The yr is 1877. As Chambersburg continues to develop the residents of the north finish of city within the First Ward talk about the necessity for additional hearth safety.
The residents positioned an official notification within the native newspapers stating that each one residents of the First Ward wishing to prepare a hearth firm had been to satisfy on the North Level Faculty Home on Vine Avenue on Monday night October 8, 1877, at 7 p.m.
It was apparent that one other assembly can be wanted for additional dialogue and to maneuver ahead in organizing a brand new hearth firm throughout the Borough of Chambersburg. It was on the second assembly held within the North Level Faculty Home on October 15, 1877, that it was formally determined to attract up the structure and by-laws wanted. The residents additionally selected a reputation: Cumberland Valley Hose Firm No. 5.
This image was taken circa 1880 of the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm members of their first uniforms and their first piece of equipment, a 4 wheel hose reel.
This image was taken on the nook of North Second Avenue and Grant Avenue.
This new hearth firm had 40 members signal the roll ebook during which a lot of them had been employed by the Cumberland Valley Railroad. The following order of enterprise was for the officers of the fireplace firm and the railroad to satisfy for the aim of securing a small piece of property close to the intersection of North Second and Grant streets.
It was rapidly agreed by each events to construct a small wooden construction measuring 22 ft lengthy and 16 ft large which was giant sufficient to deal with a brand new four-wheel hose reel that was bought by Borough Council from Rodgers and Firm at a price of $225.00. The members of Borough Council on February 4, 1878, determined to present the fireplace firm $25 for furnishings and 200 ft of fireplace hose.
The primary parade attended by the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm was on July 17, 1878, for the dedication of the Memorial Fountain on the sq..
Over time the fireplace firm held gala’s and competed in hearth division contests, profitable many money prizes. After 23 years in 1900 the Cumberland Valley Firm outgrew its small wooden construction, so a committee was appointed by the corporate to seek for a extra appropriate location. With out haste a bit of property was purchased on Broad Avenue for $390.
The brand new firehouse was constructed at a price of $3,600. The development was supervised by George Nitterhouse who was employed by the Cumberland Valley Railroad as a grasp carpenter.
When the brand new firehouse was accomplished the furnishings and hose reel had been relocated to the brand new quarters at 441 Broad Avenue. The acquisition worth of the property and the price of development of the firehouse had value the membership a large amount of cash for the time and solely a small quantity had been paid, so a mortgage needed to be taken out for the stability.
The rest of the debt proved to be a heavy burden as the fireplace firm membership started to say no. The few members who remained had been decided to remain the course in order that they went out and recruited roughly 60 new members, most of whom had been employed by the Cumberland Valley Railroad.
The fireplace firm continued to carry gala’s to lift extra funds that had been used to repay their debt in addition to to buy some new furnishings for the assembly room on the second flooring.
This image was taken of the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm’s hearth equipment circa 1970, left to proper is the 1947 Mack pumper, the 1903 LaFrance steamer, and the
1925 American LaFrance pumper. These items of equipment are on show the fireman’s museum on Broad Avenue.
Engine joins Cumberland Valley Hose Co.
The membership of the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm was visited by Asa LaFrance, a consultant from the LaFrance Fireplace Equipment Firm of Elmira, New York. When Asa visited in 1901, he introduced alongside a horse drawn steam hearth engine in hopes of constructing a promote to interchange the CV’s outdated hand drawn four-wheel hose reel that was being utilized by the corporate. Now wasn’t the time for such a transfer. A committee from the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm met with Borough Council asking them to buy a steam hearth engine for the corporate, nevertheless council was reluctant for the reason that hearth firm owned their firehouse.
It was after some dialogue between each events that it was agreed that Borough Council would buy the fireplace firm’s property for $3,600 and buy a brand new steam hearth engine from the LaFrance Fireplace Equipment Firm on Could 27, 1903, at a price of $4,600. The brand new steamer would pump 600 gallons of water a minute.
