Quakertown Fire Co. No. 1

‘Quakertown had been visited by a serious and disastrous calamity. On Tuesday morning, about one o’clock, the alarm of fire was sounded, and it was quickly announced that the Quakertown Stove Works was on fire. So rapid was the progression that in a comparatively short time, the whole structure with its contents was in ruins. So improvident have our Borough authorities been that no application of any character has been provided for extinguishing fires – not even a bucket or ladder.’ The Daily Intelligencer; November 2, 1880.

Even by today’s standards the Stove Works, which produced cooking stoves, was enormous covering more than two acres at its location on West Broad and Third Streets. Shortly after the fire a committee was formed to look into the possibility of purchasing some fire protection equipment. Three months after that disastrous stove works fire the borough purchased its first piece of fire fighting equipment. The ‘George Washington,’ already outdated at the time, required sixteen men to work the long handles on both sides of the pumper. The pumper and 100 feet of nine inch leather hose were purchased from the Easton Fire Company for $135.00. One year later a concerned group of citizens approached borough council with the idea of forming a fire company. Council welcomed the suggestion and gave the ‘Good Will Fire Company’ the engine it had purchased from Easton.

Our first firehouse was built shortly after at the intersection of Fourth and Broad Streets in April of 1888. In December of 1886 a second fire company had come into existence calling themselves the ‘Quakertown Hook and Ladder Company’. With assistance from the Vigilant Fire Company of Chambersburg, Virginia, they were able to acquire a ladder truck, hooks, buckets, lanterns, and other pieces of fire equipment. The borough assisted by renting them a building for five years at a cost of five cents per year. Each company was also given an annual donation of fifty dollars by the borough. A short time later they changed their name to the ‘Vigilant Hook and Ladder Company’. It was also during this time period that the town’s first fire whistle was installed. It was a six inch metal whistle that was attached to the steam generator at the local

foundry. Both companies coexisted until the summer of 1891 when interest in membership declined to the point where both companies disbanded.

On September 14, 1891, a new fire company held its first meeting and decided to go into permanent organization. Although two loosely organized meetings were previously held this is considered to be the first official meeting of what would later become the ‘Quakertown Fire Company #1′. In order to be officially recognized as a volunteer fire company a charter was required. On July 10, 1905 the Quakertown Fire Company applied for their charter. This was also the year that an outbreak of small pox enveloped the borough. It was not until September of 1906, the same year of the San Francisco earthquake, that the company was officially chartered as the ‘Quakertown Fire Company #1′.

In 1908 The company’s second firehouse was built on a lot that was purchased for $339 on the east side of Fourth Street across from what today is the borough ice skating pond. The structure was to be built by Mr. Biehn for $6312. The mortgage was $5000 at 5.5% and the building was completed in July of 1908. A big part of being a fireman during the early 1900’s was attending parades. The only thing bigger was hosting one so in 1910 the town’s first parade was held. Thirty-two fire companies

would attend including Trumbauersville, Richlandtown, Sellersville, and Perkasie #1 and #2. Companies also came from as far away as Reading and Bethlehem. One of the major sponsors of the parade was The Broad, a moving picture and vaudeville theater located in the old trolley barn on East Broad Street. It was, according to its owner A.H. Nace, ‘large airy and positively fireproof.’ The company’s standard dress uniform of the time consisted of a custom fitted blue double-breasted coat with pants and a cap with a metal wreath and the letters Q.F.D. Many companies also marched with banners so in October of 1912, the fire company acquired its first banner which is still on display today. The first time that it was shown was on Oct. 31, 1912 at the town’s annual Halloween parade. The 1910 parade being as successful as it was, led to a decision on January 6, 1913 that attempts be made to get the parade for the newly formed Bucks County Firemen’s Association. In June of that year the company was notified that the first annual convention and parade of the Bucks County Firemen’s Association would be held in Quakertown.

In 1920 the company decided that the building on Fourth Street was growing old and it would be necessary in the next few years to purchase a new one. Finally, in 1939 the fire company along with the police department moved into their new quarters on Broad Street. The building cost $50,000 and being built under the P.W.A. Recovery Program cost the borough only $27,500, with the balance being paid by the Federal Government.

In August of 1947 the company went into the EMS business by purchasing its first ambulance, a Buick for $6382.45. Initially it was used only for basic transports while the hospital’s ambulance was still handling emergency calls. In 1971 construction began on the current firehouse on the lot of the former Episcopal Church. The loan was secured from Quakertown National Bank for $45,000 at 5.75% interest. The building was dedicated in 1972. Also in 1972, the light plant stopped producing electricity so another means of dispatching had to be found. The company contracted with Miley, a privately owned corporation, to be the new dispatcher. The monthly fee was paid by the borough.

In 1973, at the same time that the hospital discontinued their ambulance service, the company purchased a new Dodge to supplement the current squad. As the number of fire calls increased the ambulance was becoming more and more difficult to man. In order to maintain its viability, the Quakertown Ambulance Association was formed. Although still under the guidance of the company, the association was given the task of running the ambulance more efficiently. Shortly thereafter it was decided that it would be in the best interest of the company to no longer provide ambulance service and on October 6, at 6:00 a.m. the ambulances were officially turned over to the Quakertown Community Hospital. Today at our Broad Street station with a membership of approximately 50 members we man two pumpers, a chemical-utility truck, brush truck, and a special service-spill control trailer as well as fire police vehicles.

From its modest beginnings, the men and women of the Quakertown Fire Company #1 have served the borough of Quakertown and its surroundings for more than 100 years. Over these 100 years more than 1000 men and women have answered the call of our fire company. If you were to ask each one of these people why they joined the fire company you would likely get 1000 different answers. Some joined because dad was a fireman, other joined for the excitement of rushing to someone in need. However, the common thread that ties us and all fire fighters together is a strong sense of community and pride in the job that we do. Let us hope that during the next century our children’s children will be able to carry on this honorable tradition and write the next chapter in the History Of The Quakertown Fire Company #1.

Paul Valent