Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-18
LIBERTY ClOS[SITS
FIRE ENGINE HOUSE
Wilmington Community Ser
vice Gives Entertainment in
Honor Of Retiring Firemen.

After thirty years of meritoriors
service. the Liberty Steam Fire
Engine Company has ceased to func-
sion. A dinner. dance and entertain
ment marked the closing of the fire
house last night, when the Whining
ton Community Service entertained
the members of the fire company in
the Liberty engine house, in South
Wilmington.
More than two hunderd persons
were present at the dance and about
seventy-five at the dinner. John Nc
Gee. president of the South Side Com
munity Association. acted as toast
master at the dinner.
Charles Ernst and Miss Frances
Range. both of the Community Ser
vice. spoke of the activity of the
libcrty ftremen in community work
and expressed hope that the same
close relation would be maintained be-
tween the Community Service and the
paid FIRE department. which will take
over the house and apparatus on
August 81.
Charles J. Cannon. president of the
Liberty Fire Company, thanked the
residents OF South Wilmington for the
interest and sympathy they have al
WAYS shown the members of the Lib
erty company. and advanced the
ofiinion that the new organization
would continue to allow the use of the
playground for the children OF the
neighborhood. Mrs. Margaret Cole
man. matron of the Liberty fire house
for 25 years, also spoke. She expressed
Keen regret that the company is going
TO disband.
The committee in charge OF the at
fair comprised: Miss Catherine can
non, chairman; Mrs. Walter Rash,
Mrs. Mary. McMahan, Mrs. Mary Ham
raond. Mrs. Gilbert Anderson, Mrs.
Brown, Mrs. Joseph Rossiter, Mrs.
Hugh Wallace, John McGee, presi-
dent of the South Side Community
Walter Rash. Charles ]. Cannon, presi-
dent of the Liberty Company, Dennis
Byrne and Joseph fitzpatrick.
The Liberty Steam Fire Engine
con,nanv has a most praisworthy his
tory. 1t was organized with thirty
one members in 1890. in an oid staoie
owned by Charles T. Stevenson, which
at that time stood just opposite the
present headquarters at New Caste
and A Streets John +. Curren was
elected first president.
The first apparatus TO be used o.
the company was a two-wheel. horse
drawn hose cart, given TO the Liberty
COMPANY by the Weccacoe Fire Conn
pany. Later. a third-class La Franco
steamer was purchased, together with
a Gleason and Bayley hose wagon.
The steamer was in continual serviN2
until 1914, at which time the present
apparatus was purchased. The new
machine is considered one OF the
finest in the city. only s1.5o worth OF
+. pairs having been required since its
purchase.
Their present three story structure
was erected in 1891, the company
formally moving in IL in October, 1897,
az which time they were Incorporated
The first big fire was the Old FERRY
Rolling Mill in 1892. Since then they
have been most active in the service,
both in the city and down the state,
several trips having been taken into
Maryland.
The building of the Liberty fire
engine house. at New Castle avenue
and A street, has been purchased by
the Paid Fire Department. The ap-
paratus as well has been purchased
ard several of the old members have
been called for membership trial tor
the new department.