Page:History of West Hoboken NJ.djvu/81

 the attempt of some members of Eagle Engine Co. 3 to organize what they choose to call Washington Hook & Latter C. 3, with P. J. Van Skiver as foreman), had failed, and on June 20, 1894, a meeting was held at the "Capitol" Hotel, corner Spring and Dodd streets, and Protection Hook & Ladder Co. 3 was organized with the following officers and members:—Foreman, W. H. Drescher, Jr.; assistant foreman, Chas. Kremm; recording secretary, C. H. Kleene; financial secretary, Albert Laessig; treasurer, Henry Leuly and J. T. Boman, C. E. Boman, John Mahan, J. W. Smith, C. Kammeral, W. Stagen, R. J. Heuston and Rud. Frech, charter members.

The Company met weekly and appointed a committee consisting of W. H. Drescher, Jr., E. C. Schede and G. H. Kleene to solicit subscriptions to purchase a truck.

In the meantime they petitioned the town council to purchase a truck for them, and the petition was acted upon favorably by the authorities, and on February 19, 1895, they furnished the Company with their present handsome apparatus, which was built by the firm of Gleason & Bailey, of Seneca Falls, N. Y.

The event was celebrated by a grand parade and jollification at the Company's house on Dodd street, which was erected on a lot leased to the Company by W. H. Drescher, Sr., and the house was erected with the funds raised by the aforesaid committee appointed to raise funds to purchase an apparatus.

On July 2, 1897, the Company's house burned down. It is not known what caused the fire, but it is believed that a kerosene lamp must have exploded, which was used to light the house. The truck was damaged to the extent of $300, and the members stood all loss and in three months time had built another house and had the truck repaired and repainted.

In 1894 the Company moved into its present house, which was erected by the town at a cost of $6,000. It is fitted up with all modern improvements, such as steam heat, bath and shower bathrooms, etc., and the Company has spared neither time nor expense in furnishing it with the best and handsomest furniture that could be procured, two chandeliers in the meeting room costing $100.

The Company maintains a library which at present contains 296 volumes.

It appears that each of the last three Companies in the department has a special offering for those socially inclined, with Americus their "trump card" in minstrel shows; with Friendship it is masquerade balls, and with Protection it is smokers and house parties. The smokers given by Protection