Unfortunately the first time the equipment was put into
service is not recorded. Fighting
fires in the 1890’s was hard labor and more often than not the
result was not putting the fire out, but keeping it from
spreading and saving as much property as possible.
The Gleason & Bailey apparatus was about eighteen
feet long with a hand operated pump.
The apparatus could be pulled by men or horses.
There are no known records on the team size, but such a
wagon would normally be pulled by a two-to-four-horse team.
The company did not own or keep horses.
The horses used to pull the fire apparatus came from
nearby businesses such as the V. M. Wood Baking Co., and the coal
and lumber dealers in town.
Sometimes other citizen’s horses were pressed into
service, especially for fires occurring at times the business
teams were busy and on weekends. Firemen responded to the scene of the fire.
In addition to the horse drawn wagon, the company also
had two hose carts which may have been pulled by horses, but
probably were pulled by manpower.
During the time it took the company to respond, neighbors
did what they could to contain the fire and move the contents of
the building to safety. Water
for fighting fires was always a problem.
The company had a hand pump which was mounted on the
Gleason & Bailey apparatus. The pump required a lot of muscle power to operate and could
pull water from streams or ponds if there were any nearby. Water mains and fire hydrants were not available until 1897.
FIRST
PARADE
The proud fireman lost no time in organizing a street
parade to show off the new fire engine.
The event was reported in the Public Spirit on February
1891 as follows:
“The
fireman’s parade on Saturday afternoon was a great success,
although the weather was damp and the streets were muddy. The
visiting companies were Pioneer and Independent of Jenkintown,
with fancy hose cart and hook and ladder truck, and the Abington
with hook and ladder truck.
The parade was formed with the Jenkintown companies in
the lead. Horses
were attached to the apparatus to do the real pulling, while the
fire laddies with their big hats and bright shirts marched two
by two holding the ropes. Both
these companies made a good showing.
They were led by the Jenkintown band which marched
immediately behind Chief of Police Palmer and Marshal George
Yerkes with a committee of citizens. The Abington truck was drawn by four horses and the members
wore caps and badges and looked well.
Then came the Hatboro band followed by the Enterprise
Company drawing their handsome new truck.
The engine with four horses attached was next and the
rear was brought up by the juvenile brigade with spiked helmets
drawing the hose cart. Seated
on the hose cart was a white poodle dog which seemed so much
interested in the success of the show as the marshal or his
attendants.”
NEW
TOWN HALL
It was July 2, 1891 before the first council meeting
could be held in the new town hall.
The town hall was an impressive building standing two
stories high with an elaborate slated belfry surmounted by a
gilded weather vane.
Large windows on the second floor looked out over York
Street, and an arched doorway in the stone edifice opened on the
engine bay. The
room was finished in oiled pine.
An iron cage in the rear of the engine room was used as
the town jail. At
the left of the vestibule the doorway opened into the council
chamber. That room
was wainscoated to a height of several feet and was plastered
above. It was amply
lighted by two windows. Next
to the doorway to the council room was a stairway leading to a
large room on the second floor which was used as a meeting room
for the firemen. Later
a wooden hose tower was added and the jail moved to the outside
of the engine room. At
some time prior to 1894 a clock was mounted on the outside wall
between the windows on the second floor.
It is unclear as to when the clock was installed but it
was there when the building was electrified in 1894 because the
firemen requested that electric lights be placed on each side of
the clock. The
company minutes
record its removal in 1929 when the apparatus room was enlarged.
It was during the 1929 renovations that the arched door
was changed to a more practical door and the frame part of the
building was replaced with masonry walls and enlarged.
The town streets were lit by gas and oil lamps at this
time, and in February 1891, Borough Council directed that:
“a lamp be placed in the most feasible place in front
of Engine House to be kept burning every night.”
Minutes of Borough Council
February 5, 1891
The town lamplighter
was W. H. Watson, who was paid approximately $12 a month to
maintain the lamps with oil provided by the “Sunshine Oil
Company”. He was
directed to light them each night at dusk and put them out at a
time designated prior to dawn.
He also maintained the gas lamps on York Road.
Several years before in 1874, another lamplighter whose
name is not recorded, was reported to have run away on a Monday
night, leaving the lights burning all night.
The fire company had raised funds for its apparatus
through donations and subscriptions and prior to payment being
made to Gleason & Bailey the treasury of the company held as
much as $1079. The
full price of the truck was $984.
The fire company had sent a deposit of 2 per cent of the
purchase price when the apparatus was ordered,, and the remainder was authorized to be paid in February 1891.
The minutes duly record the payment of fifty-five cents
to Hatboro Pharmacy for chamois and sponge to keep the new truck
in parade condition. The
company also spent an additional $1.75 to have the brass plate
on the truck engraved with the words “ENTERPRISE FIRE COMPANY
OF HATBORO”. The
company was now officially in business.
Financing for the young company was a constant concern.
Although the citizens of the borough responded well to
the first call for funds to purchase the fire apparatus, the
treasury of the company was often near bankruptcy.
In January 1892 it held only $25.l8 and a year later
there was a balance of only $9.
The volunteers worked hard raising funds.
In addition to annual dues of twenty-five cents,
concerts, cake sales and other community activities such as a
holiday fair at Christmas were held.
The minutes record proceeds of $39.50 from a concert held
in June 1891 and an August cake sale that same year raised
$2.35. The first Christmas Holiday Fair was held in 1894 and netted
the company $247.19. Eli
Fluck was cited in the minutes of the company as having sold the
most tickets, 110 of them, and was awarded a nickel plated fire
badge for his efforts.
No doubt it was the desire to attract attention, and
donations to the young company that precipitated the year-old
company to purchase parade uniforms.
The minutes of the company provide this insight.
