Our History

The Watchung Rescue Squad was formed on Sept. 21, 1950 by a group of 12 men with a 1929 Buick ambulance, purchased for $1 from the North Plainfield Rescue Squad. The rescue squad answered its first call on December. 31, 1950 after the members completed a nine week standard first-aid course. They went on to complete an advanced first-aid course. Frank Wright, who was a police officer at the time, was the first squad captain. They answered 10 calls the first year. Previous to the squad's formation, a police car was often used in lieu of an ambulance and on other occasions, it was necessary to call for ambulances from North Plainfield, Warren Township, Scotch Plains, or Fanwood.

 It soon became evident that the 1929 Buick was not be dependable and a 1936 Buick ambulance was purchased. It was stored in an unheated, unlighted private garage on Mountain Boulevard. Part of the squad members' duties was  to keep a kerosene heater burning over the engine during cold temperatures to insure the ambulance would start when an emergency call was received. Squad meetings were initially held in Borough Hall.

In 1951, the borough offered the squad a room in present Watchung Arts Center for use as a more permanent headquarters. Since the building was the first borough grade school, much refurbishing was done by the squad members to convert one of the classrooms into a squad meeting room.