When a house on Prospect Street caught fire in July 1910, there was no fire company and no fire equipment in Delaware Park. Neighbors banded together, pumping water from cisterns and forming a bucket brigade in an effort to douse the flames.
This experience led to the birth of the Delaware Park Chemical Engine Company later that year. Shortly after organizing in 1910, the company constructed its firehouse on land at what is now 112 Park Avenue, the site of its existing building. Although renovated and enlarged over the years, the firehouse retains the core of its original construction.
| Important Dates | |
|---|---|
| July 1910 | Fire damages house at 139 Prospect Street, despite the efforts of neighbors to save it with a bucket brigade. |
| Sept. 12, 1910 | Founders meet at the two-room school house on Park Avenue and vote unanimously to incorporate as the Delaware Park Chemical Engine Company |
| Sept 13, 1910 | Incorporation papers received and recorded by Warren County Clerk. |
| Jan. 12 , 1911 | Firehouse built at 112 park Avenue. |
| 1917 | Company buys its first motorized fire truck, a Model T Ford mounted with chemical tanks, to replace its original hand drawn cart |
| Sept. 27, 1927 | Company agrees to buy an American LaFrance pumper for $7,500 |
| June 10, 1930 | Company incorporates the Delaware Park Firemen's Relief Association |
| Mar. 27, 1931 | Incorporation of Ladies Auxiliary of Delaware Park Chemical Engine Company |
| July 28, 1931 | Company joins the Warren County Firemen's Relief Association |
| 1941 | Company purchases a new Hahn pumper for $21,000 |
| Nov. 9, 1948 | Company awards contract for a major addition to the firehouse - total cost $8,000 |
| Mar. 10, 1950 | Firehouse addition, begun in 1948, is dedicated |
| Mar. 29, 1954 | Company agrees to buy an Oren fire truck for $21,122. |
| Sept. 25, 1956 | Work begins on another firehouse addition |
| Feb. 23, 1960 | Company votes to renew charter, which was originally granted for 50 years. Company rejects the idea of changing the organizations name to the Lopatcong Township Fire Company. |
| Sept 27, 1966 | Company agrees to buy GMC pumper-tanker |
| Aug. 29, 1970 | Company agrees to buy Ford fire tuck from Quakertown Fire Company for $5,000 |
| Nov. 14, 1972 | Plans made to build a new firehouse on Strykers Road with assistance from developers of Brakeley Park. |
| Apr. 24, 1973 | Plans made to organize a township fire department with two companies, Delaware Park and a second company at the new firehouse. There will be one Fire Chief, but each company will have its own officers and bylaws. |
| 1980 | Company puts into service 1,000 Gallon Mack pumper |
| May 10, 1983 | Company sells Oren pumper to the new Allamuchy Fire Company for $4,000 |
| June 8, 1985 | Company's 75th Anniversary parade |
| June 11, 1985 | Township receives low bid of $255,836 from LTI for 75 foot aerial ladder truck |
| Apr. 22, 1986 | GMC truck sold for $9,000 |
| Jan. 12, 1988 | Company agrees to buy land next to firehouse from Karl Joseph. Building destroyed by fire the year before. Land to be used for parking lot. |
| 1998 | Company puts in service Central States Pumper. |
| 1998 | Company purchases Oren pumper back from the Allamuchy Fire Company. |
Much of the information used on this page came from the book THE HISTORY OF THE DELAWARE PARK CHEMICAL ENGINE NO. 1 - 1910-1993 by Greg Hanisek