LONGPORT – The Adams family was honored Saturday, June 7 for more than 50 years of contributions to the Longport Volunteer Fire Department. The borough dedicated the Fire Room at the Longport Historical Society Museum in the names of numerous members of the Adams family, who have each dedicated their lives to the department.
More than 100 people attended the dedication ceremony held in Commission Chambers at Borough Hall before moving to the Longport Historical Society Museum next door to hang a plaque honoring five generations of Adamses for decades of selfless service and community spirit.
Mayor Patrick Armstrong, who is a fire department volunteer and serves as deputy chief of the Margate Fire Department, presented a proclamation recognizing family members for their “demonstrated deep commitment” and “selflessly serving” to keep residents and visitors safe for many years.
He noted that family members traveled from Florida to be present for the dedication ceremony.
“They made it a culture of selfless giving and brought their families together to embrace the Fire Department,” he said.
“The residents of the Borough of Longport are forever grateful to the Adams family for its legacy of protecting and serving the public,” the proclamation reads.
NJ Assemblywoman Claire Swift of Margate also presented a proclamation from the NJ Assembly, noting that the family is “an inspiration to current and future generations of firefighters.”
“The Longport Fire Department would not exist without them,” Library Director Ricky Gerhardt said when he opened the ceremony.
Gerhardt said the idea of honoring the Adamses was suggested by former City Clerk Amy Strawder.
“The Adams family helped to get me started here in Longport,” Strawder said, recognizing Winnie Adams, who was the first female president of the volunteer fire department.
Current Fire Chief Levon “Lefty” Clayton said the family has been offering fire protection services to borough residents since 1939 when Robert Knox Adams Sr. joined the department. “Knoxie” went on to serve as the department’s third fire chief starting in 1955.
Over the years, the patriarchs and matriarchs of the family encouraged their sons and their wives to become members of the department.
Dan Adams, the department’s deputy chief and current Chief of the Margate Fire Department, became emotional speaking about his father, mother, grandparents, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren, who all dedicated their lives to public safety, and for being his inspiration.
“This day is exceptional for the entire family,” Dan Adams said, recognizing other Longport families who also demonstrated “pride, dedication and commitment” to the borough, such as the DePamphilis, Funk, Fiore, Mathis and Schall families.
“In Longport, it’s all about family. I grew up in this family – the fire department family,” he said. “The Adams family would not be part of it without all of them.”
He shared the legacy offered by generations of Adamses, starting with his grandfather, his brothers, uncles, father, son and even his mother, who was the first female fire chief in New Jersey to ever be recognized as a delegate of the NJ Firemen’s Convention.
He presented a slide show of old photographs of family members in service, including a photo of himself in full fire gear when he was just 3 years old.
“It was a very proud day when my son became a firefighter to continue the legacy my grandfather started,” he said choking back tears.
It was a natural progression for family members to be involved in the fire department.
“It was always just part of what we did,” Dan Adams said. “We learned at a very young age to give back to your community, and anyone who married into the family was hooked into being a member of the Fire Department.”
The Longport Volunteer Fire Department formed in 1912, and the Adams family has continually enjoyed membership starting in the 1930s, Dan Adams said, including his grandfather’s brother William, and his grandmother’s second husband Martin Maxwell. Other family members who joined included Larry and Bobby Adams, and of course, Winnie, his mother.
Over the generations, there have been five fire chiefs: Chris Frye, Walter Ford, Robert Knox Adams Sr., William Adams and currently Levon “Lefty” Clayton.
“Behind every great chief was a great wife, starting with my grandmother Eunice Adams, then my mom Winnie Adams. She was the rock behind my dad as chief, always there to support the department with whatever was needed.
“I believe I am where I am in my career as assistant chief in Longport and fire chief in Margate from the inspiration of my family, each and every one of them and their commitment to public service,” Dan Adams said.
The Fire Room at Longport Historical Museum is located on the second floor and includes displays of photographs, fire equipment and the helmets of each member of the Adams family, along with others.
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and by appointment weekdays. Call 609-823-1115 for information.
Longport honored the Adams family, which has offering fire protection for five generations.
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