1937-1961
For many years the town of Allendale considered the establishment of an ambulance corps, but it was not until 1937 that any real progress was made. The country was in a depression and the storm clouds of war were forming in Europe. Allendale’s Town Committee of Public Safety discussed the matter several times, but it was not until May of 1937 that a turning point occurred. With the help of Dr. Frederick R. Kanning, the purchase of an ambulance was arranged from Hackensack Hospital for sum of one dollar. This vehicle was a 1926 REO and was delivered to the town on June 10th, 1937.
The Public Safety Committee then called a meeting of all the men in town who were interested in volunteering their time to provide emergency transportation services to Allendale and some of the surrounding towns.
These towns included Franklin Lakes, Ho-Ho-Kus, Ramsey, Upper Saddle River, Saddle River, Waldwick, and an area of Route 17 (formerly Route 2) north of Route 4 to the New York State Line, thus making the corps one of the first in the northwest Bergen County area. The first meeting was held on June 30th, and the name Allendale Ambulance Corps was adopted. Officers were elected, with Carl Wehner as president, Nelson White as vice president, Henry Kahse as secretary/treasurer and Paul O’Connor as the first captain of the corps. Local area physicians Dr. Fredrick R. Kanning and Dr. James Campbell served as medical advisors.
Later, by-laws were adopted and fees were approved for the transportation of non-residents to hospitals, but Allendale residents were granted use of the ambulance free of charge.
The corps was made up strictly of volunteers who donated at least one night a week for organized drills and another night to maintain this civic resource for the town in time of emergency. Many of the volunteers had been members of the Allendale Fire Department’s First Aid Squad and were trained and ready for service. Others were trained in Standard and Advanced First Aid classes, including some taught by Captain O’Connor and William Strangfeld, who was an American Red Cross Instructor.
Some of the Charter Members are shown in the photo below. Their names and that of other prominent organizers include: Carl Wehner, Henry Kahse, Nelson White, Paul O’Connor, E. Israel, George Price, Jacob Kaplan, Walter Chrisite, William Strangfeld, K. Booth, Lawrence Scafuro, John Winters, W. Hill, James Kievit, Cyril Dargue, Archie Farrell, Gus Shone, Harold Heidrich, Charles Bijou, Harold Ryan, George Wilson, Fred Van Horn and Harold Kiermaier.
The first actual call was recorded in July 24, 1937 to transport eight patents of an automobile accident to Suffern (now Good Samaritan) Hospital in New York. Because of the number of patients involved, the use of one of the member’s utility truck had to be enlisted to help with the transportations. From this point on, the corps answered approximately twenty more calls before the year was out, proving the value of this new organization to the towns it served.
In December of 1937, the Allendale Ambulance Corps was accepted for membership by the New Jersey First Aid Council.
As the calls increased, it became apparent that the original vehicle had to be replaced, and a building was needed to house the new ambulance. Funds were raised by local organizations, private donations, and corps sponsored card parties. A major portion of the funds also came from a carnival held from July 25 through the 30th. A souvenir booklet was compiled and ads were published, paid for by local merchants and businesses.
In 1939 a new rig was purchased and a dedication service was held at Recreation Park. This second rig was a new 1939 La Salle Ambulance manufactured by the A. J Miller Company in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Dr. Harry Archer, resident and honorary medical officer of the New York City Fire Department, delivered the keynote speech at the dedication. He had joined the Medical Advisory Staff of the Corps and had assisted in the selection of the new ambulance.
One year later, on October 20, 1940, the first ambulance building (shown top left) was dedicated on a lot adjacent to current fire department location. Speakers at the ceremony included former Mayor of Allendale Kenneth Fischer, George Christopher (Chairman of the Building Committee) and Carl Wehner, corps president.
The building and vehicle proved a good investment because the next vehicle replacement wasn’t purchased until 1952 (pictured bottom left) and a new building would not be needed until 1980. An extension was added to the building in 1959; this provided room to hold meetings and stock supplies. Another Cadillac vehicle was purchased in 1961 and was state-of-the-art for the time.
