Part 2: The History of the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department (1936-60)

“THE MORE THINGS CHANGE” (1936-1960)

The time had come in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township for a more organized system of fire protection for this growing Morris County municipality. On Jan. 29, 1936, the Mount Tabor firemen gathered for a special meeting called by President Ken Seath. The purpose of the meeting was to form, a fire district and a board of fire commissioners in accordance with state statutes. A list consisting of three firemen and two non-firemen were nominated and placed upon the ballots, along with the first fire department municipal budget for the voters to act upon.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills was divided into six fire districts. As we now know them; District No. 1 Mount Tabor F.D., District No. 2 Rainbow Lakes F.D., District No. 3 Lake Parsippany F.D., District No. 4 Lake Hiawatha F.D., District No. 5 Rockaway Neck F.D. and District No. 6 Parsippany-Troy Hills Fire Association. Each district has its own set of five fire commissioners whom oversee fire department operations and equipment as it applies to the township interests. The voters in each district are eligible to vote for the fire budget and commissioners of their district. The first such election was on Feb. 15, 1936, a Saturday, and the polls were open from 2 p.m. - 9 p.m. Approved along with the budget were the first Mount Tabor F.D. Board of Fire Commissioners: Charles L. Lawrence, George W. Earl, Martin Rourke, William H. Wythe and William H. Heavey.

In April of 1936 the practice of blowing the fire siren at 7 a.m. to signal school closings due to “severe stormy weather” was initiated by request of the board of education. Later that year, the department sought a local department interested in purchasing the 1922 REO for their use and investigated the purchase of a new piece of equipment to replace the chemical pumper.

At a special meeting on Nov. 19, 1936,  the membership, acting upon a recommendation of the New Truck Committee, agreed to purchase a two ton GMC fire truck from the Buffalo Fire Appliance Corporation for $3,000 plus the present truck. Delivered and passed underwriters tests, the new fire truck was put into service in March 1937. The REO was delivered to Mount Hope, Rockaway Township Co. No. 2, F.D. whom had purchased it for $400.00. “The reliable piece of equipment gave Mt. Hope’s bravest something to work with until it was retired in 1948.” Under Chief Earl and President Jack Wolfe, the proud new piece of equipment began servicing the area residents. The old siren which for years screamed from the top of Mc’Cunes Garage was removed and discarded.

On Sept. 14, 1939, at the regular monthly fire department meeting,  Secretary William H. Wythe wrote “This next I write with the deepest regret, Chief George W. Earl who has been our Chief and guiding light for the past twenty-nine years consecutively did on this night resign as Chief of the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department. It is true that he had earned this surcease from duty and his request was respectfully accepted.”

Fred Lynch was elected the second chief of the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department for the year 1940. Past Chief Earl was honored at a dinner, given an engraved silver chief’s horn as a gift and was named honorary chief of the fire department.

In 1941, life membership was established to reward those firemen with 15 or more years of service. As a life member, dues and attendance requirements are waived, but active participation is encouraged. Also in 1941, to more efficiently handle response to fire calls, fire alarm boxes were installed by the Federal Electric Co. These boxes were located in Tabor, along Route 53 and as far into the district as Littleton corners, (routes 10 and 202). A tape punch machine was installed in the firehouse and members could identify the box that was pulled by the number of holes punched in the tape. In 1941, Elmer and Claude Dickerson donated to the department a Dodge truck to be used by the fire department first-aid squad as an ambulance.

In 1942, as several members of the Mount Tabor Fire Department were called to war, the department began purchasing war bonds and contributing to the Red Cross War Fund. President Harry Van Campen Jr. had to resign his post to serve in the Naval Reserves. On May 12, 1942, the firemen appointed their first fire department chaplain. The Rev. Merritt Saunders was named as chaplain, given honorary member status and was presented with a special gold chaplain’s badge. The tradition of refreshments after the Children’s Day Parade in Tabor, for visiting firemen, was started on Children’s Day, 1942.

The office of second assistant chief was established in 1945. Improvements were requested of the Camp Meeting Association to the fire department  headquarters to accommodate a second fire truck. In Jan. 1946, with the approval of the requested improvements on the old firehouse, the department strengthened the floor to handle an extra load.

At the March 14, 1946, regular meeting, department representatives reported that “an army surplus fire truck, the same as had been purchased by the mountain Lakes Fire Department, could be purchased at a cost of $900.00.” The membership regularly approved the acquisition and prepared for its arrival. By May 1946, the truck had arrived, a front mounted pump on a 1944 Chevrolet Chassis. This truck came partially equipped so that a minimum of extra equipment was needed. Since it was a four-wheel drive vehicle, it was used extensively for brush fires of which they had many. This acquisition made the Mount Tabor Fire Department a two-truck company. At this time the firemen were actively pursuing a new headquarters as they were outgrowing the facilities available to them.

The operation of the fire siren was transferred to the Parsippany Police Headquarters in 1949, with a direct line telephone to the police station. In June of 1949, the Mount Tabor Camp Meeting Association turned over to the fire department. “To hold, forever-more” the two original hose carts. They were previously the property of the C.M.A. as it had directed the department through its early years.

A white fireman’s coat was purchased for the chief to easily distinguish the officer from the other black coats at a fire, and a portable resuscitator, a most valuable piece of equipment, was purchased in 1950.

On and off between 1946 and 1953 the volunteers, frustrated by the lack of space available, discussed either building, or moving to, a new location. Plans were drawn, meetings held, finances discussed, but nothing could be worked out. Finally, after negotiating with the Camp Meeting Association Trustees, they came to an agreement to rent the area under the tabernacle between the Camp Meeting Office and the post  office. This gave them two nice size truck rooms and a meeting room, which could also be used for department socials. The lease was approved and the firemen moved in March of 1953.

The department had special needs, which at times could not be met by the firefighting equipment companies. Having some of the densest grouping of residences in the area, the department wanted some type of appliance to protect an adjacent home from the spread of fire. In 1953, Lawrence Zeh Sr. designed and built just the appliance to suit their special need. The “water curtain” was designed to be placed between two homes and when supplied with adequate water pressure sent a wall of water vertically to eliminate the danger of a major fire spreading to a neighboring structure.

It became apparent to the department in 1954 that the 1944 army surplus truck should be replaced, and the members voted to pursue the purchase of a more up-to-date piece of firefighting equipment. In November 1954,  the Mount Tabor volunteers ordered a custom built, 1955 GMC fire truck. Under Chief Floyd A. Becker Sr., the department received it on Aug. 12, 1955. The truck featured a high-pressure, two-stage, 750 gallon per minute pump and carried 500 gallons of water and other equipment including foam and wet water.

In 1955, after considerable publicity, the alarm box system, which had only limited use, was done away with except for the one outside of the firehouse. Maintenance costs were quite high and it had reached the point where new parts were constantly required.

In 1957, the fire chiefs of the six districts and their assistants formed the Joint Chiefs Council, to work more closely together. Mutual aid drills and pre-planning have been held to better prepare to handle potentially devastating emergency situations.

The Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department joined the New Jersey State Volunteer Fireman’s Association in 1958. The N.J.S.V.F.A. is an organization designed to promote legislation favorable to volunteer firemen.

The 50s brought major growth to the fire district with many new homes and developments popping up throughout the volunteer’s area of protection. Park Road, Brooklawn Drive, Glacier Hills, Sedgefield and Puddingstone Heights, were fast developing in the woodlands which previously were only dotted with homes. It was time again for Mount Tabor to improve its fire fighting capabilities.