Jan. 28, 1827 - First Fire Company organized in Woodstown. It was called the "Woodstown Fire Company". Original Articles of Association are on display in the firehouse.
Circa 1827 - Eldridges Hill Fire Company formed - Pumper "Water Witch" in 1845. Fire at Alms House (Old County Home), engine was hauled by wagon.
Early 1800's - Friends Fire Company formed - Their old "Discipline" Pumper was last used in 1861. This fire company was located near the present day meeting house driveway.
1868 - Perserverance Fire Company - They organized and a pumper was bought from a Philadelphia Company for $475.00. It was housed in various barns and wagon sheds, due to lack of a firehouse.
1882 - "The Reliance" pumper and hose cart sold to Perserverance by the City of Salem. Around this time, $2.00 was paid to whoever used their team to pull the engine to and from fires.
July 25, 1884 - Perserverance dissolved and a new company was formed taking the name of their engine -thus, Reliance Fire Company was born.
March 1887 - After a barn burned in the center of town (near the corner of Bowen Avenue and North Main),a call went out from council and citizens to purchase a hook and ladder wagon.
Nov 1893 - A hook and ladder wagon was purchased from Gleason & Bailey. Ladders and equipment included for "$300.00 cash".
June 1895 - The first parade uniforms were purchased - 2 1/2 dozen blue caps and 2 1/2 dozen red belts.
Jan 1896 - Council ordered Reliance to move apparatus to the new hall.
Feb 1896 - A 1,000 pound fire bell was purchased from McShane Foundry in Baltimore for $156.75. It was installed on top of the Borough Hall. The bell was last used in the early 1960's when the electric was out due to storms.
Jan 1922 - The first motorized equipment was purchased at this time. It was a Childs Double Tank Chemical Engine mounted on Kearns Chassis.
Feb 1923 - A second piece of motorized equipment was purchased. It was a Foamite Childs Pump and Hose Car.
March 1923 - First alarm answered by both motorized pieces. The fire was a chicken house at the Richard Flitcraft dairy.
Nov 1928 - Contract was awarded to install an electric siren in the Borough.
1939 - A Ford 300 gallon pumper was purchased.
1941 - A Diamond T 500 gallon pumper was purchased.
1953 - A Ward La France 1,000 gallon pumper was bought for $15,722.50 (This truck is remembered by all who drove her for the poor to no brakes at all)
1959 - An International Pumper was bought for $7,854.52.
1966 - *"Reliance 3"- Ford-Great Eastern was purchased.
1971 - "Plectron" home alert system was purchased.
1972 - Reliance joined Salem County Callboard replacing local operators.
1974 - *"Reliance 2" GMC -Bruco was purchased for approximately $75,000. "Reliance 4" GMC 2,700 gallon tanker was purchased. "Reliance 7" used milk van was purchased and converted by the Company to an equipment air pack vehicle.
"Reliance 5" 7,100 gallon tanker was purchased. This was reconditioned by the company.
1977 - *"Reliance 1" GMC/Emergency 1500 gallon pumper was purchased.
Circa 1827 - Eldridges Hill Fire Company formed - Pumper "Water Witch" in 1845. Fire at Alms House (Old County Home), engine was hauled by wagon.
Early 1800's - Friends Fire Company formed - Their old "Discipline" Pumper was last used in 1861. This fire company was located near the present day meeting house driveway.
1868 - Perserverance Fire Company - They organized and a pumper was bought from a Philadelphia Company for $475.00. It was housed in various barns and wagon sheds, due to lack of a firehouse.
1882 - "The Reliance" pumper and hose cart sold to Perserverance by the City of Salem. Around this time, $2.00 was paid to whoever used their team to pull the engine to and from fires.
July 25, 1884 - Perserverance dissolved and a new company was formed taking the name of their engine -thus, Reliance Fire Company was born.
March 1887 - After a barn burned in the center of town (near the corner of Bowen Avenue and North Main),a call went out from council and citizens to purchase a hook and ladder wagon.
Nov 1893 - A hook and ladder wagon was purchased from Gleason & Bailey. Ladders and equipment included for "$300.00 cash".
June 1895 - The first parade uniforms were purchased - 2 1/2 dozen blue caps and 2 1/2 dozen red belts.
Jan 1896 - Council ordered Reliance to move apparatus to the new hall.
Feb 1896 - A 1,000 pound fire bell was purchased from McShane Foundry in Baltimore for $156.75. It was installed on top of the Borough Hall. The bell was last used in the early 1960's when the electric was out due to storms.
Jan 1922 - The first motorized equipment was purchased at this time. It was a Childs Double Tank Chemical Engine mounted on Kearns Chassis.
Feb 1923 - A second piece of motorized equipment was purchased. It was a Foamite Childs Pump and Hose Car.
March 1923 - First alarm answered by both motorized pieces. The fire was a chicken house at the Richard Flitcraft dairy.
Nov 1928 - Contract was awarded to install an electric siren in the Borough.
1939 - A Ford 300 gallon pumper was purchased.
1941 - A Diamond T 500 gallon pumper was purchased.