A committee had been formed to propose the uniform and in
August 1891 presented some samples to the membership, Committee
Chairman Elmer E. Shelley recommended that the uniform consist
of a drab shirt, cap and belt, but William Mottershead moved to
amend the uniform to a red shirt instead of the drab. His amendment lost and the uniform was deemed to be drab
shirts with company monogram, blue caps with the words
“Enterprise No. l Hatboro” on front and black belts with red
borders and the word “Enterprise” on the back, and “No.
l” would be imprinted on the front.
A four month $l00 note was secured from the Hatboro
National Bank to finance the uniform purchase.
Each member bought his own shirt by reimbursement to the
company. Total
expenses recorded for the uniforms was $239.70 to Henderson and
Company for shirts, caps, ties and tie rings, and $53.50 for
belts. It was
reported that fifty-six shirts were sold.
1893
Treasurer James Van Horn, reported a balance of $9.00 in
the treasury on January 10, 1893.
Nevertheless, the first order issued by newly elected
President, Isaac Newton Evans was to Chief Charles Magee who was
instructed to have the fire engine and other apparatus repaired
and placed in good working order.
The chief was able to report the engine in good working
order at the next meeting.
Unfortunately, the cost of the repairs was $l0.
The fire company organized the borough’s Fourth of July
celebration, and reported it to be a great success with a profit
of $7.35. But
when Elmer Shelley, a committee of one, reported on the need for
the new hose, his request was denied owing to the condition of
the treasury at the time.
Chief Magee received a handsome badge from President Dr.
I Newton Evans at the regular meeting of the company in June
1893. The badge was
presented with a few well chosen remarks and the minutes record
that Chief Magee took the opportunity to thank the members for
the token of appreciation of his work for the company.
An interesting thing happened fifty-three years later in
1946 when the May 27 minutes of the company record that a
“fire company badge over one hundred years old” was
presented to the company by Mrs. Jacob Bumm, Sr. of Fort
Washington. The
minutes record that Mrs. Bumm told the company that it was
originally issued to Charles Magee who kept a small cigar store
in Hatboro. The
company accepted Mrs. Bumm’s gift and never questioned her
claim that the badge had been issued nearly fifty years before
the company was founded.
1894
Dr. Evans was reelected president in 1894 and Charles
Magee was reappointed chief fireman.
After a bill for $5.53 was paid the treasury contained
less than $l4. Despite
lack of funds, the company pressed on.
A committee was appointed to replace the fire bell, and
another committee appointed to wait on borough council and
petition it for 100 feet of hose, and to further press a plea
for a town water works. By May, the company had purchased a new flag for the
firehouse and the bell committee reported that the old bell had
been repaired. Good
news from borough council was an offer to buy the 100 feet of
hose provided the fire company pay back half the purchase money
when possible. The
company accepted the challenge. In that same month, the company
applied for membership in the Pennsylvania State Fireman’s
Association, and Albert W. Martindell was appointed the first
delegate to attend the annual convention.
James Kearns was appointed as alternate delegate.
The convention was held in Norristown in September 1894.
HATBORO
WATER WORKS
CHAPTER 2
1900-1909
A
DECADE OF UNCERTAINY
The early 1900’s
without Chief Shelley was a difficult time for the company. He
was one of those people with a natural ability to organize and
manage several things at the same time. The citizens of Hatboro
depended on his leadership on borough council as well as on his
abilities as fire chief. It was difficult both on council and at
the firehouse to find someone to fill his shoes. Fire company
equipment needed repairs and new equipment was needed, but
treasurer’s reports indicated no money was available. Even
parades and community events were ignored by the company, either
for lack of interest or for lack of funds. The very continuance
of the company was in question. The presidency changed from
Daniel Richie in 1900 to I. Newton Watson in 1901, Harvey Ely in
1902, and Harry Hoffman in 1903. Harry Coeyman was elected chief
in 1900 and kept that office until 1904 when he turned those
duties over to Alvin Craven.
1901-1903
The third
reorganization of the company took place in 1901. A new
constitution and set of by-laws were adopted at the Aprill22nd
meeting. Apparently this reorganization was an effort to
structure the company into a more efficient operation. The
constitution contained twelve articles which set forth in detail
the offices and duties of officers, membership requirements,
duties of members, meetings, uniforms, drills and provisions for
amending, conducting audits and balloting for new members. The
new by-lays reduced the entrance fee for membership from one
dollar to fifty cents and provided for a fine of a dollar for any
member who was intoxicated on duty or who distributed spirituous
liquors about the apparatus.
This
reorganization offered insight into some of the problems the
company faced. Membership had fallen off and the lack of
discipline was interfering with the operation of the company.
There was no longer a regular janitor to tend the fires and clean
the rooms. In fact the company had to call a special meeting to
clean the rooms, and once again the locks on the firehouse were
changed to keep non-members out. Further evidence of the
membership problem is found in the minutes of the August 26, 12901
meeting when “It was moved and agreed for all members to
constitute themselves as a committee to solicit new members”
1904-1906
The situation
began to change with the election of Benjamin Hilt as president in
1904. Alvin Craven was reelected chief. The Hilt-Craven team
stayed in office through 1908, but was broken up by the death of
Chief craven in September 1908. It was a sign of problems facing
the company in 1904 that president Hilt had only been admitted to
membership of the company one year earlier in 1903. However, this
may have been the second time he joined the company as his name
appears on the roles for a brief period in 1901.
It wasn’t easy
for the Hilt-Craven team. The company held only one meeting in
1904, but in 1905 things were improving. Committees to inspect
the fire hydrants meet with council on financial matters, and
repair of the fire alarm bell were appointed and took action. The
company was successful in convincing the borough council of the
need for 500 feet of hose and the fire hydrants repaired. A
missing handle on the hose cart #1 was replaced and in general the
company was operating on a business-like basis. One problem
addresses by the company was that of interested citizens
interfering with the operation of fire apparatus while in
service. This may have been the forerunner of the fire police.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
The need for a
new fire alarm system was often discussed. The first alarm was a
bell that was purchased when the new town hall was built in 1891.
