our history
The oldest volunteer
organization in wenonah
In its early years, Wenonah relied on a bucket brigade and assistance from as far away as Camden to help extinguish fires. Fire-fighting items included 22 buckets and 2 ladders stored in the cellar of the school building on N. Marion Ave. The town recognized that it should have its own fire equipment after a barn at the Wenonah House caught fire. Thus, the Wenonah Fire Company was organized in 1888. The town’s new firefighting equipment consisted of a wooden cart called “Mareshanks” with 45-50 feet of hose. Alarms were sounded by striking a suspended locomotive wheel rim with a sledge hammer. At one time, the church bell at the Methodist Episcopal Church was the town’s fire alarm, so each fireman carried a key to the church
A fire house was built in 1909 on S. West Ave. at a cost of about $1,600. The builder was Daniel W. Brown, who was a prolific builder of homes in Wenonah and happened to be president of the fire company at the time. The town purchased its first fire truck in 1910 – a horse-drawn hook and ladder vehicle. Its cost was $400.
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Through the years though the equipment has been modernized and the practice of firefighting has changed, the backbone of the fire company remains the dedicated citizens of the borough who dedicate themselves to this time-honored tradition.
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Chiefs of the Wenonah Fire Co.
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Edrwin R. Winthrop Apr. 6, 1888 - Nov. 6, 1891
Andrew W. Carey, Sr. Nov. 6, 1891 - Dec. 4, 1891
E. Ward Wilkins Dec. 4, 1891 - Oct. 7, 1892
James M. Johnsons, Jr. Oct. 7, 1892 - Aug. 5, 1895
Louis M. Buzby Aug. 5, 1895 - Jun. 3, 1897
Joseph Eldridge Jun. 3, 1897 - Jan. 4, 1900
Thomas J. Savage Jan. 4, 1900 - Apr. 15, 1910
Joseph E. Truncer Apr. 15, 1910 - Oct. 13, 1916
John L. Drummer Oct. 13, 1916 - Oct. 12, 1923
Howard Ingram Oct. 12, 1923 - May. 9, 1924
Harry E. Genther May. 9, 1924 - Oct. 4, 1929
Wayne Ralston Oct. 4, 1929 - Oct. 7, 1932
Dr. R. D. Zapt Oct. 7, 1932 - May. 1, 1942
Albert M. Weber May. 1, 1942 - Dec. 5, 1947
Clarence Hunt Dec. 5, 1947 - Dec. 3, 1948
Charles E. Holter Dec. 3, 1948 - Dec. 7, 1951
Walter J. Kaufman, Sr. Dec. 7, 1951 - Dec. 4, 1965
James H. Hain Dec. 4, 1965 - May 5, 1972
Jack R. Hart May 5, 1972 - July 5, 1988
Richard Black July 5, 1988 - Dec. 7, 1993
Andrew N. Sole III Dec. 7, 1993 - Jan 4, 2019
Timothy R. Nessler Jan 4, 2019 - present
Presidents of the Wenonah Fire Co.
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Daniel W. Brown
George L. Dilks
George H. Greening, Sr.
William C. Cattell
Joseph Cattell
Slater Garver
Knollin B. Cox
Floyd C. Kinsinger
Alonzo B. Wood
Harry C. Viereck
Lowell Buckner
Walter J. Kaufman, Sr.
Roland E. Hunsinger
Martin J. Dipper
Charles A. Peters
John Mullens
Donald G. Gehring
Arthur Perry
Charles S. Cowles
Andrew Sole, III
Jim Ramsay
Richard Black
Charles Horan
Richard Black
Edward Hudson
Leonard Campbell
Richard Black
Christopher Black
Michael DiPaolo
Leonard Campbell
Andrew Sole, III
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*The Chiefs acted as presiding officers until incorporation.
