Reliance Hose

06/21/2026

Reliance Hose Company No. 1 was on standby this evening as part of the Phillipsburg Fire Department’s coverage for the annual Ole Towne Festival fireworks display.

With fireworks scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m., the entire department was positioned at designated locations near Delaware River Park to provide fire protection and ensure a rapid response if needed during the celebration.

The company was assigned to the corner of Howard and McKeen Streets, where members remained on standby throughout the event.

We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and enjoyable evening celebrating Phillipsburg’s Ole Towne Festival.

06/19/2026

Engine 6 Currently responding to Broad st. For a MVA with report of injuries

06/19/2026

Flashback Friday: The Motorization of Reliance Hose Company No. 1

The year 1917 marked a turning point for the Phillipsburg Fire Department. For decades, much of the department’s firefighting equipment had relied upon horse-drawn or hand-drawn apparatus. As motorized vehicles began proving their worth in fire departments across the country, several Phillipsburg companies looked to modernize their equipment and improve their ability to protect the growing town. Among the companies leading this effort was Reliance Hose Company No. 1.

At the beginning of 1917, three Phillipsburg fire companies were actively pursuing replacements for their aging wooden hose carriages. These companies were Reliance Hose Company No. 1, Jersey Hose Company No. 2, and Warren Chemical Engine Company No. 1. Each recognized that motorized apparatus would allow firefighters to respond more quickly and efficiently than ever before. During a meeting of the Town Commissioners in February 1917, representatives from all three companies appeared to discuss their plans.

Warren Chemical advised the commissioners that it was contemplating the purchase of two motor-driven trucks… one to serve as a chemical engine and the other as a hose carriage. The company also requested permission to purchase outright two 35-gallon chemical tanks to install on the chemical apparatus so that it would keep full ownership of the equipment it intended to place into service.

Representatives from Jersey Hose Company No. 2 presented a petition signed by residents and property owners from the Second and Fourth Wards requesting that the town purchase a motorized apparatus for their company. At the same meeting, it was noted that Phillipsburg Fire Company No. 1 and Alert Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 had already secured motorized apparatuses through funds raised by their own organizations.

Reliance Hose Company was also pursuing motorization, though its path would require a significant fundraising effort. Throughout 1917, members of Reliance worked diligently to secure the funds necessary to purchase a modern fire truck. Patrick Sweeney and William Coleman appeared before the commissioner's seeking assistance for the project. Estimates placed the cost of a new apparatus between $4,000 and $4,500, a considerable sum at the time. Reliance had already accumulated approximately $1,000 toward the purchase, but much more would be needed before a contract could be awarded.

The company launched a public fundraising campaign throughout the Third and Fifth Wards. Members canvassed neighborhoods seeking contributions from residents, while advertisements in local newspapers encouraged citizens to support the effort. Donations could be made directly through company members or sent to Patrick Sweeney at his home on Firth Street. Reliance officers expressed hope that the public would recognize the valuable service provided by the volunteer firemen and contribute generously toward the purchase of a motorized apparatus. Interest in the project was widespread.

At one special meeting held at the Reliance firehouse, a representative of the White Motor Company demonstrated the capabilities of modern motorized fire apparatus. The presentation reflected the growing enthusiasm among members who recognized that the future of firefighting was rapidly moving away from hand-drawn equipment.

By December 1917, the efforts of the company had begun to go in a positive direction. At a special meeting held on December 20, attended by a large gathering of members, Reliance Hose Company awarded a contract for a new combination hose and chemical truck to the Hahn Motor Truck Company of Hamburg, Pennsylvania. The apparatus was expected to be delivered within ninety days and was described as one of the most modern firefighting machines available. Although the company remained approximately $2,200 to $2,300 short of the amount needed to complete payment for the apparatus, fundraising efforts continued steadily. Citizens were once again encouraged to contribute through Patrick Sweeney, who remained one of the leading figures in the campaign.

The dream of motorization finally became a reality in the spring of 1918. Newspaper reports noted that the acquisition of the apparatus was now assured. Reliance Hose Company contributed $1,000 from its own treasury, while citizens of Phillipsburg donated an impressive $1,678.45 through the public subscription campaign. Recognizing the benefit the new apparatus would provide to the community, the Town Commissioners appropriated an additional $1,000 toward the purchase. An anonymous contribution of $46.55 completed the funding effort, bringing the total amount raised to $3,725.

