History of Our Squad
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1933 to Present Day
The South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad was incorporated in 1933. The papers were submitted on May 23, 1933, and the certificate was returned from the State of New Jersey dated June 21, 1933, as an incorporated organization.
Back in the early 1930’s, the City of South Amboy was known as the “Gateway to the Shore,” because most of the traffic came from across the river from points in Staten Island and New York City. Shore traffic had to travel on US Route 35, which ran through the city. Presently, US Highway Route 35 by-passes the city. The local waterfront, Minnow Beach, was very popular as well as Morgan Beach in Sayreville. With the increase in population and recreational activities, there was an increase in motor vehicle accidents, water craft collisions, drownings and accidental fires.
In the mid-1920s, several shore towns began to organized small groups to supplement beach patrols. Local fire departments had personnel with first aid training, however, they had limited training and few dedicated resources to rescue and recovery. The Morgan Fire Company of Sayreville, and the Public Service Gas Company on Feltus Street in South Amboy, owned pulmonary inhalators. They were the first to be called upon to use this equipment in the cases of drownings and asphyxiation.
The South Amboy Hospital was small and served largely those from South Amboy and the surrounding areas. Many accident victims were treated at local doctor’s offices and private practices. Occasionally, it would be suggested that South Amboy create its emergency rescue squad to assist in emergency situations. However, nothing came of it until a series of disasters occurred within the city leaving many in need of urgent care.
Many accidents and incidents were occurring around the coal docks where coal was moved from ships onto trains for transportation to other stations. It was here that a fire broke out, killing a boat captain and a local resident, as well as seriously burning a woman and destroying much of lower Augusta Street. Following the incident on July 19, 1932, the South Amboy Fire Department requested assistance of the City Council in obtaining first aid and rescue equipment. According to the Perth Amboy Evening News on October 20, 1932, after many meetings, South Amboy would create a volunteer First Aid Squad.
The initial first aid course for interested volunteers was set for October 31, 1932, and held in the council chambers at City Hall. Classes were held each Monday evening, however, interest in the course waned and were discontinued due to the holidays.
Following the New Year, in January 1933, courses were reorganized at Mechanicsville Fire House, with Edward Hopkins, John Kelly, and Ambrose Manhattan as the instructors. The course certified fifteen members and a second course certified ten members producing twenty five members to start the squad. On Monday, January 30, 1933, George Kurtz, Jr., was selected as Chairman and Walter Casey as Secretary of the newly trained and formed South Amboy First Aid Squad.
Shortly after the selection of the first officers, the First Aid Squad rented space from Dory Wilhelm, who owned Wilhelm’s Hall on First Street to serve as the official headquarters. The store front served as the meeting room, and the first ambulance, which arrived on May 8, 1933, a Sare & Socoville purchased for $500.00, was housed in the rear part of the building exiting either down the alley between First and Second Streets to Broadway or down a narrow alley to First Street.
The ambulance was dedicated to the free use of the city, not only for responding to emergencies, but also for transporting patients to and from the hospital. Volunteers were to on call 24 hours a day to serve the citizens of South Amboy. The City Council approved and assigned fire call 2-2-1 to the squad as means to alerting personnel. As a predecassor to the current pager system, fire call 2-2-1 would mean there was two long blasts and one short blast from local fire stations. The fire call system was used in five sections of town, but could be heard almost everywhere in the City.
The Squad was officially dedicated for service on May 30, 1933, that date being celebrated as the anniversary ever since. Its first major accomplishment was setting up a first aid station with lifeguards and security at the Minnow Ditch, a local swimming and recreation area. With the finicial assistance of the South Amboy Chapter of the American Red Cross, the squad’s name became South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad, a unit of the American Red Cross. Even today, the South Amboy First Aid recognizes its beginning and close association to the American Red Cross.
The squad has been in continuous service for over eighty-five years with assets including three ambulances and a boat fully equipped for all emergencies and head-quarters valued at close to one million dollars.
All members continuously update training requirements. The original chapter members of the Squad were: Charles Eppinger, James O’Connor, John Norek, Fred Kurtz, Walter Casey Jr., Robert Doran, Thomas Bolger, John Grimley Jr., Joesph Doyle, George Kurtz Jr., John Adrejewski, L. Doran, J.R. Freedman, James Coakley, and Frank Leonard.
The second group consisted of: Francis J. Coan, Robert Casey, James Brennan, Vincent Higgins, James Horan, Bernard Cosnosky, James Coan, and Michael Szraga.
The first year the squad was in service it answered one hundred and four calls. Presently, we are answering over one thousand calls per year and assisting in many mutual aid calls.
All of this has been accomplished not only by dedication of its members to helping the ill and the injured, but by the generous financial support of the citizens of South Amboy and its vicinity.
