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History
Of The Chestertown Volunteer
Fire Company |
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There
are no records to document the idea that some people
have believed, that there was a fire department in
Chestertown as early as 1825.The mutual fire insurance
company was founded in 1845 and probably was the source
of fire fighting equipment. A hand pumper that was built
in Philadelphia, PA in 1804 was purchased in 1878 for
$1,000 and was operated by volunteers. All of the
equipment, including the hand pumper, was turned over to
the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company when it became a
corporation in 1908. Some of the other equipment
included a ladder wagon with one 40 foot single section
ladder, a chemical tank on wheels, and a hose reel on
wheels. The company still owns the original hand pumper. |
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A new
firehouse was started in 1908 and fire company members
built it from blocks they made themselves. It was
completed and dedicated on October 11, 1909. A 600-pound
bell that was donated to the town by Miss Helen B.
Denmead of Baltimore was rung at the celebration. |
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Chestertown's first motorized piece of equipment, an
International with a rotary gear pump, was bought in
1923. A Pierce Arrow touring car was converted into a
fire truck in 1926 and an ambulance was purchased in
1929. |
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In 1938
the town paid to have a new firehouse built on Cross
Street. The company remained at this location until 1979
when it moved to its present location on Maple Avenue. |
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The
Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company has had a number of
major fires in its history. In 1910 almost the entire
block between Cross Street and Spring Avenue was lost.
The second was the Vita Food Cannery in 1953. A third
was the Kent Manufacturing Company, a fireworks factory,
in 1954. Another fire was at McCrory's on August 29
1992. |
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We have
been supported by an active Explores Post that was
started in 1967 and an Auxiliary that was started in
1932. |
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Past Chief's |
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Past Presidents |
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Historical Photos |
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STATION
TOTALS |
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January |
50 |
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February |
43 |
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March |
48 |
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April |
43 |
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May |
3 |
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June |
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July |
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August |
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| September |
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October |
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November |
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December |
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2008 Total |
187 |
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2007 |
637 |
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2006 |
512 |
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EQUIPMENT
TOTALS |
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Engine Companies |
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110 Runs |
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Tower Ladder |
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28 Runs |
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Rescue Company |
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26 Runs |
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