On April 4, 1892, the
Company decided to purchase the Button Hand Engine, which arrived in
the borough three weeks later and, to the delight of onlookers,
proved its worth by putting a stream of water over the tall steeple
of the Presbyterian Church. The engine was housed next to borough
hall in quarters provided by Joseph H. Scudder. Shortly
afterward, 300 feet of hose was purchased.
That same year, Bergan & Taylor of
Pennington contracted to build a hose carriage for the Fire Company.
On December 8, 1892, it was put into service, at a cost of $135.
On January 15, 1894, Pennington put into service a steel tower and
fire bell, at a cost of $169. Under the so-called "tap system" that
was adopted for responding to fires, the bell was rung vigorously
for a time; then, it was "tapped" once for north, twice for south,
three times for east and four times for west. As Pennington had few
side streets in the late 19th century, the system worked very well.
On April 1, 1897, the borough council, realizing the Fire Company
had outgrown its quarters and was weary of the injustice requiring
firefighters to raise funds for the payment of rent and equipment
maintenance, decided to rent a room in the International Order of
Odd Fellows building (the old borough hall) and assume the annual
rental. By 1906, the Fire Company had added a chemical engine
to its inventory of apparatus. Two years later, the era of mutual
aid began as a result of population growth and property development
in the townships surrounding Pennington Borough.
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