Old Timers Night at Oceanport firehouse

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr.
Oceanport — Once a year the Port-Au-Peck Chemical Hose Fire Company in Oceanport holds what they call an “Old Timers Night.” They invite past members and special guests back to the firehouse for a dinner and awards.
On Monday night the company presented Honorary Member Awards to several men, who over the decades, have shown their pride and support of the Borough of Oceanport and the fire departments.

Al DeSantis (left) presented Honorary Port Au Peck Firehouse Membership Awards to William “Billy” Wilson, Honorable Clement V. Sommers, and the Honorable NJ State Senator S. Thomas Gagliano. Also presented a plaque was the Honorable Thomas W. Cavanaugh, Monmouth County Superior Court Judge.

New Jersey State Senator S. Thomas Gagliano; Monmouth County Superior Court Judge and former Mayor of Oceanport Thomas W. Cavanaugh; Clement V. Sommers, former Mayor of Oceanport; and William “Billy” Wilson, Esq were given honorary membership.
The firehouse was filled with old timers, many who are longtime fixtures in the borough and have volunteered countless hours of personal service.

Also in attendance was a mixture of current and hopeful future volunteers.
Of course when you get so many old timers together the room buzzes with stories. One interesting fact is how Oceanport came to have so many residents of Italian decent. According to Senator Gagliano, back in the 1930s an Italian newspaper out of Newark offered a substantial discount on a lot in the Port-Au-Peck section of Oceanport if you took out a subscription.
As one young firefighter noted, the room was filled with history, and it’s nice to see and hear about it. He added that it’s too bad it only occurs once a year.

Originally published Oct. 27, 2011