|
History of the Star Hose Company #1
On November 16, 1885, a group met in the office of O.L. Snyder “for the purpose of organizing a hose company.”
J.H. Herbert was elected president; William Hooker, vice-president; Will Holmes, secretary; and E.P. Dalrymple, treasurer.
Foreman was E. F. Rowley, with R.C. Bard and Frank Kernam as assistants. B.C Gallup was named “chief engineer” and George Weber, assistant.
Twenty-five men signed up as charter members.
The new company’s first big project was to build a fire house; it was quickly completed and on January 4, 1886 the first meeting was held in the “hose rooms”, where Citizens Bank now stands. The building cost $289.48.
On September 21, 1886 the first charter was granted by the state, and the Star Hose Company formally began its continued service to the community.
The first alarm was a 200lb. Bell now sitting in front of the present fire station.
|
|
|
|
The “hose boys” went quickly about the task of outfitting themselves – approaching the Borough Council for ladders on September 28 and ordering half a dozen fire hats on December 9th. In April of 1887, they ordered fancy parade uniforms. Uniform purchases and problems are a large item in the early minutes.
Port Allegany’s first firemen’s parade was on October 6, 1887 and firemen from surrounding towns came by train to march.
On November 10th of that same year, firemen were back asking the Borough Council for ladders again.
Somewhere in these years they purchased one or two hose carts, for in December of 1887 they bought a “Siamese connection” for the cart, and discussed mutual aid possibilities with Coudersport. The minutes do not show the purchase of the carts, but a 1933 newspaper article on the history of the company reports that a $100 balance owed on one of the carts could not be raised and “the cart was returned to Olean, much to the chagrin of those who had labored so hard to obtain it.” In August of 1889, a cart was sent away for repairs costing $75 and a wagon was used in its stead. |
|
Even then, games of chance were the big fund raisers and 10 cent tickets were sold to help pay for the repairs.
1889 also saw the company travel to Carlisle in their new uniforms for the State Fireman’s Convention.
By 1892, the Star Hose Company was financially able to buy a lot for $1000 on West Mill Street with the idea of building a new fire hall.
1893 brought rubber coats and the formation of a band.
By 1894, the lot on Mill Street site of the new “City Building”, shared by the local government and the Hose Company.
The three story brick building had a garage for the carts, a hose tower and social rooms for the firemen in the east side, and offices, council chambers and a jail were on the west.
The building featured a natural gas powered fire siren, which didn’t always work, and the bell was kept in the building’s belfry.
Also in 1894, the first fire police was formed.
|
|
|
It wasn’t until 1900 that the hose boys asked Council for a horse to pull the cart – they apparently got it with a hand operated pumper in 1901.
Early minutes were often incomplete or illegible – records of fires were not made or have been lost.
We do know that in 1899 a whole block of downtown businesses burned, and firemen had to buy new hose to replace that lost in the fire.
A complete list of presidents and chiefs is also impossible to compile.
The Hose Company kept its headquarters in the City Building until 1957, when they built the present structure on Maple Street. A sizable addition was built onto that original building in 1983.
The old City Building was raised in 1974.
|
|
History 
