Coudersport Volunteer Fire Department
The first fire fighters of Coudersport were members of the bucket brigade as in all small towns. When a fire broke out, every man, woman, and child became a worker. Late in the 1860's fire protection for Main Street stores and the few Second Street buildings was a well in the Courthouse square, opposite the Masonic Hall. It was outfitted with a force pump operated by four to six men, and 200-300 feet of two-inch hose. The Hose cart was made of two buggy wheels with a reel blocked out on the axle. In the 1870's, the same system was in use with the addition of a somewhat stronger pump.
In 1880, Coudersport was fire swept and a couple of years passed before water works were again in operation.
Establishment of a fire company was talked about in 1884 but it wasn't until February of 1885 that a subscription drive was begun. Object of the drive was to purchase three fire plugs to be placed at First, Second, and Third streets along with 450 feet of hose. The community was behind the effort and a benefit entertainment for the "hose company" was given on March 11th at the rink. Another followed on April 29th which netted the department $60.
Early in April, the three fire hydrants were received, together with the 450 feet of hose.
On April 17th, 1885, a meeting was held in the Courthouse to organize a fire company. Officers named were: W.K. Jones, Chairman and W.W. Thompson, Secretary.
At this meeting P.A. Stebbins, B.A. McClure and W.I. Lewis were appointed to prepare by-laws and regulations for a permanent organization. This may be said to date the organization of Coudersport's present fire department. The committee was requested to report on May 1st. The roll was signed by about twenty people who attended the meeting.
April 20th, the first fire hydrants was set in the corner of Main and Second Streets, and a day or two later on Main and First, and Main and Third. Each was supplied with a three-inch hydrant.
A test was made at Main and Second Streets and a stream was easily thrown upon the Masonic block. That was considered quite satisfactory.
The Courthouse was the scene of the May 1st meeting when Stebbins, McClure, and Lewis presented their by-laws. The organization was perfected by the election of P.A. Stebbins, President; C.L. Peck, Secretary; W.K. Jones, Chief Engineer; B.A. McClure, and Willis I. Lewis, Assistants. It was decided to purchase 250 to 300 feet additional hose. Honorable A.G. Olmstead offered the group the lot upon which the ambulance building now stands, free of rent for six years, to enable the group to put up a firehall.
The offer was accepted, and a building committee was appointed. On May 11th, Coudersport Hose Company was organized with D.E. Kendig, Foreman; M.S. Winfield, first assistant, and T. Kenealy, second. At the same time, A.B. Mann was elected Foreman of the Hook and Ladder Company, with John M. Covey first assistant and Frank H. Staak, second. At this time the roll held the names of sixty members. The contract for the firehall was for $250.00. Lumber was cheaper back in the day.
On May 15th, a petition was presented to the Boro Council, asking that in as much as all the money that had been raised by subscription and entertainments to pay for the hose, hose cart, and for the erection of a fire department building, that the Borough purchase hook and ladder apparatus to complete the department. The Council voted unanimously in favor of the petition and on May 19th, a contract was let by the Department Committee and the Council for the purchase of hook and ladder apparatus and one hose cart, the ladder paid for by subscription, to be delivered within thirty days.
June 24th marked a great day for the Coudersport Fire Department. A reception was held in the new building. The two companies paraded the streets with cart and truck, wearing uniforms consisting of a blouse of gray trimmed with blu,e and blue helmets and belts, trimmed with gray leather. Each was appropriately lettered. The uniforms were completed by the best pants and shoes the individual could muster! Half the cost of this uniform was paid by the member and half out of the department funds.
In 1890, Honorable A.G. Olmstead presented the Department with its second hose cart, then they were named Hose Company No.1 and Hose Company No. 2, later First Ward Hose and Second Ward Hose.
In 1895, the Department was organized and each Company was chartered, with the name of A.G. Olmstead Hose Company taking the place of First Ward Company and W.I. Lewis Hose Company taking the place of the Second Ward Company, and Coudersport Hook and Ladder. Sometime previous to this, W.I. Lewis presented the department with a fine hose cart, which and been used by the company bearing his name.
In the spring of 1905, Honorable A.G. Olmstead began the erection of the present-day ambulance building, and the same was deeded to the A.G. Olmstead Hose Company. This building was used as a firehall until 1972 when quarters became too cramped for the modern equipment. The department began adding some modern equipment, starting with some of the early motor trucks. The first was a homemade chemical truck, on a Buick chassis. The truck was built sometime in 1923 by the firemen.
On May 15th, a petition was presented to the Boro Council, asking that in as much as all the money that had been raised by subscription and entertainments to pay for the hose, hose cart, and for the erection of a fire department building, that the Borough purchase hook and ladder apparatus to complete the department. The Council voted unanimously in favor of the petition and on May 19th, a contract was let by the Department Committee and the Council for the purchase of hook and ladder apparatus and one hose cart, the ladder paid for by subscription, to be delivered within thirty days.
June 24th marked a great day for the Coudersport Fire Department. A reception was held in the new building. The two companies paraded the streets with cart and truck, wearing uniforms consisting of a blouse of gray trimmed with blu,e and blue helmets and belts, trimmed with gray leather. Each was appropriately lettered. The uniforms were completed by the best pants and shoes the individual could muster! Half the cost of this uniform was paid by the member and half out of the department funds.
In 1890, Honorable A.G. Olmstead presented the Department with its second hose cart, then they were named Hose Company No.1 and Hose Company No. 2, later First Ward Hose and Second Ward Hose.
In 1895, the Department was organized and each Company was chartered, with the name of A.G. Olmstead Hose Company taking the place of First Ward Company and W.I. Lewis Hose Company taking the place of the Second Ward Company, and Coudersport Hook and Ladder. Sometime previous to this, W.I. Lewis presented the department with a fine hose cart, which and been used by the company bearing his name.
In the spring of 1905, Honorable A.G. Olmstead began the erection of the present-day ambulance building, and the same was deeded to the A.G. Olmstead Hose Company. This building was used as a firehall until 1972 when quarters became too cramped for the modern equipment. The department began adding some modern equipment, starting with some of the early motor trucks. The first was a homemade chemical truck, on a Buick chassis. The truck was built sometime in 1923 by the firemen.
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