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18

PROTECTION HOSE COMPANY, NO. 1.

The first organization of the Liberty Fire Company was known as “The Good Intent Hose”, and met at the Five Points Hotel, in July, 1874. Frequently, during 1875, application was made for apparatus and hose, but Council did not do anything until April, 1876, when they decided on buying, and appointed a committee. They went to Philadelphia and purchased a white Hose Carriage, formerly the property of the Schuylkill Hose, of Philadelphia, afterward the property of the Liberty Fire Company, of Reading, from Thos. Peto, of Philadelphia, a dealer in secondhand apparatus, with 500 feet of Oak Leather Hose and two brass nozzles. The Company then took new life and changed its name to Liberty Fire Company, No. 1, and was incorporated May 3, 1876. The carriage was the first apparatus in the South Bethlehem Fire Department, and the very night it arrived it was put into service. While the Company was meeting in Alfred Gradwohl’s Hall, situated on Fourth Street, East of New Street, next to the Merchants Hotel, and the carriage stored in a wagon-shed back of Rennig’s Hotel, Church Street, east of New, May 8, 1876, at 9.20 P.M., an alarm of fire was given in the meeting, and the new volunteers responded to a man. The following is a partial list of those on hand on the rope: James Sterner, Harry Schilling, John Drissell, Amos Myers, Samuel Houser, Fred Nadler, Charles Rennig, Charles Schuman, Geo. Schuman, Camille Julian, and others. On the tongue of the apparatus were: Robert Oldham and James A. Oldham. The fire was in an old frame building, previously used as a schoo-lhouse, situated what is now known as Northampton Avenue, below Second Street. The first stream for fire purposes was connected to fire-plug at Second and New Streets by the late Col. Robert Oldham, and the pipe held by Charles Schuman and Camille Julian under the direction of James A. Oldham, Acting Chief Foreman. The pressure was very unsteady, being received from the pumps of the Bethlehem Iron Company, but all the young volunteers could handle. The fire not being a very large one was soon overcome without much damage to the building. In 1881 a controversy arose in reference to the number of the Company and the number was changed to “No. 2”. This Company has had some of the town’s best citizens as its members, many of whom have passed away. It has been in continuous service since 1876, never have been out of service, disbanded or reorganized, but has given good and faithful service since its organization. In 1877 the Company was furnished with a small brick building on Vine Street, on the site of their present house which was built in 1885. The motto of the Company is: “We labor for the public good”. The Company has now in service one two-horse hose truck and one Nott Steam Engine.

LIBERTY FIRE COMPANY, NO. 2.

Horses were first used to draw the apparatus in 1887, being furnished by Erwin Heft, the first driver for the Company. He was succeeded by Richard Woodring who in turn was followed by James Betz, who supplied the horses until 1911, when the borough bought horses. Mr. Betz continues in the position and has given good and faithful service. The first officers of the Company were: James Sterner, President; James A. Oldham, Secretary ; John Drissel, Treasurer; William H. Jackson, Foreman. The present officers are: Fred Feilbach, President; George Moritz, Secretary; Robert K. Berkemeyer, Treasurer.

19

The first meeting for the organization of the Lehigh Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, was held at the home of Cornelius Beysher, 418 West Fourth Street, October 22, 1884. The burning of the Grand Opera House and the Union Hall, which occurred at 3:30 A.M., October 7. 1884, and there being no Hook and Ladder apparatus in the borough at the time, was the direct cause for the organization of the Company.

LEHIGH HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY, NO. 1.

At a meeting held November 24, 1884, the Company was organized with the following temporary officers: R.H. Sayre, Jr., President; William H. Rudolph, Vice-president; Milton S. Grim, Secretary; W.A. Wilbur, Treasurer; Frank Wynkoop, Fire Recorder; Milton H. Miller, Frank O. Lear and George O. Weaver, Trustees; Morris H. Schaffer, Foreman; Cornelius Beysher, Assistant Foreman; Charles H. Groman and Clinton H. Weiss, Tillermen. On December 10, 1884, the Company went into service with the above officers with the exception that William F. Anderson was elected Foreman of the Company. On this date they received their first piece of apparatus which was a hand-drawn hook and ladder truck and was temporarily placed in the stable of H.C. Bachmans First Ward Hotel. Later it was removed to the building which is now occupied by Lewis Levy’s store, on Broadway. In 1885 Council erected the present fire house on Broadway, and the apparatus was moved into same where it did efficient service until November 5, 1895, when Council purchased a new 75-foot Hayes Aerial Extension Ladder Truck, fully equipped.

The first pair of horses to pull the above apparatus was furnished by L.J. Bachman who was elected the first Driver of the Company. He was succeeded by Lewis Felker as driver, he furnishing three horses, and he has been the Company’s driver ever since. In 1887 the Bethlehem Iron Company presented the Company with a safe which is still in service. The Company has in its possession a large painting showing the burning of the Zinc Works in 1855, this being the first fire in this locality, now South Bethlehem. On this picture is also shown one of the first houses erected. This picture was painted and presented to the Company by Johnson A. Yerkes, a member of the Company. The picture is on exhibition at Worsley Bros., Third and Elm Streets, during the Semi-Centennial. The Company has 98 members and is in a flourishing condition. The present officers are: William F. Anderson, President; H.E. Rumble, Vice President; A.W. Miller, Treasurer; M.C. Muschlitz, Recording Secretary; George W. Lindner, Financial Secretary; James Schmale, Clinton Weiss, Charles G. Boyer, Trustees; Dr. N. Ziegenfuss, Surgeon; Chas. Ehret, District Chief; Edward Ackerman, Foreman; George Fuhr, Assistant Foreman; Louis Felker, Driver; Erwin Schleifer, Tillerman; Howard Miller, Fire Recorder; Frank Fetzer, John Berger, Edward Kepfer, George Ackerman, Wilhelm Fritche, Win. Souerwine, and Howard Ramaley, Directors.

The following is the list since the organization of the Department of the Chief Engineer. Those marked * are deceased:

The present Chief Engineer, Albert E. Anderson, is a son of Win. F. Anderson who was chief from 1903 to 1906. He is an alert and competent man in the position, and is always on the lookout for the interest of the Department.

The Gamewell Fire Alarm System is in use in the Department, having been installed in 1891, the original installation being added to from time to time. There are in use now twenty-seven alarm stations which automatically sound the alarm with a 2075-pound bell hung in the tower of the Liberty Company’s house. The Borough also maintains a supplementary alarm in the shape of a large whistle located at the South Bethlehem Brewery. This sounds simultaneously with the bell. The water facilities for firefighting consist of seventy-six fire plugs, the supply coming from the reservoir of the Bethlehem City Water Company. The gravity system is employed, but where the pressure is insufficient the steamer at the Liberty Company’s house is used.

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