The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-06-22
MORE FIRE
EQUIPMENT
Washington Engine Company
Receives It's Handsome
New Hose Wagon.
TWENTY THREE" FOR REEL

After twenty-three years OF service
the hose reel used by Washington En-
CINE company of the local fire depart
n1ent has been replaced by handsome
all steel hose wagon, built by the Tea
Tray company, Of Newark. The new
wagon was formally turned over to
the company on Wednesday afternoon
and is now in service. The old reel
will be retained for the present, John
Denman storing it, and will be held in
reserve.
At four O'Clock Wednesday Howard
g. Hull, assistant secretary of the Tea
Tray company, formally delivered the
wagon to the town Alderman Angus
tus L. Revere, chairman of the fire
committee of the board of aldermen,
then presented it to the company,
President Jacob III. Wulfers respond
ing. After this ceremony the COM
pany, headed by board of engineers
and the fOremen and assistant fore
men of the other companies in the de-
partment, marched up Washington
street and down High to Speedwell
avenue, around the park to Morris
street, thence to Elm street and up
South street to the park, to the music
of the Morristawn Flute and Drum
corps. The new wagon was drawn by
q Barney" a big black, the owner, the
veteran firetghter, John Denman,
handling the ribbons. The old hose
reel was also In the parade, Ned, " a
roam, driven by John Tracy, and owned
by Mr.. Denman, was between the
shafts. Either one of these two horses
will be used to hustle the new wagon
to fires.
On the arrival of the parade at the
park two lengths of hose were taken
from the wagon, attached to the fire
plug in front of the First National
bank building and a stream of water
shot high in the air.
Mr.. Denman was the recipient at
this time of handsome bouquet OF
wistaria, presented by Mrs. j. Fred
Runyon. Purple streamers enhanced
the beauty of the purple flowers and
the bouquet will long serve as a me-
mento of the occasion as the flowers
were of paper. Purple is the COM
pany's color and small bows of purple
ornamented the whip welded by Mr..
Denman.
In the evening the company enjoyed
a banquet.
The new hose wagon was construct
ed entirely in the shop of the Tea
Tray company, with the exception of
the running gear, the wheels being of
the famous Archibald make. The
body is entirely of steel and the wagon
empty weighs 2,70O pounds. 1t will
carry 1,400 feet of fire hose and can
accommodate a half-dozen tiremen, as
well. MOBILES, axes, crowbars and
other tools are provided while over
the wagon body is big wire basket
in which may be carried coats and
hats. The wagon is handsomely
painted in vermillion and decorated
in blue and gold. A new feature is
bell replacing the usual gong on the
dash board
Placards on each side of the old hose
reel in the parade Wednesday bore the
inscription Twenuy-three years in
service, lSS6-1909; ~ while on the rear
of the apparatus was one reading " |
love my reel but oh you hose wagon"
Washington Engine company was
first organized but owing to dissen-
sions in its early days it suffered dis
bandment couple of times, being re-
organized for the last time in the early
eos. The company was first equipped
with hand engine and leather hose.
In 1876 the first steam engine used
here was bought from Easton, Pa,
where it had been in use by the HUI
name Engine company of that city.
In 1895 the present engine was pur-
chased from the American Fire En-
CINE company, which was in operation
at that time but later became atfili-
ated with LaFrance company, which
built the engine used by Humane En-
CINE company.
The next company to receive atten-
ton from the board of aldermen
should be the board of fire wardens
which is badly in need of a new wag-
on, the present one not only being too
small but is also unsafe.
----@D-----