The new Hahn apparatus arrived as a striking Kelly Green combination hose and chemical truck. It represented a tremendous advancement for Reliance Hose Company and for the Phillipsburg Fire Department as a whole. After months of determination, fundraising, and public support, Reliance had successfully transitioned from a hand-drawn hose carriage to a modern motorized fire apparatus.

While Reliance celebrated the arrival of its new Hahn truck, the other companies also moved forward with their modernization plans. Warren Chemical successfully acquired two motorized vehicles… one serving as a chemical engine and the other as a hose carriage. By April 1918, the company was seeking municipal assistance to purchase tires for its two motor-driven apparatus, further confirming that both vehicles had entered service.

Jersey Hose Company’s circumstances were somewhat different. During 1917, the company’s aging wooden hose carriage suffered severe damage and was considered beyond repair. Although residents of the Second and Fourth Wards strongly supported the purchase of a motorized apparatus, the town lacked sufficient funds to provide a third motor vehicle after the commitments made toward Reliance and Warren Chemical. As a practical solution, Jersey Hose retired its damaged carriage and received Warren Chemical’s former wooden hose carriage, allowing the company to continue operations until a future opportunity for motorization could be secured.

The motorization efforts of 1917 and 1918 marked the beginning of a new era in Phillipsburg firefighting. Among the companies involved, Reliance Hose Company No. 1 stood at the forefront of the movement. Through the dedication of its members and the generous support of the community, the company secured a modern Hahn apparatus that would serve as a symbol of progress and preparedness for the next 20 years.

To our followers:

We would like to thank everyone who follows the Reliance Hose Company No. 1 page.

As we continue preserving and sharing the history of Reliance Hose Company No. 1, we are always looking for photographs and information that help tell the story of our company and the Phillipsburg Fire Department.

If you have any personal or private photographs of Reliance’s 1917 Hahn fire truck, other retired company apparatuses, or the inside of the historic firehouse at 292 Chambers Street, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to see them. We are especially interested in images that may not have been publicly shared before.

If you choose to share a photograph, we encourage you to include any information you may know about it, such as the date, location, individuals pictured, special events, or any family or company stories connected to the image. Even the smallest detail can help preserve an important piece of our history.

With your permission, selected photographs and accompanying information may be featured in future Flashback Friday posts so that these pieces of Reliance Hose history can be preserved and shared with future generations.

Newspaper Sources:
- Easton Express: Dates range from early 1917 to 4/24/1918
- Belvidere Apollo: 2/15/1917

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

📸 55th Oldtimers Day Photos Have Arrived!

After a little wait, we have finally received the photographs from Reliance Hose Co. No. 1’s 55th Oldtimers Day, held on March 28, 2026, as we celebrated the company’s 139th Anniversary.

It was a great day spent honoring our longtime members, preserving traditions, and celebrating the proud history of Reliance Hose Co. No. 1. These gatherings remind us of the generations of members who have helped shape our company and continue to uphold our motto: “Rely on Reliance.”

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the day a success.

06/12/2026

Flashback Friday: Twice in Sixty Years

With news that Warren Chemical Engine Company’s new apparatus has finally been completed and members of the apparatus committee recently returning from the final inspection, it brought to mind a story involving one of the company’s former trucks and an apparatus from Reliance Hose Company.

In September 1952, both companies were operating relatively new apparatus. Warren Chemical’s Ahrens-Fox had entered service in November 1948, while Reliance Hose Company’s American LaFrance followed a year later in November 1949. Neither piece of apparatus had yet reached its fourth birthday.

For generations, Stockton Street has served as one of the principal routes connecting Phillipsburg’s hill section with the downtown business district. Whenever additional help was needed below the hill, Reliance apparatus regularly made the trip down Stockton Street to assist companies already operating in the downtown area. Such was the case on the afternoon of September 25, 1952.

Shortly after 3:30 p.m., an alarm was transmitted for a fire at the Sharp Photo Studio, located at 356 South Main Street. As downtown companies responded, Reliance Hose Company’s American LaFrance headed south on Stockton Street toward the intersection of Stockton and Sitgreaves Streets. At nearly the same time, Warren Chemical’s Ahrens-Fox, driven by Vincent Pianelli, was responding west on Sitgreaves Street. The two apparatuses collided near the southwest corner of the intersection, with the Reliance truck continuing into the telephone pole standing on the corner.

