The Burlington City Fire Department – More than Three Centuries of Firefighting

THE COLONIAL FIRE COMPANIES

The Colonial cities of Boston, New York and Philadelphia started with volunteer fire companies and eventually evolved into paid City departments. Here in Burlington it was the exact opposite. In the early years, there is evidence that City government purchased the equipment and took charge of fighting fires.

Probably the oldest fire engine company in America was founded in 1697. It was named the Old North Fire Company of Boston. From 1701 until 1736 firefighting was conducted by the City of Philadelphia. Then followed volunteer and subscription companies. The first volunteer company was established by Benjamin Franklin on December 7, 1736. It was called the Union Fire Company of Philadelphia.

FIRST FIRE HAZARD IN BURLINGTON

The first recognition of a fire hazard in Burlington is mentioned in 1688 when the Grand Jury presented Lawrence Morris for setting a hay stack of fire at the end of John Hollingshead’s house “to the danger of the Town.”

FIRST DISASTROUS FIRE

The first disastrous in the City occurred in February 1739 when the Friends Meeting House burned to the ground. This was followed in 1748 by the destruction of the old Palace of Tatham belonging to St. Mary’s Church. The fire at the Meeting House may have induced our Town Fathers to consider a method of fighting fires.

BURLINGTON’S FIRST FIRE DEPARTMENT

There is no mention of a fire department in the City until 1742. Yet there was a fire engine prior to that date that has been shown. We make a guess that the apparatus was acquired, and some method of fighting fires was established, after the fire of 1739. The minutes of the Town Meeting on March 8, 1742 bears this statement.

              “Whereas the water engine BELONGING TO THE CITY has of late been much neglected and is now out of repairs. Its agreed by this Town Meeting that the said engine be under the care and inspection of Samuel Hunt of this City, cooper, who undertakes to take care thereof when repaired at the charge of the public for one year in lieu of his services to the Highways for that year and to exercise ye same once a month or afterner if he sees cause.”

We have found that we had a fire engine belonging to the City presumably as early as 1739. Samuel Hunt gladly took charge of maintenance rather than work on the public roads.

FIRE EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY THE CITY

More equipment was purchased by the City as shown in the following minutes: “It is also agreed at this Town Meeting that Samuel Scattergood be appointed and ordered to provide a couple of good substantial ladders, each to be forty feet long for the use of the City in case of fire. And that one be lodged in the Upper Market Stalls and the other in the Lower Market Stalls. And that the said ladders be under the care of said Samuel Hunt and that the said Scattergood bring his account of said ladders when made and finished to the Mayor, Recorder or any of the Aldermen of said City. Rowland Ellis, Clerk.”

FIRE ENGINE TOO BIG FOR CITY

For the first Century, the means of fighting fires was provided by the Corporation of Burlington, calling it, The Burlington Fire Department. These were mostly volunteers, but per the Town Minutes, the Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen had charge of the Fire Department. This statement is born out of the notice placed in the Philadelphia newspaper in 1767. A Burlington Fire Engine was offered for sale or trade by the City Clerk. The apparatus was considered too large for Burlington. The advertisement below is how it appeared in the newspaper under the date March 1767.

              “A FIRE ENGINE, with a Suction Pipe, made by NUTTAL of London, that will discharge 170 gallons in a minute., the distance of 50 yards, and may be worked either by the Suction Pipe, when near a river or pond, or by cistern in the usual way; lately imported, and to be sold on no other account, then it’s being too large for the Use of Burlington, but would suit Philadelphia, or any other populace place. For terms apply to Daniel Ellis, Esquire, Richard Wells or William Dilwyn, in Burlington – N.B. they would take a smaller one in Exchange. If nearly new and in good order. Proposals, either to purchase or exchange will be duly answered.”

A search of the Archives and Town records shed no further information on the NUTTAL Fire Engine or its sale which is believed to have been made to Philadelphia.

THE FIRST FIRE COMPANIES

Two Volunteer Fire Companies existed prior to the formation of the Endeavor Fire Co. Information of fire companies in post-revolutionary war Burlington is practically non-existent. A search of some records that have been found show notes from 22 July 1788 with G.W. Lawrence appointed to the Rose Fire Company and V.W. Cooper for the Union Fire Company.

These two primitive “bucket companies” came into existence right after the war and later some of its members with others to form the Endeavor.

These notes also showed the following on “25 September 1789: Warrant issued by the City of Burlington in favor of James Craft for two English pounds to care for the Fire Engine for one year.”

On the 12 July 1790, AN Act to authorize the two Fire Companies (Rose and Union) of the City of Burlington to appoint six wardens and four stewards.”

Later the volunteer companies objected to being controlled by the Fire Wardens. With unpleasant altercations at every fire. At a Town meeting, they were finally discharged them.

THE FIRE COMPANIES

ENDEAVOR FIRE COMPANY NO.1

On March 2, 1795, a meeting was held to discuss the formation of a new fire company. Former members of the Rose and Union bucket companies were present. The meeting was held in the New Friends Meeting House. On March 17, 1795, a new company to be known as the Endeavor Fire Company No. 1, was officially organized. In 1797 a committee was appointed to purchase a fire engine. Some forty citizens made generous donations to help purchase the engine. In early 1798 an engine was purchased and lettered with the name ENDEAVOR.

