Blog: The first Carroll County Firemen’s Association Convention, May 15, 1924

In June of 1924 volunteers from the six fire departments in existence at the time in Carroll County were no doubt comparing notes at their monthly meetings after the first ever-annual convention of the newly formed Carroll County Firemen’s Association.

The convention was held May 15, 1924 at the Westminster fire station, which was at that time located at 66 East Main St. in Westminster.

Firefighters from across the county had formed the firemen’s association in the previous year, in 1923, “to promote issues of common concern,” according to an article written by Jay Graybeal for the Historical Society of Carroll County a number of years ago.

The six companies that formed the firemen’s association were: The Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1, first organized in 1823; Union Bridge Volunteer Fire Company, 1887; Hampstead Volunteer Fire Company, 1900; Lineboro Volunteer Fire Department, 1915; Manchester's Fire Engine and Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, 1893; and Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company, 1897.

The fire companies formed because, “from the founding days of the county, accidental fire posed the greatest risk to life and property,” wrote Graybeal.  “Wooden homes heated with fireplaces or stoves and lit by candlelight were frequent casualties.  Volunteer fire companies were organized in the larger towns during the nineteenth century to help protect a community from a devastating fire.  Despite their best efforts, nearly every town in Carroll (had) a great fire in its history.”

Today there are a total of 14 volunteer fire companies in the county.  In addition to the initial six companies that formed the association in 1923: The Mount Airy Volunteer Fire Company began organizing in 1921; Pleasant Valley Community Fire Company, 1931; Sykesville Freedom District Fire Company, 1933; and the New Windsor Fire and Hose Company No. 1 first came into being in 1908 and re-organized in 1948. 

The Reese Volunteer Fire Company was incorporated on April 7, 1948; Harney Volunteer Fire Company, 1951; Winfield and Community Volunteer Fire Department,1964; and Gamber and Community Fire Company organized on August 22, 1963.

According to Graybeal, the May 16, 1924 issue of the Westminster Democratic Advocate newspaper reported that “The Westminster fire company in the past year responded to 31 fires, 21 of them being in the country.”

Graybeal further observed, “In 1959 a committee of the Firemen’s Association looked back over its history and noted a number of changes.  The membership had grown from six companies to twelve; annual fire calls had increased from 100 to 785…  Since [1923] a few fire companies have been founded but the number of properties protected by them and operating costs have skyrocketed.  Volunteer firemen, however, remain the backbone of the fire service in Carroll.”