History of the CLAFAA

The Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association was founded on January 27, 2008. The first Executive Board meeting was held on March 2, 2008 in Paulsboro, New Jersey and CLAFAA applied to become the Penn Jer Del Chapter of the Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA). During our first year, CLAFAA applied and was awarded the bid to host the 2013 SPAAMFAA Summer Convention in addition to also beginning the process to become a nonprofit corporation as the Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association and Museum. Activities held during our first year of existence included five (5) membership meetings, four (4) Executive Board meetings, a bus trip to the Catskill Fire Cats muster in Circleville, New York as well as two (2) of our own musters. One muster was held in Ambler, Pennsylvania and the other was held at the Rose Tree Park in Media, Pennsylvania. CLAFAA continued to grow in the years following with our members working hard to make our events and projects educational and friendly. Membership meetings continued to be held and initial preparations were made to host SPAAMFAA’s 2013 Summer Convention and Muster. In 2012, CLAFAA’s annual muster was moved to the Cooper River Park in Camden County, New Jersey as this location was a more centrally located. In August of 2013, CLAFAA hosted SPAAMFAA’s Summer Convention in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The convention’s muster was held at the Cooper River Park. Approximately one hundred fifty (150) antique fire apparatus attended the muster.

On May 10, 2014, the Repaupo Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company #1’s firehouse was decommissioned. In November, 2014, a group of CLAFAA members met with representatives of the fire company to discuss the future of the firehouse and its property. CLAFAA representatives were told that the Repaupo members would like to donate the firehouse, its property and Repaupo’s 1968 Chevrolet Brush truck to CLAFAA.

On March 8, 2015, CLAFAA held a special meeting at the Repaupo firehouse. President Keith Kemery gave a report outlining Repaupo’s proposed donation of the firehouse, property and fire truck to CLAFAA. A question and answer period was held and the membership discussed the proposal at length. A motion was made, seconded and unanimously carried to move forward with CLAFAA’s acquisition of the firehouse, property and fire truck.

On June 25, 2015 representatives of CLAFAA and the Repaupo Fire and Rescue Company #1 met and signed the agreement to transfer ownership of the firehouse and brush truck from Repaupo to CLAFAA for $1.00 each.

In July of 2015 CLAFAA obtained insurance for the property. Rules and regulations were also developed and adopted for CLAFAA members to store and display antique apparatus within the large apparatus room of the building. The first apparatus was housed on or about July 12, 2015 and the recently disbanded Delaware Gardens Fire Company of Pennsauken, New Jersey donated memorabilia to be preserved and displayed within the Repaupo Fire Museum.

On August 3, 2015, the 1974 Seagrave Tractor Drawn Aerial used for the movie “LADDER 49” was housed at the Repaupo Fire Museum. Several grounds cleanup work details were also held at the firehouse in August, 2015.

On October 4, 2015 CLAFAA held its first regular membership meeting at the Repaupo Fire Museum with 34 members attending. A Museum Committee was formed and the committee met for the first time on October 11, 2015. Initial plans for the original apparatus room and second floor were discussed during the inaugural Museum Committee meeting. Several work details were also held on the museum premises during the month of October, 2015. On Thursday, October 29, 2015, a signed and executed Bargain and Sale Agreement for the property at 7 Repaupo Station Road was delivered to the offices of the Gloucester County Clerk and the Logan Township Assessor. A copy of the document was delivered to the Gloucester County Assessor’s Office on Friday October 30, 2015. CLAFAA NOW OWNED THE FIRE MUSEUM.

In November, 2015, CLAFAA members began regular work details to transform the former Repaupo Fire and Rescue Company #1 firehouse into the Cradle of Liberty Antique Fire Apparatus Association’s Repaupo Fire Museum.

On Sunday, May 22 2016, we celebrated the dedication of the Repaupo Fire Museum with a parade and muster. The event was well attended by supporters, private apparatus owners and numerous fire and emergency service organizations.

Throughout the Fall of 2016, as well as the Winter and Spring of 2017, Saturday morning work details continued on the second floor and in other areas of the Repaupo Fire Museum.

On Sunday, May 21, 2017 we celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Repaupo Fire Museum’s second floor with a spring barbeque and mini muster. Just prior to the event, a special CLFAA membership meeting was held for the purpose of swearing the members of the Repaupo Fire and Rescue Company #1 in as honorary CLAFAA members.

Throughout the Fall of 2017 and Spring of 2018, Saturday morning work details focused on Repaupo’s large apparatus room. Partial interior walls were continued to the ceiling and given a fresh coat of paint. The apparatus floor was also coated with epoxy.

In addition to the renovations within the large apparatus room, CLAFAA’s apparatus fleet also increased by two. A 1965 Seagrave 1000 GPM pumper was donated to CLAFAA in the Fall of 2017. The apparatus was formerly owned and operated by the Riverside Fire Company of Burlington County, New Jersey. In the Spring of 2018, the Groveville Fire Company of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, New Jersey donated a 1957 Ward LaFrance 1000 GPM pumper to CLAFAA for display within the Repaupo Fire Museum.

In 2018, the Cradle of Liberty celebrated its 10 th Anniversary as SPAAMFAA’s Penn Jer Del Chapter. The members of the Cradle of Liberty were very proud to celebrate the occasion while hosting SPAAMFAA’s 2018 Summer National Convention and Muster.

In the Spring of 2018, members of the Cradle of Liberty also found an emergency generator trailer, from the now disbanded Audubon Heavy Rescue Squad in New Jersey. The trailer was brought to the Repaupo Fire Museum and restored with new wheels installed, the body repaired with new paint. The trailer’s generator was also repainted and new graphics, matching that which appeared on the trailer when it was in service, were applied.

