|
|
|
The Guardian Hose Company(Hyperlinks are embedded in the following text. When following these links, use the Back button in your browser to return to this page). The dedicated firemen of Thurmont - no hour is too late, no job too important, no meal so necessary that they forego the sound of the fire alarm and refrain from answering its call. The year is 1928, the Guardian Hose Company is in the process of reorganizing. The Mayor of Thurmont, William J. Stoner, is installed as the President, a position he has held since 1924, and will continue to hold until he resigns in 1931. Ernest P. Hammaker is elected Vice President, his first office in the fire company, which he will retain until he takes over the President's duties for the year of 1932. Carl E. Cassell continues to serve as Secretary, and Lester S. Birely remains as Treasurer. John Creeger is the newly elected Chief and for the next 15 years was at the fire hall before the second blast of the siren started. George Hahn was the Chief Hose Director; Charles Spalding, Chief Pipeman; Roy Creager, Chief Plugman; C. J. Fink, Chief Coupler; Albert Riffle, Chief Ladderman; and Kleason A. Stull, Chief Chemicalman. Dr. Morris A. Birely and Dr. James K. Gray were the Attending Physicians. Colonel John R. Rouzer was the honorary President. These men, along with many other dedicated men volunteered their services and were always ready and willing to rush to the aid of anyone and everyone who had the misfortune and the devastating experience of having a fire threaten their lives and property. Meetings were held once a month at the Town Hall, which was built in 1890 for the purpose of holding town functions, plays, dances, and suppers. A special garage was built on ground level to house the fire equipment. A fire bell, hung on top of the Town Hall, was rung to alert the firemen to jump into action and the first fireman on the scene sounded the alarm that brought all available firemen on the run. On May 5, 1929, a siren was installed at the fire hall and the telephone exchange, which meant that a continuous wailing of the siren could be sounded until enough firemen showed up to answer the call. In those days the fire siren meant excitement to the residents of the town and, if the siren sounded during the non-working hours, families climbed in the car and hastened after the fleeing fire truck. It was not an uncommon sight to see at least 20 cars rushing behind, some carrying firemen who had missed the truck and others just curious spectators. One of the first business transactions for the newly re-organized firemen was to adopt a Constitution and By Laws. These agreed very closely with the Constitution and By Laws of the previous organization. Each member was given certain responsibilities and was subject to fines should he fail in his duties without a justifiable excuse being offered for the offense committed. Particular stress was placed upon the use of intoxicants and should a member become intoxicated he was subject to dismissal. Money was needed to keep the fire equipment in good running condition. Suppers were held in the upper part of the Town Hall. Firemen's wives did the cooking with kitchen help provided by the firemen and daughters and sons acting as waitresses and bus boys. A winter carnival was held. Plays were sponsored using local talent or traveling shows. One particularly successful play was "The College Flapper". The participants were all local businessmen dressed as ladies, all except H. O. Miller, who played the part of the 'King of the Flappers'. The Town Hall was packed for both nights of the play and the firemen's coffers filled rapidly. All work and no fun can make a dull organization. So, in the summer, the fellows accepted as many invitations as possible from nearby fire companies to participate in parades. The truck was washed, waxed, and polished to a new-like shine. The firemen donned their uniforms and headed to the town holding the parade. Quite frequently they returned with a trophy for being the best in one of the many categories eligible for prizes. At some of the parades attractive, young, Thurmont ladies carried the banner. Ruth and Eva Zentz, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Estee Zentz, were the first banner carriers. The same duties were also proudly performed by Audrey Ecker, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Merhle Ecker, and Sally Waesche, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Waesche, JoEllen McKissick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene McKissick, and Peggy Willhide, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Willhide. One of the first parades the firemen entered 50 years ago was the parade held on May 26, 1928, when ceremonies were held in connection with the opening of the new road from Thurmont to Rocky Ridge. July 24,1928, proved to be a sad day for the firemen and the town, Stanley R. Damuth, Jr., only son of Stanley R. and Jane Anders Damuth, fell to his death from the back of the fire truck as it was answering a call. This was the first fatality of the reorganized firemen but, the second in the history of the Guardian Hose Company. Harry C. Root had been mortally wounded when fighting a fire at the excelsior mill in 1898, when the smoke stack from the boiler toppled and crushed him. By February of 1932, the active firemen decided to add honorary members to the Guardian Hose Company. This would add more monies to the treasury and at the same time create more interest in the fire company and its activities. Harry Otis Miller was the captain of the Committee and during the monthly meeting, 103 honorary members were added to the roster. It was in February of '32 that Thurmont, staged a gigantic celebration of the George Washington Bicentennial. For months preparations