110 Year Old Firemen’s Monument
Submitted by Al Shipley, City Historian and Rahway Library Research Consultant
The Firemen’s Monument located next to the Fire Headquarters Building on Main Street is a handsome tribute to Rahway firefighters, past and present. Set back some distance from the sidewalk in a grotto-like setting, it was moved to its present site in 2000. Originally erected on the triangle of land at the juncture of Cherry, Broad, and Campbell Streets, the monument has a long and interesting history.
The idea for a monument to pay tribute to the men of the volunteer fire companies was first conceived in the 1890s. Interest in the project waned over the next several years and it was not until 1912 that representatives from each of the fire companies and the Exempt’s Association took definite steps to secure funds for the memorial and to plan an unveiling ceremony. The initial thought was to place the memorial within the grounds of the Rahway Cemetery in the plot reserved as the final resting place for Rahway firemen. In the end, however, it was decided that the monument should be placed on one of the city parks to be more visible to a greater number.
On the afternoon of Wednesday, November 12, 1913, the project was finally realized. From the start of the day, a holiday atmosphere permeated throughout the city. Most businesses were closed by noon and school children were dismissed from classes after morning sessions. The festivities began at 1 p.m. with a big parade comprised entirely of local volunteer fire companies and auxiliary organizations. By the time the marchers reached the small triangular plot, over 5,000 citizens had gathered to witness the dedication ceremony and the unveiling of the monument.
The program, which was planned by the Rahway Firemen’s Relief Association, included opening and closing prayers, musical selections, and speeches by Committee Chairman Henry L. Lamphear, Mayor Thomas A. Fyffe, and several other state, county, and local officials.
Mayor Fyffe, who served as Master of Ceremonies, noted in his remarks that “The lives of the great majority of our firemen will be perpetuated by this monument. It is not to honor one above another, but rather to bear silent and impressive testimony to the fact that there have been a large number of men among our citizens who were unselfish enough to risk their lives, make great personal sacrifices, and forget their own personal comfort, that they might thereby serve the public.”
Following his speech, the mayor gave a signal, the band began playing the Star-Spangled Banner, and the monument was unveiled revealing a life-sized (6’ 6”) figure of a fireman standing atop a 7-foot granite base. The Italian marble figure depicted a firefighter in action with fire hose in hand as he alertly watched over the community. Musical selections concluded the program after which the guests were invited to the Woodruff Building on Irving Street for entertainment and refreshments.
The stone fireman kept a constant vigil over the city from that lofty position for the next nine decades. Unfortunately, over the span of 86 years, the elements of nature took their toll on the monument. The hands and facial features had lost their sharp details, the helmet was damaged, and the entire figure showed signs of erosion. It was obvious that restoration was needed. To this end, in the summer of 1999, members of the Rahway Fire Department, the Rahway Exempt Firemen’s Association and a local businessman joined forces to restore the statue. The monument was removed from the triangle and brought to a local restoration shop where it was meticulously cleaned and repaired.
After the work was completed, the monument was transported to the Main Street Fire Station, a location thought to be most appropriate, and placed on its north-east side. On September 27, 2000, a rededication ceremony was held. In his remarks during the service, Mayor James Kennedy stated, “I think it is wonderful that a monument to firefighters who daily put their lives on the line to rescue the people of Rahway and save their property, is being rescued itself by the very citizens that those firefighters have served.”
Courtesy photos
