East Whitehouse Fire Department, Whitehouse, NJ

The East Whitehouse Fire Department is a volunteer emergency service organization committed to defending life and property in the community from the threat of fire, explosion, environmental disasters, and other emergencies as they occur. Providing the citizens with fire confinement and extinguishment, training, and safety will accomplish this obligation and dedication. As a volunteer fire service member, it is their fundamental duty to server the public. They will protect the community using a risk management system that enables them to accomplish the mission of protecting life and property from fire and other emergencies to which they are called upon. They will always perform their duties to the best of their abilities. They will remain calm in the face of danger and be constantly mindful of the welfare of the public and firefighters.

DID YOU KNOW

Fun facts about the Firehouse

The Firehouse was a blacksmith shop owned by a Mr. Sharky in the late 1920 and early 1930s.
The green acre lot next to and softball field behind the firehouse was a large dairy farm owned by the Hance family.
Where the flag pole in front of the firehouse is there was a well where neighbors came to pump water by hand to get drinking water.
The 2nd floor of the firehouse was a social hall where dances, dinners and banquets were held for the many community organizations.
During the 60s and 70s the 2nd floor of the firehouse was used for the Cub Scout pine wood derby events.
During the 60s and 70s the cub scouts held there blue and gold banquets which the ladies and men of the fire department served the dinners.
Before the building was converted to a 2 engine bay station, a shed behind the Whitehouse Methodist Church housed the fire truck.
The Whitehouse Methodist Church in the early years would have the church bell ring to alert the firemen and community of a fire.
The fire department would hold its first bingo game in 1955. This major fundraiser would continue into the 90s before lottery games and casinos along with low attendance force the game to dissolve. Bingo was held regularly on Saturday nights throughout the year.
During the 60s and 70s before 911 all fire and first aid calls were received at the motel on Route 22 where the Spinning Wheel Diner is located. Those calls would then be dialed to the telephone at the fire station which set off the siren.
Two wife’s of members who lived across street Mrs. Calio and Mrs. Esposito once the siren went off would come over to answer the phone and put the fire location on the blackboard in the engine bay.
The firehouse was used by the little league, boy scouts, cub scouts for many of their events throughout the year during the 60s, 70s, and 80s.
The fire department for years sponsored the Boys Scout troop through the Boy Scouts of America.
The Fire Department was first known as the Whitehouse Chemical Company.
The Whitehouse Rescue Squad was organized and the first ambulance was kept at the firehouse.
The main street which is now known as Old Highway was known as the Easton-Brunswick Turnpike in the early 1900s.
The larger engine bay and 2nd floor hall was added to the original building and dedicated in 1973.
The original hall had a stage where musicals and acts were performed for the public and it had a player piano with sheet music.
The front of the small engine bay once had a column support that allowed two bay doors. That was removed in the early 70s to allow larger units to be housed.
The first men’s uniforms of the fire company back in the late 50s through the 60s were white shirts, pants and hats. The ladies auxiliary members wore white caps, blouses, skirts, and shawl.