Hope Hose Hook & Ladder Co, Watsontown Pa
Founded in 1873.
Note from Pete Bergen - Former ML Walker Residence! Now sits at corner of Elm & Brimmer Streets! When it was the Hope Fire Company it sat on the East side of Elm, moved west to it’s present location early 1900’s.
Note from Pete Bergen - Former ML Walker Residence! Now sits at corner of Elm & Brimmer Streets! When it was the Hope Fire Company it sat on the East side of Elm, moved west to it’s present location early 1900’s.
"Forerunner of Watsontown's fine present day fire-fighting system was this group of some of the towns leading citizens of another day, banded together as the Hope Hose Company. Seated in front are James McCormick, William Field Shay, Fred Benson, and D. Frank Wagner. In the back row are James Barr, Ezra Whitmoyer, Dale Westly, Samuel McFarland, George Reeser and Daniel Grier.
"Civic improvement followed and in the fall of 1872 the old bucket fire brigade was supplanted by a hand engine and hose carriage, followed by the organization of the Hope Hose Fire Company No. 1. on June 11, 1873, with O.F. Benson as its first foreman and the organization of the Eureka Fire Company with Austin Stull as its first foreman, the first Company taking charge of the hose cart and the second taking charge of the hand engine. The first temporary engine house was the stable of Mrs Elizabeth Follmer on West Third Street. These purchases were subsequently followed by the purchased of the present Silsby Steam Fire Engine, the disbandment of the Eureka Fire Company and the organization of the West Branch Fire Company. This fire fighting machinery and the men behind it performed much valuable service for this and neighboring town and to the Watsontown Fire Department the borough of Milton and the City of Williamsport owe no little debt. " - Watsontown Historically, by Fred Knight
A Brief Early History Of the Fire Companies Of Watsontown
"Until 1873, Watsontown had no fire engine company. In the spring of that year and a hand engine and hose cart were purchased. June 11, 1873, the Hope Hose Fire Co. No. 1 was organized, and soon after another company, called Eureka Fire Co. Two years later the Hope Hose purchased a first-class hook and ladder truck, and being composed of the leading young citizens of the town was a model organization. It continued in active and efficient service until a few years ago, when it was disbanded and it's quarters, Hope Hose Hall, passed into the possession of the school district and the apparatus turned over to the borough.
June, 1874, the borough purchased a new No. 3 Silsby Steamer, and the two hose carts. This was in charge of the West Branch Fire Co, and housed in the borough engine house on Fifth street, where with the other fire fighting paraphernalia it remains to-day.
The West Branch Co. is yet in existance, a few of the members with the steamer being shown in the picture. The steamer is still in first-class condition, and under the efficient care of Mr. Jas. Watts is ever ready for duty.
With this complete equipment and the further protection of thirty fire plugs, well located, the town has ample abilities to combat any fire. So prompt... "
(The last sentence is destroyed in my copy of this paper)
From the 1907 Anniversary Edition of the Record & Star Newspaper
Find the entire newspaper here:
1875
The West Branch Fire Company
The New No. 3 Silsby Steamer
With Members of the West Branch Fire Co, 1874
Watsontown Pa
The New No. 3 Silsby Steamer
With Members of the West Branch Fire Co, 1874
In 1876, Milton was taking donations [subscription] to donate to the Lewisburg and Watsontown Fire Companies, for "their services in extinguishing our fire on the 12th"
(The Steamer was lost in the Dewart Creamery Fire in 1911)
1903 notice for incorporation
In 1917, they purchased a truck
Raze Old Engine House For Watsontown Garage
An old fire engine house at Watsontown, built by Conrad Springer in 1872 at a cost of $745, has been torn down and the site will be used for the erection of a new borough garage. The building was long used as a fire engine house and borough jail. WPA workers are engaged in erecting brick garage 54 by 54 feet on the site for use of the borough in storing of equipment.
Watsontown Borough Hall, 318 Main Street
The Miller building was purchased by the borough in 1912. It was used by the West Branch Fire Company as well as the town hall.. It was torn down about 1960, and the current borough building was built in its place.
