History of the
Clementon AA Fire Company
The first fire company in the Borough of Clementon was formed in the year 1908. On July 5, 1922 the Clementon Athletic Association was formed, the first order of business was to appoint a manager of the Clementon Ball Team. Soon after, the Clementon Athletic Association had a basketball team, baseball team, football team and even a boxing team during the colder months. These teams played quite a bit. The baseball team played at home and on the road, going as far as Philadelphia to play. They also ran carnivals and parties in what was then the firemans hall, at this time there were 75 members in the Clementon Athletic Association.
November 18, 1924 - during a normal monthly meeting, there was a motion made to have a special meeting for the purpose of organizing a fire company in conjunction with the Athletic Association.
December 1, 1924 - the special meeting was held and the Clementon Athletic Association was now also a fire company. The first piece of fire equipment purchased was a Childs Equipment composing of a pumper, chemical and hose wagon.
December 1924 - a special meeting of the Clementon Athletic Association was called by President George Hinkle for the purpose of adopting and changing the Clementon Athletic Association to the Clementon Athletic Association Fire Company.
The first Fire Chief was George Leupold with his Assistant Chief Thomas Egan. The Clementon AA Fire Company applied for membership to the Firemans Relief Association and the Camden County Firemans Association. The Lady's Community Club donated the very first fire helmets and gas masks in October of 1925. A year later, in 1926, the new fire hall was completed on Berlin Road. There was talk of consolidating the four (4) fire stations in town into one (1) fire house, but that was opposed. The four (4) fire houses were Clementon #1, East Clementon, Watsontown and Clementon AA.
In 1934, the Clementon AA Fire Company purchased the first fire siren. The button to activate this siren was put in Mr. Frank Demuzio's barber shop next door to the firehouse. It was set up so that three (3) blows meant a grass fire and four (4) blows meant a house fire. This was pruchased from Nat Alexander in July, 1934.
During the latter part of 1936, the Clementon AA Fire Company started their own fire police and an Intertown Ambulance, which met at the fire house once a month. In 1938, the Clementon AA and Clementon #1 Fire Companies merged into one (1) fire company. For the next two (2) years they were collecting donations for a new fire truck. In 1942 they were able to purchase a Hale pumper at a price of $5,400.00. In 1946, the Intertown Ambulance was purchased for $150.00 and put into service covering approximately 20 towns. That year, the Clementon AA Fire Company purchased a 1944 Chevy GI fire truck from War Surplus Commodities. 1945 was a year that carries a tradition that we still follow today, Installation Dinners were started to welcome the incoming officers and thank the outgoing officers. In May of 1947, the Clementon AA Fire Company started to look at sites within the town for a new firehouse. Two (2) years later, they bought a 1948 Cadillac Ambulance for $6,100.00, replacing the older one. This ambulance was kept at the firehouse. The fire truck to the Sunoco in town.
In May of 1954, the Clementon AA Fire Company started the Ladies Auxillary. That same year, the turnout gear was taken off the trucks and kept at the firehouse. December, 1955 also started a tradition that we still carry out today with pride, Santa Clause started going door to door on Christmas Eve. A new ambulance was purchased in 1951. Between Febuary 1953 and October 1953 the search was on for a new site for the Clementon AA Fire Company. During this time the Fire Company had added on to its existing building. At the time, the Clementon AA Fire Company was 142 members strong.
Please check back often as we uncover more of our history and share it with you!