1953 - A Ward La France 1,000 gallon pumper was bought for $15,722.50 (This truck is remembered by all who drove her for the poor to no brakes at all)
1959 - An International Pumper was bought for $7,854.52.
1966 - *"Reliance 3"- Ford-Great Eastern was purchased.
1971 - "Plectron" home alert system was purchased.
1972 - Reliance joined Salem County Callboard replacing local operators.
1974 - *"Reliance 2" GMC -Bruco was purchased for approximately $75,000. "Reliance 4" GMC 2,700 gallon tanker was purchased. "Reliance 7" used milk van was purchased and converted by the Company to an equipment air pack vehicle.
"Reliance 5" 7,100 gallon tanker was purchased. This was reconditioned by the company.
1977 - *"Reliance 1" GMC/Emergency 1500 gallon pumper was purchased.
Jan 1979 - Ground was purchased on Broad Street from Freeman Loveland by the Fire Company for future site of a new firehouse. Ground was sold to the borough for $1.
March 6,1982 - Reliance Fire Company moved from Borough Hall to their new firehouse on Broad St.
1982 - 1982 Chevrolet step van was purchased by the Company to replace old "Reliance 7"
May 21, 1983 Today, we are proud to dedicate our new building and house our equipment.
Sept. 1984 - Company moved to construct a monument to house the old bell from the tower of the Borough Hall.
June 1986 - Grumman 1000 GPM pumper on Pemfab chassis purchased at a cost of $240,000 to replace "Reliance 3"
July 1986 - Purchased a 1977 Mack Tractor to replace tractor for Reliance 5
Sept 1986 - Dedicated the bell monument installed in front of firehouse.
March 19,1989 - Special ceremony for second floor hall of Firehouse dedicated in the name of Joseph Casper.
Aug 1989 - Company inplementing LZ program for Helicopter landings.
Jan 1990 - Reliance Fire Company designated as Station 12 by Salem County.
May 1991 - New 6500 gallon tank trailer placed in service
March 1992 - Rear bay was converted to an administrative office.
Mar 1993 - E-911 phone system in service in Salem County.
Sept 1993 - Received new Seagrave 1250 GPM Telesquirt Pumper at a cost of $350,000.00
Feb 1994 – Replaced tank on tanker "12-5A".
July 1996 - Borough council donates company car to Reliance. Vehicle designated as "Car 12"
Feb. 1997 - Station Generator is complete with lighting and electrical outlets operational.
April 1997 - Received Safest Small Town Fire Company Award and received $500.00.
Dec. 1998 - 500 mhz radios are operational.
May 1999 - Company installs dry-hydrant.
Oct. 2000 - Receives Suburban "12-7a" donated by PECO. Thermal imagining camera is also received.
Dec. 2000 - Reliance receives new 12-1 from Central States.
June 2001 - New flagpole donated by the Rotary Club is installed.
Feb. 2002 - Memorial plaque for bell monument arrives.
March 2002 - New tanker 12-5a bid to S & S Fire Apparatus.
May 18, 2002 - Reliance Fire Company Celebrates 175 years of service to the communities of Woodstown and Pilesgrove
March 6,1982 - Reliance Fire Company moved from Borough Hall to their new firehouse on Broad St.
1982 - 1982 Chevrolet step van was purchased by the Company to replace old "Reliance 7"
May 21, 1983 Today, we are proud to dedicate our new building and house our equipment.
Sept. 1984 - Company moved to construct a monument to house the old bell from the tower of the Borough Hall.
June 1986 - Grumman 1000 GPM pumper on Pemfab chassis purchased at a cost of $240,000 to replace "Reliance 3"
July 1986 - Purchased a 1977 Mack Tractor to replace tractor for Reliance 5
Sept 1986 - Dedicated the bell monument installed in front of firehouse.
March 19,1989 - Special ceremony for second floor hall of Firehouse dedicated in the name of Joseph Casper.
Aug 1989 - Company inplementing LZ program for Helicopter landings.
Jan 1990 - Reliance Fire Company designated as Station 12 by Salem County.
May 1991 - New 6500 gallon tank trailer placed in service
March 1992 - Rear bay was converted to an administrative office.
Mar 1993 - E-911 phone system in service in Salem County.
Sept 1993 - Received new Seagrave 1250 GPM Telesquirt Pumper at a cost of $350,000.00
Feb 1994 – Replaced tank on tanker "12-5A".
July 1996 - Borough council donates company car to Reliance. Vehicle designated as "Car 12"
Feb. 1997 - Station Generator is complete with lighting and electrical outlets operational.
April 1997 - Received Safest Small Town Fire Company Award and received $500.00.
Dec. 1998 - 500 mhz radios are operational.
May 1999 - Company installs dry-hydrant.
Oct. 2000 - Receives Suburban "12-7a" donated by PECO. Thermal imagining camera is also received.
Dec. 2000 - Reliance receives new 12-1 from Central States.
June 2001 - New flagpole donated by the Rotary Club is installed.
Feb. 2002 - Memorial plaque for bell monument arrives.
March 2002 - New tanker 12-5a bid to S & S Fire Apparatus.
May 18, 2002 - Reliance Fire Company Celebrates 175 years of service to the communities of Woodstown and Pilesgrove