Fire Loss Led to Birth of Fire Company
Company chartered April 6th, 1891
The recorded history of fire in Ambler is older than Ambler itself. The first fire on record was New Year's Eve of 1869, when the Fulling Mill, located at the intersection of Reiffs Mill Road and Main Street, burned to the ground.
Fires were few and far between in the early days of our town. The next fire to be recorded was not until June 3 of 1886, when a newly-built home of a Theodore Quinty on S. Main Street was completely destroyed in one hour's time.
Shortly thereafter, the alarmed townspeople called a meeting to try to find the means of protecting their homes and properties from fire loss in the future. A committee was appointed to investigate the fire problem further.
At the next meeting, the committee reported that the Keasbey and Mattison Co. offered to supply water from its pumps to fight fires. The pumps were said to be capable of generating a pressure of 100 pounds per square inch and therefore could throw a stream of water over any house in town at the time.
The committee also reported that nearly $500 had been subscribed by residents of the community. The idea was proposed to lay pipe from the K & M pumps into and through the town with plugs to attach the hose at designated places where the system might be used to the greatest advantage. It was further proposed to purchase 250 feet of hose with the balance of the subscriptions. Plans were also discussed for the possible purchase of a hand-powered pumper.
On Feb. 9, 1890, the fire protection system proved inadequate. A building on Main Street at Butler Avenue belonging to John S. Buchanan was destroyed along with the tollgate and some sheds belonging to a nearby hotel, as Ambler experienced another major fire loss. The first recording of mutual aid was at this fire. A man was sent on horseback to enlist the aid of Pioneer and Independent Fire Cos. in Jenkintown. Apparatus from the two companies was placed on rail cars and moved to Ambler on an express train. Needless to say, they arrived only in time to help save the surrounding structures. Every available person carried water in efforts to preserve the nearby buildings.
After this disastrous fire, renewed efforts were pressed to form a local fire company. Borough Council passed Ordinance 14, which gave council authority to spend money to protect property from fire. On Nov. 21, 1890, a public meeting was called in the office of Werstner and Buchanan of North Main Street, and the following statement was signed by those present:
"We the undersigned, present at a meeting held Nov. 21, 1890, for the purpose of organizing a fire company, agree to become members of such an organization and to use our influence towards furthering the interests of the same."
The signers were J. Watson Craft, A.K. Thomas, John S. Buchanan, John L. Gusman, H.W.B. Reed, Edmund Plumly, James Bartleson, T. Elwood Walton, C.E. Hallman, Addie Welch, Lewis B. Gusman and Joseph Haywood.
A certificate of incorporation was drawn up and submitted to the county for approval on Feb. 18, 1891. The charter was received on April 11, 1891 and was dated April 6, 1891.
The borough announced a $500 appropriation for fire protection. Many of the townspeople made donations to the newly-formed fire company in the total amount of $2,335.01. During the company's first year, a steamer, hose reel cart (with 850 feet of hose), and a ladder wagon were purchased for the total sum of $2,270. The apparatus was housed in a building on North Main Street belonging to J. Watson Craft and rented from him for $12 per month.
Early records indicate company activities included fairs, strawberry festivals, benefit shows in the opera house, as well as parades, conventions and the like. The entire company, with equipment, was sent to the State Convention Parade in Reading in 1895. G.F. Theel defrayed the expenses to send the fire company and Fife and Drum Corps along too. On June 12, 1896, the Relief Association was formed, with Dr. D.W. Shelly elected as president.
Everything seemed to run smoothly until August 1896, when the Board of Engineers reported that the engine was "in very bad shape, not fit to run on a fire." The company officers approached the Borough Council to explain the condition of the engine and also their meager treasury of $132. The borough, after deliberation, purchased a "Silsby 600 Gallon per Minute Steam Fire Engine, type 2D" for the price of $2,800. This steamer is still in the fire company's possession and can be seen leading the company in parades. The new steamer was housed, with a parade, on Thanksgiving afternoon, Nov. 26, 1896.
At a meeting on Nov. 3, 1905, the engineers reported, "Had engine out Friday at noon Nov. 3, 1905, and done fire work down at Locust Street plug they filled a 400 gallon tank in one and one quarter minutes - also threw a stream from one nossel 175 feet from end of nossel to end of stream and with two nossels it threw the water 145 feet after which the engine was taken to the plug at the corner of Forest Avenue and Hendricks Street where it threw a stream with one nossel 148 feet."
In 1916 the first motorized apparatus was purchased for the company by the borough. This truck was a 750-gallon-per-minute American LaFrance pumper. Also in the same year, a committee was appointed to plan for a new building on the property on Butler Avenue purchased from Mrs. Heiss. The site was previously occupied by the Palace Theatre, a moving-picture house that was burned out in a large fire.
This site, however, was destined to be involved in another large fire. In 1962, on a cold, snowy February night, just four years after the Wissahickon Fire Co. had relocated to its present location on Race Street, disaster struck the Ambler Furniture Co., which now occupied the recently renovated structure. The entire building, along with the adjoining building which was also part of the furniture company, was completely gutted, resulting in the worst major fire in Ambler in modern times.
In 1935, 27 Ambler women met and organized the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Wissahickon Fire Co. In the years since their creation, the Ladies Auxiliary conducted numerous fundraising events that have provided many thousands of dollars of support for the fire company.
Responding to the increased needs for traffic control and other services, the Wissahickon Fire Co. Fire Police was organized in 1953 by Walter B. Pearce, who also served as its first captain. The Fire Police are now a familiar sight directing traffic at fires, accident scenes and other emergencies throughout our area. They also augment regular police officers in traffic control for parades and other public events.
Today, the Wissahickon Fire Co. is housed in a 1950's vintage brick building on Race Street near Butler Avenue. Approximately 70 active firefighters maintain a fleet consisting of two modern pumpers, a rescue-pumper, an older reserve pumper, a ladder truck equipped with a 100-foot aerial ladder, and a fully-equipped rescue truck. In addition, the company maintains two inflatable boats, a HazMat aupport unit, two Fire Police traffic units, and a Command vehicle.
In fire training, Wissahickon has endeavored to keep pace with the times. New developments in firefighting gear and tactics are continually being added to company drills and procedures. Members receive training at both Montgomery County and Bucks County fire academies and the National Fire Academy. At these, our members achieve national certifications in Firefighter I & II, Instructor I, Officer I & II, and complete numerous advanced and specialty fire and rescue training classes.
Today, the Wissahickon Fire Company is still 100% volunteer. None of its members are compensated for the hundreds of hours they spend responding to over 600 emergency calls and dozens of training sessions per year, maintenance of the apparatus and equipment, and running of the corporation. The Wissahickon Fire Company continues its pledge to provide Ambler, Lower Gwynedd, and surrounding communities with the best equipment and highest levels of fire protection and rescue capabilities.
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