Former Freehold Fire Chief Henry Stryker (above) stands alongside some of the photographs that tell the story of the 139-year-old department. Below: Former Fire Chief Nolan Higgins looks at some of the trophies the department has been awarded over the years. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR staff Names, places and dates have all been recorded neatly in a spiral bound book to recount the 139-year history of the Freehold Fire Department. But Freehold Borough’s fire department also has a visual record of its journey and that record covers the walls of the firehouse that has been home to the community’s volunteers firefighters since 1929.
Items that tell their own story of a memory, a piece of equipment, a major fire, and the death of several of their own are all displayed in the Freehold Fire DepartmentMuseum.
During a reporter’s recent visit, former Fire Chief Nolan Higgins and former Fire Chief Hank Stryker III described how the items in the museum have been preserved by other former fire chiefs.
Higgins is the department’s historian and Stryker is its president.
Higgins, who has been a member of the department since 1979, compiled a history of the fire department for its 125th anniversary celebration in 1997.
Borough Historian Kevin Coyne compiled the written text and Higgins conducted research at the Monmouth County Historical Association’s museum to find pictures for the book. “I read newspaper articles in the Monmouth Democrat (newspaper), which covered all town meetings and also covered fires in town as well,” Higgins said.
In addition to the text penned by Coyne, Higgins’ research has brought a memorable pictorial history to this record, including photographs of major fires and pictures of three firefighters, Leroy Van Schoick, Joseph Storey and Lester Van Schoick, who lost their lives while fighting a fire on Mechanic Street on Aug. 2, 1933.
Also on display at the museum are photographs documenting the history of the fire department, its founder, Charles F. Richardson, its members, and its trucks and equipment. The pictures show how the department has grown over the years.
According to Higgins, the original firehouse was on Throckmorton Street in a building that is now occupied by a beauty salon.
“The department also had a location on South Street, which was needed to store its large equipment,” he said.
The two locations eventually merged to become one firehouse, the one currently serving the borough on West Main Street. The location became home to the original five Freehold Fire Department companies .
According to Higgins, the followingwere recorded as the original fire companies: Good Will Hook and Ladder, established in 1872; Steamer Co. No. 1, established in 1874; Richardson Engine Co. No. 2, established in 1887; Monmouth Hose Co. established in 1887; and Hulse Co., which eventually merged with Steamer Co. No. 1 to become Engine and Hose Co. No. 1.
The pictures of former chiefs of the Freehold Fire Department have a place of honor in the department’s museum. ERIC SUCAR staff The written historical record sits among many other treasures of time gone by and takes visitors to the museum on a visual journey of the almost century-old building.
Photographs of former fire chiefs are prominently displayed, as are pictures from some of the borough’s memorable fires: at the factory on Mechanic Street in 1933, at the Belmont Hotel in 1933, at the rug mill in 1990 and in 1996, and at Freehold Raceway in 1984.
The photographs include one of a steamer truck that had to be pulled to the scene of a fire.
A large glass case contains trophies that have been presented to the fire department over the years, and other treasures such as two original gaslight globes that were placed on the steamer trucks when a fire occurred at night, and a working replica of the original steamer engine that was crafted by resident Louis Colaner.
Between them, Higgins and Stryker can tell the stories behind every item in the museum, including a collection of engraved silver trumpets dating back to the 1800s.
“These trumpets were ceremonial, but they were representative of the trumpets fire chiefs did use to call orders to those fighting the fire while on the scene,” Higgins explained. Like those irreplaceable treasures, Higgins and Stryker cannot be left out of the mix, for they are part of the entity that brings this museum to life. Their love and passion for their fire department and for their fellow firefighters, living and deceased, and the knowledge they exhibit in describing these treasures is evident in their voices.
Stryker’s father, Henry Stryker Jr., served as fire chief from 1986-88, his grandfather, HenryA. Stryker Sr., served as fire chief from 1938-40, and his uncle, John R. Stryker, served as fire chief from 1962-64. Stryker served as fire chief from 1994-96.
As historian, Higgins is responsible for recording and logging the fire department’s history.
As president, Stryker is responsible for caring for this section of the firehouse.
Between the two former fire chiefs, it is a safe bet that the history of this historic fire department, founded in 1872, is in very good hands.
Individuals who would like to visit the Freehold Fire Department museum may call 732-462-0164 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to set up a time.