In 2019 and 2020, CLAFAA members restored and improved the outside memorial area of our Repaupo Fire Museum. In 1952, the members of the Repaupo Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company #1 erected a memorial wall and dedicated it to those who served with our nation’s military during times of war. Our restoration and improvement project included the placement of five additional memorials to supplement the original wall and the planting of a new lawn. We were proud to dedicate the improved memorial area as part of a Veteran’s Day Parade and Observance Ceremony on November 10, 2020. The COVID-19 Pandemic forced CLAFAA to temporarily suspend visitation and work sessions at our Repaupo Fire Museum. Our April, 2020 CLAFAA membership meeting was also canceled. In an effort to keep our membership informed, CLAFAA adapted and overcame by issuing officer and committee reports, which could not be given at the April meeting, via email.

While our 2020 muster could not be held due to the pandemic, CLAFAA members were able to hold our other membership meetings while maintaining compliance with all applicable state and local guidelines and regulations. By again adapting and overcoming, CLAFAA members were able to hold our annual Repaupo Fire Museum BBQ and Muster by postponing the event from May to August. The great weather allowed everyone in attendance to enjoy one of very few antique fire apparatus events that could be held in 2020. The New Jersey State Firemen’s Convention and annual firefighter’s memorial parade, traditionally held in Wildwood, New Jersey every September, was also canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With numerous firefighters still planning to vacation in the Wildwoods, the members of the Cradle of Liberty, in cooperation with the Wildwood Fire Company #1, the City of Wildwood and the Wildwood Fire Department, held a static display apparatus muster at Byrne Park on Pacific Avenue in downtown Wildwood. The muster was held on Saturday, September 19, the day that should have been the day of the annual memorial parade.

In 2021, our outdoor house siren display project was finished. The project was started in 2020. The display includes a paver patio and several house sirens. Two of the sirens on display were saved from Cherry Hill, New Jersey’s Beechwood Avenue firehouse which was home to the Woodland Fire Company #1 and the Cherry Hill Fire Company #1 at different times. CLAFAA members appeared in the 2021 New Jersey State Firemen’s Memorial Parade with a contingent of eleven pieces of antique fire apparatus. Our CLAFAA Contingent earned a Special Judges Award in the parade’s apparatus competition. Improvements to our Repaupo Fire Museum continued in the Fall of 2021 when the building was converted from oil to natural gas service and a new heating, ventilation and central air conditioning system was installed.

In September, 2022, the Third Annual Wildwood Fire Apparatus Muster was held during Firefighters Weekend on Sunday, September 18, 2022. The muster was held just off the Boardwalk at the Wildwood Convention Center.

In April, 2023, two flag poles were added to our Repaupo Fire Museum’s outside memorial area. The completed project gave us three flag poles over the memorial. The tallest flag pole flies the American Flag. The two lower poles fly a POW-MIA flag and a “Thin Red Line” flag.

In May, 2023, our CLAFAA Crew installed an emergency signal light and fire apparatus sign in the area of Repaupo’s rear apron. The light was previously installed in front of the former Highland Fire Company firehouse on Marlton Pike in Pennsauken, New Jersey. The light warned passing traffic of apparatus leaving the Highland firehouse and entering the roadway in response to an emergency call.

In December, 2023, our CLAFAA Crew members finished a project to replace our Reapupo Fire Museum’s unlit corner sign with a new to us larger lighted sign. Through the efforts of New Jersey Member George Myers, the sign was donated to the Cradle of Liberty by the members of the McKinley Fire Company in Abbington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. New graphics for the sign were provided by E.R. Sign and Design Company of Blackwood, New Jersey. Sovereign Electric, LLC, the electrical contracting business owned and operated by New Jersey CLAFAA Member Mark Vanselous completed the sign’s electrical work.

On May 4, 2024, the CLAFAA partnered with the Westville Brewery to hold our first ever International Firefighters Day Muster. The brewery is located in the former firehouse of the Union Fire Company #1 in Westville, New Jersey. The current Westville Fire Department was formed in 1987 when Westville’s Union Fire Company and Independent Fire Company merged to form one unified fire department. Retired Engine 731, a 1976 Maxim 1000 GPM pumper operated by the Union Fire Company is now privately owned by New Jersey CLAFAA Member Rob Miller. Engine 731 was on display in front of its former home during our International Firefighters Day Muster.

In July, 2024, Cradle of Liberty appeared in the annual Paulsboro Independence Day Parade with ten (10) pieces of antique apparatus. Our CLAFAA Contingent was awarded the Grand Judges Award for the best overall appearance in the parade.

In August, 2024, Repaupo’s Ambulance 887 became a movie star when it was used as a backdrop in a locally produced movie in Paulsboro, New Jersey.

On September 14, 2024, CLAFAA members appeared in the annual New Jersey State Firefighters Memorial Parade in Wildwood, New Jersey. Our CLAFAA Contingent consisted of eighteen (18) pieces of antique fire apparatus and stretched for more than two blocks in the parade. CLAFAA members also participated in the 5 th Annual Wildwood Fire Apparatus Muster on Sunday, September 15, 2024. The muster was held at the Wildwood Convention Center along the Boardwalk.

In December, 2024, CLAFAA Crew members added a 1952 Ford fire engine to Repaupo’s corner sign area and decorated the engine for Christmas during its first year on the corner. The engine was donated to CLAFAA by the Elm Fire Company of Winslow Township, Camden County, New Jersey. Visitors appear to like the new addition to the corner based upon the number of people who regularly stop to take pictures with the rig. The members of the Cradle of Liberty are very proud of our group’s history and growth throughout the last seventeen (17) years. Everyone is invited to follow CLAFAA’s activities via our Facebook page or our website www.clafaa.org as our efforts to preserve fire and emergency service history continue.