On January 15, 1890, the members voted to accept a bid put in by Joseph T. Willis to build a brick building on the Academy Street lot for $2392.00. The Council of Newark gave the company $500.000 for the building and the people of Newark promised $1500.000. Construction was completed that same year and on March 11, 1891, Mr. A. J. Orr was employed as janitor at $3.00 per month. The company had a deed to this property but, through an oversight, it became part of an overall plot of land mortgage by Mr. Miller. When he failed to pay the mortgage, the sheriff of New Castle County conveyed the Miller mortgaged land to Mr. George T Brown on December 16, 1902. Thus the fire Company's title was wiped out without being known.

The City Council was asked for yearly appropriation but the request was turned down until the town building was paid for. The first turn-out coats were purchased on March 15, 1892, for seven pipemen. They were rubber coats and cost $3.50 each.

In 1893 the Company's first fair was held and a total of $508.58 was made. A committee was appointed to look into buying a hose carriage and on April 12 it approved the purchase of a carriage from Gleason, Baily & Company Ltd. with the following extras: one horse tongue, one portable driver's seat, and two tubular lanterns. The cost was $625.00 less $45.00 for changes or a net of $580.00. The new carriage was received in June, housed and photographed.

During the November 2, 1894, meeting, Mr. H. B. Wright gave the company six pairs of boots. The pipemen now had rubber coats and boots.

In 1897 the Town Council used the fire house for meetings. The Chief reported on January 7, 1898, the company now had 800' of hose in good condition and the Treasurer reported a balance of $59.18. In March of 1898 a pool table was purchased for $55.00 and a mortgage against the furniture was made for this money. A box was placed by the table for players' contributions to pay off the mortgage.

The first white coat for the chief was purchased in May 1899. In June the Town Council advised the company it could trade in the old cart on the purchase of another carriage, and the council purchased the company 100' of new 2 1/2" cotton hose. The carriage was never purchased as the company members did not wish to borrow this much money.

On November 4, 1901, the company attended the town council meeting in a body and asked for $250.00 year. This was approved "if the Aetna Hose, Hook and Ladder Company would keep in good condition at all times 750' of 2 1/2" hose, the cart and carriage, and pay all expenses of heating and janitor wages." The company accepted. On November 14, 1901, a parade was held as a fitting celebration of the appropriation.

In December 1902, 200' of 2 1/2" cotton hose was purchased at a cost of $118.75 and placed on reels.

January 1904 showed the company as growing in size and value. Membership had more than doubled and the Treasurer reported a balance of $490.58. Total 2 1/2" hose now owned by Aetna was 950'. In November another Hose Wagon was purchased for $545.00 and was received on April 10, 1905.

In May 1905 the first company alarm system was ordered. It consisted of a large $90.00 bell weighing 1200 pounds which was placed on the old building. It is now on our present siren tower. At first, the bell did not work out too well as the members could not hear it. During the year another 100' 2 1/2" hose was purchased at 60 cents per foot. Balance in the treasury at the end of 1905 was $265.54.

Phil Whittacker was janitor in 1906 and was paid $5.00 per month. In April a second fire house was proposed tot he Town Council near the B & O railroad crossing on Main Street in order to have hose on each side of the railroad crossing. No action was taken.

In February 1907 the first rubber lined cotton hose was purchased from Fabric Fire Hose Company @ 60 cents per foot for 300'. The dues increased to $2.00 for both active and contributing members. Later that year the term "contributing members" was removed from the by-laws and the wording was changed to membership. The first small hose and a pair of 1: reducers were purchased in June.

The Company's first savings account was opened in June 1908 with $300.00. Before that (in 1904) building and loan shares had been purchased. The first large check received for service came from American Vulcanized Fibre Company for $50.00 for services rendered at a recent fire at their plant in August 1909.

By December 31, 1910, the company reported a fine year. The inventory list included:


900 feet 2 1/2" hose $585.00
18 pair rubber boots 76.50
25 fire hats 100.00
1 hose wagon 545.00
1 parade carriage 615.00
1 expander 10.00
1 fire bell 80.00
6 nozzles 40.00
rubber boots 36.00
graphophone & records 35.00
banner & case 75.00
shirts, caps & belts 55.00
flag 10.00
rope, spreaders, dishes 14.00
blocking case, 3/4" hose 6.25
building & loan 982.75
24 chairs 30.00
1 desk 12.00
2 lounges 30.00
1 pool table 50.00
4 horns & cases 65.00
1 coal shovel .75
3 waste baskets 2.00
1 ton of coal 7.00
dumbbell ave. clubs 4.00
brooms .75
carpet & rugs 75.00
clock 15.00
weather vane 37.50
tables, shades, curtains 16.00
cuspidors, screens & mirror 19.50
cash 355.46
dues from members 101.32
Total $4,088.32

In 1911 snap couplings replaced threaded hose couplings. Motorized fire apparatus were being installed in the large cities. Chief Wilson saw the County's need of motorized apparatus but since the company lacked the funds with which to buy modern apparatus, the purchase had to wait. Members conceived the idea of having a carnival in order to raise the necessary funds for the new apparatus. They held their first carnival that year and made $1794.76. The second carnival was held in 1912 and a Ford five-passenger touring car was awarded at a cost of $690.00. Net made on the carnival that July: $2410.95. During the August 1912 meeting, a committee was appointed to look into a motor driven fire engine for Aetna. A special meeting was called on February 26, 1913, and an order was placed with United States Construction Company of Wilmington for the motor driven engine. At the March 7 meeting, the Engine Committee said the contract for it was not placed with U.S.C.C. of Wilmington. They had placed it with another company. This was later changed and the minutes reported the order had been placed with U.S.C.C. of Wilmington. The apparatus was built on a Thomas chassis and was received on September 6, 1913. Aetna was the first fire company in the state of Delaware - outside of the city of Wilmington - to have motorized apparatus. Cost of the truck: $7,500.000 of which a cash payment of $6,000.00 was made and the balance $1500.00 covered by a note to U.S.C.C. of Wilmington. This note was paid off in August 1914.

In October 1915 the company added 300' of new 2 1/2" hose. The Town Council had increased the annual appropriation check to $500.00.

In 1917 a committee was appointed to look into property on Academy Street for a new fire house as the old fire house was too small and with no room to expand. The janitor was now paid $10.00 per month, and the men were to clean the engine room. In 1918 a committee was appointed to look into the purchase of a new apparatus.

The carnival in 1920 totaled $15,063.96 in receipts, with a net of $8,865.96. By the end of the year, cash deposits, bonds and building loan totaled $29,371.78. The solid tires on the Thomas engine were replaced with tires and tubes.

In January 1921 the membership voted 20 to 2 to build on Main Street and a motion was approved to have the Stutz and Seagraves representatives come in to present their new engines. A contract was signed in February for a new Stutz 750 gallon pumper, 40 gallon chemical tank, one 35' ladder, one 20' ladder, one roof ladder, and hose bed to carry 1200' of 2 1/2" hose. Cost of the truck to be $13,500. This was housed by the Goodwill Fire Company of New Castle on June 18, 1921. In September the members voted 22 to 16 to accept ground from the Trustees of Newark Academy on Academy Street and Delaware Avenue corner for a new fire house.

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