The fireplace firm’s title now can be referred to as the Cumberland Valley Steam Fireplace Engine and Hose Firm No. 5.
Native historical past: Pennsylvania newspaperman was additionally a postmaster, fireman & lawmaker
Horses had been firefighters, too
The primary two horses to tug the steam hearth engine had been named “Pat and Charlie.” They had been purchased from the native partnership of Greenawalt and Zullinger at a price of $400. These two horses remained in service till 1921 at which period they had been changed by two black horses named “Cap” and “Tom,” who had been as soon as utilized by the Good Will Steam Fireplace Engine and Hose Firm No. 3 of Chambersburg.
It was crucial in 1911 to buy a horse drawn hose wagon to hold the fireplace hose wanted for the CV’s steam hearth engine and Borough Council had determined to buy one from the U.S. Fireplace Equipment Firm of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at a price of $975.
The 2 magnificent horses “Pat and Charlie” had been educated by George Stake, who was additionally the primary driver of the brand new steam hearth engine till he resigned April 1, 1904. Fireplace Marshal Brown appointed Charles Martin as his successor.
When the hose wagon arrived a black horse by the title of “Sam” and was used till 1925 when the fireplace firm grew to become motorized.
When the hose wagon was retired, Sam was bought to a dairy in Baltimore, Maryland. Sooner or later when Sam was pulling the milkman’s wagon on deliveries, a horse drawn piece of fireplace equipment handed by ringing its bell and Sam adopted and spilled milk bottles on to the road. The milkman adopted the bottles on the street and situated Sam and the milk wagon on the hearth scene, nonetheless trustworthy to his responsibility.
On this image you possibly can see the members of the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm working their 1903 LaFrance steam hearth engine at Siloam simply outdoors of Chambersburg.
The fireplace firm retains possession of this steamer, and it may be seen on show on the Chambersburg’s Volunteer Fireman’s Museum situated at 441 Broad Avenue in
Chambersburg.
Fireplace firm turns into motorized
In 1925 the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm grew to become motorized when Borough Council bought a brand new American LaFrance 600 g.p.m. rotary pumper at a price of $11,500. It was-nicknamed “Previous Mike.”
The outdated hose wagon of the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm was stored within the hearth home on Broad Avenue after being positioned out of service in 1925. It was in October 1928 that the hose wagon was taken from the firehouse to the borough’s storage constructing on West Loudon Avenue earlier than its last disposition.
In 1947 Borough Council bought a Mack 1000 g.p.m. Pumper that was nick-named the “Blue Goose.” All the above talked about equipment answered many alarms through the years in our neighborhood. In 1975 the Cumberland Valley Hose Firm No. 5 and the Junior Hose & Truck Firm No. 2 had been relocated to the brand new Headquarters Fireplace Station on North Second Avenue.
Native historical past: Chambersburg’s early auto garages – what companies value in early 1900s
The Cumberland Valley Hose Firm retains possession of the 1903 LaFrance steam hearth engine, the 1925 American LaFrance pumper and the 1947 Mack pumper.
On October 15, 2026, the corporate will mark its 149th yr. The previous Cumberland Valley Hose Firm’s firehouse situated at 441 Broad Avenue is the house of the Chambersburg Volunteer Fireman’s Museum. You possibly can step again in time and see the hand drawn, horse drawn, and the motorized equipment of yesterday. In your tour the devoted workers of educated volunteers will present you the intensive assortment of the distinctive footage, badges, ribbons, helmets, instruments, and see an early Sport Effectively Fireplace Alarm System. Chambersburg’s Fireplace Museum is open most Sunday’s from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and is at all times appreciative of financial donations made to proceed the operation of such a singular treasure.
M.L. “Mike” Marotte III is an Writer, Historian, and Journalist who writes concerning the wealthy Historical past of Franklin County. You possibly can learn extra of him at www.vintagefranklincountypa.com.
This text initially appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Considered one of Chambersburg’s first hearth corporations lives on immediately as a museum
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