New Windsor Volunteer Fire & Hose Co. #1
History Of Our Department
The roots of the New Windsor Fire & Hose Company No.1 can be traced back to the fall of 1908. New Windsor Maryland was a thriving community after the turn of the century. There were quite a number of merchants and manufactures located in and around the town. Since the town was vulnerable to fires, the Burgess and Town Commissioners requested that the citizens meet and discuss the formation of a volunteer fire company.
After several organizational meetings the Fire Company was chartered on December 7, 1908 with 34 members. The first President was Charles T. Repp a local businessman. The next spring the company purchased two hand drawn hose reels from the Independent Hose Company of Frederick, Maryland for $75.00. Other equipment purchased was 500 feet of 2 ½' hose and two nozzles. The company's President, Charles Repp, built a hand drawn ladder wagon in his shop on Church street here in New Windsor. We still own the hose carts and ladder wagon and occasionally pull them in parades.
A drill company was formed and officers elected. The company rented a shed to house the equipment and the bell at St Paul's Methodist church was used to sound an alarm of fire. In 1912 the town completed a new firehouse and meeting room on High St., the location of the present day town hall and offices for the Fire Company. The Fire Company remained in existence for four years, then disbanded due to a lack of interest, and mainly a lack of fires. The equipment remained in the fire hall to be used by any citizens who responded to an alarm of fire in the town. There was no formal organization until 1948.
In 1948 interest was renewed to reorganize the New Windsor Fire & Hose Company. Two town council members, John W. Hesson and Russell C. Lambert led the effort to reorganize. On January 27, 1948 the company was reorganized with 73 charter members. The first President was Dr. Robert A. Pilson and the first Chief was Russell C. Lambert. With the help of the Union Bridge and Mount Airy fire companies our first firemen's carnival was held during the first full week in June 1948, a tradition that continues to this day. Permanent carnival buildings were built and first used in 1970 on land that the Fire Company purchased, putting an end to the monumental task of putting up tents and hauling appliances and stands. Other stands were added throughout the years.
Our first motorized equipment was a 1948 American LaFrance 500 GPM on an International chassis. This engine, E-101 had a 300 - gallon booster tank and cost $17,000. This engine was kept in service until 1970 when it was replaced. The Fire Company joined the Carroll County Volunteer Fireman's Association on May 19, 1949. The first full year that the company was "in service" they ran on a total of 23 calls.
The members spent most of their time in the early years on
training and fund raising activities since calls were few and far between. This
enabled the company to build a new firehall next to the existing one in 1954-55.
We are currently still using this building until a new station can be built in
the near future. The second engine was a 1958 American LaFrance custom open cab
pumper with a 750 GPM pump and a 500-gallon booster tank. This engine, E-102
remained in service until replaced in 1978.
A third engine was purchased in 1966. It was an American LaFrance 750 GPM pump
with a 500 gallon booster tank on a Ford C700 chassis. This engine was in
service until 1988. Throughout the years engines were replaced on a ten-year
rotating basis and rehabbed as needed. We currently operate two class 'A"
pumpers, a brush/water supply truck, an ALS equipped ambulance, a utility and a
duty vehicle. One of the class "A" pumpers (E-102) is equipped as a
rescue pumper.
In 1982 the Fire Company took a big step and voted to provide ambulance service to the community. Our first Ambulance Captain was Macy Munshaur and we placed in service a 1983 Wheeled Coach ambulance, which responded on its first call on March 19, 1983. It would be five years before the company was approved to start providing advanced life support services. Due to declining volunteer ALS provider response, we started a paid ALS provider program in November 2001.
Over the past 50+ years our department has kept up with the latest training, equipment and technology. From rubber coats, chem-ox masks and "hanging on the tail board" to PBI, the latest Scott SCBA's, and fully enclosed engines. We have added a rescue tool system, a stabilization system, thermal imaging camera, AED's, 12-lead monitor, and the list goes on.
Our website will post pictures of past and present equipment, as they become available. We hope you enjoyed this brief history of the New Windsor Fire & Hose Co. No.1 and will visit our site often for the latest upcoming events and news.