The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-07-19
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HOME S
FOR FIREI,,ss. :
Finely Situated on the Hills Of
BOOntOn.

Situated in a beautiful spot on the
Boonton hills may be located one of the
most entertaining groups of old men to
be found in the State OF New Jersey
They are watching the closing years Of
their lives draw to an end and amid peace
full scenes are enjoying themselves fight
ing fires DER again. The institution is
the State Home for Firemen and its in
mates are the old firemen who through
years of service and danger have won
the right to end their days there.
AS they warm up with enthusiasm
and speak Of their excursions to other
cities, the reception of visiting com
panies; and their annual home parades,
one can almost imagine that he sees the
long line of stalwart red.shirted tiremen
passing in review. AS the old veterans
sit watching the curling smoke, pleas
ant memories of the past spring up;
again he hears the music of the bands
and the applause of the multitude, his
face lightens up with a smile as he
thinks of those far away days when he
eagerly looked along the line for some
loved one, and with what satisfaction of
pride he received bouquet from her
fair hands All this seems like a pleas
ant dream to the old veterans who are
now passing their declining years in
peace and comfort at the home, having
no thought or care for the future
The duties of the inmates are very
simple and are early carried out. Each
one is required to have his room in
order, no later than $50 a. m. unless
sickness or disability prevents him from
doing So then some of the others are
expected to attend to it, Aside from
some light work inside of the building
and the care of the walks outside, no
other duties are required of them, ex
cept such which they wish to perform
voluntarily. There is always a pleas
ant rivalry between them, however,
when volunteers are called for to per-
form some light task
The health of the inmates is good and,
with the exception of case of rheuma-
tism a few weeks ago, the services of
the physician has not been required
since the home was opened. There is
no restriction as to the movements of
the men around tie grounds or to visit
the village if they so desire. On Sun
day the greater number attend service
at the village churches.
The table service is of the best, and
the healthy appearance of the men indi-
Gates that they enjoy the bill of fare.
The inmates speak in the highest terms
of Superintendent Brown (who is an
old fireman himself) and his wife, who
devote their whole time to looking after
the comfort and welfare of their guests.
The staff of the home consists of a
superintendent, physician, cook, laun-
dress, farm manager and gardener; /;
other assistance is engaged as occasion
demands. AT present nine old firemen
are enjoying the hospitality of the
home, viz: William Woods, Paterson;
Charles Zeliener, Trenton; John Tighe
Paterson; join p Fireing, Burlington;
Jacob Brewer, New Brunswick Charles
N, Knowles, Passaic; John DeGraff,
Bayonne; Michael McNally, Jersey
City Joseph Kerwin, Paterson.
The establishment of home for aged
and INDECENT firemen, says the Paterson
Call had for years been the ambition of
General b. W. Spencer of Passaic, ex-
Sheriff William II. Brown of Newark,
ex Chief John McKiernan of Paterson,
and number of other tiremen of this
State, The scheme finally grew into
shape when tie New Jersey State Fire
mems association, in September, 1897,
directed It's president to appoint a com
miltee to secure the necessary legisla-
tion to further the project.
By an act of the legislature. approved
April 2, 1898, the sum of $75 600 was
appropriated and commission of fire
men was named TO purchase site and
erect suitable buildings. After viewing
a number ef sites i'll several sections Of
! the State the commissioners secured
the Lathrop homestead at Boonton and
had it fitted up for the reception Of old
fifemen inside of the time limit allowed
them by the legislature. Besides con
ining themselves to the appropriation
the commissioners had a surplus OF $40,
coo left and when the property was
turned over to Governor VOORHEES, he
remarked that it was the first time in
the history of New Jersey that com
mission had accomplished its purpose
without asking for an increase of the
appropriation and an extension of time
AS just tribute of recognition, he APP
pointed the mmissioners as the futur
managers of the home. The board of
managers consists Of General Spencer,
president; ex Chief McKiernan of Pater-
son, treasurer; Horace H. Brown of
Newark, secretary; ex-Sheriff William
H. Brown of Newark, chairman of
Exec~tive COMMITTEES Benjamin w.
Cloud of Woodbury., e& Chief William
M Jeffries of Burlington, William 7
Corlies of Rcd Bank; Charles N. Read.
ing of Lambertville, Ex-Governor George
n Uarte of Iarsax, Ctifv MavOr EOhori