West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1

West Windsor Volunteer Fire Co. firehouse in December 2018.

Historical Overview

The WW Fire Co. relies on volunteers to sustain itself. Please consider giving back and sustaining this group by joining them.
​Thank you to Wayne Tindall and Mary Schenck for their extensive research on the history of the fire company and Ladies’ Auxiliary.

Fire is an omnipresent menace. Although West Windsor was historically a small farming community, it, too, was prone to incendiary dangers. Old wooden barns, homes with outdated electrical wiring, and hundreds of acres of crops roasting under a summer sun were all common hazards in this community. Yet, for much of its existence, our town, settled by the early 1700s, had no formal way to fight fires. It was not until 1857 that a fire-related organization - the West Windsor Mutual Fire Insurance Association – was formed, to compensate those whose homes succumbed to conflagration. Even then, it would not be for several more decades that an actual fire company would call our township home.

WW Vol. Fire Co members next to their first car, 1920s.

On February 19, 1921, this reality changed. That day a meeting of residents in Dutch Neck was called to discuss the formation of a fire company. A committee of eight canvassed the community for their opinions, and with resounding approval, on March 5, 1921, the Dutch Neck Volunteer Fire Department was formed. That same day, the first officers were elected – Hiram A. Cook (President), Howard Nutt (Vice President), Frank R. Adams (Secretary), John. S. Mount (Treasurer), Harvey Applegate (Chief), and Walter Conover (Assistant Chief). They soon went about recruiting locals willing to aid their community, and by April 23 – when the name was changed to the West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company (WWVFC) – dozens had signed up.

Railroad car wheel replica, 1970s.

The fire company recorded little action in its few months. This was fortunate, especially since it was not until December that $1400 was allocated for a Ford Model T to serve as the first truck. Equipped with chemical tanks and water buckets, its first call was at the home of Irving Everett, (just behind where the municipal complex is today). Although the fire was “beyond control,” surrounding buildings were saved and the firemen “commended,” according to early company minutes.

​In the early days, the WWVFC made its headquarters in old Town Hall (torn down in ’77), where the WWII memorial in Dutch Neck stands today at the intersection of South Mill and Village Roads East & West. A one-bay opening provided shelter for the truck, and in April of 1924 a siren was installed on top of the building. Before this, fire alarms consisted of tapping on a railroad car wheel in a certain pattern to indicate either a meeting (one tap) or the location of a fire (two to five taps).

Dedication of the firehouse, 1953.

In 1926, the Berrien City Fire Company – now the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 – formed, easing the workload of the WWVFC. In the ensuing decades, additional support would be provided via two “Ladies’ Auxiliaries” – one for Princeton Junction (formed in 1927) and one for West Windsor (1945). Both Auxiliaries raised money for equipment and mortgages and fostered a sense of community by hosting variety shows, barbecues, square dances, horse shows, and much more.

1952 was a banner year for the WWVFC, when they moved their headquarters across the street into a new brick firehouse. This building is one of the company’s main sources of pride, for it was constructed, and later expanded, by the members themselves.  Their investment was realized when the building was fully paid off in 1962 and a “Mortgage Burning Party” held! 

Some mid-century fire trucks.

The building was a worthwhile investment, for starting in the 1950s, our town saw its first large wave of suburban development. Population growth led to more call volume, and eventually the WWVFC was responding to hundreds of emergencies each year. Memorable events included the Prince “Rec” fire (off of Route 1) in West Windsor in 1967, the “Water Life Line” of 1975 (an 11-mile long, multi-town effort to bring water to Trenton after its filtration plant failed), and the D&R Canal gas pipeline explosion of 1986. 

Princeton Rec Center fire, 1967.

The last quarter of the 20th century heralded a substantial explosion of growth for West Windsor, fully transforming it from semi-rural farming community to bustling suburbia. As multi-story buildings and major shopping complexes popped up along Route 1 and our town saw its population more than quadruple between 1970 (~6400 residents) and today (~28-30,000), our emergency services have grown ever-more important. It was around this time that women began joining the ranks as active firefighters.

The fire company held a popular carnival between the 1970s-80s in what is now Ron Rogers Arboretum.

Their services have also broadened since their formation, now including responding to motor vehicle accidents, hazardous material incidents, and various other emergencies. They also participate in numerous beloved community events – including Easter Egg Hunts, Christmas Tree lightings, Operation Santa, and much more. And the recent COVID-19 pandemic has seen them coordinate with local organizations on several efforts to deliver medicine and materials to those in need.​

One of the fire company's most critical safety mantras is emblazoned inside its firehouse.

But what remains constant is the service the volunteers of the WWVFC provide to our town. After a century of operation, the volunteers, “on-duty” for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, still save lives and foster community. ​Please consider volunteering - click here to do so.