FIRST HOME OF ENDEAVOR

The first fire house for the Endeavor was built in 1798 by John Griscom in front of the Friends property on High St. In 1838 a fire house was built on Wood St. at the lower endof the Friends Meeting House yard. Later the Company moved to Broad Street, still on Quaker ground, the location of the current Elks Lodge. They also had a fire house on Library Street, the City then purchased a market house located on East Union Street which was turned over to the Endeavor. This location stood as home for the fire company for many years until the Endeavor merged with the Niagara Fire Company.

HOPE STEAM FIRE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1

In 1849 several members of the old Washington Engine Co. reorganized as the Washington Engine and Hope Hose Co. the station house was located at the corner of Penn and Dilwyn Street. In 1850 the companies reorganized as the Hope Hose Co. It was incorporated by the State in 1855. In 1859 the old FultonFire Engine Co. merged with the Hope and the name was changed to the Hope Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, a new station was built in 1967 at High St. north of Pearl St.  

YOUNG AMERICAN FIRE COMPANY NO. 3

The Franklin Fire Engine Company No.3, organized in 1852, with its engine house located on the Southeast corner of York and Jones Avenue, was a predecessor of the Young America Fire Company. The Young America Hook and Ladder Company, organized in 1857, bought its first truck from Thaddeus Woolston, who was located directly across the street from the present firehouse, in the Birch Building, which is now occupied by a second-hand store, shoe repair and barber shop, at a cost of $75.00. The company purchased a lot which was exchanged in 1866 for the lot on which the Young America Fire Company now stands for an additional $200.00. The old Hook and Ladder House was on East Pearl Street across from the Presbyterian Church.

In 1869, a consolidation took place with the Franklin Company No.3, the new company being named the Young America Fire Company #3, the “3” being taken from the Franklin Company in 1870. At that time, the Company owned a truck, hand engine and hose carriage. In 1871, a new hose cart was purchased for $250.00 from the Fairmount Engine Company No.31 of Philadelphia. The old hose carriage was presented to the Mitchell Fire Company when it organized in 1875. A new hand truck was added in 1872, purchased from C. Shantz of Philadelphia for $1230.00. A new horse hose wagon purchased in 1892 from Gleason and Bailey Company of Philadelphia was kept in the house for several years, after which it was exchanged with the old hose wagon and $150.00 for a new hose carriage, since no provision had been made to stable or use horses.

              In 1896, the City of Burlington purchased a modern 45 foot aerial truck, one of the first of its kind at that time, from Gleason and Bailey of New York for $2010.00. The Company paid $300.00 for its first team of horses for this truck; upon the death of one of the team, a second team was bought for $700.00 a few years later. In 1916 saw the aerial truck equipped with an American LaFrance front drive motor chassis combination, replacing the horse-drawn front end. In the previous year, the company placed in service the first motor driven equipment in an Autocar Hose truck which saw service until 1923 when an Acme Hose wagon succeeded it.

In 1931, after long discussion, the company accepted its aerial truck from the City of Burlington, equipped with a 75’ extension ladder hydraulically operated; life net and many pieces of salvage and rescue equipment. The Acme Hose truck succumbed to progress in 1942 when the company purchased a Dodge Hose truck.

The present firehouse was built and occupied in 1870. Costing $6000.00 at that time, many more improvements were added through the years. The second floor was used by the Jr. O.U.A.M. No. 38 from 1872 to 1882, at which time company members renovated it as their present parlors. A stable annex was added to the rear in 1891 to accommodate our fire horses. In 1931, extensive alterations were necessary for the housing of the modern aerial truck, the building being lengthened and altered in its width. This cost the company $4500.00 at that time which was financed by mortgages. The completely modernized building is the result of constant improvements by our members throughout the years.

In concluding this condensed history of 100 years of fire service to the City of Burlington, it is fitting to mention one of many historical facts gleaned from the minutes of the company’s records of meetings, a newspaper clipping describing the present bell now housed on the grounds of the Fire Alarm Building on Belmont and High Streets. It was removed from the Bell Tower of the Young America Fire House in 1956 for safety reasons. This bell was purchased in 1879, and is the same bell which hung in the belfry of St. Ann’s Church in Brooklyn, that gave warning of the British fleet in New York harbor during the Revolutionary War.

In 1975 The City of Burlington purchased a modern 75 foot aerial scope. This truck served the City until it was replaced in 2000 with a Pierce 85' Tower Ladder with a 2000 Gallon Per Minute Pump. 

Station Nicknames

Since the early years fire stations have identified themselves with their own personal nickname Burlington City is no different. The nicknames may no longer represent the curreent membership of the stations but are forever a partm of their history. The following are the nicknames of four of our stations.

Endeavor - The Quaker Lads

Mitchell - The Shoemakers

Neptune - Frog-town Firefighters

Niagara - The Sprinklers

The history of our current fire station can be found under their own history page on this site.

Burlington City FIre Departments First Chiefs Vehicle