On December 21, 1903, a certificate of incorporation of the Bryn Mawr
Fire Company was presented in the Court of Common Pleas for Montgomery
County. The court degreed that this charter was approved and upon
recording would allow the incorporation of the Fire Company. On June
22, 1903 the Certificate of incorporation was issued. On February 2,
1904 the Bryn Mawr Fire Company became a Corporation. On the Charter
were 32 names of Subscribers from Haverford, Bryn Mawr and Rosemont.
Among the subscribers were men of wealth and great positions in the
area and it became easy to see why the Fire Company got the nickname
"Millionaire Fire Company."
In the early days of volunteer fire companies there was great
competition among the four companies operating in the Township: Bryn
Mawr, Merion, Narberth and Union Fire Company of Bala Cynwyd. They soon
met and divided the areas into four sections. The first fire engine
that Bryn Mawr acquired was a # 4 Metropolitan steam fire engine, which
was delivered in 1904. It was kept in the coach house on a local estate
until a one story stone building was erected, next to where the Fire
House is now located. Soon after, a new chemical engine, carrying 400
feet of chemical hose, 1,000 feet of the highest standard quality hose,
ladders and hand extinguishers was purchased. A makeshift fire gong,
made from a locomotive tire, was hung outside the fire house. A local
blacksmith rigged up a large sledge hammer, which operated by tugging
on a rope, so when an alarm sounded its loud peal could be heard all
over the countryside.
Each year a Fireman's Fair and Bazaar was held to raise funds for
maintenance. A hall was hired with music and entertainment. In the
summer they held picnics and the Bryn Mawr Brass Band, which had been
organized in 1869, gave concerts. Everyone in the area pitched in to
help. One group purchased a bell from the old Humane Fire Company of
Philadelphia, which weighed 956 pounds and was hung in the tower of the
building. In the first year the Fire Company rented horses, to pull the
fire trucks, from a livery stable on Merion Avenue or from the Bryn
Mawr Ice Company.
A foreman of a paint shop for a local carriage company offered to
repaint the steamer truck and the chemical wagon at no charge. One day
a committee from the Fire Company arrived at the carriage works, just
as they were mixing a batch of green paint be used on one of the
coaches. The group admired the shade of green and right then and there
the agreed that the fire engines should be painted that green color,
with gold for the lettering and striping. Soon they owned their own
horses and three sets of harnesses were kept suspended above the two
poles of the steamer and two sets of harnesses above the one pole of
the chemical wagon. When the alarm sounded the horses trotted from
their stalls to their respected places, the sets of harnesses were
dropped over their heads and put on them securely. The steamer engine
was fired and they were ready to leave.
Bryn Mawr Fire Company Engines – c. 1920
When automotive engines were being built, it still was more practical
to use the old stand-by, the horse. The motorized engines had to be
hand cranked and were slow to start. They also often broke down on the
way to fires. Horses were quick to respond to the alarm, quick to fall
into place to be hitched and made good time on the roads that were not
paved. As early as 1904, there were a few fire hydrants, but not many.
Bryn Mawr Fire Company Engine – c. 1950
Over time, motorized vehicles became the equipment of the fire company
and the larger the equipment became, the more difficult it was to house
the vehicles. On October 14, 1995 the Bryn Mawr Fire Company led the
only parade Bryn Mawr has had on Lancaster Ave. The Phillie Phanatic
rode on top of the hook and ladder truck!
Bryn Mawr Fire Company – Today
