham, lumber merchant, gave lumber for the construction of a new firehouse. The company purchased another lot on Third street above Cherry street in 1853. This was occupied until 1859 when a defect in the title resulted in the property being offered for sale by the sheriff.
When the sheriff arrived on the scene the day of the sale he found the firemen and their apparatus were on an adjoining lot, and James B. Dayton, who caused the sale, was in possession of the firehouse.
In 1860 the company bought a lot on Pine street, east of Fourth, and built a three-story brick building, one of the most substantial firehouses in the city. The building was subsequently sold to the city for $4500 and now houses Engine Company No. 1.
Independence was a hose company until June 4, 1864, when an Amoskeag steam fire engine was purchased. It was the first steam engine used in the city. In 1869 the company purchased a larger engine, selling the Amoskeag to Millville. Millville sold it to the city of Camden in 1874.
Disbands in 1874
Bender served as president of the company from 1854 until October 13, 1874, when the company formally disbanded after paying all claims. It had a roster of 60 men.
Other presidents of the company were Timothy C. Moore, who was also a president of Mohawk; Beatty, William L. Frazier, Mines, John Wallace, Hawkins, J. Kelly Brown and Gilbert. Other secretaries were Mines, Mortimer C. Wilson and McCowan. Bender and Joseph Wagner served as treasurers.
The Shiffler Hose Company, No. 1, was organized March 7, 1849, and was given councilmanic recognition on August 30 that year. The charter members were George W. Thompson, president; George F. Ross, secretary; Joseph Brown, W. W. Burt, Charles Cheeseman, Robert Maguire, Samuel Brown, John G. Hutchinson, Armstrong Sapp, Richard Cheeseman, Albert Robinson, George F. Ross and William Wallace.
The company purchased a horse hose carriage from the Shiffler Hose Company, Philadelphia, for $10. That marked the introduction of horse-drawn apparatus. The apparatus was housed in a carpenter shop on Sycamore street, near Third, and remained there until a two-story brick firehouse was erected on Fourth street, below Walnut.
The company was incorporated in March, 1852, by Burt, Sapp, Thompson, Robert Maguire, James Sherman, Wallace, Hutchinson, Brown and William Harris.
Jacob C. Daubman, later a sheriff, was elected president in 1854 and served until the company was disbanded in 1869. On March 29, 1864, the company obtained a new charter as the Shiffler Hose and Steam Fire Company. A steam engine was purchased and the company maintained a high state of efficiency until it disbanded in 1869.
First Steam Engine Used to Stop Flames Was Purchased in 1864 for $850
1300-Pound Bell Suspended From Two Poles Served as Alarm for City
This is the second installment of a history of fire fighting in Camden from the time of the formation of the first volunteer company in 1810 to 1936. It is the first complete history of the fire department written since 1886 and links the old volunteers with the new paid motorized department. It is being published in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week, which is being sponsored by the Camden County Fire Chiefs Association and the Camden Fire Department. Yesterday's installment told of the formation of the Perseverance Fire Company in 1810, the first in the city's history.
The famous Weccacoe Fire Company was instituted in 1830 and incorporated in 1852. It was the parent to the Weccacoe Hose Company. The company had its fire house on Plum street, now Arch, between Fifth and Sixth streets. A marble slab between the second and third floors was a marker with its history briefly inscribed. The building, later used as The Grill, was razed for the erection of the new city hall and court house annex.
The Fairmount Company, later known as the Niagara, was reorganized as the Weccacoe Fire Company, No. 2, in 1848. The headquarters of the company was moved to the old City Hall lot on Federal street, where the Public Service building now stands. William Hanna joined this company in 1835, James M. Cassady in 1838 and James W. Ayers in 1843. Ayers was later fire marshal.
Weccacoe Fire Company, No. 2, should not be confused with Weccacoe Hose Company, No. 2, the "Last of the Mohicans," as far as volunteer fire companies are concerned in the city's history. The Camden paid department succeeded this and other companies in 1869.
Richard Fetters presented the names of Edward Steer and 32 other persons to City Council on September 1, 1848, as the personnel of the new Weccacoe company. Council gave the company the use of the old "Niagara", after giving its recognition.
Steam Engine Bought in 1864
In 1850 the company purchased a better second-hand pumper from the Southwark Commissioners, Philadelphia, for $750. It was rebuilt in 1853 by John Agnew at a cost of $850. The first steam engine was purchased by this company in 1864.
