Eagle Fire Company

History of the New Hope Eagle Fire Company Meeting Minute Excerpts from 1900 to 1949
1900	March - Foreman reported 7 alarms over the past year.
1901	April - Foreman Allen Stockton dies while in office and Michael Parson elected.
1902	March - Foreman reported 4 alarms over the past year.
1903	March - Foreman reported no alarms over the past year.
1905	March - Foreman reported 4 alarms over the past year. October – Company offered a $25 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of person tampering with the engine and using the house for immoral purposes.
1907	October – exchanged land on North Main Street with a lot owned by J.P. Borden, also on Main Street.
1908	March - Foreman reported no alarms over the past year. April – Motion carried to construct a new engine house on North Main Street. This to be built by George Arnett and modeled after the Colombia’s fire house in Lambertville. July 4th – Cornerstone laid for new engine house. October – Engine house completed with a total cost of $4195.42. October 17th – Engine house dedicated and engine moved from old house.
1909	March - Foreman reported 3 alarms over the past year.
1910	March - Foreman reported alarm over the past year.
1911	March - Foreman reported 6 alarms over the past year.
1912	February – Company requested borough council to levy a half mill tax to defray the running expenses of the company. Not passed by council. February – Motion carried that card playing in engine house be prohibited as it may lead to gambling. March - Foreman reported 8 alarms over the past year. March – Motion denied that card playing be resumed. March – Motion denied that domino playing be prohibited.
1913	January – Committee formed to meet with the other fire companies to discuss the formation of the Bucks County Firemen’s Association. March - Foreman reported 3 alarms over the past year. June – Motion carried to join the Bucks County Firemen’s Association.
1914	Foreman reported 6 alarms over the past year.
1915	Foreman reported 5alarms over the past year.
1916	March - Foreman reported 2 alarms over the past year. May – Company accepted resolution stating that anyone joining after May 2, 1916, must equip themselves at their own expense within one year.
1917	Foreman reported no alarms over the past year. October – Motion carried to purchase a new heater which will be big enough to also heat the upstairs.
1918	March - Foreman reported 4 alarms over the past year.
1919	March - Foreman reported no alarms over the past year.
1920	January – Company delegates reported that they had attended the lst annual banquet of the Bucks County Firemen’s Association held in Doylestown for $1.50 per plate. January – Contract awarded to Hahn Motor Company for a motorized engine. March - Foreman reported no alarms over the past year. May – motion denied to purchase a new electric siren. September – Motion carried to allow borough council and school board to meet in engine house for a period of at least one year because town hall is being used as a schoolroom. October – Received new Hahn engine but sent back as it didn’t pass underwriter’s test. November – Accepted Hahn engine after now passing an underwriter’s test. 1920 Hahn Engine, as rebuilt in 1932 December – Motion carried to loan “Delaware” hand engine to the historical society to be displayed in the Mercer Museum.
1921	March - Foreman reported 5 calls over the past year. April – Company joined Lambertville Fire Department in purchasing a gold watch for retiring Lambertville Chief George Arnett.
1922	June – Company vice-president Norman Gresley expelled for being considered an “undesirable member.”
1923	March - Foreman reported 16 calls over the past year.
1924	March – Foreman reported 18 calls over the past year. March – Purchased pool table for $280 March – Motion carried that card playing be allowed in engine house as long as there is no gambling.
1925	February – Company formed Honorary Membership with ten members being elected. February – Motion carried to sell hose carriage (sold for $20) March – Foreman reported 20 calls over the past year. April – Motion carried to have a telephone installed in the engine house. May – Foreman reported engine in good working order except that while at a fire in Lambertville the Colombia’s engine collided with the rear of our engine. Foreman believes it can be fixed without sending it away.
1926	January – Motion carried to strike out section of constitution stating that contributing members be allowed to vote. March – Foreman reported 25 calls over the past year. April – Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagle Fire Company was formed.
1927	March – Foreman reported 24 calls over the past year. March – Received a donation of $200 from the Ladies Auxiliary. October – Motion carried to have a hot water heating system installed by James Skillman for the bid of $1083.22.
1929	March – Foreman reported 6 calls over the past year.
1931	February – Accepted resignation of William Bush as foreman and position to be vacant until annual elections in March. May – Motion carried to purchase a three horse-power Sterling Siren. Committee reported “the sterling was tried out and appeared to make plenty of noise.” August – Received Philco AM Radio for selling subscriptions of a Philadelphia Newspaper.
