September 16, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 19
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ing in conjunction with Councilmen John Pecker, Henry Gunther and John Cronk, Dr. Joseph Payne directed his efforts toward starting a membership drive for Midland Park’s first fire company. In May 1909, the council confirmed the initial members of the Midland Park Fire Company. They included John Amos, Louis Eisenstein, Thomas Englishman, William Flaker, Henry Gunther, Harry Goetschuis, Adam Goetschuis, Fred Hall, William Benjamin, Lou Braughman, Charles Beatle, John Cronk, Charles Christopher, H.I. Coggershall, Louis Carlough, Theodore Carlough, George Lawrence, Abe Englishman, Louis Essing, Dr. Joseph Payne, John Robinson, Adolph Schliechler, Robert Sall, Allen Terhune, Ruthwin Terhune, Fred Ter-
th
ANNIVERSARY
Fire department’s history is one of dedicated service
hune, John J. Terhune, Arthur D. Talbot, Henry Woodhead, Frank Leonard, Theodore Mabee, John Packer, Gustav Roman, Henry Sluytor, Frank Stuart, John Steele, W.H. Rackett, John Thompson, Richard Terhune, Jacob Terhune, Garret White and Barney Vandersnow. The first fire department and company officers to be elected were: Dr. Joseph Payne, chief; Louis Boughman, captain; Jacob J. Terhune, president; Arthur D. Talbot, vice president; Charles J. Christopher, secretary; and A.F. Hall, treasurer. In appreciation for their organizational support of the new department, Frank Woodhead and Mayor Henry J. Wostbrock were recognized as honorary members. In (continued on page 20)
Midland Park Fire Department-1925
The Midland Park Fire Department has been protecting the borough’s quality of life since its formation in 1909. Although Midland Park was incorporated as a borough in 1894, the governing boards of the day were not particularly receptive to the idea of establishing a local fire department. In May 1899, the borough council’s Committee on Finance investigated the establishment of a fire brigade, but the concept stalled, and no report was ever presented. The fire departments in Ridgewood and
Paterson provided service to Midland Park, but fire can wreak havoc quickly, and borough residents soon saw that it was necessary to have a department that would be able to respond with haste. It was the 1905 fire that destroyed the Granite Linen Company that placed fire protection front and center in local officials’ minds. In November 1905, the governing body approved an ordinance to provide for extinguishment of fires. Four years later, the ordinance was resurrected, amended, and finally adopted by the council. Work-
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100th Anniversary
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David Zuidema, Sr., center, and Andrew Van Dyk, at left, are pictured in this 1938 photo taken on Hill Street in Midland Park.
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