Harmony Hose & Engine Co. No. 2

1893 Van Duyne Hand Pumper

     On August 23, 1893, the Common Council passed a resolution that authorized the purchase of a hand-operated Pumping Engine, to be manufactured by Simeon Van Duyne, to cost $200.00 and 300 feet of hose to be stored in a suitable place in West Boonton with a suitable alarm.
     On September 13 of that year, Harmony Hose & Engine Company # 2 was assigned the engine built by Simeon Van Duyne, of Boonton. Before the firehouse was completed, the engine and the 300 feet of hose was housed in Theodore Ringlieb's barn on West Main Street. When they moved into their new firehouse, they realized that more equipment would have to be purchased. Harmony Company purchased a hose reel for $90.00 and a chiefs leather helmet (purchased in Seneca Falls, NY) with a blue cord and tassel for only $5.25 without any tax!
In 1894, the Harmony Company bought a lot on the corner of Oak Street and Highland Avenue for the enormous sum of $70.00 for their own firehouse. The firehouse itself was built at a total cost of $560.00.
     The Van Duyne Hand Pumper was originally built on a wood chassis which did not survive the fire. The pumping engine received considerable damage from the fire and this was repaired by Mr. Oscar Whitehead. The chassis was rebuilt with iron and was repainted and continued to serve the Town. The pumper was returned to service in excellent condition with improvements and changes and it saw extensive service prior to the advent of our motorized apparatus.
     The hand pumper was restored and is currently housed in the New Jersey Firemen's Home Museum.

1916 Ford Model T

Believed to be a Ford Model T Chassis, this was Harmony Hose & Engine's first motorized fire engine. It was also the first chemical engine in the Town of Boonton.

Interesting notes about this particular photo:
- Driver: William Kintscher
- Passenger: Dawfy Righter
- Children: Future Harmony Member Leo Lewis (with Cap) and Unknown

1923 Waterous

Believed to be the last red colored fire engine in Boonton, this engine complimented the 2 other 1923 Waterous engines from Maxfield and South Boonton. This particular engine was a triple-combination (chemical, hose and pump) model. It boasted a 400 GPM pump, unlike it's other 2 brothers from the Maxfield & South Boonton Companies which only had 300 GPM pumps.

It's an interesting fact that with all it's firefighting capability, it had to be pushed out of the firehouse on many occasions to get it started. All 3 Waterous Engines where built on Wilcox Chassis, supplied by the Wilcox Trux Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota and where shipped to Boonton from the factory in August 16,1923.

1940 Buffalo

The 1940 Buffalo was the last pumper that Boonton ordered prior to the beginning of World War II. The Board of Alderman acted quickly to procure a new engine for Harmony. It was the first cream colored engine for the company and included a 4-1/2' suction, a 500 GPM positive pump and a rear-mounted booster reel. When retired from service, it was sold to Drew Chemical/PVO for it's fire brigade. Years later, it was donated back to Boonton, and used by Auxiliary Fire Department for several years.

1957 Seagrave

1 of 3 purchased by the Boonton Fire Department, this engine was equipped with a 750 GPM pump and rear-mounted booster reel. It's nose was also slightly longer than the other two similar engines to accomidate its powerful V-12 engine.

1976 Great Eastern

     The 1976 Great Eastern was an engine of firsts for the Boonton Fire Department. It was the first engine with a top mounted pump panel, first with a pre-piped foam system, first with a three stage high pressure pump, first with Mattadale attack lines, first with an AC power inverter, first with anti-lock brakes and first engine with an automatic transmission. The engine was commonly referred to as the "Chrome Dome" because of its two top mounted chrome booster reels.
     In addition to a booster tank containing five hundred gallons of water, it had a twenty gallon foam tank, pre-piped to a dedicated foam line. The foam system could be bypassed to use the foam line as a third pre-connected attack line. The engine also was equipped with two priming pumps - one mechanical, one electric. Its drafting capacity was been demonstrated on several occasions including high lifts off the new Pond Bridge and using eight suctions while drafting along Route 287.
     The engine was equipped with six Scott 4.5 SCBA's, six spare bottles, 800 feet of 3" hose, 800 feet of 2-1/2" hose. The pre-piped foam line had 150 feet of 1-3/4" line and a a basket load had 200 feet of 1-1/2" hose split on an 1-1/2" Wye. The Mattadales were each equipped with 200 feet of 1-3/4" hose. For years the Mattadales had been equipped with only 150 feet. About three weeks after the changeover to 200 feet was made, a fire on the third floor of an apartment on Main Street made the extra 50 feet came in handy.
     The Great Eastern was refurbished in 1986 and continued to serve the Town of Boonton through March, 2001. For one of its last responses, the engine assumed its usual place at the front of a working apartment fire at the Federal Housing Project on Plane Street. During that alarm, the Harmony Engine acted not only as an engine, but also as the Ladder truck, carrying a thirty-five foot ladder for the out-of-service Ladder truck.