1932	October – Engine sent to Hahn Motor Company to have a new motor installed, booster tank installed, new radiator and brakes installed, and suction hose racks added for the approximate cost of $2000. A Hooverville engine was loaned to us during the time.
1933	February – Motion carried to allow the Rifle Club to practice in the cellar during winter. December – Frank Faust agreed to talk to some of the younger members regarding the breaking of some house rules such as using profanity, making a general nuisance of themselves, and loaning their keys to high school boys to play pool.
1934	February – Committee appointed to have name of company painted on hood of engine.
1935	May – Obtained two headlights from Trenton Auto Wrecking Company for use on engine.
1936	January – Motion carried to have a button installed in the home of Frank Faust so he could activate the siren upon call of fire. March – Foreman reported 14 calls over the past year. April – Letters to be sent to Union of Lambertville, Plumsteadville, Lingohocken, and Midway fire companies to thank them for their help at the recent overflow of the river. May – Motion carried to purchase a service car from the Buffalo Fire Appliance Company for $2720. July – Took possession of service car. 1936 Chevy
1937	March – Foreman reported 14 calls over the past year.
1938	March – Foreman reported 28 calls over the past year. December – Discussion about the borough council turning charge of the Hahn over to the company resulted in an unanimous vote to leave it in borough care.
1939	February – Motion carried to purchase helmets for protection at fires. March – Foreman reported 17 calls over the past year. April – Company members were reminded not to allow High School boys to jump on the engine while enroute to a fire nor to wear gear intended for firemen.
1940	March – Foreman reported 13 calls over the past year. July – Ed Dubbs acted as president for the monthly meeting and stayed after for a carnival committee meeting, but unfortunately died later that night before midnight. August – Motion carried to have a windshield installed on the Hahn engine. November – Foreman reported that Paul Markey, Raymond Strouse, and Wilburt Parsons, were injured when the Chevrolet, driven by Patrick Markey, struck a guardrail after hitting loose dirt while responding to a fire.
1941	February – signed a contract to have an addition consisting of a kitchen on the first floor and storage on the second built on the rear of the engine house for a total cost of $4291. March – Foreman reported 15 calls over the past year.
1942	January – Motion carried that all members in the armed services should be exempt from paying dues. March – Foreman reported 32 calls over the past year. June – Having received no donations from Upper Makefield Supervisors, the company decide not to answer any more calls in Upper Makefield Township until an agreement is made. December – Motion carried not to allow civil defense to use siren for air raids.
1943	March – Foreman reported 23 calls over the past year. May – Secretary A. Ely Cooper died and R. Wesley Tease was appointed secretary. May – Letter to be sent to Upper Makefield Supervisors thanking them for their donation. July – Motion carried to purchase two “gas Masks” as were demonstrated by J.B. Hunt Mfg.
1944	February – Motion carried to lower membership age limit from 21 to 18. March – Foreman reported 28 calls over the past year.
1945	March – Foreman reported 26 calls over the past year. July – Motion carried to join the Bucks County Fire Police Association. September – Motion carried to purchase Dodge chassis which had to be scraped and painted. Motion carried to purchase 500 GPM skid mount pump from government surplus for $349.26 to be mounted on Dodge chassis. Dodge Pumper November – Motion carried to purchase dart board.
1946	February – House rule amended to allow playing pool and darts on Sundays. March – Foreman reported 21 calls over the past year. June – Motion carried that members must be on contributing list for at least one year before becoming an active member.
1947	March – Foreman reported 19 calls over the past year. July – dodge chassis put into service with skid mount pump. November – Motion carried to purchase two Scott AirPaks.
1948	January – Motion carried by a vote of 8 to 7 to purchase a television for $369.41. January – Chief reported Chevrolet was an “unavoidable” accident. March – Chief reported 17 calls over the past year. May – Letter to be sent to RCA asking them to adjust our television to receive the new Philadelphia station on Channel 10.
1949	January – Motion carried to convert Chevrolet into a tanker. March – Chief reported 17 calls over the past year. April – 450 gallon tank installed in Chevrolet. June – Company members starred in a short Paramount news reel for which the received $500.