Williamstown Liberty Hose Company No. 1 - (717) 647-9174

Williamstown Liberty Hose Co.No 1 (Station 24)
Don't forget to check-in when you come to the canteen.

Origin 1893-1899

The fist attempt to organize a fire department in the community occurred in 1893. In February of 1893 the Borough Council dedicated the community's first Borough Hall. The facility on West Street was built by D.W. McCallister Co. at the cost of $2,300 and is still used by the borough today. In that same year, although the exact date isn't known, the council purchased the borough's first fire apparatus: a hand drawn hose cart at a cost of $750
But this attempt to organize a company failed, and the hose cart remained ib the Borough Hall unused. All records pertaining to an attempt to establish a company at this time have been lost. The only fact about the proposed company that can be substantiated is that it was to be called "Liberty Hose Fire Co. No. 1."
The first available written records of an attempt to organize a fire company are in the minutes of a meeting held on December 15, 1898. Enoch Morgan, serving as temporary secretary, wrote, "the purpose of this meeting is for the re-organization of the Liberty Hose Fire Co.No.1." D.M. Evans, who apparently had been elected president of the company in its short-lived first attempt to organize in 1893, presided at the meeting.
A second meeting was held a week later on December 23rd for the purpose of electing officers for the newly-formed company. D.W. Evans was elected president, Aaron B. Crook, secretary, and John Hoffman, fire chief.
G.M. Stites and D.M. Lebo were appointed to procure aa charter. Prof. A.H. Gerberich, Amos Lebo, and D.M. Stine were elected to draw up by-laws for the company.
The by-laws as drawn up by the by-laws committee were presented for adoption at the meeting on February 6th 1899. They were readily approved by the members and schedualed to become effective at the march 6th meeting.
But the second attempt to organize a fore company for the community also ended in failure. The March meeting never materialized and the Liberty Hose Fire Co. No. 1 disappeared from the scene leaving no records to indicate what brought its sudden downfall.
On July 8th, 1901, a number of citizens met and successfully organized what must be considered the community's first fire company.
The founding members in attendance at the meeting voted to call their proposed company-- Liberty Hose Co. No. 1. In an election of officers,William Blanning was elected president, E.J. Klein who was serving as temporary secretary, and John H. Hoffman was elected fire chief.

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