The bell was replaced by a steel locomotive tire which was
purchased by the borough from the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad for $3 in 1897. The borough council minutes for May 6,
1897 reported that the belfry has to be raised six feet four
inches to accommodate the new alarm. At the same meeting, the
council authorized the placing of a box with glass front
containing a key, “which glass may be broken by any citizen in
case of fire and the door opened so the alarm can be rung.” It
wasn’t until July 1897, that Chief Shelley was authorized to
purchase the necessary tools to have the engine tire as a fire
alarm. Steam Whistles were also used to summon firefighters. In
April 1899, a committee reported meeting with Borough Council to
have a steam whistle placed on the broiler of the power house
(Hatboro Electric Company). Council agreed and met with the
owners of the electric plant. The whistle was put into operation
sometime in May 1899 and was electrically controlled from the
firehouse. The cost of $47 for having this done was paid by the
borough. There was at least one other steam whistle in town
because in August that same year a special meeting was called to
decide which whistle would be used for a fire alarm. The minutes
noted one of the whistles was not working. The matter was
tables. In September the borough paid $9.70 to have the broken
whistle fixed. The second whistle was probably on private
property and probably not controlled by the fire company. The
usual practice would be for the plant operator to blow the whistle
when the alarm was sounded.
In 1906 the fire
company was concerned that the present alarm system was inadequate
for the growing borough. A committee chaired by Paul Jones met
with Borough Council on the matter of the fire alarm. An
agreement was reached to give the present alarm another test. A
joint committee of council and fire company members were stationed
at various points around town to report on how well the alarm
could be heard in all areas of town. The results proved that the
locomotive tire now being used as an alarm was unsatisfactory.
The council agreed to purchase a new alarm and the minutes of
borough council for November 5, 1906 show that Borough Council
President Sprogell reported on visiting all the bells in town and
it was his opinion that none of the existing bells were large
enough to be used as a fire alarm. A new and larger bell was
needed. Sprogell presented three proposals from different bells
companies for a 500 pound bell. The contract was awarded to
McNeeley and Company for $190.72 with ordered to inscribe the bell
as follows”
“Purchased By The Borough of
Hatboro – Nov. 1906”
The bell has
been received and installed by January 1907. The minutes of the
fire company record the sale of the locomotive tire by the fire
company for $3 in September 1907, and in 1910, the old bell which
was originally used for the fire alarm was sold to McNeeley and
Company for $27.55.
1907
On January 1,
1907 the fire company treasury contained $14.07. Borough council
donated $25 in March but more money was needed. Help came in the
form of an offer from the “Glenside Musical Troupe” to stage a
benefit show for the company. The show took place in March and at
the regular meeting on March 25, James Kearns reported that the
company collected 84.60 from the entertainment. President Hilt
was cited in the minutes for selling 205 tickets. The company
used the money to purchase boots and rubber coats. There were
often “entertainments” to benefit the company. Some were arranged
by the company, such as concerts, and dinners, and others were put
on by troupes such as Doylestown Minstrel Troupe. Also about this
time a baseball field was laid out behind the firehouse. When
games were played, fire company members would pass through the
spectators and take up collects for the company. On such
collection netted $1.39.
The fire company
was growing older, or at least some of its members were. In March
the Company recognized that some members were no longer able, or
no longer desired to actively participate at fire, but still
wanted to be members of the company and participate in the
activities of the company. The constitution was amended to create
a new membership category known as “Honorary Membership”. The
first members enrolled in this category were listed as: Cyrus
Moore, Samuel Aiman, Edmund Mottershead, J.W. Watson, Albert
Martindell, Amos Mullen, Jerry C. Collamore, Byron Thompson, W.
Sheldon, Thomas G. Watson, George Yerkes and Comly Walton.
1908
There were only
eleven members present at the annual meeting in January, but Hilt
and Craven were reelected and the first order of business was to
change the firehouse locks. The company was beginning to come out
of the doldrums and for the first time in many years the minutes
record the acceptance of an invitation from the McKinley Fire
Company of Abington to parade out of town. The company secured a
special trolley car for transportation at a cost of $10 and was
accompanied by the Fife and Drum Corps of Orange Home. Chief
Alvin Craven missed the parade due to illness, but Burgess Howard
Winner was designated to act for the chief. After the success of
the McKinley parade, the company traveled by “steam road” to
Ambler for a housing of new apparatus, once again accompanied by
the Orange Home Fife and Drum Corps. This time the arrangements
were far more elaborate. The fireman purchased new blue shirts
and fatigue caps, and assembled at the firehouse at 11:00 a.m. on
parade day to march to the train station. They took the 11:55
a.m. to Glenside where they changed trains to Ambler. Each man
paid his own fare of twenty-six cents each way. The company also
took the truck and paid $5 to have it transported. Although
minutes do not record the method by which it was taken to Ambler.
It may have been driven, but it may have also been shipped by
steam train with the company. An interesting item in the May 1908
minutes was a motion and agreement to place a key to the firehouse
at Samuel Gehman’s store for emergency use. Had there been a fire
and nobody came with a key? Gehman owned the Hatboro Bakery next
door to town hall, a favorite gathering place for the fireman.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FIREMAN’S
ASSOCIATION
There was more
serious business at the August meeting. Vice President Paul Jones
moved to appoint a committee of five to correspond with our
neighboring fire companies with the view of organizing an
association of companies. Jones was made chairman of the
committee. Meetings were held at Pioneer Fire Company in
Jenkintown in October 1908 and February 1909. Eleven companies
participated and agreed to form an organization known as the
Montgomery County Fireman’s Association. The formation came in
April 1909 and Enterprise Fire Company was a charter member of the
association.
The newly formed
Montgomery County Fireman’s Association held its first parade in
Jenkintown on October 16, 1909. Enterprise was there with the
Hatboro Band, which after much haggling settled for a $35 donation
instead of the $40 it had asked for. The company went to
Jenkintown by trolley but this time Justice Walmsley refused to
allow the company to use his horses for the parade. George Duncan
was charged with the duty of finding a horse to pull the old hand
engine at the parade. No report on his success. After the
parade, the company spent $29.39 to host delegates of the
association for refreshments.
For the second
time the company experienced the death of a fire chief when Chief
Alvin Craven died on September 23, 1908. The company met in a
special meeting September 24 to express sympathy to his family and
make arrangements to attend the funeral. The firehouse was draped
in black crepe and resolutions of sympathy were published in the
Public Spirit. Craven had been in poor health for several
months. His death was a serious blow to the company that was just
beginning to recover. Chief Craven was succeeded by Harry McVaugh
elected to fill the unexpired term on October 26, 1908.
The fire company
organized a large parade for Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1908.
The parade was led by Enterprise Fire Company with Ivyland Fire
Company also participating. There were three bands, the New Hope
Band, the Orange Home Band and the Doylestown Band. Justice
Walmsley provided all the horses needed for the parade and William
R. Craven organized a “Dark Town Company” (minstrel show”. A
luncheon served to the visiting fireman and bands at the
firehouse. Additional spoons and tin cups had to be purchased at
a cost of $2.
1909
The balance in
treasury on January 18, 1909 was $37.27. Benjamin Hilt was
reelected president and John Kotz was elected chief for the new
year. The trustees of the company announced the cancellation of
the company insurance policy with Line Lexington Insurance Company
and placed $1,500 worth of insurance coverage with the
Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company, a stock company. The policy
was placed through agent Samuel Garner and the premium on the five
year policy was $18.
Because of
insurance regulations the constitution was again amended to limit
the number of active members to fifty. It had been 200.
Treasurer Howard Jarrett reported receipt of $78.80 from the
entertainment benefit for the company put on by the Doylestown
Minstrel Troupe. The company paid piano player, Frank Black, $2
and the Hatboro School Board $5 for the use of the school
auditorium.
By March the
treasury held 99.02. The company hadn’t been so rich for a long
time. The apparatus foreman was ordered to submit a written
report on the condition of all apparatus and equipment. The
reports were required monthly and special blanks were ordered
printed for the reports. The small hose cart was converted to
carry fire extinguishers and became known as a chemical cart.
Foremen were ordered to purchase sponges and chamois for use in
keeping their equipment clean. The money in the treasury rose to
104.90 in September, and on October 25, 1909, Francis Sniveley
proposed Warren Cornell for active membership.
In March 1909
the company minutes reported that it was moved and agreed that all
members should purchase red shirts with initials “E.F. Co.” on
them. The shirts weren’t available in time for a parade on July 5
when the uniform was black pants, white shirts and black ties with
fatigue caps and fire hats. In fact the red shirts may have never
been purchased as they were never again mentioned as being part of
a company uniform. Later that same year, Francis E. Snively
reported that the Philadelphia Fire Department had dress coats
available for $5.50 each. He was instructed to purchase twenty
coats and at the October meeting he reported the purchase of
twenty-four of the coats.
The company
wound up the second decade with another revision of the
constitution and by-laws. Up until this time the constitution had
always stated the purpose of the organization to be: “the
extinguishment of fires and the protection of life and property”.
Now the members added a new purpose by including the words “and
promote social intercourse.” The number of trustees for the
company was increased from three to nine and the trustees were
given broad new powers including the appointment of officers when
vacancies occurred between elections, control and management of
property and effects, hiring and setting salary of employees, and
general supervision of the affairs of the company. The by-laws
changed the entrance fee back to $1 and set annual dues at $1 to
be paid in advance at the annual meeting.
CHAPTER 3
1910-1919
FROM
HORSES TO HORSEPOWER
Hatboro was
known at one time for its number of carriage makers. One of them,
Oliver T. Watson, was known far and wide in the late 1800’s for
the famous “Watson Folding Top” carriage which he made at his
Hatboro shop. However by 1911 there wasn’t one carriage maker or
wagon maker left in the borough. Automobiles were becoming
commonplace as Henry Ford’s assembly line turned out the Model “T”
by the thousands. The age of the horseless carriage was here, and
some fire companies already were housing motorized equipment.
Enterprise continued to respond with its twenty-year old Gleason &
Bailey truck No. 2 with wire seat and hand engine, one hose cart
and on chemical wagon and a recent addition of a steam engine
pumper borrowed from Philadelphia.
1910
At the annual
meeting of the company on January 17, 1910, William F. Wilson was
elected president and John Kotz was reelected chief. Francis
Snively was elected permanent chairman of the board of trustees,
and notified the membership that certain committees had been
formed by the trustees for overseeing the operations of the
company. A Property Committee was in charge of apparatus and
property; House Committee for the room and furnishings of the
company; Financial Committee to devise ways and means of raising
funds; and a Membership Committee to procure and recommend
honorary members. The Property Committee was immediately
instructed to make suitable repairs to the closet containing the
coats to protect same from dampness, to enclose the tower with
suitable doors enabling the rooms to be heated to keep the
chemicals from freezing, and to ask for bids for disposal of
unused tables, stoves and matting to be opened at the next
meeting. The borough purchased and installed new gas heaters in
the apparatus room, the council chamber and the fireman’s room by
the fall of 1910. The hose tower and jail remained unheated until
a boiler was installed much later.
The Philadelphia
and Reading Railroad thanked the company for use of the hose cart
to fill the tank of the engine with water from Hatboro Water
Company during a recent snow blockade. This service was provided
to the railroad several times when snow and ice prevented the
railroad from using its own water supply. The Fire Company was
very accommodating but always asked the railroad for donations.
Sometimes it got one, sometimes it didn’t. The company received a
new spray nozzle but delayed payment for sixteen days until the
item could be tested. It proved to be good move because the
company decided to return the nozzle after the test.
With the Willow
Grove Fire Company now in business, matters concerning mutual aid
with that company were a general topic of discussion. Hose
couplings to allow connecting the hoses of both companies and
arrangements with the trolley company to provide transportation
when called upon for assistance were investigated. Chief Kotz and
Foreman Ervin Amber were directed to select men for police duty
and to have them sworn in as county officers.
TELEPHONE SERVICE
At the February
meeting, J. Newton Watson reported that a contract had been signed
to have a pay telephone placed on the company’s rooms. Although
there were at least two telephones in Hatboro as early as 1893, it
was not until 1899 that a switchboard was installed by the
Delaware and Atlantic Company in the combined post office and
general store operated by Jesse Newton Watson. The store was on
the east side of York Road between Byberry and Moreland Avenues,
just across the street from town hall. Within a few months after
installation of the original switchboard, a larger ten line board
had to be installed. By 1911 telephones were commonplace if not
yet a fixture in every home.
Foreman Ervin
Amber had reported three rubber coats missing from the firehouse.
At March meeting it was moved and agreed that any member taking
out any property of the company for other than fire purposes, be
suspended until the company could take action on the matter. The
company thanked Z.B. Hartshorn for donating a carpet sweeper, and
the board of trustees reported receipts of $15 from the sale of
the surplus furnishings. In April the secretary of the company
was instructed to notify all of the churches in town not to block
aisles with chairs, and the gas company donated two smoke guards
to company. The company had been expressing concern about the
water pressure at the fire hydrants. A pressure test of the
hydrants found them to vary according to location. The matter was
brought to the attention of borough council. Insurance coverage
on company property was raised to $2,000. The policy was placed
through Warren Cornell, Sr. at a premium of $32 and in November,
the company purchased one ton of coal for the engine room stove
from Glenside Coal and Lumber Company for $13.
STEAM PUMPER ACQUIRED
Francis E.
Snively joined the fire company in 1908. About the same time he
became member of borough council. His occupation is unknown, but
he evidently had connections with the Philadelphia Fire
Department. In November 1910, Councilman Snively was instrumental
in arranging for Hatboro to borrow a large steam pumper from the
Philadelphia Fire Department. This horse drawn engine was used by
the company until it was replaced by the motorized Simplex pumper
ion 1919 or 1920. First mention of the steam engine appears in
the minutes of November 28, 1910 when the company thanked Thomas
E. Paxton for giving the company coal with which to test the steam
engine on Thanksgiving Day. The same minutes record the purchase
of couplings for the steam engine from John H. Clay at a cost of
$10.20. The acquisition of this piece of machinery, not the least
of which was the fact that the apparatus was now twenty years old
and there were no funds available for the purchase of new
equipment.
1911
The annual
meeting of the fire company was held on January 16, 1911. William
Wilson was reelected president and Cyrus C. Moore was elected
chief. The year begun with a total of $182.32 in the treasury. A
dance for the benefit of the company had been held in December in
Wilgus Hall and a sum of $13.90, the proceeds from the benefit,
was turned over to the treasurer. Willow Grove Fire Company had
been founded in 1907 and at the urging of the Montgomery County
Fireman’s Association, all fire companies were to work together to
determine areas of first call responsibility and reciprocal
assistance programs. Cyrus C. Moore, William F. Wilson and Reuben
Hockman, apparently having telephones, were designated to be
called by the telephone operator if Willow Grove requested
assistance. The reality of the situation was succinctly expressed
in the company minutes on January 23, 1911:
“Terwood Road was agreed on as the
line south between Willow Grove and Hatboro. Buildings or houses
north of said road, on fire, our company to save if possible”
In April 1911
the trustees reported that progress had been made on the purchase
of a chemical wagon. The company directed the finance committee
to look into the possibility of purchasing an automobile chemical
apparatus and gave the committee full power to act on this
matter. The company recognized an urgent need for motorized
equipment not only for the benefit of the borough citizens, but
also to enable it to meet the need of growing community outside
the borough limits. In addition to the Willow Grove Fire Company,
there were only a few other fire companies ion the area.
Huntington Valley Fire Company was just being formed in 1911,
Rockledge had had a company since 1893 and Ambler Fire Company was
founded the same year as Hatboro’s. There were companies in
Jenkintown and Abington, but Horsham Fire Company would not be
formed until 1912 and Bryn Athyn’s company was not founded until
1916. There probably wasn’t a company north of the borough
between County lien and Doylestown. That left an awful lot of
territory to be covered with horse-drawn equipment.
MOTORIZED CHECMICAL APPARATUS
PURCHASED
The trustees
proceeded with arrangements to purchase a motorized chassis to be
used as a chemical wagon. By June, Francis Snively could inform
the company that he would arrange for a demonstration of the
chemical apparatus in the near future and by July; the finance
committee reported the purchase of a chassis and the awarding of a
contract to construct the chemical apparatus. The chemical
apparatus was built by Boyd Fire Apparatus Company. The Public
Spirit reported on October 17, 1911 that the new chemical
truck was handsome and described it as follows:
“The equipment engine is a powerful
design and will develop a speed over 25 miles per hour and is
equipped with a 40 gallon chemical tank with all the apparatus for
quick loading as extra charges of chemicals are carried. Besides
this there are 200 feet of chemical hose and 600 feet of regular
fire hose which can be connected to the fire plugs. There are
also extension ladders, hooks, crow bars, axes and picks and two
hand extinguishers fitted on the machine.”
There are no
accurate records on this truck. It is only referred to as a
Walter chemical truck in fire company scrapbook. However, the
word Walter may be a misinterpretation of Waterous. The waterous
Engine Works of St. Paul, Minnesota began manufacturing fire
engines in the early 1900’s and it is known that Radnor Fire
Company in Wayne, Pennsylvania had purchased a Waterous in 1906.
Despite the
glowing reports in the newspaper, the truck would prove to be less
that the powerhouse it was hoped to be. The company quickly
learned that the automobile needed constant care and repair. The
vehicle was woefully underpowered which caused the company to
instruct the foreman in charge of apparatus to restrict the number
of fireman allowed to ride on the automobile to only a few except
when it was not loaded with hose.
The borough
citizens got their first look at the truck when the Montgomery
County Fireman’s Association annual parade was held in Hatboro in
October. The parade attracted 1500 participants and 5000
spectators. Extra trolleys ran ever sixteen minutes to
accommodate the visiting fireman and parade watchers. “Welcome
Fireman” banners were strung across York Road and on the front of
the firehouse, and buildings were decorated with bunting and
flags. The parade was headed by a detachment of state police and
borough council members. Twenty-five fire companies participated
with the many bands.
After the
parade, 1500 lunches were served to all those taking part in the
parade. The lunched were packed in boxes and served from Drager-Robinson
Garage. As the men passes through in line they were given the
lunch box and a most attractive stein containing hot coffee. The
ladies of the town provided fifty or more cakes.
The Warminster
Driving Club offered the use of its track to Hatboro, Willow Grove
and Abington Fire Companies for a horse race to benefit the
companies. The race was held in November and the company received
$17.30 as its share of the receipts. This became an annual event
which lasted several years. The minutes of the company note
receipts of $14.80 in 1912 and $20 in 1913. The financial
condition of the company was never very strong and nearly every
opportunity to garner funds from all sorts of events was welcomed.
1912
Warren Cornell,
Sr. was elected president of the company in 1912 and Reuben
Hockman was elected chief. There was 344.45 in treasury. The
company insured the automobile chemical truck for $1000 with Union
Mutual Insurance Company of Jenkintown. Chief Hockman reported
that the company rendered good service at a fire on March 11, and
in April the company received a note of thanks for its quick
response and attempt to get to Ivyland for a barn fire on March
31. The Farmer’s insurance Company donated $75 to the fire
company for service rendered at a recent fire.
Chief Hockman
regularly reported fires and it was apparent that the company was
kept busy. At the October meeting the chief reported having been
in service at the following fire: barn of Harry Woodfall, Sept.
29; frame office building of Robert Laughlin, July 3; house
occupied by Clifford Weiss, Oct 1; Dr. Seltzer’s dairy house, Sept
4. The minutes noted that the company was unable to respond to
Mrs. Stone’s residence in Willow Grove.
The annual
Fireman’s Parade was held in Lansdale in October and the company,
with the Hatboro Cornet Band, traveled to the parade by steam
train. In December a benefit dance was held at Wilgus Hall which
brought $25 to the treasury. A committee was appointed to ask
borough council for a $100 donation. At the same meeting the
company agreed to place some hose on the small hose cart and place
the cart in another building in town in case the firehouse should
catch fire and the company could not get its apparatus out.
1913
President
Cornell was reelected in 1913 and Erwin Amber was elected chief.
Twenty-two members were present at the annual meeting. Treasurer
Howard Jarrett, Harry Wilson and Benjamin Hilt were appointed to
ask borough council to take over the actual and necessary running
expenses of the company. It had been the fire company’s practice
to ask borough council for donations from the borough treasury.
Owing to the close relationship between the council and the fire
company – not only were they located in the same building but most
councilmen also were fireman – the donations were almost always
made. Benjamin Hilt’s suggestion to just send the bills
downstairs instead of sending a committee each month made good
sense. The borough council minutes of February 3, 1912 record
that the councilman agreed to pay all necessary running expenses
of the company up to $300 per year, but refused to donate an
additional $300 to the company. The minutes state that the
committee thanked council for its kind consideration in the
matter.
Interestingly,
soon after the company for borough council to pay its bills, the
borough had to issue bonds for operating funds. At the same time
Howard Jarrett reported a balance in the fire company’s treasury
of $288.62 and no bills to pay. At Jarrett’s suggestion and with
company approval the fire company bought two $100 borough bonds at
5 percent interest per annum. This was the first time the company
was able to invest funds in an interest bearing account. Even a
friendly borough council must have had second thoughts about the
wisdom of its action February.
Types of alarms
and methods for sounding alarms continued to be of concern in
1913. In February the company agreed that for fires out of town
the bell should be tapped five times at intervals. At the same
meeting Benjamin Hilt and Norman Kearns were appointed to look
into the possibility of having a “gong” – actually an electrically
operating bell – placed on the outside of the firehouse so it
could be rung by the telephone operators. The telephone company
was now Bell telephone and it agreed to the proposal provided
borough council would pass a resolution releasing it from any
responsibility from damage should the alarm fail to work
properly. The fireman went downstairs on May 13, 1912 to seek
council’s approval and the necessary resolution. They came back
upstairs with both shortly thereafter the alarm signal was
installed on the firehouse wall. With the new arrangement the
operator would throw a switch at the telephone switchboard and the
bell would ring whenever the operator received a call for help.
By November, an
even greater use of the telephone was initiated when the names of
ten members with telephones were recorded in the company minutes.
They were: Erwin Amber, George Duncan, Oliver J. Watson, Howard
Jarrett, Warren Cornell, Stephen Mason, Samuel Gehman, Paul Jones,
John Kotz, and Reuben Hockman. It is unclear if these men had
phones in their homes or if the phones were located at their place
of business. The telephone numbers were not listed in the minutes
but it wasn’t necessary because one just rang the operator and
asked for the person by name.
Also in
November, the company agreed to loan Horsham Fire Company its old
hand pump, if they were willing to accept it. Arrangements were
made to hold a dance at Wilgus Hall for benefit of the Hatboro and
Horsham Fire Company. The December Meeting minutes reported that
the benefit was held and the profit of $17.50 was divided equally
between the companies, each receiving $8.75.
Continuing the
practice of his predecessor, Chief Amber reported all the fires
for which the company had been in service. The reports were made
monthly and included the following fires: In March, Mason’s barn
and Jesse Ambler’s chicken house. Jesse donated $5 to the company
for services rendered. The school board also donated $5 to the
company for cleaning the chimney at the school. In August,
Abramson’s barn in maple Glen burned as a result of fireworks, and
Cyrus C. Moore, ex-fire chief, had a fire at the freight house due
to lightning. In October, the chief reported a house fire in
Willow Grove and a barn in Johnsville.
