The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1896-02-08

The Westminster Fire Department was
organized in 1923. Its first fire station was
on Church street, a street then leading from
King street to Manchester road-a plain board
house, built with two large doors, no windows,
a shinge roof, and only large enough to hold
a hand engi inc, with circular copper dome and
wrought brakes. The company was named
Union Fire Company" which formed the
nucleus of the department. Then Westmin-
ster extended from what is now Centre street
to Washington and Manchester or York road
which was near the dividing line between Balti-
more and Frederick counties, the stone with
initials ''F c." and ''B. c." now standing
corner Washington and East Main streets. In
1884, the town growing west, the engine
house was moved on Main street, then called
King street, opposite Court street, to where
ex-Judge James A. c. Bonds residence now
is located. Then it was used ms lookup, as
well as engine house. When fellow got
"boozy" the engine was run ont and he was
run in and the key turned. Among the prom
inent men who were presidents of the early
organization, and, in fact, up to 1857. were
John Wampler, Jacob Yingling, John c.
Cockey, David Keefer, James NJ. Shellman.
William Reese and Francis Shriver. In 1910
the citizens petitioned the legislature to pass
an act enabling them 10 hold lottery to raise
$1,000 to purchase new FIRE engine, build II
new engine house, town hall and market
house.
In 1884, opposite what is now Avondale,
Western Maryland Railroad, two miles west
of Westminster, was located the first iron fur
mace in the United States, and all that range
of hills running east toward Westminster was
called Furnace HILL which was used for burn
ing charcoal. When the timbers caught fire.
the boys, seeing the fire, ordered out the old
engine, and away they went up street to the
Goose Pond lane, now Liberty street. and
down to the farm lately owned by Jacob
Myerly. They were asked what they were
going to do with the fire engine. They re-
piled going to put out the fire on Furnace Hill.
They were asked where they would get the
water. They then let the fire engine stand.
and ran to the hill. The engine remained in
the country over two weeks before it was taken
back to the town for the protection of her
citizens. in 1851 the mayor and council
ordered the old engine and engine-house sold,
but by the efforts of Col. James NJ. Shellman,
John Fisher and others, the organization was
remodeed and improved in its makeup, and
permitted to go on until 1857, Then, owing
to getting in bad repute again by the burning
of all the barracks near the town, and num-
Der of stables in the town, the City Council
sold the engine to the late Michael Baugh-
man, and he ordered it destroyed, using the
iron and selling the copper. The wheels of
the engine are still in use at England q
Bryan's tannery, southeast of the town. The
engine house finally was sold to John HI. Nit
ten, who removed it to 81 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., where some of the boards are to be seen
yet. After the sale of the fire engine, the
Council ordered hooks and ladders, thinking
that they would be less fun for the boys and
more protection to the citizens. To many a
fire engine meant fires, and it took many
years to get rid of the delusion.