See more photos of this building, this block, and all of main street here:
West Branch Fire Company, The Milton Standard, May 10, 1975
The West Branch Fire Company, 1967
As identified by Bill Kear:
Frank Kear, Art Sherman, Fred Rombach - Centennial ?Chairman? Bob Brown, Dick Hoffman, Bill Moll, Robt Deacon Barr, Ned Yocum, Ken Brouse R to L standing. Lloyd Baysore,Bill Cronrath, Cyrus Follmer, Harold McCollin, ? Tom Brown? , Ed Diefenbach, Wilmer Hall, ?"Skinny" Miller?, ?"Flannigan" Baker?, Bill Weaver, John Kreisher, Bob Herald in back, ? front, Ron Confer, Bill Wertman, Guy Erdley next to Bill Wertman, 2 fellows in back I do not know, Sim C. Cronrath in back. Front Row L to R Fire Police Charles Smith, ?, Ralph Burrows, Back row L to R. Nick Jones, I don't know, Ken Fairchild, I don't know. Last one.
First Woman Member for West Branch Fire Company
Charlotte McClintock
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From the Daily Item, 1958
"The first anniversary of the West Branch Steam, Fire Company, of Watsontown, was celebrated on Wednesday of last week, by a grand parade by the company, headed by the band. After the parade the company proceeded to the pleasure resort in the grove at the river, on which occasion it was opened to the public. The grove, consisting of nearly two, acres, is very appropriately fixed up for picnics, &o., and is really a delightful place." July 2nd, 1875
In August 1875 the West Branch Fire Co decided to go "in body" to Shamokin on Saturday the 28th. A special train was to leave at 7:45 am, with the exceedingly low rate of $1.43. The train would return at 7pm." The event was "Shamokin's Gala Day" a parade and picnic for the Shamokin Guard. On that day "the last to arrive was the monster train of fifteen passenger cars from Sunbury bearing the firemen from Watsontown, Milton, Sunbury & Selinsgrove, accompanied by the Watsontown, Milton, Northumberland and Sunbury bands."
Watsontown Fire Fighters Date Back To Year '73
Up until the year 1873 the borough of Watsontown was entirely| without fire apparatus. Some years before the borough had secured several Ladders, fire hooks, poles and other equipment, but these items were entirely too heavy for any water force which the borough could furnish and never were used. Within two the town had two fire companies.
In the spring of 1873 the borough purchased a hand engine and hose carriage and a company was a at once organized to operate them. A group of men held a meeting June 10 of that year and agreed to form' a hose company with the understanding that, town council would turn over the new *hose cart and all equipment" and also give the "privilege of using the engine house."
Thirty-two men signed' the roster June 10, 1873, and they included
O. F. Benson,
C. G. Wilson, M.D.:
T.D. McFarland,
William F. Shay,
0. W. Grier,
W.H. Lesher,
William S. Cooner,
C. A. Stover
William M. Sprole,
William Wertman,
George, Vincent,
T.D. DeArmond,
David W. Woodruff,
James B. Cooner,
Edgar Whittock,
Philip Davis,
James Wilson,
Preston Barr,
Calvin Souder,
Dale Westley,
George Meltzer,
Joseph Sink,
Jacob Williamson,
James McCormick.
A. M. Bly,
C. F. Shay,
Leonard Grubb,
LaRue Johnson,
Edward a Kramer,
Frank Lesher,
D. F. Wagner
and William D. Myers.
According to agreement the members met at the engine house the following day, June 11, 1873, for the purpose of forming a permanent company. According to the minutes, "J. L. McFarland was called to the chair and was chosen secretary." By acclamation, 0. F. Benson was elected foreman: A. M. Bly, first foreman elected by ballot; Westley, second foreman, by ballot; T. D. DeArmond, treasurer, by acclamation.
The name of Hope Hose Company was then selected and it was resolved that the name be painted "on the box of the carriage."
It was agreed' that meetings be and held each Wednesday evening, it was resolved that the secretary "hand the proceedings of this meeting to the town council and respectfully ask that we be recognized as Hope Hose Company of Watsontown.'
The frame dwelling housing this company was completed in 1875. It was at the foot of West Brimmer Avenue, but has been moved across Elm Street and has been converted into the residence where Mrs. M. L. Walker lives at the present time. Known as Hope Hose House. Before that time meetings were held in the Phineas Leiser building and at the Samuel Miller building.
A committee was named March 6, 1875, to secure a hook and ladder truck. William F. Shay was chairman and other, members were Dr. C. G. Wilson, 0. F.
