1938: A HOOK AND LADDER TRUCK FOR TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT?

Here's a fascinating photo of a proposed "hook and ladder" fire truck which was proposed for the Trenton Fire Department back in 1938. It is unknown whether this particular model was the one which was finally chosen. I have great respect and admiration for the guy who mans the steering apparatus on the end of the vehicle. That takes skill, my friends!

1935: WHEN THE TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALL VOLUNTEER

I ask your indulgence for the poor quality of the photo in the graphic. In computing, there is a problem that sometimes arises in the process of "screening"an offset photo such as that above. In the case above, no amount of tweaking could remove that background "moire" which give the appearance of a fabric. It is due to the incompatibility of the number of dots per inch on a news photo as relates to the number of dots per inch scanned. I failed to find a happy medium. The hand drawn pumper in the photo was used by one of the Trenton volunteer fire companies prior to their 1892 changeover to a paid fire department.

1914: Trenton Fireman "Honest Tom" McGinty Retires

These capsule biographies are completely fascinating and historically interesting. Mr. McGinty was from the old "Irishtown" area of Trenton, and chances are nearly unanimous that he and his family were communicants at old St. John's-Sacred Heart Parish. McGinty's career spanned the era from Trenton's volunteer fire years up 1892 when Trenton went to the paid fire department.

1897 FEMALE BARBER IN CHAMBERSBURG

The partial page above was meant to feature the then-unique role of a lady cutting and doing barber service on mens' hair. However, I also note an interesting Trenton Fire Dept. article, a bit on Lawrenceville community happenings, and interested ads for the numerous ice dealers who prospered in those pre-hi tech refrigerator years.
A note from Tom:
FYI: The lady barber referred to in the article was located in what was then the "downtown" area of Chambersburg. Many folks think the Butler, Bayard, Emery, Chestnut and So. Clinton Avenue area was the central area. Robert Chambers built the hotel at the corner of Cass and So. Broad Streets. from whence Chambersburg got its name.

1959: TRENTON'S ENGINE TEN LOOKS BACK AT 1932

Here's an interesting group photo of some of Trenton's veteran fire laddies from the year 1932.

1914: NEW APPARATUS FOR TRENTON ENGINE 2 AND 3

This intriguing photo of two new pieces of fire apparatus being brought into service are destined for "Engine 2" and "Engine 3." According to a Trenton Fire Captain, Engine 2 is closed down. It is located on South Broad and Bridge Streets in Trenton. Engine 3, So. Broad and Hudson Streets in the Chambersburg section of Trenton.

Circa 1910: TRENTON'S ENGINE 6 - WILBUR SECTION

They're right across the street from the late, great, Gaiety Theater on South Olden and Walnut Avenues. The background buildings haven't changed that much. The row homes are still there.

1914: Trenton's Engine 8: New Fire House

As you will see in this, and a few subsequent posts, I have been checking out my "FIRE-FIRE RELATED" folder and have come up with a few interesting files. Apologies for the quality of the photo above. It was during this era that photo offset printing was evolving. The original as printed in the newspaper was quite washed out. Thanks to graphic imaging technology, I have managed to salvaged a bit of the photo.

1914: WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY!

Long before there was a "Signal 22" to serve the hard working firefighters, there was a young girl named Veronica Cooper who.....well read the article. It is the story of a wonderful little girl who made Trenton firefighters more comfortable in the freezing weather, if only for a day.

1909: Allen and Bennett One Hundred Years Ago

These two gentlemen were two of the more prominent members of the Trenton Fire Department in the latter part of the 19th and into the 20th century.

1993: A SOUVINIR FROM THE TRENTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

THIS EXQUISITE REPRODUCTION OF AN EARLY PHOTO OF TRENTON'S OLD WASHINGTON HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY IS ONE OF TWO IN MY COLLECTION. THE OTHER IS FURTHER DOWN THE WAY ON THIS WEBSITE, A CARD COMMEMORATING THE DEDICATION OF TRENTON'S BATTLE MONUMENT.

1922: VOLUNTEER FIREMENS' FAREWELL PARADE

IT WAS UNDOUBTEDLY A NOSTALGIC TIME FOR TRENTON'S ILLUSTRIOUS AND BRAVE VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANYS. IF MEMORY SERVES ME, THE CITY OF TRENTON INAUGURATED A PAID FIRE DEPARTMENT IN 1892.

1897: Trenton Fire and Police Report

From the "FIRE RELATED" and "POLICE-TRENTON" folders in the Hamilton Local History Collection, an interesting article on the state of the Trenton Fire Department and the Police Department as it was in mid June, 1897.

1934: Trenton Fire Dept.

Here's a vignette showing the fire "laddies" of the Trenton Fire Department going through their paces at the Perry Street headquarters. Incidentally, the
reference to "laddies" was how our firemen were known in the 19th century press.

1914: Trenton's "Hand-In-Hand" Fire Company

Few cities in America have the rich tradition of fire
fighting than our historic city of Trenton. The Union Volunteer Fire Company, despite claims to the contrary from a New England Fire company, was the oldest fire company in America. The photo accompanying this post is a "Times" photo which is remarkably clear considering the antiquity of the page from which it was scanned.

1896: Trenton Police and Fire Alarms

The city of Trenton went "Hi-Tech" with a
state of the art system-alert procurement
for police and fire.