A bell weighing 1300 pounds was suspended from two poles in front of the fire house. It served as an alarm for the entire city. Several attempts by incendiaries to destroy the building finally succeeded on February 17, 1854.
Then the company established headquarters on Fifth street above Arch in a two-story brick building on the site of the old Columbia Gardens, which was originally a cemetery.
The company was incorporated in 1852 with the following as incorporators: John Lanning, James M. Cassady, James W. Ayers, Isaac Shreve, Wesley P. Murray, Joseph F. Murray, Joshua S. Porter, Daniel B. McCully, Richard G. Camp, James Doughten, Stone H. Stow, Charles H. Thorne, and Matthew Miller, Jr.
Mohawks Formed in 1849
Ayers was elected president at the time the company was organized and continued until 1854, when he was absent from the city for a year. He was president until the company was disbanded.
The Mohawk Fire Company was organized in the Spring of 1849, but its career was turbulent and short lived. The company met in a three-story brick house at the northwest corner of Third and Cherry streets. The organizers were men of reputation.
Lambert F. Beatty was president and William S. Frazier secretary. The company was strong in numbers but a lawless element got into the membership with the result there were brawls, riots and other disorder. Fearing incendiarism the company disbanded on April 23, 1851.
Independence Fire Company, No. 3, was organized to take the place of the Mohawk company and Beatty was chosen president and Frazier secretary of the new group. Joseph Wagner was named secretary. Among the early members were Claudius W. Bradshaw, later chief of the paid fire department and still later mayor; Robert S. Bender, also later a chief in the paid department; Jacob Prettyman, David Page, Thomas Stites, Andrew Stilwell, Francis E. Harper, Restore Cook, John Wallace, William H. Hawkins, Christopher J. Mines, later sheriff; Albert V. Mills, Lewis Yeager, Thomas McCowan and William W. Mines.
Fire Destroys Home
The company met in a frame building at Third and Cherry streets for a year. The building was destroyed by fire and Yeager gave the company a plot of ground near Third and Cherry streets. Charles Stockham, lumber merchant, gave lumber for the construction of a new firehouse. The company purchased another lot on Third street above Cherry street in 1853. This was occupied until 1859 when a defect in the title resulted in the property being offered for sale by the sheriff.
When the sheriff arrived on the scene the day of the sale he found the firemen and their apparatus were on an adjoining lot, and James B. Dayton, who caused the sale, was in possession of the firehouse.
In 1860 the company bought a lot on Pine street, east of Fourth, and built a three-story brick building, one of the most substantial firehouses in the city. The building was subsequently sold to the city for $4500 and now houses Engine Company No. 1.
Independence was a hose company until June 4, 1864, when an Amoskeag steam fire engine was purchased. It was the first steam engine used in the city. In 1869 the company purchased a larger engine, selling the Amoskeag to Millville. Millville sold it to the city of Camden in 1874.
Disbands in 1874
Bender served as president of the company from 1854 until October 13, 1874, when the company formally disbanded after paying all claims. It had a roster of 60 men.
Other presidents of the company were Timothy C. Moore, who was also a president of Mohawk; Beatty, William L. Frazier, Mines, John Wallace, Hawkins, J. Kelly Brown and Gilbert. Other secretaries were Mines, Mortimer C. Wilson and McCowan. Bender and Joseph Wagner served as treasurers.
The Shiffler Hose Company, No. 1, was organized March 7, 1849, and was given councilmanic recognition on August 30 that year. The charter members were George W. Thompson, president; George F. Ross, secretary; Joseph Brown, W. W. Burt, Charles Cheeseman, Robert Maguire, Samuel Brown, John G. Hutchinson, Armstrong Sapp, Richard Cheeseman, Albert Robinson, George F. Ross and William Wallace.
The company purchased a horse hose carriage from the Shiffler Hose Company, Philadelphia, for $10. That marked the introduction of horse-drawn apparatus. The apparatus was housed in a carpenter shop on Sycamore street, near Third, and remained there until a two-story brick firehouse was erected on Fourth street, below Walnut.
The company was incorporated in March, 1852, by Burt, Sapp, Thompson, Robert Maguire, James Sherman, Wallace, Hutchinson, Brown and William Harris.
Jacob C. Daubman, later a sheriff, was elected president in 1854 and served until the company was disbanded in 1869. On March 29, 1864, the company obtained a new charter as the Shiffler Hose and Steam Fire Company. A steam engine was purchased and the company maintained a high state of efficiency until it disbanded in 1869.