Edwin Deacon, a 28-year-old Phillipsburg police patrolman and member of Reliance Hose Company, was driving the apparatus. Newspaper accounts reported that he was thrown from the open cab onto the street, suffering a possible skull fracture, cuts, and brush burns. A Warren Hospital attendant described his condition as fair. Dominick Jiorle, who was riding on the Warren Chemical apparatus, also suffered injuries and was treated and released following treatment at the hospital. Pianelli and several other firefighters riding the two apparatuses escaped injury.

Although the collision occurred only two blocks from the burning studio, Phillipsburg firefighters suddenly found themselves confronted with two emergencies unfolding at the same time. A second general alarm was transmitted from police headquarters immediately after the first alarm.

At the Sharp Photo Studio, proprietor Keith Sharp later recalled that he had been working in the darkroom to the rear of the studio when he detected smoke. Upon leaving the room, he discovered smoke throughout the building and observed flames near one of the display windows. The fire quickly gutted the photography studio. Intense heat shattered the large plate-glass display windows and flames shot out over the sidewalk. Witnesses stated that the heat could be felt across South Main Street, where grandstands had already been erected in preparation for the Firemen’s Parade associated with the 75th Convention of the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association, which was scheduled to be held in Phillipsburg the following day.

Joseph Kostans of Route 33, Bloomsbury, noticed the fire while driving through town and turned in the alarm. Newspaper reports also noted that Kostans and Edward Lambert entered the building to warn occupants before firefighters arrived. Several small explosions were heard during the fire and were believed to have been caused by photographic film packs igniting in the intense heat.

Even as attention turned to the collision only blocks away, firefighters from Jersey Hose Company and Phillipsburg Fire Company stretched lines and quickly brought the blaze under control before it could spread beyond the first floor of the three-story brick building. Fire Chief Bernard G. Hughes later credited the building’s metal ceiling with preventing the flames from extending into the upper floors.
While the studio itself was gutted, occupants of the apartments above escaped as flames threatened the structure. Smoke and water damage was reported in apartments occupied by the DiMatteo and Torcivia families, while the third-floor apartment occupied by Frank DiMatteo and his family escaped damage.

The collision left both apparatuses heavily damaged. Chief Bernard G. Hughes estimated the damage at several thousand dollars. Contemporary newspaper accounts reported that both trucks sustained considerable damage and were towed from the scene.
The effects of the accident lingered long after the fire had been extinguished. According to newspaper reports published in March 1953, the Reliance American LaFrance returned to service nearly six months after the collision. During the same period, Phillipsburg officials authorized payment of $7,180 for repairs to the Warren Chemical apparatus damaged in the accident… a considerable expense in 1953.

As the years passed, the events of September 25, 1952, gradually faded into memory, and Stockton and Sitgreaves Streets returned to being just another intersection in town. Then, sixty years later, the intersection once again became the scene of an accident involving responding fire department personnel.

On October 6, 2012, Phillipsburg Deputy Fire Chief Richard Kranich was responding to reports of heavy black smoke in the area of Howard Street and Delaware River Park. The “smoke” was later determined to be steam from the Delaware River Railroad Excursion train. While responding, the Deputy Chief’s vehicle entered the intersection of Stockton and Sitgreaves Streets and was struck broadside by another vehicle. The impact caused the department vehicle to overturn twice before coming to rest against the utility pole located at the same southwest corner struck by the Reliance apparatus sixty years earlier. Deputy Chief Kranich was injured and transported to St. Luke’s Hospital. Both vehicles involved sustained significant damage.

The similarities between the two incidents are remarkable. Both occurred at the intersection of Stockton and Sitgreaves Streets. Both involved fire department personnel responding to reports of smoke or fire. Both resulted in injuries. And in both cases, the responding emergency vehicle ultimately came to rest against the utility pole standing at the southwest corner of the intersection.

Thousands of emergency responses have safely passed through Stockton and Sitgreaves Streets over the years. Yet these two accidents, separated by exactly six decades, remain uniquely linked in Phillipsburg Fire Department history. They serve as reminders that some of the dangers firefighters face are encountered before they ever arrive at the emergency scene.

Attached are original Easton Express newspaper articles from 1952 and 1953, along with Express-Times photographs and coverage from the 2012 incident. Special thanks to Ron Titus for information shared in a September 23, 2025, post on the Warren County Historical Society Facebook group, which helped shed additional light on the events surrounding the 1952 accident.