1914
President
Cornell and Chief Amber were reelected at the 1914 annual meeting
attended by twenty members of the company. The treasurer reported
$101.78 in the treasury. The company began the year by appointing
a committee chaired by Oliver J. Watson to investigate the
different makes of automobile trucks for fire apparatus to replace
the chassis used on the chemical truck, and to report the findings
to the board of trustees.
BUICK CHASSIS PURCHASED
It was apparent
almost from the day it was delivered that the Walters/Waterous
truck was not powerful enough for the job it had to do. In April
the company approved a recommendation that chassis be purchased
from Buick Motor Co. and the body manufactured by Boyd Fire Co. be
transferred to the new Buick Chassis. The ordered was placed with
the Buick Motor Co. through Mason’s Garage. The Public Spirit
described the new truck on December 26, 1914:
“When the Buick chassis with motor o
f37 horsepower, purchased from mason’s Garage, arrived for the
Enterprise Fire Company, it was taken to the Weiss Wagon Shop at
Warminster to have placed on it the body, built by Boyd Fire
Apparatus Company for the old car. This was nicely done and the
new car being larger that the old one gives more room for all
apparatus which comprises a large chemical tank with chemical
hose, two chemical extinguishers, a large reel of fire hose to be
fitted to the fire plugs. There is also an extension ladder and a
plain ladder, axes and bars. It is lighted by Electricity and has
demountable rims to the tires. There is also an extra tire on the
side.”
The total cost
of the new chassis with seat was $1,235. George Weiss charges the
company another $30 to transfer the body from the old chassis to
the new. Treasurer Howard Jarrett reported that with the
certificates on deposit at Hatboro National Bank ($400 plus
interest), $200 received from McVaugh for the old chassis and
donations, the company had 838.12 to pay for the Buick. Borough
Council donated $300 and a note was secured from Hatboro National
Bank for the remainder. Fred McVaugh purchased the old chassis in
late 1914 when the new Buick chassis was delivered. McVaugh paid
$200 for the old chassis but later informed the company that it
wasn’t worth that much and wanted his money back. The company
refunded $25 to McVaugh on September 27, 1915 and told him to keep
the chassis.
Some other
notable events during 1914 included the installation of water
pipes and spigot in the Engine Room and some interesting fires
reported by Chief Amber. The company assisted Doylestown Fire
Company in January at a major fire in that town when the
Doylestown Hardware Store and several other buildings caught on
fire and were destroyed. In February, a flower house burned on
the Thomas reading Estate and Goessler’s Hotel had an overheated
flue. But pity poor Randolph Mason. In March his storage
building caught fire and burned from sparks from a locomotive and
in April, his manure pile caught fire from the same source. The
storage building was a one-story frame building located at Byberry
Avenue and the railroad tracks. Mason was using the building to
store farm equipment and supplies which he sold at the Hatboro
Supply Co. which was then located at Moreland Avenue and the
railroad tracks. In May, S.G. Anderson’s barn burned and Mrs.
Hogesgeimer, on Samson’s Hill, lost her house in a fire that
burned for three days. There were several field fires and other
minor fire calls, but in December, the fire company had a major
fire right in town.
WILGUS MARKET FIRE
On December 21,
1914 the new Buick was put to test when the Wilgus Market caught
fire in the early morning hours. The Wilgus Market was housed in
a three story building at the corner of Moreland Avenue and Depot
Streets. A public auditorium was located on the second floor and
the Masonic Hall on the thirds floor. Wilgus Hall was used for
many fire company social events. The Public Spirit called
the fire the “largest and most destructive fire that has happened
in Hatboro since the installation of the borough water mains 15 or
20 years ago.” The fire started in the early hours of a Tuesday
morning in the end of the building nearest the railroad and was
first seen in a window on the second floor. The paper reported
that “if it had not been for the failure of the water supply the
fire could have possibly been put out with only a couple of
thousand dollars loss.” As it was the losses were reported to be
more that $11,000. The water problem was partially because of
lack of pressure, but during that fire, the electricity was cut
and the pumps at the water works could not operate thereby
contributing further to the water problem. The paper reported:
“The new Buick truck proved its worth
and value by quickly responding and making a number of trips to
and from the firehouse…first bringing the hose cart, next pulling
the hook and ladder and last the big steam fire engine which was
of no service because of lack of water.”
Just as soon as
Chief Amber determine4d that the fire was a big one, he requested
assistance from other fire companies. The paper reported that “it
was thrilling to see the large firefighting automobiles of the
neighboring towns come shooting in out of total darkness with men
in full uniform.” The building was a total loss with only stone
wall left standing. But as the building cooled, the walls buckled
and had to be torn down. Willis Wilgus reportedly reopened for
business across the street from the burn-out building the very
next morning.
During the
height of the inferno, a large crowd of onlookers gathered to
watch fireman at work. The flames lighted the sky and could be
seen by early morning risers from a far distance. When the
excitement was at its highest, two young men driving an automobile
belonging to Ernest Jones crashed into a telephone pole near the
scene of the fire. The Public Spirit reported that the
front end of the automobile was broken and the windshield and
lamps smashed. “As the glass fell to the pavement, Elmer Kerbaugh,
a young man standing in the crowd was thrown into an epileptic fit
and was carried into a nearby house were he was treated by Dr.
reading.” It was a very memorable night for Hatboro.
1915
At the annual
meeting in 1915, Paul Jones was elected president and Warren
Cornell was elected chief. The company had a new truck but the
treasury contained only $92.12.
Once again the
fireman had been hampered by the low water pressure in fighting
the Wilgus fire. Low water pressure at some of the fireplugs had
been a chronic problem in Hatboro for many years. Cecil A. Keeble
and Ervin Amber met with the borough council to urge corrective
action on this serious problem. As a result the borough fathers
put pressure on the water company to hasten the purchase of a new
steam pump and to improve the delivery system by connecting the
dead ends of all mains to insure equal pressure through out town.
