High Bridge Emergency Squad History
The start of emergency and rescue services in High Bridge began in 1938 when members of the High Bridge Fire Department organized to meet the needs of a growing community and provide more timely care.
At this time, the Fire Department Emergency Squad members served alongside members of the American Legion Post #188. The American Legion provided volunteers and an ambulance, the Fire Department provided volunteers and a 1927 Hahn service truck (pictures below). During this period, the Emergency Squad served High Bridge, Clinton Township, Clinton Town, as well as sections of Union Township, Tewksbury Township and Lebanon Township.
In 1953, the High Bridge Emergency Squad was chartered as a division of the Fire Department. Active members of the Emergency Squad also served as Active or Associate members of the Fire Department. The seventeen High Bridge Emergency Squad charter members are listed below.
The Emergency Squad was located at the L. H. Taylor Hose Company, 7 Maryland Avenue from 1953 until 2000 when a new squad headquarters was built at 95 West Main Street. |
Charter Members
HBFD Emergency Squad (1938)
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HBES Charter Member (1953)
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For more than 67 years, the High Bridge Emergency Squad served the community staffed by volunteers. A total of 56 members earned Life Member status after actively serving 10 years or more. Many members went on to serve 30, 40, 45 years or more with the High Bridge Emergency Squad.
(Visit our Life Members Page for full list) Communications were not advanced in the early days like the outstanding services provided by Hunterdon Communications 911 system today. |
Hunterdon Communications Center began dispatching calls in June 1976. Prior to Hunterdon Communications, calls for emergency services in the early years were received at NJ Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale or by NJ Telephone Operators located in High Bridge. Once a call was verified that emergency services were needed, the audible air horns were activated by boiler room personnel at Taylor Wharton to alert members to respond to the building. Once a member arrived at the building, they would speak with the caller to confirm the location and type of emergency. Over the years technology replaced the air horn and members were alerted by plectron radios and later pagers. Today on-duty crews respond directly from the Station once alerted by Hunterdon County Communications 911 Center.
The High Bridge Emergency Squad received outstanding support from our Fire Department, Mayors and Council Members, Community Groups, and Residents. This support along with hundreds of volunteers over the years allowed the Squad to provide emergency care to neighbors during their time of need. High Bridge Squad leaders and Certified Trainers were key to assisting other Towns with training and were instrumental in the formation of first aid and rescue departments in neighboring communities during the 1960’s.
A hallmark of the Squad was the relationship of family and friends joining the organization: fathers & sons, fathers & daughters, husbands & wives, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors, all with one purpose - to serve and respond in a time of need. This commitment always included looking for ways to make the Squad better by investing in advanced training, new technology (e.g. first JAWS of Life rescue tool purchased in 1979), creating a Cadet Program (age 16-18) and always responding in a caring manner.
A hallmark of the Squad was the relationship of family and friends joining the organization: fathers & sons, fathers & daughters, husbands & wives, brothers, sisters, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors, all with one purpose - to serve and respond in a time of need. This commitment always included looking for ways to make the Squad better by investing in advanced training, new technology (e.g. first JAWS of Life rescue tool purchased in 1979), creating a Cadet Program (age 16-18) and always responding in a caring manner.
During the late 1990’s a reduction in volunteers created a need for paid members in several communities in Hunterdon County. By 2002, the High Bridge Emergency Squad in particular, began to experience several daytime members retiring or moving out of the area even as the volume of calls was increasing. At this time, the Squad leadership began to explore paid day time staff to fill the void. After much research, in March 2002 a partnership was formed with Hampton Rescue Squad to consolidate daytime coverage and develop an agreement with Clinton First Aid and Rescue Squad to provide paid weekday coverage from 6 AM to 6 PM. This unit was known as 27 Rescue. Then on July 1, 2020, the benefits of a merger between the High Bridge Emergency Squad and Clinton First Aid and Rescue were documented and South Branch Emergency Services was created. On January 1, 2022, the Hampton Emergency Squad joined South Branch Emergency Services.
The High Bridge Emergency Squad building on West Main Street is now known as South Branch Emergency Services - Station 3 and is supported, in part, by area residents and the Borough of High Bridge. This facility is used for training, emergency response equipment, as well as quarters for on-duty emergency services personnel.
A walk back in time via photographs
Special thank you to the hundreds of members who served over the years and gave so much to the community.
Thank you to Tom Zellman, Jess Luteran, Bill Gooley Jr., and Sarah Lynch for providing photos and support to document squad history.
If you have pictures and/or stories about the history of the High Bridge Emergency Squad and would like to share, please contact Rick Hannigan at: [email protected].
July, 2024
Thank you to Tom Zellman, Jess Luteran, Bill Gooley Jr., and Sarah Lynch for providing photos and support to document squad history.
If you have pictures and/or stories about the history of the High Bridge Emergency Squad and would like to share, please contact Rick Hannigan at: [email protected].
July, 2024
| History of High Bridge Emergency Squad July 2024 |