TOWNSEND FIRE COMPANY 26

In the year of 1925, the young men of Townsend and vicinity realized that the community was in urgent need of fire protection and decided to hold carnivals to raise money for some fire fighting equipment.

Before they could officially organize the fire service, there were some serious fires in town. One of the worst was the "Old Hotel". The Pennsylvania Railroad company hauled water in their steam engine from a Middletown standpipe.They made several trips before the fire was brought under control. Wilmington's paid fire company sent down their Ahrens Fox Steam pumper by train early the next day to keep the still burning fire under control.

After the frightening experience, the towns people decided it was important to go ahead and organize a fire department. The new group paid for the water system, which was installed in 1926 consisting of a 50,000 gallon steel water tank with a 185 foot 6 inch well equipped with engine and pump for water supply. The only firefighting equipment they had was a wooden hose cart and some buckets.

The fire calls were taken by the undertaker, G. Lester Daniels. He, or one of his employees, would activate a small fire siren , which was hanging on a nearby utility pole and activated by a push button on the wall next to Daniels bed, the button still exists.

Sometime after the organization, the Commissioners of the Town of Townsend took over the tank and equipment and partly reimbursed the fire department for the money they spent. These funds enabled the firemen to purchase a 1928 American LaFrance type-99 and a 500 gallon booster tank in 1929. The first fire truck was stored in a small garage owned by Mrs. Are Lattomus on Chestnut street, which is no longer standing. The building was so narrow that the truck first had to be pulled out of the garage before the firefighters could get in.

It was kept their until the old schoolhouse was purchased from the state for $1.00 in 1933. The only remodeling that the firefighters did when they moved into the school house was the removal of the school bathrooms. The space was first covered over by concrete and a large door for the truck was installed. The only heat in the building was an iron coal stove in the back of the engine room. The coal stove was kept going in the winter, not for the ocmfort of the firefighters but so that the fire truck would not freeze. In 1945, the firemen started working on a recreation room for the membership in the firehouse and the acquistion of a second fire truck. They opened another bay on the existing building.

On March 24, 1950, the department proudly accepted the organization of it's Ladies Auxiliary. The auxiliary continues its support and assistance to the firemen through many fundraising events. In the past 53 years, the Ladies Auxiliary has given the company $407,844.51 in cash, vehicles and gifts.

In 1952, the department installed a heating system and worked on further interior remodeling. In 1958, they expanded two more bays and remodeled an area on the second floor for office space.