Houtzdale Fire Company

History Page

On July 13, 1887, The Houtzdale Hook and Ladder Company was organized at a meeting in the Central Hotel. P.B. Cosgrove was made President; Gerson Herman was Secretary; W.C. Langsford was Treasurer; and O.P. Galer was Fire Chief.

In 1889 the company adopted a constitution and by-laws under the name Houtzdale Fire Department and thus, received its charter. However it is locally known as The Houtzdale Fire Company.

The man that probably did more than any others during the early years to build a strong organization was Alex Smith. It was him who called a meeting of six neighboring companies: Osceola, Philipsburg, Dubois, Tyrone, Clearfield, and Houtzdale organized the Central District Volunteer Fireman's Association. He became its first president in 1893 and was re-elected twice. In his honor the district association had erected a special memorial to Alex Smith in the Brisbin Cemetery.

In the old days on each side of the wagon were small hooks on which hung many leather buckets. They carried 40 foot extension ladders. At the scene of the fire the firemen arranged themselves assembly fashion from well or creek to the burning building. The buckets were filled and passed quickly from hand to hand up the ladder, and the empty buckets were tossed to be filled again. In later years, when water had been piped into town, they used hose carts. There was no truck until 1919.

During July 1937, The company celebrated the first 50 years of fire service to the public of the area as a volunteer company and during that time had acquired the distinction of owning a fine building known as The Fireman's Hall, and the latest model of gasoline fire engine, hose carts. They took great pride in the fact they have secured it all through private subscriptions of citizens, and by the efforts of the members of the company. It was at one time considered the richest volunteer fire company in the state. They owned a driving park, an opera house with a seating capacity of 1500 people fully equipped, A large dancing pavilion, and a ball field beside its home.

As new apparatus was purchased it was becoming more difficult to house the modern equipment in the old fire house, and in order to relieve this problem in August 16, 1969 on the corner of Good and Eliza Streets ground was broken for a new fire hall which was constructed of concrete block and the front faced with a brick casing which has a large main hall and kitchen equipped to serve weddings and other functions. Also, there is an apparatus garage, to house the equipment. Which measures 50 feet by 70 feet and on the second floor is a meeting room, an office and a tv room for the firefighters.

(Information provided from the 100th Anniversary booklet)