In January of 1917, just six months after the first organizational meeting, the first lot was purchased from Mrs. Sharp. This lot is where the main entrance is now located. A tent was donated by the Verga United Methodist Church to be placed on this lot for our meetings. In the fall of 1917, ground was broken for the first building, part of which still stands today. In October of 1917, the first township appropriation for the fire company was placed on the budget in the amount of $250 for the first year. On December 30, 1917, the Charter was closed with 46 men listed as Charter Members.

The first piece of equipment purchased was a 1919 Ford chassis, upon which was built a flat-bed body with ladder racks and equipment holders. Buckets and hand extinguishers were the first fire-fighting equipment used. In 1920, the first alarm system was installed with the purchase of three iron rings from the railroad. Six-pound hammers were used with different rings designated for different locations. Finding the need for a better alarm system, the first siren was brought from the New York Shipyard in 1924. In 1927, a second truck was purchased; a Chevrolet with a Jaquer Pumper mounted.

Throughout the years many different types of fires and calls for assistance were answered by the members, and, to honor these men, it was decided that members with 10 years of service in good standing would be declared Life Members, effective January 1, 1935, and that they would be exempt from all dues.

In October of 1935, the Verga Fire Company, along with Colonial Manor and Thorofare Fire Companies, was recognized by resolution of the Township Committee as an authorized and approved fire-fighting unit of the Township. In 1942, a great need was felt for another truck. Despite the War, the Company managed to purchase a Dodge. The body was built locally by some of the firemen. Several replacements and overhauls on the pump have been necessary but it is still going strong.

In May of 1948, construction was started on the first addition to the building, adding two bays and a second floor for meetings. The later part of 1948, the Company purchased a 500-gallon pumper from the Brooklawn Fire Company. This was a G.M.C. truck. In the spring of 1949, a Mack tractor with a tank trailer was donated to the Company and put into service as a piece of fire-fighting equipment. In 1953 this was sold and a Ford pumper was purchased. With the Company growing slowly, but surely, the number of younger boys around town formed a Junior Fire Company, with its own officers and rules. These young volunteers were supervised by an Advisory Committee of the Company.

In 1957, construction was started on the second addition to the building, consisting of the Main Hall and Downstairs Hall. The addition was dedicated to Firefighter Albert “Boy” Forsythe, who was killed in the line of duty on June 23, 1958.

The last addition was started in 1961 and was dedicated to the late Chief David Bell for many years of service to the Company. This addition was completed in time for the housing of the F.W.D., which was delivered in 1962. In1966, the Fire Company Celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In 1967, the Company ordered a Dodge Power Wagon, but with the Government taking all 4-wheel drive chassis for the war effort, the truck was not delivered until 1968.

In 1973, the Company decided that with the condition of our equipment, it would purchase 3 (F Model Mack Fire Trucks) – 2 Pumpers and 1 Tower Ladder. The cost of the 3 trucks was $250,000 at the time. For collateral, 4 of the members put their homes up. With the purchased of the new trucks, a building had to be added on for the length of the new trucks and the Back Bay was added for the ambulance.

In 1981, the County of Gloucester put into effect the County Dispatch System which incorporated the “911” Emergency Hotline and portable pagers were made available to the firemen. In 1984, the Township chose to purchase each of the 4 Fire Companies one new truck. Due to the increased cost of fire equipment, this is when the Company took delivery on our 1983 Mack Heavy Rescue. In 1985, the company purchased a 1985 Chevy Blazer for a Chief truck which would help in beach and off-road rescue.

In 1986, the Company purchased a C-20 4-wheel drive pick-up truck which the members of the Company converted to a brush fire truck, which replaced the 1967 Dodge. In 1990, the Company specked out a 1991 E-ONE Pumper with a Pem Fab Cab, which was dedicated to Chief William “Cubby” Owens. It replaced one of the 1974 Mack Pumpers. In 2001, the Company specked a 2001 KME 100ft Ladder Tower, which was dedicated to Firefighter James T. Henan, who died in the line of duty March 25, 2001, from injuries he sustained while fighting a house fire January 1st of the same year. It replaced a 1974 Mack 75ft Tower Ladder. In 2015, the Company specked out our newest piece of equipment a 2016 KME Custom Heavy Rescue that will be dedicated to Firefighter’s Bill Nelson and Jack Ireland.

None of these past 100 years would have been possible without the hard work of the men and women who are proud to say they are Members of the Verga Fire Company. In the past 100 years, we have had many Presidents and Chiefs as our capable leaders.

The Company currently in 2016 has 26 active members and operates 1 Engine, 1 Ladder, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 brush trucks, 1 Quick attack, 1 marine unit, and 1 command vehicle.

We trust that the next 100 years will be as productive as the last 100 years.