New Jersey Firehouses

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West End Hose Company #3. I spent countless hours at this fire house as a kid and even now I still go back to see the few members that I know from years ago. This station had renovations done to it to increase the size of the bay doors due to new apparatus being purchased. Unfortunately those changes included removing the brass poles! You will notice the change in the brick work where the alterations were done. Along with Engine 3's new rig, Truck Company #1(Central Hook and Ladder) moved in to this station upon the delivery of their new truck, a 100 ft TDA. Engine #2 is also housed here.

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The rear of West End Hose's station showing the drive through bays. The bay to the left is Truck #1's and does get used for its intended purpose. Engine #2 was in the bay to the right the last time I was in the firehouse.

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The original West End Hose Company's station, dating back to 1888, is now the Exempt Fireman's Museum.

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Keystone at the top of the station.

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Wall plaque.

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Another wall plaque.

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Somerville FD Lincoln Hose Company #4.

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The "Links" previous station dating back to 1901

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Somerville FD's Central Hook And Ladder's previous station prior to moving into West End's station. The street has been closed to vehicular traffic and is now a common area. The old apparatus bay is the storefront with the windows framed in red. I don't know the status of the 2nd and 3rd floors now.

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The "Hooks" previous station. It was always impressive to watch generations worth of tractor drawn aerials pull in and out of this fire station.

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Somerset County Station 52-1 Raritan FD.

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And the oldest continually active fire station in Somerset County, Raritan Fire Department station 52-2. The RFD's Tower Ladder is housed here. There is also a supplemental building to the rear of the station.

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I just realized that I forgot one final Hunterdon County Fire Station. Amwell Valley Fire Company (Ringoes) Station 48.

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The rear of station 48.

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And finally their supplemental building behind the main fire station.

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Somerville West End during SFD Centennial in 1988.

John Floyd photos, my collection

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Another...

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I have pictures from that day some where. The poles that were removed during construction changes are visible in the tall glass windows between the two bay doors. There is one in the front and another visible in the same location in the rear if you look through the station.

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Here are a few pictures after much of the construction changes had been completed. Some work was still on going when I took these. Cleary visible is Truck 1 in it's new home. You can see the differences to the width and height of the doors by looking at the difference in the color of the brickwork around he doors. The large vertical glass window used to run from the top of the station all the way to the ground. This is the view from the front of the station.

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And from the rear. Work was still being completed when I took these pictures.