All communities at some time or another feel that progress is upon them. As a town grows, so do the ideas. That feeling reached the townspeople of Verga back in 1916. The men of the town felt that with the increased building of homes and stores, a way to protect them must be established.
On June 30, 1916, five men of the town met as an interested group looking toward fire protection. That initial meeting resulted in many more, with the number of participants increasing steadily. All the meetings at that time were held in stores or homes of the townspeople.
It didn't take very long for the idea to catch on for on July 7, 1916, an election of officers was held and Mr. Charles Riley was elected president.
We all knew that every organization needs a name. The company was first known as the West Deptford Fire Company. Within a matter of two weeks, the name was changed to Verga Fire Company.
In September of 1916, the first set of by-laws and a constitution were drawn up and accepted unanimously.
Around the end of September of the same year a need was realized for a Chief and line officers. John Cundy, Sr., was appointed as the first chief of the Verga Fire Company.
In January of 1917, just six months after the first organizational meeting, the first lot was purchased from Mrs. Sharp. This lot is where the main entrance is now located. A tent was purchased to place on this lot for our meetings.
In the fall of 1917, ground was broken for the first building, part of which still stands today.
In october of 1917, the first Township appropriation for the Fire Company was placed on the budget in the amount of $250.00 for the first year.
On December 30, 1917, the Charter was closed with 46 men listed as Charter Members.
The First piece of equipment purchased was a 1919 Ford Chassis, upon which was built a flat-bed body with ladder racks and equipment holders. Buckets and hand extinguishers were the first fire-fighting equipment used.
In 1920, the first alarm system was installed with the purchase of three iron rings from the railroad. Six pound hammers were used with different rings designated for different locations. Finding the need for a better alarm system, the first siren was bough from the New York Shipyard in 1924.
In 1927, the second truck was purchased - a Cheverolet with a Jaquer Pumper mounted.
Throughout the years many different types of fires and calls for assistance were answered by the members, and, to honor these men, it was decided that members with 10 years of service in good standing would be declared Life Members, effective January 1, 1935, the Verga Firre Company, along with Colonial Manor and Thorofar Fire Companies, was recognized by resolution of the Township Committee as an authorized and approved fire-fighting unit of the township
In 1942, a great need was felt for another truck. Despite the War, the company managed to purchase the Dodge. The body was built locally by some of the firemen. Several replacements and overhauls on the pump have been necessary but it is still going strong.
In May of 1948, construction was started on the first addition to the building, adding two bays and a second floor for meetings.
In The later part of 1948, the Company purchased a 500 gallon pumper from the Brooklawn Fire Company. This was on a G.M.C. Truck.
In the Spring of 1949, a Mack tractor with a tank trailer was donated to the Company and put into service as a piece of fire-fighting equipment. In 1953 this was sold and the Ford Pumper was prchased. With the Company growing slowly, but surely, a number of the younger boys around town formed a Junior Fire Company, with its own officers and rules. These young volunteers were supervised by an Advisory Committee of the Company.
In 1957, construction was started on the second addition to the building, consisting of the Main Hall and Downstairs Hall. The addition as dedicated to Albert "Boy" Forsythe, wo was killed in the line of duty on June 23, 1958.
The last addition was started in 1961 and was dedicated to the late Chief David Bell for many years of service to the Company. This addition was completed in time for the housing of the F.W.D, which was delivered in 1962.
In 1966, The Fire Company Celebrated Its 50th Anniversary.
In 1967, the Company ordered a Dodge Power Wagon, but with the Government taking all 4-wheel drive chassis for the war effort, the truck was not delivered until 1968.
In 1973, the Company decided that with the condition of thier equipment, it would purchase 3 F Model Mack Fire Trucks, 2 of them Pumpers and 1 Tower Ladder. The cost of the 3 trucks was $250,000 at that time. For collaoral, 4 of the members put their homes up.
With the purchase of the new trucks, a building had to be added on for the length of the new trucks and the Back Bay was added for the ambulance.
In 1981, the County of Gloucester put into effect the County Dispatch System which incorporated the "911" Emergency Hotline and portable pagers were made available to firemen.
In 1984, the Township chose to purchase each of the 4 Fire Companies one new truck each. Due to the increased cost of fire equipment, this is when the Company took delivery on our 1984 Mack Heavy Rescue.
In 1985, the Company purchased a 1985 Chevy Blazer for the Chief's truck which would help in beach and off-road rescue.
In 1986, the Company purchased a C-20 4-wheel drive pick-up truck which the members of the Company converted to a brish fire truck, whch replaced the 1967 Dodge.
In 1990, the Company specke out out newest piece of equipment - a 1991 E-ONE with a Pem Fab Cab, which replaced one of the 1974 Mack Pumpers.
None od these past 95 years would have been possible without the hard work of the men who we are proud to ay they are Members od the Verga Fire Company.
In the Past 95 years we have had many Presidents and Chiefs as out capable leaders.
We trust that the next 86 years will be as productive as the last 95 years.
In 2000 the company prepared to replace the last of the 1974 Macks with a new Ladder Truck.
On March 25, 2001, the company suffered its second fatality in 85 years. James Heenen passed away after being severely burned in a house fire on January 1, 2001.
Later that year the Fire Company would take delivery of a KME 100' Ladder tower which was dedicated to James Heenen, and as part of the dedication and housing of this new truck the Fire Company erected a Memorial to remember it's fallen brothers.