The Beginning:

On the 21st of December of 1894, The Tuckerton Fire Company #1 was born.  On this night, a meeting was held at the Town Hall and the first elections were held for the Fire Company.  Jno C. Price was elected as the first President of the company.  Vice President was given to Wm. C. Sawyer.  C.M. Berry won Financial Secretary, Job M. Smith won Recording Secretary, and F.R. Austin was elected Treasurer.  The first fire Chief of the company was awarded to T. Frank Pharo.  He held the position of Chief until 1934.  In April 1896, the fire company allowed the Pohatcong Hook and Ladder Company to reside at the firehouse, until a permanent home could be found for them.  This was done to assist in the purchase of new equipment.  In January of 1897, it was decided, that the members of the Hook and Ladder Company be elected in as full members of the Tuckerton Fire Company #1.  And now, a hundred and ten plus years later, the Fire Company is still going strong.

The Evolution of the Fire House:  Click here for photos of the past firehouses

The first firehouse was built in 1895.  The building was located on the east side of Mill Dam, where Stewart's Root Beer currently resides.  The building was built under the direction of J.W. Edmunds, who was the Superintendent of Construction.  The building was a two story building with an attached lookout tower on the north side.  The first floor was consisted of a two door engine bay.  The second floor was used as a hay loft.  The building was used from 1895 until 1934 when it was sold at auction to J.E. French of New Gretna for the sum of Fifty Dollars.  It was torn down in 1935.

In January 1933 the Y.M.C.A. purchased the J.J. Pharo property.  In March of 1933, they donated a 50' x 130' parcel for the construction of a new firehouse.  The new firehouse was located on North Green Street and was dedicated on January 2, 1934.  On this site, where the current firehouse resides, a one story three bay firehouse was constructed.  The building consisted of two floors.  The engine bay and a basement.  The basement contains a recreation room, two offices, a civil defense room, an electrical room, and a boiler/storage room.  The engine bay had three doors, two bathrooms, and a kitchen.  This building is still used today as our meeting hall.  The building was in service from 1934 to 1954.

In 1954 two bays were added to the south end of the building, and the old engine bay was converted to the meeting hall.  The bays were added due to the weight of modern fire fighting equipment.  The building stayed this way from 1954 until 1993-94.

In 1993-94 the third engine bay was added, as well as an office space above the bays.  This is the firehouse that presently resides on North Green Street.  The office space above is currently used by the Office of Emergency Management.

Apparatus History: