Organizing for Fire Protection

Image Above: FIRE CHIEFS AT A PARTY HONORING THEM IN 1967. Rear (L-R): H. VanHorn, H. Page, J. Ballentyne, J. Barrett Front (L-R): L. Mullen, E. Barrett, H. Ballentyne, H. Ortman

Once the New Vernonites decided to start their own fire department, they lost no time getting organized. At the first gathering of sixteen men in Haley's store in December 1920 a Constitution and By-Laws Committee was appointed. A week later at the second meeting, the Constitution and By-Laws were presented, amended slightly, and adopted by the 40 men present. At the same meeting, officers were elected: a President, Vice-President, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer as executive officers; a Chief, Assistant Chief, Foreman, Sergeant-at-arms, and Chaplain as fire officers.

As the company grew, more officers were needed. A Corresponding Secretary was added to the roster in 1956 to assist the Recording Secretary and take care of letters received and sent out. A three-man Board of Trustees, one elected each year for a three-year term, was established when the Department was incorporated in March 1922. Acting as the Department's ''housekeepers'' the Trustees have kept the roof in good repair, the outside and inside of the firehouse painted, the trees trimmed, the fence mended. An Assistant Foreman and First and Second Engineers were added in 1948. Since September 1928, members of the Board of Wardens have directed traffic and kept spectators out of the men's way at fires. All the officers, except the members of the Board of Trustees are elected for one-year teams at the annual meeting in December from a slate presented by the Nominating Committee.

Committees have been numerous. Four were appointed at the organizational meeting: Constitution and By-Laws, Equipment, Subscription, and a committee of one - Wilbur Haley - to obtain a locomotive tire, set it in place, and devise a set of signals to call the men to alarms. In one form or another these committees have been in existence ever since. The By-Laws have been revised a number of times under the guidance of a committee. There has always been a need for an Equipment Committee, and, needless to say, since the Department gets no tax revenues, for someone to organize the money-raising efforts. And finally you might say that the Locomotive Tire Committee has only changed with the times.

Off and on there has been a group in charge of getting the members to fires as quickly as possible. It became a Siren and Telephone Committee in August 1921, a Radio Communication Committee in November 1948 and today it is called the Communications Committee.

In June 1921, Wilbur Haley, John Quinn, and H. R. Walling appointed themselves a committee of three to buy a piano for $15-a piano which provided music for lots of singing and dancing for many years. Until 1930 a committee was appointed each time a member got married to choose a suitable present. But this custom had to be discontinued. The membership just got too large. The Auditing, Social, Visiting, Memorial Committees have been in existence for almost the entire life of the company. There has always been a large and active committee in charge of the major fund-raising event each year; the Carnival Committee in the 1920's and 1930' s, the Dog Show Committee in the 1950' s and the Auction Committee, which began in the 1960' s, iIn August 1932 the Visiting Committee broadened its scope and became the Relief Committee under the chairmanship of John Wenman. Over the next five years this committee kept its ear to the ground for word of any Harding Township residents in need. A fund was established so that cash was readily available for food and fuel . A Membership Committee was first formed in March 1930. A month later it presented 31 applications for membership. These men were all elected members in May 1930. And in June of the same year 59 members attended the meeting, something of a record.

From the beginning there have been active and associate members. Charter members had the privilege of deciding within a month after the truck was delivered whether they would be active or associate members. Although the specific duties have shifted slightly over the years, generally speaking, active members devote a. good deal of their free time to the department-.1coming out for meetings, drills, keeping the trucks in good shape, serving on committees. Associate members support the department but are not as involved in its activities. Since 1967 newly elected men have served a yearlong probationary period. They must attend eight drills, six meetings, and as many fires, parades and other functions as they can. At the end of the year, the Chief, Membership Committee, and the Secretary review the record and recommend whether to accept the man as an active or associate member. Periodically men who have completed twenty years of active membership are named life members of the Department. They pay no dues but can vote and hold office.

A chapter of the Firemen's Relief Association was formed in March 1924. Lewis Horn, Frank Oliver and John Quinn were elected the first representatives. The Constitution and membership had to be brought in line with state requirements. By February 1925 the department was up to snuff. Since 1933 men who have attended at least 60 percent of the fires and drills for seven years have become exempt members of the Relief Association. Their duties and privileges are the same as for active members. Survivors of any Relief Association members who die receive a small stipend from the association.