History
Colts Neck Township was established by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature as Atlantic Township on February 18, 1847, from portions of Freehold Township, Middletown Township and Shrewsbury Township. The name was changed to Colts Neck Township as of November 6, 1962, based on the results of a referendum held that day
Colts Neck Fire Company #1
The Colts Neck Township Fire Company Number 1 (formerly Atlantic Township Fire Company Number 1) was organized December 8, 1926. Prior to then, Atlantic Township relied on the Freehod Fire Department for fire protection. The By-Laws were adopted on February 1, 1927 and on February 15, 1927 the Certificate of Incorporation was received and signed. Of the 33 charter members, the following were elected as administration and officers: President, Louis Snyder; Vice President, Jack Lawrence; Secretary, Frank Hyatt; Financial Secretary, Walter Fields; Treasurer, George Hance; Sgt. at Arms George Hoey, Trustees, Patrick Me Cue, James Higgins and Richard Cladder; Forman (now called Fire Chief) Chriney Conover; 1st Asst. Forman Conrad Decher; 2nd Asst. Forman Windsor Heulett (at the following meeting Mr. Conover and Mr. Decher exchanged positions.)
In February 1927 the blacksmith shop and barn were purchased from the Culver family for $2,800 and served as the original fire house for 26 years. The first fire truck was purchased in March 1927 and delivered that summer. In the fall of that year a siren was bought (electric was installed the same year,) tower purchased and installed by January, 1928. In August, 1928, the first 32' ladder was purchased. A second truck was added in late 1938. The first recorded fire call was in July 29, 1927, a truck fire on county road west of Colts Neck. In November, 1929, a motion was made to hold company business meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, as they are still held at that time today.
In March, 1948, the Fire Company purchased their current property on Rt. 537 from Dick Clador and the present firehouse was dedicated in 1953.
Colts Neck Fire Company #2
Fire company #2 was founded in 1963 due to growth in the northern part of the town, including the Clover Hill development. Charter members were George Downes, Charles Lind, William McCulloh Sr, Alfred Ruppel, E. Schweitzer, Jules Schweitzer, and Herb Zander. The first firehouse was the Quonset hut in an apple orchard off route 34. In 1970, the original biulding at the current Conover Rd. site was built and served as the home for the fire company until August, 2008. The newly constructed firehouse opened Memorial Day Weekend, 2009.
Ladies Auxuliary
The Ladies Auxiliary of Colts Neck Fire Company Number 1 was organized in November, 1938. These women assist the firemen at public affairs and are ever on call to serve hot coffee and sandwiches during a big fire. Their first officers were: President, Mrs. Harold Gunther; Vice President, Mrs. John Weir: Secretary, Mrs. John Sutphin; Treasurer, Mrs. Harry Sagotsky.
Historic Activity
October 30, 1967: The historic structure of Bucks Mill burned to the ground, leaving on the mill wheel as mute evidence. An item in the newspaper was quoted :. "...we have pretty much ruled out juvenile vandalism as the cause of all but one of six suspicious fires including a blaze early Tuesday morning which wrecked Bucks Mill."
1968: The D.O. Evans barn burned. Firemen had to use axes and torches to chip ice from the brook to get to the water. This year the Flock barn also burned. William and Dick Flock still had to milk the cows after the fire. The firemen stayed to help get the cows back in stantions.
November 14, 1972: The historic Phalanx building burned down. The Daily Register noted in an article dated Nov. 15, 1972, "...more than 200 volunteer firemen from area fire companies were unable to save the historic Phalanx Building which burned last night. A total of 24 pieces of apparatus were on the scene. Due to a lack of hydrants in Colts Neck, water had to be drawn from surrounding streams. Middletown Fire Co. pumpers drew water from a pond along Richdale Rd. while Colts Neck units drew water from the brook in front of the property along Phalanx. Nearly two miles of hose was laid as pumpers added their power to keep water pressure up. Trucks and lines of hose had to be snaked through surrounding woods in order to enable firemen to get close to the burning structure. The general alarm was sounded approximately 11 p.m. and the fire was not placed under control until 1:30 a.m. and the general recall was sounded at 3:15 a.m."
March 12, 2004: Firefighters from nearly every company in western and southern Monmouth County joined forces to battle a fierce fire at an uninhabited, nearly-completed mansion on Route 537. The fire began at about 5:30pm in the upper levels of the residence. By 6:30, the area of sprawling fields of which the house was set on was swarming with emergency personnel. By 7pm, the central roof collapsed into the building and the fire was reported under control by 9pm, though it continued to burn until the early morning. Investigations showed that the cause of the fire was electrical malfunction.
