| Upcoming Events |
| There are currently no events |
| View All Events |
 |
| Website made possible by a grant and the generosity of the Delaplaine Foundation |
| Web Counters | ||||||
|
|
EARLY FREDERICK FIRE COMPANIES
Frederick was established in 1745. It was only 15 years later, the town fathers determined the need to purchase a fire engine. In 1760, a raffle was held to raise money to build a marketplace and to purchase the first fire engine.2 The engine was purchased in 1764 and was named ?Grandfather?. It is believed this very first engine was used by the Frederick Hose Company and later by the Independent Hose Co. No. 1.3 In 1817, an ordinance was passed that established fire wards. The First Ward was the Friendship Fire Company, Second Ward the Union Fire Company, Third Ward Frederick Hose Company, and Fourth Ward the Sun Fire Company. All white taxable males were declared to be members of the fire company located in the ward in which they lived The January 4, 1909 Frederick News had an article on the discovery of papers found in the court house files for the Sun Fire Company to conduct a lottery in the amount of $875 to purchase a fire engine. Dr Henry Petit, a resident of Frederick from 1847 to 1854, said the Sun Fire Company was located ?At the east end of the Market House almost against the wall of the old Lutheran graveyard in my younger days stood an old red brick building used as a tool house. In this was kept the Sun fire engine. It had brakes like an ordinary engine, was small about the size of an old fashioned six octave piano.? Though the history of the Independent Hose Company indicates the Frederick Hose Company was a predecessor, a notice in the Frederick Herald on November, 5, 1831 advertises a meeting of the First Frederick Hose Company at Mrs. Michaels Tavern at 6 O�Clock, fourteen years after the Independent Hose Company was organized.The only information presently known of the Friendship Fire Company of Ward 1 was the new ?Young Men?s Fire Company?, ultimately organized as the Junior Fire Company, took possession of the Friendship Fire Engine and petitioned individuals, insurance companies and the city council for funds. However, an article in the Frederick Examiner speaks of a brawl that occurred on August 14, 1838 between three fire companies, one of which was reported as the Friendship Fire Company. No other documentation of the Friendship being in existence at such a late date has thus far been discovered. In 1837, the Washington Hose Fire Company was organized by the citizens of Fire Ward No. 2. In 1817, Fire Ward No. 2 was initially assigned to the Union Fire Company. The enginehouse was located on East All Saint's Street. The Washington Hose Company ultimately disbanded and in 1845 a new fire company initially called the Mechanics Hose Company took over the firehouse and equipment. This company changed their name to the United Fire Company |
