Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-07-05
F|REMEN HONORED
ON anniversary
Parade and Banquet Features
of Today's Celebration
in Bloomfield.

The observance of Independence
Day in Bloomfield marked the begin
ming of the two days celebration in
honor of the thirtieth anniversary of
the organization of the towns volun-
teer fire department. Seymour P.
Gilbert is chairman of the general
committee in charge. and he is aided
by an able corps of workers, con-
sisting of firemen and members of
the Board of Trade.
The exercises yesterday began in
the morning at $3.50 and opened with
prayer by the Rev. DR.. Henry Ster-
ling Potter pastor of the First Bap-
fist Church. An ration was deliv-
cred by the Rev. B. Henderson Nc
Coy. pastor of the Watsessing Meth
'odist Episcopal Church, and the Dec
laration of Independence was read by
Clifford Baker, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Frank II. Baker and a graduate of
the Bloomfield High School
The affair was held on the historic
common, where troops Were drilled
for service in both the Revolutionary
lond Civil wars. A band gave con-
cert and the assemblage, which num-
bered about $500 persons. Joined in
singing America" and THE Star
Spangled Banner" The singers were
He'd by George Wheaton and a male
iohorus. The athletic events were
held on the Essex County Park
grounds at Bloomfield avenue, and
were attended by about 1000 people,
and in the evening the celebration
wound up with a display of fire.
works on the park grounds which
was enjoyed by nearly 1000 persons.
This afternoon the firemen's parade
will start at o'clock, following an
| inspection of the department and APP
lparatus by Mayor William Hauser
and members of the Town Council
The march will be a long one and
will be through streets in the Wat
sessing, Fairview, North End and
Park sections of the town. All of the
| local firemen will be in line, and
companies from Montclair, Glen
Ridge, Verona, North Bergen, Cald-
we'll Belleville, Nutley and East Or
ange will participate.
There will be brass band and
several drum and fife corps to fur
nish music.
| In the evening at O'Clock there
will be banquet in a tent at Bloom
field avenue and Conger street Mr..
Gilbert will preside and following
lprayer by the Rev. William Thomas
Upton, rector of the Episcopal
Chapel of the Ascension, an address
of welcome will be delivered by
Mayor William Hauser.
There will also be talks by Council
man Frederick Sadler. chairman OF
the fire committee, and former AS
semblyman William M. Beard. Ar
orchestra will furnish music
The fire department was organized
in 1883 and followed two disastrous
| fires, one in Bloomfield avenue, which
destroyed the Baxter. Dodd and Bald
win properties, and practically wiped
out Bloomfield Centre. Those who
started the move were William r
Weeks, William l.. Puffer, Frank @
Tower. John NJ Bancroft and j. How
ard Hardcastle Messrs. Tower anc
Hardcastle have since died.
The first chief was Andrew J
Marsh. Others who held the position
were T. Howell Johnson, William V
Cakes, Edgar d. Alderman, Bernard
f. Higgins, James Y. Nicoll ano
George E. Koeber, present incumbent
Essex Hook and Ladder Company No
/ was the first organization formed
and then came Phoenix Hose No. 1
Active Hose No. .. Excelsior HOSE
No. 8, Montgomery Hose No. 4 and
Brookdale Hose No. 8.
Phoenix now has a combination
chemical wagon and the town now
owns six fine horses and has severa
paid drivers. 1t is expected that be
fore January | next there will be a
least a new auto truck as well as al
auto chemical and hose wagon added
to the present equipment. There /:
splendid fire alarm system, which
now extends to Brookdale. Augusta;
f. Olsen is superintendent of the
system.
The work done by the department
during its thirty years of existence
is notable. 1t has had a number oi
big fires and none of them ever go'
away from the firemen. The depart.
ment is run in an economical manner
and the appropriation for fire pur-
poses made by the Town Council is
| smaller than in any other munich
| DalitV fits size in the State