Safety Hook and Ladder Company, former station

Safety Hook and Ladder Company, 476 Water Street, Orbisonia, Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County. Very little can be found about SHLCo. In June 1890 they ordered a new truck from Seneca, New York (possibly Silsby Manufacturing Company). Several mentions of working at fires until 1893 were located. In 1894 a short article reports the Sheriff selling their wagon for $240. This is the last I can find.

Excelsior Fire Department No. 1, old station

 

Excelsior Fire Department No. 1, old station, 610 East Cambria Street, Bellwood, Pa. Blair County Station 22. Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company was formed October 12, 1981. On March 27, 1894 they changed their name to Excelsior Fire Department No. 1 and received their charter. They purchased the old Methodist church on East Cambria Street in June of 1896 and held their first meeting in the new firehouse February 27, 1900. That hall was torn down in the spring of 1950 to build a new station. During this time the building used to store records and small equipment burned. The new station, shown here, opened in October 1951. On April 4, 1998 ground was broken at First Street and Boyles Street for the current firehouse. They moved into the current building at 399 South First Street in August 1998 and dedicated it June 27, 1999. 

Markleysburg-Henry Clay VFD Social Hall

Markleysburg-Henry Clay Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, 100 Fireman Lane, Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, Fayette County station 27-1. Established in 1955 and chartered in June 1955, protecting Marckleysburg Borough and Henry Clay Township. MHCVFD purchased this original station on April 2, 1959. Station 27-2 located at 4951 National Pike was purchased in September 1961. At some point this building was converted to a Social Hall.

Vigilant Hose Company No. 1, Shippensburg, Pa., former station

Vigilant Hose Company, No. 1, former station, 129 East King Street, Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Cumberland County Company 52. Organized February 22, 1843 as the Vigilant Fire Company and re-chartered as the Vigilant Hose Company No. 1 of Shippensburg in 1899. Originally housed at this location in the old Council House located at this same location. The Council House was replaced by the Municipal Building that opened on September 20, 1928. Both the Council House an the Municipal Building were shared with the borough administration and the police department. On June 16, 2012 the Vigilants moved their operation to the newly built Shippensburg Emergency Services Building, along with Shippensburg EMS, at 20 Walnut Bottom Road. The First Church of God purchased the building from the VHC and following major renovations reopened the building for multiple purposes.

Good Will Steam Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3, former station

 

Good Will Steam Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3, southwest corner of East Liberty Street and Central Avenue, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. CFD is Franklin County Company 1. The Good Will Fire Company No. 3, began on May 30, 1877 as  Third Ward Hose Company. At a meeting on September 5, 1877 the name of Good Will Hose Company was chosen. Another name change came with the August 2, 1898 incorporation as Good Will Steam Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3. This building was the first building built for the Company and originally sat across the street at northeast corner of Black Alley and German Street (now Liberty Street). The building was moved here in and used as a private residence by one of their long time drivers. The second station was located on Catherine Street and used until the Good Will Company moved with The Friendship Engine and Hose Company, No. 1 into the newly constructed Chambersburg Fire Department's McKinley Street Station in 1976. 

The Chambersburg Fire Department is a combination career and volunteer department that traces it's roots to 1780 with the Friendship Company, followed by the Juniors, Good Will, Cumberland Valley and Franklins (as well as others). Some consolidation occurred in the mid-1970's.

Zelienople Fire Department, former stations

Zelienople Fire Department, former stations, 111 West New Castle Street (Municipal Building) and 615 West Beaver Street (Public Works Building) Zelienople, Pennsylvania. Butler County Station 22. ZFD was formed in 1898 and stationed equipment in the municipal building (built in 1935) on West New Castle Street and later opened a substation on West Beaver Street. Zelienople Fire Department consolidated services with Harmony Fire Department in 2015 forming the Harmony Fire District.  On July 1, 2023 ground was broken for this new fire station on Main Street Zelienople and on September 3, 2024 they moved into it.

Los Angeles Fire Department Museum, old Station 36

Los Angeles Fire Department, (aka LA City FD) Harbor Museum, old Station 36, 639 South Harbor Boulevard, San Pedro, California. LAFD began as a volunteer fire department in 1871 and became a career department in 1886. It is the third largest department in the U.S., after New York and Chicago.  Old Station 36 opened in 1928 and moved to 1005 North Gaffey Street in San Pedro on July 8, 2007. 

Vigilant Hose Company, No. 1, circa 1972

Vigilant Hose Company, No. 1

Shippensburg, Pa.

Circa 1972

West Catasauqua Fire Company

West Catasauqua Fire Company, 2008 2nd Avenue, Whitehall, Pennsylvania, Lehigh County Station 37. West Catty FC was organized August 20, 1915 and chartered November 11, 1915. Through 1918 apparatus was housed in various private buildings. Ground was purchased and a new building was planned for after the war (WWI) A building committee was appointed  in July 1916 and the building was completed in December 1923.  WCTC is a part of the Whitehall Township Fire Department, along with Hokendauqua FC, Laurel FC, Fullerton FC and Eqypt FC. They respond with 2 engines and a brush truck.

Potomac Fire Company No. 2

Potomac Fire Company, No. 2, 61 Main Street, Westernport, Maryland, Allegany County Station 22. Established in 1912, PFC provides protection to Westernport, McCoole and Luke, Maryland. Equipment includes an engine, an engine-tanker, heavy rescue and brush truck. 

Lake Dillon Fire / Summit County Fire EMS former Station 10

Silverthorne Fire Protection District (former), Lake Dillion Fire Authority Station 10 (former), Summit Fire and EMS Authority, Station 10 (former), 401 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, Colorado, Summit County. Originally formed in 1974, Silverthorne Fire Protection District merged into Lake Dillon Fire Authority in 1994 and by ballot in 1998 into Lake Dillon Fire Protection District and ultimately merged into Summit Fire and EMS Authority on January 1, 2018. I don't know when they moved out and ArtSpot Marketplace (operated by the Town of Silverthorne) opened. A grand opening for their new station at 26300 Blue River Parkway was held June 4, 2025. These photos were taken in October 2024.

East End Independent Hose and Chemical Company, No. 1

East End Independent Hose and Chemical Company, No. 1, 512 Race Street, Catasauqua, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Formed in 1911 to cover Catasauqua's Third Ward. Originally rejected into the Catasauqua Fire Department, but eventually added in 1916. Catasauqua Fire Department was organized April 15, 1895 from the Phoenix and Southwark Companies. In 2020 the original companies were decertified and reorganized as one department. The East End Social Club disbanded in 2017 and the station was sold privately in 2019.