My F.D. had it's Centennial back in 1997. Since then I've been to several Centennial celebrations for surrounding F.D's. I was surprised to find out that some area F.D's are only 50 years old or so, some are even younger! Just curious how old everyone else's F.D's are. I'm sure there's some Departments on the east coast that are getting close to their Bi-centennial.
That's one thing I love about my department. Out of the 33 fire houses, I'd say at least 28 have poles. Some have spiral staircases so the the horses couldn't walk upstairs at night.
In DC we still have a lot of traditional/old school customs. For example, we have a watchman up all night. This is to make sure the companies turn out or in case someone reports an emergency at the door. We call our engine a "wagon" from back when we had two piece companies.
Permalink Reply by Doug on December 4, 2010 at 9:44pm
Mike, we've since relocated to a new station back in the mid 80's. But our old station, right next door, which is now a floral shop, still has the hay lofts, brass pole, horse stalls, antique fire equipment, etc., etc. The current owners do a great job of keeping the history alive in that place. I keep meaning to ask them if I can go in and take pictures.
A group of 6 guys got together and outfitted a pickup truck with a Bean cattle sprayer in 1956 and became what is now the Cresson (Texas) Volunteer Fire Department.
Ours was established in 1952. I've been told that the original building was 1 bay with a bar next door that kept gas in the first truck. Back then, the guys couldn't afford to put a new battery in that truck, so they had to push the truck out of the bay at each call (the station is still right at the top of a long hill), and the driver had to pop the clutch to start the engine. If the fire was the other direction, they had to turn around halfway down the hill then go to the fire.
I'm sure those first guys would be proud of our modern trucks and the expanded building.
Our dept was formed in 1950 but didn't have a station and a used pumper until 1951. We have 60 years for our community and surrounding areas with two stations and 10 units with career and volunteer personnel manning them.
Must have common in the early 50's, our first engine was a converted fuel tanker that was parked in an auto repair garage, the floor was sloped so it the battery was dead, they would roll out the door and down the street to pop the clutch to start, we have come a long ways.