Browns Mills Fire Company No. 1 History

   After a failed attempt in the Spring of 1922, in May a group of long time residents of Browns Mills gathered to form a fire company.  They met in the P.O.S. of A room over the general store of Warner Hargrove and incorporation papers were filed. 

   Warner Hargrove was the first president, Robert Beck, Treasurer, Ralph H. Hulick, Secretary, and Daniel R. Lemmon was the First Chief.  The only equipment available at the time was a 50 gallon "Soda-Acid" tank on wheels and had to be pulled by hand to a fire.  Knowing the need of better equipment, Warner Hargrove and Daniel Lemmon went to New York and purchased a Model  "T" Soda-Acid truck.

   The company needed a Fire House and land. Fred Wenzel, a charter member of the Company, had purchased a Salvation Army chapel at Camp Dix for $75.00 intending on converting it and place it on a lot he already owned.  However, having interest of the new Fire Company, he graciously sold it to the Company for what he paid for it.  The Company’s next challenge was to find a lot of land.  Warner Hargrove owned vacant land and sold it to the fire company for a reasonable price. The Salvation Army Chapel wasn’t large enough to store the Fire Engine while the hall was being used for a recreation and meeting room, so it was necessary to build an addition.  

     In 1923 the company purchased at Sheriff's Sale, a Reo Apparatus for $2,300.00. During these years the Township Committee made an appropriation of $50.00 a year for the Company. To overcome the shortfall, it was necessary to raise funding. The Charter Members attempted to start a Fire District.  A Public Meeting was held in the Fire House, which some of the heaviest taxpayers of Pemberton Township attended.  The tax payers objected strenuously to paying any additional taxes as their neighbors across the street were not in the Fire District.  In turn, they demanded that the Township Committee make a generous appropriation to enable the company to purchase new apparatus. Before the meeting was over, the Township Committee agreed to fund the Company $1,200.00 a year for 3 years in order to purchase a Hahn apparatus which at the time cost $5,000.00 new.  The Company having no funds was compelled to borrow the additional money and raise money by holding yearly carnivals. The company raised enough funds to purchase coats, boots, hats, and other desperately needed equipment.

    In 1938, sixteen years after the Salvation Army Chapel was converted to a Fire House, the Fire Company had plans to build a new home.  The Township Committee interceded with a grant from P.W.A.  The grant was approved for $11,500.00.  However, the contract for the building was approximately $28,000.00.  The president appointed Francis I. Uncle to contact the Peoples National Bank of Pemberton, and the First National Bank of New Egypt to borrow the balance of $16,500.00.  Uncle was successful and the building was erected and the trustees signed personal notes to secure the payment of the loan.

   In the early 1940’s the company purchased, as Surplus Property, a Chevrolet Pumper chemical tank truck which had a 500 gallon booster tank. This was necessary because in the early days of Browns Mills there were no hydrants or other water supply other than the lakes.  In addition, support from other local Fire Companies was non existent. Prior to 1954 this Company was the only one in Pemberton Township.

    Since 1936 the Township has been very generous with their appropriation.  In order to properly support the Company and keep our finances paid. The company conducts Annual Fund Drives and weekly Bingos. In conjunction with the Township appropriation this enables the company to have suitable equipment and an efficient Fire Company.

The Company started with 17 charter members:

R.V.C. Watkins                    Ralph H. Hulick

William H. Earlin                    Arthur Douglas

Harry E. McNelly                    Robert W. Beck

Marcus W. Newcomb                    Harvey B. Uncle

Daniel R. Lemmon                    M. Warner Hargrove

Eugene Brown                    F. Guy Lucas

J. Garfield Lemmon                    Fred W. Wenzel

Lynden Harmes                    William H. Thorne

Walter H. Stull

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