were made for the two day celebration which included practically every resident of the town - young and old alike. The climax of each day was the reenactment of one the battles commanded by Washington which was held at the sight of the Annie Laurie well. General Washington, in full regalia, and his troops bravely fought off the Indians and then planned their strategy for the ensuing battles by the camp fire. The firemen were there too, keeping a watchful eye on the camp fire and participating in the parade and giving a splendid demonstration of their drill team. A 1933 Hudson sedan was acquired from Mayor Stoner and the firemen used their ingenuity in fixing it up as a second fire truck and equipped it with a 40 gallon chemical tank. On February 6, 1935, the Guardian Hose Company incorporated and joined the Frederick County Volunteer Firemen's Association. At the January 6, 1937, meeting the firemen made a motion to build a new fire hall and a committee of Omer J. DubIe, Lloyd C. Mackley, Charles Ambrose, and Kleason A. Stull was appointed to get the project started. On December 6, 1939, a fire alarm system was installed in the Thurmont school. The students were instructed what to do and how to evacuate the building in the shortest period of time. At various intervals the firemen held surprise fire drills, just in case a fire would break out. Fortunately the problem never arose. Only one school was involved then, today all three Thurmont schools have regular fire drills, knowing that if there is an emergency the firemen are on hand and well equipped to handle the situation. On August 7, 1940, an appeal was made to the Town Board for permission to proceed with building a new fire hall. However, before final action could be taken the beginning of World War II halted all proceedings and most of the eligible firemen were either called or enlisted to serve their Country. The new fire hall would have to wait for 10 more years. During the year of 1942, the old engine room was repaired and new members at the age of 15 joined the fire company. In 1943, $2,000 dollars worth of war bonds were purchased by the fire company. A Dodge panel truck, with an Office of Civil Defense trailer, was added to the other fire equipment. The war was over, life was practically back to normal and in 1945, a Diamond T pumper was purchased for $6,500. Then in 1946, a 1932 Chevrolet Office of Civil Defense pumper was bought. At the February 2, 1949, meeting the motion to erect a new fire hall was once again the main order of business. Another building committee was appointed and along with the original members, Stull and Ambrose, George Black, John Ogle, John P. Weddle, Harry O. Miller, and Richard Willhide were added to the committee. The Town Hall having been acquired from the town officials, was sold at public auction on November 19, 1949, and bought for $500 by Miss Sannie Dotterer. By February 1, 1950, the Town Hall was completely razed and moved from the premises. On April 5, 1950, the contract was signed for the erection of a new fire hall. Monroe Pfoutz and Donald Six of Union Bridge, were the contractors with F. L. May of Frederick, the architect. The new building would be one story high with a view to adding another story in the future. It would be 50 by 90 feet, of cement blocks with the front brick cased, the bricks would extend approximately 15 feet on the sides to give the appearance of a brick structure. There would be a 73 foot concrete apron in front and an 11 foot macadam driveway around the building. The firehouse would contain an engine room, 32 by 70 feet, large enough to hold four pieces of fire apparatus. There would be a meeting room, furnace room, and storage room. Approximate cost of the building was $38,000. In September 1950, the Guardian Hose Company offered for sale 3% bonds, to be paid semi-annually at the Thurmont Bank. Bonds were offered in the amounts of $100, $500, or $1,000. On July 4, 1950, the cornerstone for the new fire house was laid with appropriate ceremonies. A fair crowd of citizens braved the elements to attend even though it rained all through the ceremonies. Placed in the cornerstone were the following items: Names of charter members, first officers, equipment; History - Listing Constitution, By Laws & Rules of Order, First Directors, Notes of interest, Officers and members of the Uniformed Drill Corps, Progress of organization, Important fires, Enrollment of men, Equipment, Housing facilities, etc. Copy - Catoctin Enterprise dated June 30, 1950. Photos - Uniformed Drill Corps of 1887, Old Town Hall and Engine House, Active Firemen of 1950, Equipment. Program - Laying of Cornerstone July 4, 1950. By Laws - Copy of By Laws and Constitution of Guardian Hose Company Inc., Bond - $100 bond of Guardian Hose Company Inc. which had been retired by the present membership. Miscellaneous - any articles of interest not already mentioned. Charter members still living at the time of the ceremonies were: George W. Wireman, Sr., Morris L. Rouzer, Martin E. Foreman, Charles M. Mackley, and William Henshaw. In November 1950, a countywide fire alarm was put into effect. Under the new plan, all county alarms are channeled through the Maryland State Police Barracks B at Frederick, which will serve as 24-hour headquarters. As such alarms come to the telephone exchange, they will be immediately transmitted to an especially assigned number at the State Police headquarters, which will in turn summon the company nearest the emergency area. In this manner the State Police will have full knowledge of where each company may be reached and when or where it is on active service. This was the forerunner of today's Central Alarm. (Source: The Guardian Hose Company 50th Anniversary of Reorganization booklet.)
|
Please
review guardianhose.org's Disclaimer.
|