Without the sincere dedication of its members and the overall support of the community, this organization would not be able to perform its outstanding services to its citizens and neighbors.
Back in the early 1930’s, the City of South Amboy was known as the “Gateway to the Shore,” because most of the traffic came from across the river from points in Staten Island and New York City. Shore traffic had to travel on US Route 35, which ran through the city. Presently, US Highway Route 35 by-passes the city. The local waterfront, Minnow Beach, was very popular as well as Morgan Beach in Sayreville. With the increase in population and recreational activities, there was an increase in motor vehicle accidents, water craft collisions, drownings and accidental fires.
In the mid-1920s, several shore towns began to organized small groups to supplement beach patrols. Local fire departments had personnel with first aid training, however, they had limited training and few dedicated resources to rescue and recovery. The Morgan Fire Company of Sayreville, and the Public Service Gas Company on Feltus Street in South Amboy, owned pulmonary inhalators. They were the first to be called upon to use this equipment in the cases of drownings and asphyxiation.
The South Amboy Hospital was small and served largely those from South Amboy and the surrounding areas. Many accident victims were treated at local doctor’s offices and private practices. Occasionally, it would be suggested that South Amboy create its emergency rescue squad to assist in emergency situations. However, nothing came of it until a series of disasters occurred within the city leaving many in need of urgent care.
Many accidents and incidents were occurring around the coal docks where coal was moved from ships onto trains for transportation to other stations. It was here that a fire broke out, killing a boat captain and a local resident, as well as seriously burning a woman and destroying much of lower Augusta Street. Following the incident on July 19, 1932, the South Amboy Fire Department requested assistance of the City Council in obtaining first aid and rescue equipment. According to the Perth Amboy Evening News on October 20, 1932, after many meetings, South Amboy would create a volunteer First Aid Squad.
The initial first aid course for interested volunteers was set for October 31, 1932, and held in the council chambers at City Hall. Classes were held each Monday evening, however, interest in the course waned and were discontinued due to the holidays.
Following the New Year, in January 1933, courses were reorganized at Mechanicsville Fire House, with Edward Hopkins, John Kelly, and Ambrose Manhattan as the instructors. The course certified fifteen members and a second course certified ten members producing twenty five members to start the squad. On Monday, January 30, 1933, George Kurtz, Jr., was selected as Chairman and Walter Casey as Secretary of the newly trained and formed South Amboy First Aid Squad.
Shortly after the selection of the first officers, the First Aid Squad rented space from Dory Wilhelm, who owned Wilhelm’s Hall on First Street to serve as the official headquarters. The store front served as the meeting room, and the first ambulance, which arrived on May 8, 1933, a Sare & Socoville purchased for $500.00, was housed in the rear part of the building exiting either down the alley between First and Second Streets to Broadway or down a narrow alley to First Street.
The ambulance was dedicated to the free use of the city, not only for responding to emergencies, but also for transporting patients to and from the hospital. Volunteers were to on call 24 hours a day to serve the citizens of South Amboy. The City Council approved and assigned fire call 2-2-1 to the squad as means to alerting personnel. As a predecassor to the current pager system, fire call 2-2-1 would mean there was two long blasts and one short blast from local fire stations. The fire call system was used in five sections of town, but could be heard almost everywhere in the City.
The Squad was officially dedicated for service on May 30, 1933, that date being celebrated as the anniversary ever since. Its first major accomplishment was setting up a first aid station with lifeguards and security at the Minnow Ditch, a local swimming and recreation area. With the finicial assistance of the South Amboy Chapter of the American Red Cross, the squad’s name became South Amboy First Aid and Safety Squad, a unit of the American Red Cross. Even today, the South Amboy First Aid recognizes its beginning and close association to the American Red Cross.
The squad has been in continuous service for over eighty-five years with assets including three ambulances and a boat fully equipped for all emergencies and head-quarters valued at close to one million dollars.
All members continuously update training requirements. The original chapter members of the Squad were: Charles Eppinger, James O’Connor, John Norek, Fred Kurtz, Walter Casey Jr., Robert Doran, Thomas Bolger, John Grimley Jr., Joesph Doyle, George Kurtz Jr., John Adrejewski, L. Doran, J.R. Freedman, James Coakley, and Frank Leonard.
The second group consisted of: Francis J. Coan, Robert Casey, James Brennan, Vincent Higgins, James Horan, Bernard Cosnosky, James Coan, and Michael Szraga.
The first year the squad was in service it answered one hundred and four calls. Presently, we are answering over one thousand calls per year and assisting in many mutual aid calls.
All of this has been accomplished not only by dedication of its members to helping the ill and the injured, but by the generous financial support of the citizens of South Amboy and its vicinity.
Without the sincere dedication of its members and the overall support of the community, this organization would not be able to perform its outstanding services to its citizens and neighbors.
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