Summer 2003 Carroll Co Volunteer Fire Company Series by Jamie Schmidt

Summer 2003 Carroll Co Volunteer Fire Company Series by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer May 18, 2003 - August 17, 2003

Union Bridge Fire Company: Union Bridge marking 116th year A fire in 1868 that destroyed the Western Maryland Railroad shops lives on today as one of the worst in the town's history, and one that sparked the creation of a Union Bridge Fire Department. May 18, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Gamber and Community Fire Company: Gamber among newest companies A barn fire started it all. May 25, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


New Windsor Fire & Hose Company: Growing from humble beginnings Forty-one years passed from the time residents first organized until the New Windsor Fire and Hose Company No. 1 was admitted to membership in the Carroll County Fireman's Association. June 1, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company: A history of service to Taneytown Residents started talking up a Taneytown fire company in the 1830s, though the department didn't join the Carroll County Fireman's Association until almost a century later. June 8, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Harney Volunteer Fire Company: Small company with a big mission Harney was home to about 250 people in 1951 when the volunteer fire company organized in town. June 15, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Sykesville Freedom District Fire Company: Providing service to South Carroll Sykesville's fire company started in 1933, after a blaze drew out firefighters from Ellicott City and Mount Airy. No one in the department remembers anymore what burned down, but the event was enough to prompt a few business owners to band together and establish a new company. Sunday, June 22, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Manchester Fire Department: Serving the Manchester area since 1893 Incorporated in 1893, Manchester's Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 is among the oldest in Carroll County. The Manchester Academy Building on York Street, which was used as a high school building at the time, was used as Manchester's first firehouse in the early days. In 1898, a building which is the present site of the company, was purchased for $725. The building needed $350 of repairs, and then the new firehouse was dedicated in 1899. Sunday, June 29th, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Winfield Fire Department: Company nears four decades of service The Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department first formed in 1964, after residents grew tired of waiting for fire companies nearly 10 miles away in Sykesville and Mount Airy to answer calls in the Winfield area. At first, the company had no firehouse or equipment to work with. July 6, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Reese Volunteer Fire Company: Company celebrating 55th year It was 1948 when nine people in the Reese area joined together to start up a company. July 13, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company: Servicing a growing population After facing two devastating fires in the town's business section in the early 1900s, resident Charles Glover realized that Mount Airy needed fire protection. Firefighter Don Brightwell, who joined the company in 1968, said that a few residents had meetings under Glover's guidance in the early 1920s, but efforts fell apart when he died. July 20, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Pleasant Valley Community Fire Co.: Protecting the Pleasant Valley area It was 1931 when 30 residents joined together to start a fire company in Pleasant Valley. July 27th, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Lineboro serves Mason-Dixon line Lineboro citizens were called to action in 1915, after a group gathered at a schoolhouse to talk about fire protection. August 3, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer


Westminster service spans 180 years The Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1 began in 1823, when members erected a plain board fire house built with two large doors, no windows and a shingle roof. The first building stood on Church Street, and it was only large enough to hold a hand engine, according to company history. August 17, 2003 by Jamie Schmidt, Times Staff Writer

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Fire CC Depts History, Fire CC Depts 01 Mount Airy, Fire CC Depts 02 Hampstead, Fire CC Depts 03 Westminster, Fire CC Depts 04 Manchester, Fire CC Depts 05 Taneytown, Fire CC Depts 06 Pleasant Valley, Fire CC Depts 07 Lineboro, Fire CC Depts 08 Union Bridge, Fire CC Depts 09 Reese, Fire CC Depts 10 New Windsor, Fire CC Depts 11 Harney, Fire CC Depts 12 Sykesville, Fire CC Depts 13 Gamber, Fire CC Depts 14 Winfield