About the Gettysburg Fire Department...

A Short History of the Gettysburg Fire Department

By Charles Underwood with thanks to Gary Frederick

1806 – 1885

The history of fire protection in Gettysburg dates to 1806, the year in which Gettysburg officially became a Boro.

In that year, an ordinance was enacted to require each household to have two leather buckets solely for use in the event of fire, and also required all males over the age of 12 to respond to an alarm of fire. This was followed quickly with the Boro purchasing a hand powered fire engine.  While a step above the bucket brigade, it was still supplied with water by the bucket brigade. The engine was delivered by Conestoga wagon in September 1806, and was kept at the rear of the Wills house on the square and was maintained by the citizens.

In 1808 the Boro Council authorized the formation of three Fire Companies; an engine company, an axe company and a ladder company.  In the following years, due to several long periods of inactivity, the Companies were reorganized several times until 1833 when a Company was organized in each of the three wards of the Boro.

New and larger hand pumpers were purchased by the Boro in the 1840’s including one that required up to 24 men to operate.

The Company was reorganized once again in 1885, and a new engine house (now razed) was built on Middle Street near where one of the original fire engine sheds was located.

Major fires during this period included:

March 7, 1840- German Church, High and Stratton Streets

1848 to 1854- Numerous arson fires of barns and stables

January 7, 1850- Jailhouse in which 2 “insane” men perished

February 28, 1855- Large carriage shop, Railroad Street

November 1884- Conflagration Race Horse Alley including destruction of the original Gettys Tavern built in 1785

During the battle of Gettysburg July 1 – 3, 1863, there is no record of any structures having been burned in the Boro.

1886 – 1915

In January of 1886 the Boro purchased a steam powered fire engine along with two hose reels from the Silsby Company of Seneca Falls New York for $3,750.00. These were housed in the newly built engine house.  At this time the name of the Company was changed to The Gettysburg Steam Fire Engine Company Number 1 and the steamer was named the “General Meade”.  Today this engine and one of the hose reels can be seen in the Company’s Museum.

While the steamer was designed to be pulled by horses, the Company did not own or keep any at the engine house, so the engine was pulled to a fire by manpower.

By this time the Boro had water mains (they probably consisted of hollowed out logs) though upon testing with the steamer, the water supply was deemed inadequate. 

In 1889, a hook and ladder truck, also hand drawn, was purchased.  These two pieces along with the hose reels served the Boro for the next 25 years.

Major fires during this period included:

January 12, 1894- Conflagration consumed the Eagle Hotel Chambersburg Street, many stables and several homes and businesses.  Hanover and Hagerstown Departments sent apparatus by railroad to assist.

February 28, 1906- Alleman hardware warehouse, Railroad Street

April 1, 1907- Winter Building, Chambersburg Street

1916 – 1956

In 1916, the Boro purchased a motorized Boyd pumper which was delivered October of 1917. It was followed by a smaller pumper in 1923. 

Since this equipment was owned by the Boro, special permission was required to respond to a fire in a neighboring township.  A fee of up to $50.00 was charged for the apparatus to respond to one of those calls.

A used hook and ladder truck was purchased in 1925, but reverting back to an older era, it was drawn by hand to fires. Also in 1925, an ambulance was purchased with a Cadillac chassis and a body made by the Gettysburg Furniture Company.

New pumpers were purchased in 1931, 1936, 1941, 1942 and in 1951, a Mack known as “The Mighty Mack”.  A used tiller ladder truck was purchased in 1947, and in 1953, a rescue truck began a new type of service for the Company.  1950 started the installation of two-way radios in all apparatus. During the 1950’s at the height of the cold war, the Company as well as the entire County, participated in Civil Defense drills and simulated disasters.

In 1955 the charter was changed to allow for the formation of a Ladies Auxiliary. 

Major fires during this period included:

September 10, 1927- Cressent Garage, York Street with a fatality

October 28, 1925- Flour Mill, Emmitsburg Road

April 4, 1927- Several barns and a house in Cumberland Township

May 1, 1928- American Garage, York Street

October 31, 1928- Saint James Church, York Street

May 30, 1932- Shed, Bream Farm, Fairfield Road with a fatality

October 31, 1938- Plank Building, Baltimore Street

November 23, 1946- Gettysburg College, Weidensall Hall 

1957 – 2019

In 1957 two notable events occurred.  Purchased for the ambulance service was a used 1948 Cadillac and also a new Mack pumper named “The General Ike”.  President Eisenhower lived nearby on a farm in Cumberland Township and a ceremony was held with him present to dedicate the apparatus to him.

In 1959 a Junior Fire Department was organized, and is still active with the Company.

During 1968 work was started on new quarters which was completed in 1970 with a move to a renovated car dealership building on York Street.  The Company would remain there until a new station was built on Stratton Street in 1992. 

Additional replacement apparatus was purchased as needed: pumpers in 1977, 1980, 1992, 1998, 2006 and 2010.  Ladder trucks including a used unit in 1964, and new ladders in 1977 and 2008.  Rescue trucks were purchased in 1986, 2004 and 2017.  Other vehicles placed in service were many small support vehicles and ambulances.

Major fires during this period included:

January 30, 1960- Old Eagle Hotel, Chambersburg Street

January 27, 1969- Saint James Church, York Street

March 17, 1979- Peace Light Inn, Mummasburg Road nearly trapping 12 firefighters

March 22, 1979- Phosphorus truck, Buford Avenue threatened the west end of town

June 16, 1981- Furniture warehouse, Franklin Street with several firefighter injuries

February 10, 1983- Gettysburg Hotel on the Square. 22 departments with 39 pieces of apparatus responded

February 8, 2001- The Pub Restaurant on the Square, fought by departments from 2 states

January 31, 2004- Apartment building and house, Chambersburg Street

A detailed history of the Gettysburg Fire Department was published in the Department’s bicentennial year of 2008, written by Gary E. Frederick.  The book is available in the store of the Department’s website.

Silsby Hose Cart	1886 Silsby "General Meade"