After an especially dry March with high winds and a plaguing epidemic of grass and brush fires that endangered homes in and around Elwood a group of civic minded citizens decided to organized a volunteer fire company.
These men believing in the old adage "A man's home is his castle." no matter how humble the dwelling, had for years helped extinguish these blazes and believed that only in an organized group could top service be given to a neighbor threatened to lose his home by fire.
In April, 1908 action was taken and a group of twenty-five home owners gathered for their first meeting at the old Reading Railroad Station at Weymouth road and what is now Reading Avenue, overlooking a busy two track railroad artery connecting Camden and Atlantic City. Attending the meeting when first plans were drawn up were :
John T. Irving - Mullica Township Freeholder and cranberry grower
George N. Cassell - Elwood merchant
John W. Johnson - Railroad Foreman
Theodore W. Johnson - Owner of Elwood's General Store
Gottlieb Mick - Farmer
J. Hammond Bozarth, Jr. - Lumber dealer and manufacturer
George T. Jacobs - Farmer
George S. Jarvls - Watch and Jewelry repairman
Harry E. York - Railroad employee and grocer
Benjamin Murphy - Operator of grocery store
Frank Edwards - Tax Collector and coal dealer
Charles R. Bassett - Paperhanger
John Ebell - Painter and farmer
Gabriel Wagner - Civil War Veteran
Stephen Bentley - Poultry Farmer and fancier
Frank Stevens - Lumber dealer
Thomas Barron - Retired merchant
George Barrows - Farmer
Charles W. Maurer - Penna. Railroad Station Agent
J.D. Carver - Commissioner of Deeds and Justice of the Peace
W. Arthur Brown - Stone mason
William Stevens - Lumber dealer
Edward Reitzler - Reading Railroad Foreman
William H. Johnson - Roadside refreshment and bicycle stand.
The first fire equipment of the company consisted of articles necessary for a bucket brigade, pails filled at the well of a threatened home, or one of a neighboring home, shovels and brooms for tamping out brush and grass fire, and burlap bags to be wetted down on a roof when sparks came too close. Ladders were no problem as most home owners considered a ladder as important to their homes as the chimney or well.
Meetings were held regularly after the company was formed, for many years over the Elwood Post Office building. Before the early twenties, equipment consisted of a hand drawn truck, holding ladders and buckets. It was housed in the yard of the Elwood town hall. A huge iron ring, attached to a tree was hit by a hammer to give a fire alarm. One long time member recalls that soon after the alram was put up, the late Frank Edwards was placed in charge of fire drill, and after working late at his tax books one night he decided at midnight to call a drill. Many of the fire laddies failed to see the joke after dressing hurriedly and rushing to the hall and warned the drill master to pick an earlier hour.
Through the efforts of William A. Blair a good fire engine was obtained from the Amatol war time plant with the permission of Captain Harry Carr. Although it was loaned to the company when Amatol was closed and the building dismantled, it was never called for.
Lumber for the first fire house, which was a 30 by 40 foot building also came from Amatol. The first fire house stood just south of the of the second location on the White Horse Pike. It was heated with a huge pot bellied stove and was the scene of many a dance and party given to raise funds for added equipment. The contract for the second fire house was drawn up, November 6, 1441. In 1955 a hall, 40-50 feet constructed of masonry was added to the fire hall and was an attractive asset to the neighborhood. It was equipped with gas heat, the floors had been covered with tile in green and gray marbleized pattern and drapes, in a cheerful floral motif had been hung at the windows, the gift of the ladies of the fire auxiliary. There was also attached a kitchen with three gas stoves, cabinets and other up to date kitchen furnishings with a capacity of preparing food for at least two hundred persons. The hall had a seating capacity of one hundred. It was also used for a voting place on Elections Days.
Elwood's first Chief was John Ireland. Records do not show how long he was Chief or names of other Chiefs until 1932 when Tom Henshaw was elected and served for three year term. He was again elected in 1939 and served a six year term, and again in 1949 serving until 1952. Oscar Jarvis was picked as Chief in 1935 and acted until 1939. Leo Nace was named Chief for one year in 1948, Karl Bieselin for one year in 1952 and Charles Cirillo was elected Chief in 1953.
Witten by Elizabeth M. Coffee, Oct. 22, 1958
Historical Articles and Photos
History of Volunteer Firefighting
History of The Maltese Cross
The Lost Town of Amatol - Elwood, NJ
Elwood Fire Rescue
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