Welcome to the
Official
Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company
History
Website
On December 14, 1909 a meeting was helding in the
Opera House be the citizens of the Town of Bridgeville to
organize a fire company and resulted in the appointing of
Ira Lewis, William E. Dimes, and Howard E. Hardesty to
secure the necessary membership.
On December
17, 1909 a second meeting was held at the same location at
the follwing officers were elected. C.P. Swain, president;
George E. Miller, Vice President; Harry W. Viven,
Chief; James W. Layton, foreman #1; Willliam E. Dimes,
foreman #2. the chair then appointed Harry L. Cannon, Harry
C. Layton, and William P. Short for a commitee on
by-laws, which were adopted December
21, 1909.
Feb. 7, 1910- lanterns and ladders
were purchased.
Apr. 14, 1910- Fire Chief Harry W.
Wiven call for the first fire drill.
Oct. 15,
1910- A commitee was appointed to purchase a lot and
get estimates on a suitable building.
Nov. 17, 1910-
The Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company was
incorporated.
Dec. 29, 1910- The building committee
submitted plans and were instructed to proceed with the
plans.
Apr. 7, 1917- A ladder truck and firemens
suits were purchased.
Jan. 4, 1923- A
commitee was appointed by the president to select a
suitable fire engine and report to Bridgeville town
commissioners, who in turn called a special election
and bonded the town for the necessary amount to purchase the
selected engine.
Jul. 17, 1923- The company purchased
600 ft. of fabric hose for the engine.
Sept. 2, 1924-
Badges for the members were purchased.
Feb. 2,
1925- Committee was appointed to select a suitable lot for
new fire house.
Mar. 1925- A motion was offered
to change the by-laws and constitution. May 4th they were
read and approved.
Apr. 1925- A new lot was purchased
for new firehouse.
Apr. 1925- Joined the
Delaware State Volunteer Firemans Association, which
assisted in securing the sum of $300.oo for each
motorized company in Sussex County from the Levy
Court.
May 1925- Revised the by-laws suitable for an
up to date motorized fire company.
Jul. 1925- A
book was purchased to keep record of all fires. William
H. Quillen was elected the fire Fire
Recorder.
Apr. 4, 1927- A buidling committee
was appointed to plan for the new building.
Aug. 5,
1928- The old fire house was sold to Ralph &
Paul Adams.
Oct. 1928- Second Reo fire engine
purchased.
Nov. 5, 1928- First meeting in new
buidling.
Dec. 14, 1934- Celebrated its first
25 years of active service
Jun 30, 1936-
The Ladies Auxiliary of the Bridgeville Vol.
Fire Company was organized with 25 charter
members.
Oct. 1936- New 1936 Reo was put into
service.
August 1943- Puchase of second
hand Ford Engine.
June 1947- Joseph Willey and
Myer Dimes were appointed to go to Claymont, Del. to look at
a second hand Pontiac Ambulance. This was purchased in July.
Ambulance service in the community began with chief
engineer. Rober J. Bennett was elected first Ambulance
Captain in Jan. 1948.
Jul 1947- Company purchased its
first parade unifroms.
Dec. 1948- Longest office held
in the Company came to and end. J. Sherman Neal
had taken the office of secretary from 1928 to
1948.
July 1949- The Pontiac Ambulance was
replaced with new 1949 white Ford ambulance.
Aug.
1950- Motion made to make an addition to present
building of 30'x40'.
Apr. 1951 Buidling of addition
completed. It included a modern kitchen and more space
to the Fire Hall on the second floor, while on the main
floor, more room was added to engine room and a bath
room installed along with new power and heating
plants.
Dec. 1952- First two-way radio was
installed in the #6 engine.
Dec. 12, 1959- Company
celebrated 50 years of active service to the community of
Bridgeville.
Jul. 17, 1960- New fire house was
dedicated.
Nov. 1964- motion was made to hook up
lines to Sussex County Call Board to enable Call Board to
activate siren.
Mar. 1965- Motion was
made to have 10 telephone bells installed in firemen's
homes for alarm notification.
More history of
Bridgeville Vol. Fire company will be placed onto this
site as soon as it becomes
available. |
Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company
Inc.,
313-315 Market Street Bridgeville, Delaware
19933
