Page:History of West Hoboken NJ.djvu/69

 as follows: Foreman, A. B. Ryerson; assistant foreman, W. H. Laune; secretary, J. G. Gordon; treasurer, John Hague; investigating committee, J. Crawbuck, A. K. Nafey and W. H. Alcorn.

It was decided at this meeting to appoint a committee of three to solicit subscriptions from the Insurance Companies and citizens to purchase an apparatus. The committee consisted of Messrs. A. B. Ryerson, A. K. Nafey and W. E. Wells.

After meeting at Peibe's hotel a number of times, the meeting place was changed to the basement of the Presbyterian Church. The Company met here until their house was erected on Paterson avenue, on land leased from John Everson, Jr., on September 12, 1859.

The committee on subscription having procured funds enough to purchase an apparatus, a committee consisting of Messrs. Piebes, Hague and Crawbuck was appointed to purchase same. The engine was purchased in New York City, and it at one time did duty in the department of the latter city. It was purchased on September 5, 1859, at a cost of $210. It was used here but a short time, for, on November 22, 1861, the old hand engine (which was sold by Neptune Co. last summer) was purchased for $235, and the first engine in exchange. This engine also came from the New York department, and it is claimed by many that it at one time belonged to the famous Black Joke Company 33, of the New York Department. A motion in reference to this engine made on November 22, 1861, which appears on the minutes of Neptune Company, is given as follows:—

"John Lane moved that John Van Skivers mules be engaged to take down old Neptune to the engine builder and bring up the new engine." This was amended, and Van Skivers mules brought the engine down as far as the ferry, and the company, in full uniform, then brought it home.

Neptune Company did duty alone in our town until 1865, when Dexter Hook & Ladder Co. 1 was organized with A. Fillipetti, as foreman.

On September 18, 1865, a new company was organized in the Bonnsville district of the town. A citizen by the name of Heinlein kept a florist establishment about where Jane and West streets now meet, and in one of his greenhouses Eagle Engine Co. was organized. This part of the town, with the building of the car stables, had began to grow considerably, and it was seen that Neptune Engine Company could not well take care of the entire town, and that a company in Bonnsville would be a very useful adjunct to the department, and on the date last above mentioned, Messrs. Wm. Ludlow. W. H.