Local History: The Center of Township Activities

An October 1927 article in The American City featured "fire stations" across the United States, including Millburn's fire, police and town headquarters. The photo of Town Hall seen here from the Millburn-Short Hills Historical Society was accompanied by the following article:

"For several years the township of Millburn, N.J., has been using a very attractive building designed by Horatio W. Olcott, architect, as a combined headquarters for the Police and Fire Departments and the township offices. It is a two-story structure of reddish brick, of colonial type design. Three sets of double doors from the middle of the street side of the building form the entrance to the apparatus room of the Fire Department. Here are accommodated two 1,000-gallon pumpers, one hook and ladder truck, and one combined chemical and hose truck. The Chief's car is also housed here. The first floor contains in addition the Chief's office, the repair shop, the battery room, a dormitory with six beds, and washrooms with showers, a motor room containing an air compressor for operating the fire-whistle and another compressor for the tire pump. The Fire Department includes the Chief, Deputy Chief, 6 paid firemen and 36 volunteers.

On the first floor of the building are also Police Headquarters, the Police Chief's office, the Recorder's Court, and five cells. The second floor contains an assembly room and the offices of the members of the Township Committee, the Clerk, the Collector of Taxes, the Assessor, the Building Inspector, Supervisor of Public Works, Township Engineer, and Board of Health. There are also two vaults on this floor, besides a recreation room for the firemen, with a kitchen and other conveniences. In the basement are a central steam heating plant, hot water heater, storage space, and washroom, and lockers for the Police Department. Millburn is thus well provided with a headquarters building wherein are centralized its chief municipal activities."