The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-07-15

on its unparalleled career this great Republic.
II being represented in the person of Col. Thomas
Reynolds member of the State Convention from
Burlington county which met at Trenton De-
cember 18th, 1887, and nobly did his duty on the
which C>Iadsne @ tasllylng ~ Sonstltutlon'
derful work ever struck off at a given time by
the brain and purpose of man." Pardon this
diversion and will make up for it by continuing
from April, 1879. when the necessity of building
new engine house was called to the companys at
tentlon and John Bispham, Aaron Smith and
Moses Kempton were appointed to procure
convenient place in the central part Of the town
and build or purchase house suitable for the en-
CINE, not to exceed IL feet square," They built a
house at the cost of E2o but where do not know
At the october meeting they adjourned to meet at
the court house which had then been built about
two years, and with but two exceptions continued
to meet there until the fall of 1885, previously with
but two or three exceptions, they had met at the
town hall.
At special meeting held May 9th, 1905, at the
house of Joseph Hatkinson, present Aaron Smith,
Joseph Bennett, John Dobbins, Moses Kempton,
James Dobbins, Harding Murrel1 Isaac Carr
Samuel Smith, Samuel Butterworth w H. Burr
and James Coppuck, It was unanimously agreed
that for the future this company shall be called
and known by the name of The Relief Fire Com
pany of Mount Holly
During the interval of s. years from 1852 to 1906
there were eighteen omissions to meet but with
six exceptions such omissions are noted in the
minutes as being the fault of some whose dnty
were not anywhere connected but separate and
isolated omissions, it is but fair to assert that
they, too, were caused by some ones neglect.
Right here occurs a very singular incident.
being nothing less than The RELOCATION to over
threequarters of century's oblivion OF the
minute book containing all the history given
thus tar this evening. L had the honor OF
serving the company for 1917 years as secre-
tary and treasurer, and yet never heard OF
any organic ttton prior to 1906; in fact, the
house and apparatus were lettered 'Organ-
ICED August 9TH, 1905" Why purchasing a new
minute book, which was not necessary, as ~
pages yet remained unused of the old. ana
changing their name a second time should
have caused them to turn their backs on their
past record and years OF usefulness is unac
countable to me. But perhaps quite as sing
ular q feature was the fortunate finding of
the bo after such lapse Of time. From
1905 their meetings were held bi-monthIy in
stead of quarterly and vt the hotels, the
minutes being quite an index of landlords
up to October, 1870, which found us in our
own room on Pine street.
In December, 1909, we note that Vincent
Sleeper is to receive 81 per annum compen-
sation for fulfilling the duty of secretary and
clerk. April 3, 1915, John Neal and Joseph
Hutchinson were appointed to ind and fix a
place for the engine house, and place it there
This committee apparently did not move fast
enough, so in August OF the same year, John
Dobbins, Isaac Morgan ana Stacy Atkinson
some suitable place at the expense of the
company, for which we ind, December IIth,
Stacy Atkinson received $500 for doing.
In 1878 the endorsing Of the fines due the
company on the notices was inaugurated,
which is still in vogue. In 1872 George Hume
Samuel Rush and james Coppuck were aG
pointed to move and place the engine house
near the hay scales, for which Samuel Rush
receives sl.62H. This also included some re-
pairs. To the best OF my knowledge ana be-
lief this placed the house near where our old
frame house stood on Pine street, near Mil
hay scale standing just few feet TO the north
of the old brick building then used by Thomas
X. Risdon as a blacksmith shop.
February, 1927, the committee appointed the
previous December, reported having sold the
engine for $3.50. They were instructed to sell
the old house. which they did, at public sale.
to Joseph White tor $l2 This house was
built in I79S and still does duty as a tool house
in the ST. Andrews graveyard. 1t is some
Intact. as are also the rear weather boards
which is probably more than can be saId Of
the other occupants of the place.
April 4, the committee reported having con-
tracted with Merrick Company tor an en-
CINE to cost 1925, with a six inch chamber
They then built a new house l6 81 in size
In August, 1888, the committee for hose re-
ported having expended tor hose, carriage
etc., SI4305%, being eleven dollars and five and
one halt cents more than they had collected
In 1888, after years of agitation of The mat
ter, we ind a committee consisting OF John
simmons reporting that they had procured q
bell tot Mr.. Wiltbankl at q cost OF 81 10 Cant
stacy Doran receives the thanks of the com
pany for his liberality in bringing the bell up
from Philadelphia on one of his boats free Of
charge. This is the bell that now sounds from
the America house, presented to them alter
our buying a heavier and larger one in 1892
April, lS4s, we find committee consisting
OF Peter V. Coppuck, Thomas +. Keller and
Daniel EVAN reporting that they, in connec-
ton with the Union Company, found thew
could operate with good erect by attaching
hose to the fire plugs. In December 1850 II
was agreed to place a fire plug at Murrav;s
corner, Mill and Pine streets, and one at Mr.
Haywood's corner. This was to be done with
the money, $780, given by the Medford Insur-
ance Company for that purpose. AS Judge
Haywood would not permit one to be placed
at his corner, Mill and Paxson streets It was
decided to put II at b. K. Coxs corner, Church
and Race streets.
In 1856 we find a committee consisting of
Dam oil nxyfa -
Evan and Charles II. Estill contracting with
Franklin Cook for new four-W heeled hose
age was sold to Thomas Il. Risdon for g. OF
this committee we have one LETT with us MT
Charles H. Estill, the Oldest member OF the
is still in harness.
Before the summer OF 1870 was over we had
had eight fires, starting with the Shreve IRE ON
Mill street, January ., 1870; loss, 5000 This
fire developed the fact that the town was NOT
In position TO cope with fire OF any maRni.
next spring side-lever engine at a cost of
$743.60, and building new and larger house
on the same site During the erection of this
house the apparatus was placed in 4. c.
Shreve's barn close by in fact on the site of
the barn now standing to the rear of our nraa-
emit engine house. Some boys got in the build
ing in the early afternoon of May 49, 1870 and
whether accidental or Intentional 1t resulted
In the barn, with all our apparatus, soon being
classed with the "has beens." Thus was the
fire destroyer IRE destroyed. The township
came to our aid at once by apprOpriating 81
600, and the same committee Theodore H.
Rtsdon, william I. Buchanan and Peter
| Lynch that purchased the first enginel, soon
had another side-lever engine, at cost OF
S922.95.
In 1880 q fourth class Silsby steamer was
| bought In 1887 we added a new Silsby hose
carriage. and in 1892 our present engine house
was built, the corner stone being laid with
appropriate ceremonies June Is, 1892 The
new house Is of brick, and cost 1870 1t IS
two stories high, % feet front, 20 feet in depth;
iron OF Trenton granite with brown stone
| tacings, the whole surmounted by a tower,
/ hanging therein bell bought at a cost OF
| $500 OF the Delaware Fire Company of Tren-
ton, N. j.. but which had previously served
as the Second District fire bell in Philadel.
| phiA
In the short time allotted me, have en-.
| deavored to give you an accurate account OF
an institution much older than the country
itself. ana which VIII live long after the pres
,