Benson, William Shaeffer, James McCormick, Larue Johnson and George Vincent. William Meyers resigned as a member at that meeting.
The company accepted an invitation to participate in a parade at Dewart on July 24, 1875. A committee was appointed to "procure teams to haul the truck and the company to Dewart."
Calvin Leinbach was made an honorary member at the July 15, 1875 meeting. At the same meeting a committee was named to "secure furniture sufficient to Furnish the Hope Hose Hall, as long as funds lasted." It was decided, according to the minutes, that "the first two members on the roll book take charge of the house and truck for the first month.
0. F. Benson and Dr. C. G. Wilson the first, but Dr. Wilson is leaving town and cannot serve. Next In order is J. Z. McFarland, but he reports that he has too much business on hand and cannot serve. Next person on the list is W. F. Shay and he being foreman cannot be expected to serve. W. H. Lesher is next in line and nothing prevents him from serving with Benson."
William Russell presented a new ballot box to the company, "which was gotten up by him. "
West Branch Company
The West Branch Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1 of Watsontown was organized June 23, 1874. A constitution, by-laws and regulations were adopted by the company July 20, 1874. S. G. M. Hollopeter was president and F. H. Miller secretary.
On July was, the town council of Watsontown adopted a resolution as follows: "we, the town council for the borough' of Watsontown, Northumberland County, in council assembled, having examined the constitut-ling ion, by-laws, rules and regulations, also the list of members of West Branch Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, of Watsontown, do sanction and, acknowledge the same and are hereby declared a lawfully constituted, organization, to take charge of and use the steam fire engine, hose carriage and hose, entrusted to said company, subject to rules and regulations of town council." This was signed by J. P. Starr, chief burgess; and G. H.
Kisner, secretary of council. This company had a membership of 84. A full slate of officers was selected at a meeting June 23, 1874. This meeting was called by the chief of the fire department, 0. F.
Benson, The officers for the first year were S. G. M. Hollopeter, president; This was the picture that greet-| car ed Watsontown. police Sunday night when officers were called to investigate an accident.
"The J. C. Girton, vice president: F. H. Miller, secretary; I.
N. Messinger, treasurer: W. H. Kline, foreman: George P. Straub, assistant; John F.
Meckley, second assistant. Benson reported that the town council, had ap-1 pointed H. McNulty as engineer, James Bly and John VanFossen as assistants, and these engineers selected James Pitman, John Fowler and A. Bly as firemen. Members who were elected to draft the constitution, by-laws, rules and regulations for the company were Hollopeter, Miller, Girton, Meckley, and F.
A. Hilliard. It was reported that a representative of the Silsby Steam Fire Engine Company was and "delivered a neat address.' The following Thursday an "engine was tried out." At a meeting June 29, 1874, the firemen appointed A. McCohn, W. I.
Wilson, B. F. Huff and Ed. Waltman to serve as pipmen for three months and A. L.
Johnson, G. W. Hertz, 0. Leiser, J. D.
Carl, F. H. Miller, G. W. Wallize, James Cummings, W.
B. Seiler, F. Hilliard, A. Fisher, and W. B.
Platt to take, charge of the hose for three months. Appointed on a committe to solicit money to secure equipment for the company were Hollopter, James Bly and I. N. Messinger. At a meeting July 20, 1874, it was recorded that James Cummings was fined 25 cents by the president, for swearing, which he paid, and James Pitman was fined 10 cents (not paid.) Fined 10 cents for tardiness, which they paid, at a meeting in August of 1874, were Messinger, James Conner, G.
P. Straub, C. Springer and J. L. Schooley.
Later Springer was fined 10 cents for leaving a meeting, without being excused. It was resolved that the charter books be opened and that members be received to the number of 100, omitting the fee of $1 for initiation. Action was "wanted at a meeting in 1874 as to why the hose of the company had been given to Hope Hose Company." The chief was called to the meeting and he said that the town council had given him to understand that "the hose did not belong to us." It was later stated that when "'he found out his mistake he had the hose returned to us again," so a motion was made and passed, that the chief be exonerated of all blame. A reunion of the membership of Hope Hose Fire Company No. 1, of Watsontown was held June 14, 1912, at Cooner's Hotel, now Watson Inn, to celebrate the 39th anniversary of the organization of the company.
On the committee were J. H. McCormick, D. L. Grier and George C.Reeser
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