In what was to
become a long lasting annual event, the company accepted an
invitation from the Montgomery County Fireman’s Association to
participate in a parade and fireman’s demonstration at Willow
Grove Park on July 10. Preparations were made to have the old
hand pump put in working order and Howard Jarrett was instructed
to secure horses for hauling the pump to Willow Grove. The matter
of cheap uniforms being purchased was discussed and an evening set
aside for members to come to the rooms for measurements.
Unfortunately, other than this brief notation, there is no further
information about this first event or how the company made out
with its cheap uniforms. But we do know that Fireman’s Day at
Willow Grove Park was a much anticipated event for decades.
At the December
meeting, Chief Cornell reported that the company had been in
service at a fire at Christ’s Homes. The alarm was given to
Hatboro at noon and the company arrived on the scene at 12:20
p.m. The road was badly drifted with snow. The company was in
service for three hours and the fire caused a major loss.
1916
Norman Kearns
replaced Warren Cornell as chief in 1916 and Paul Jones was
reelected president. The first Chauffeurs were appointed. These
men were qualified drivers and the only members permitted to drive
the automobile apparatus. They were: Stephen Mason, Kimball
Mason, and Everett Shirer. Alvin Winner was added to the list in
February. During the year the Volunteer Fire Police were
established. They were appointed by borough council and sworn in
by the burgess. The first men so appointed were: George Duncan,
Howard Jarrett, Brinton Hamman, Stephen Mason and Silas Horner.
Chief Norman
Kearns reported the first automobile fire in April when a machine
owned by Robert J. Picody caught fire and burned.
1917
Twenty-nine
members elected Warren Cornell president in 1917 and Stanley
Cornell was elected chief. Treasurer Howard Jarrett reported
$71.53 in the treasury, and Thomas Cromley reported that a sign
had been placed in front of the firehouse notifying automobile
owner’s not to park in front of the engine house.
WORLD WAR I
In an address to
Congress in April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson warned that
“The world must be made safe for democracy.” On April 6, 1917,
The United States declared war on Germany. During the next three
years the government inducted mote that two and a half million men
into the military service. The American armed forces grew to
4,800,000 over a three year period. By September 1917, Norman
Kearns, past chief and now assistant chief of the company, became
on of those men. The company minutes of September 24, 1917
reported:
“The position of assistant chief was
declared vacant, Norman Kearns having been selected for military
duty…”
Thus Kearns
became the first member of the company to be inducted for World
War I. By the end of the year he was joined in that category by
Clifford Winner. Both men were continued on the rolls of the
company, but were excused from paying dues.
Despite the war
in Europe, business went on as usual at the firehouse. The
company agreed to hire a member to keep the auto apparatus in
good, clean condition at a cost not to exceed $1.50 per month.
Foreman Randolph Mason was instructed to purchase a spotlight for
the automobile apparatus. The company accepted an invitation from
the Ambler Fire Company to participate in dedication of its new
firehouse and the housing of new pumping apparatus on Saturday
afternoon, November 3. Sadly in November the minutes noted the
deaths of two of the company’s members, Thomas Paxson and Walter
Cromley.
Chief Stabley
Cornell reported a fire had occurred in the chimney of the home of
George Mitchell in Hatboro. The company responded to two house
fires in Upper Moreland Township, one of which was a total loss.
1918
Things were
quiet in early 1918 with President Warren Cornell and Chief Robert
Marks in charge. Other than normal business, the minutes reflect
very little action. Equipment was inspected and reports made to
the chief for action on repairs. The company bought white rubber
coats for chief and assistant chief. Treasurer Howard Jarrett
began the year with $80.27 and ended with $57.12. However, things
sure hated up when a barn owned by S. Carl Garner caught fire on
July 9, 1918.
MAJOR FIRE IN CENTRAL HATBORO
About twenty
minutes after eleven a.m. on July 9m the fire alarm sounded and
the fireman didn’t have to look far to see a large blaze in a barn
at S. Carl Garner’s lumberyard. The building was frame and
situated close to another frame buildings and directly in back of
a row of frame houses on Byberry Avenue. By the time the fireman
could get into action, the building was doomed for destruction.
It had been filled with hay and feed and burned rapidly. The
fireman devoted their attention to trying to save surrounding
buildings. Neighbors – men and woman used several sections of
garden hose and buckets of water to save their buildings. When
fireman connected the hose to the plug opposite the Garner office,
a section of hose burst. The same thing happened when other hose
was connected to a plug on Byberry Avenue. These delays gave the
flames considerable headway.
When water was
finally available, the flames already had spread to a small stable
owned by H.E. Emery. The building has a corrugated iron roof
which helped contain the flames to the inside of the building. An
automobile stored in the building was saved.
Great showers of
sparks were carried by the strong wind toward the southeast when
the Garner barn roof collapsed. The sparks set fire to the
awnings and the roof of the residences of William Wheatland and
Ella Hart on Byberry Avenue. The roof on another house at the
corner of Depot Street and Byberry Avenue also caught fire and
suffered the most damage. The roof and most of the second floor
were burned before fire companies responding from Ambler, Elkins
Park and Jenkintown could combine their hoses and pump water from
the Pennypack Creek a quarter of a mile away. Unfortunately, the
building was completely destroyed by the time the fire was out.
Borough Council
extended official thanks to the numerous fire companies that
assisted Enterprise at the conflagration.
On General
Pershing’s Birthday, September 13, 1918, the Borough Council of
Hatboro unveiled a “Roll of Honor” of boys in the service. It was
placed in front of town hall.
1919
In 1919, Alvin
Winner was elected chief and Warren Cornell reelected president.
The out of town alarms got more sophisticated in January when the
company agreed on the following procedure as recorded in the
minutes of Enterprise Fire Company on January 26, 1919:
“After ringing fire bell for out of
town fires, the following taps of the bell were agreed on, for
information as to direction of fire: North one ring or tap, two
East, three South and four West.”
GREAT TRAIN WRECK ON CUT-OFF
The town awoke
to the ringi
