History: Matawan Fire Police (1920)

The 2 Dec 1920 edition of The Matawan Journal contained a small front page announcement by Washington Engine Company No 1 in Matawan. First, the company was seeking the return of firemen's uniforms so they could be "cleaned and pressed and properly laid away until occasion shall necessitate (their) future use." This was followed by the revelation that the company had established a team of fire police "whose duties shall be to look after the fire line and to prevent any obstruction to the system of the firemen." Named as fire police were: Al Nicholson, Fred Laible (illegible), William Bailey, Theodore Nicholson, and John Matsell (illegible). The notice, signed by Secretary George R Eastmond, closed with a request for the cooperation of the townspeople.