|
History
of the New Hope Eagle Fire Company
Meeting Minute Excerpts from 1865 to 1898 |
| 1865 |
February - motion accepted to
fine any members leaving a meeting without reasonable excuse.
July - accepted resolution to expel anyone giving a false
alarm by ringing the bell or otherwise.
October - publicly stated that this company does in no way
consider themselves connected with the Lambertville Fire Company. |
| 1866 |
November - accepted resolution
that "smoking pipes or cigars, spitting on the floor, or talking to
each other will be considered out of order and will not be tolerated
during the meeting." |
| 1867 |
July - committee formed to
investigate report of Stephin Ely attempting to solicit funds under
false pretense.
August - Stephin Ely expelled as a member of the company. |
| 1868 |
January - motion carried to
purchase a lock with two dozen keys in order to lock the engine
house.
June - committee formed to varnish the engine. |
| 1869 |
October - amended the
constitution to change the title of Chief Engineer to Foreman and
twelve assistants to six.
November - Motion carried to incorporate.
November - appointed seven members to act as managers of the
company. |
| 1870 |
November - motion carried
to ask New Hope Borough Council for a yearly appropriation of $60.
December - company unanimously accepted the resignation of
president J. C. Smith and elected Amos Gilbert. |
| 1871 |
March - Foreman reported 9
alarms over the past year, the then engine was in as good as
possible condition, and that the company owned 500 feet of good
condition hose and 400 feet of hose too heavy for the hand engine.
April - Purchased the first steam engine from the
Independence Fire Company of Philadelphia.
May - Oscar Burd elected as fireman and ordered to procure
wood for the engine boiler.
June - company voted to change name to "Eagle Steam Fire
Company No. 1 of New Hope."
June - sold "Eagle" hand engine for $85. |
| 1873 |
July - accepted resignation of
Allen Stockton as foreman and accepted Thomas Ely. |
| 1874 |
March - Foreman reported 5
alarms over the past year. |
| 1875 |
March - Foreman reported 13
alarms over the past year.
December - Foreman to see that the hose is properly oiled
providing the borough supplies the oil. |
| 1877 |
April - accepted resignation of
Allen Stockton as Foreman and elected G. D. Robbins. |
| 1879 |
March - Foreman reported 10
alarms over the past year and the we have loaned 250 feet of hose to
the Delaware Company of New Hope.
March - Managers asked the amount of oil and matches used
please be cut down as the company had used 12 gallons of oil and 22
boxes of matches. Managers also recommended that we not
purchase chairs for the meeting room at this time because of the
financial status of the company. |
| 1880 |
March - Foreman reported 5
alarms over the past year. |
| 1881 |
September - motion carried to
join the Pennsylvania State Firemen's Association. |
| 1884 |
February - received new boiler
for steam engine, paid for by borough at approximately $900.
Company signed contract with borough council stating that the company
would not sell the engine without the borough council agreeing as
they had paid for the boiler.
March - Foreman reported 3 alarms over the past year with two
building being completely destroyed because the engine was out of
service with a faulty boiler.
December - purchased new furniture consisting of chairs,
carpet, lamp, window shades, and 6 spittoons. |
| 1885 |
January - sold old furniture
consisting of three benches, three chairs, one table, and six
spittoons for $10. |
| 1886 |
June - purchased 250 feet of
fabric hose.
August - accepted resignation of Charles Amey as Foreman and
elected Michael Parson. |
| 1889 |
February - letter received from
Delaware Bridge Company stating that the toll collector will only
allow the engine to cross the bridge if there is no fire in the
boiler as the hot cinders were setting the bridge on fire.
March - Foreman reported 3 alarms over the past year. |
| 1895 |
March - Allen Stockton thanked
the company for electing him Foreman as he is now living on "the
other side of the river." |
| 1896 |
February - organized the "New
Hope Firemen's Relief Association."
June - received and housed new "LaFrance" steam engine which
was purchased by the borough.
July - Borough Council presented to the company their terms
for operation of the engine they purchased which read as follows:
1. Fire company to take charge of engine, keep it clean, and use it
at all fires when necessary, subject to orders of the Foreman.
2. Engine to be kept in running order by fire company with borough
paying for necessary repairs and coal for operation.
3. Engine not to be taken out unless accompanied by the Foreman and
not to be loaned, traded, or sold without the consent of the
borough.
September - motion carried to purchase new hose carriage from
Gleason and Bailey for $150. |
| 1897 |
September - purchased lot of
land on North Main Street for Jordon Shafer for $144. |
| 1898 |
January - decision made to draft
a map of the most convenient places to obtain water.
April - wrote to Gleason and Bailey in regards to the
breaking of the gong on the hose carriage due to faulty material. |
