Two sever fires prior to the turn of the centyr prompted the citizens of Hellertown to realize the need for an organized fire-fighting unit. Although informal meetings had been held prior to 1896, little materialized until a blaze destroyed the Christ Lutheran Church at Saucon and Northampton Streets on April 17, 1896. This fire, along with another which consumed two barns and stables on Main Street on Apri 17, 1897, provided the impetus to form what is now the Dewey Fire Company, No. 1.
On December 17, 1897, a preliminary meeting was held at the Cottage Hotel with about 35 men in attendance. Work began on drafting the Constitution and By-Laws, and on January 18, 1898 the first officers of the Hellertown Hook & Ladder were elected. Admiral Dewey's victory in Manila Harbor on May 1, 1898 caused Milton Keller (the first Fire Chief) to suggest the name Dewey Fire Company to the volunteers. The name was formally adopted prior to the chartering of the organization.
The Company met at the Odd Fellows Hall on Main Street until some time in 1900 when the Borough erected a combination Fire House, Borough Hall, Police Station, and Jail on Saucon Street at a cost of under $4000. During those first decades of the organization, the Fire House became the focal point of the social lives of the members. Numerous parades were attended by the firemen who contracted the Hellertown Band to accompany them on many occasions.
A gala clambake was first held in Rentzheimer's Grove on August 6, 1906 (cost $1.00/person) and in June of 1907, a refrigerator for the storage of beer was installed in the basement by the South Bethlehem Brewing Co.
On New Year's Eve, 1908, a pork and sauerkraut supper was held for the membership - a tradition that continued for over eight decades. The first carnival night was held on October 2 and 3 in 1915 and included an outdoor moving picture show. The carnival was expanded to two full weeks in 1917 and continues today to be a major source of revenue for the company.
While the Fire House remained strictly a gentlemen's area, records show the addition of a Ladies Auxiliary some time in 1921. That year also saw the firemen turn out to assist at a Halloween Parade for the first time. The growth of the oraginazation kept pace with the community and when the Borough offices moved to their present building in 1940, the Fire Company was given use of the entire building. On July 1955, the present building was dedicated. Numerous additions have occurred since then to keep pace with the growth of the community and the apparatus needed to fulfill the mission of the volunteers. Today we have over 600 members - 28 of whom have held membership for over fifty years!
The Dewey Fire Company has been host
to the Four County Firemen's Association Convenion and Parade in 1929,
1959, 1964, 1972, 1983 and 1998. 1998 also was the 101st anniversary of
the Four County Firemen's Association Convention and Parade.
January, 1899:First pieve of new equipment arrives. Handsomely painted and striped hose cart. Cost: $186. (Unit may now be seen at the Hellertown Historical Society.)
March, 1905: Chemical Extinguisher purchased for putting our small fires.
October, 1910: Borough Council approves the transfer of Foreign Fire Insurance receipts from the State to be given to the Fire Company.
May, 1914: Demonstration of new chemical engine
July 1920: New Howe Pumper with Hale rotary Pump, 10' suction hose, and electric generator delivered. Cost: $5,500. Also in July of 1920, Borough installs electric sirens to alert firemen of emergency.
November, 1921: First rubber boots (18pr.) and coats (12) delivered. Cost: 196.20.
May, 1926: Dewey takes delivery of a Mack Pumper with 500gpm engine. Cost: $4400 for the chassis.
1954: the infamous Hahn Pumper arrives with two engines, two transmissions, and two differentials. (Its life in the Borough was short.)
1956: Dewey takes delivery of a 750 gpm American LaFrance pumper. This was a "city" truck purchased in haste to replace Big Bertha.
1959: Dewey takes delivery of the last open cab pumper, a 750 gpm American LaFrance.
September, 1974: Dewey begins using Scott self-contained breathin apparatus. These replace the "Chemox" units previously used.
September, 1977 Dewey takes delivery of a 1977 LaFrance 1000 gpm engine. This is Dewey's first engine with an enclosed cab: it is also Dewey's first engine with multiple preconnectedlins. The unit replaces a 1941 Mack 500 gpm engine. Cost: $66,570. Also in 1977, Dewey switches to the Northampton County Fire radio frequency, and begins dispatching via Plectron alerting devices. Also in 1977, Dewey adds two additional bays to the Durham Street Fire Station. The bays will house two ambulances and the aerial truck; the existing quarters are too small for these pieces of apparatus. The addition is dedicated to the memory of Paul Ruch.
May, 1981: Dewey takes delivery of a 1966 Maxim 100 foot aerial truck purchased from Pearl River, N.Y. The unit replaces a 1940 LaFrance 85 foot aerial truck purchased from the City of Bethlehem. Cost: $66,283.
August 30, 1981: An arsonist sets five fires in the borough. Portion of Spring Hill Shopping Center, Dan's IGA and Weirbach's Texaco Station are destroyed or damaged; other fires at the Saucon Valley Middl School and the Hellertown Democratic Association cause minor damage.
March, 1983: Dewey installs a cascade system to refill breathing air tanks.
December, 1983: Dewey begins using turnout gear with bunker pants. This gear replaces the long bunker coats and full length boots previously used. The gear prove its worth shortly thereafter as Dewey assists Lower Saucon Township in fighting two arson fires in sub-zero temperatures.
June 1989: Dewey takes delivery of a 1989 Hahn 1000gpm engine. This is Dewey's first engine with large diametr preconnected lines and deluge gun, and pre-piped foam lines. The unit replaces a 1956 LaFrance 750 gpm engine. Cost: $141,856.
September, 1992: Dewey begins using individual PAL devices. These units activate if a firefighter remains motionless for an extended period; their alarm will warn others of "a fireman down", and will guide rescuers to the firefighter.
October, 1996: A major arson fire strikes the borough again. Newberry's Variety Store and Dan's IGA are destroyed by a fire set in the rear shopping area of Newberry's despite the efforts of firefighters and departments fro the surrounding area.
January 1998: Dewey takes delivery on a series of Holmatro hydraulic rescue tools. The tools will be used for rescue and extrication activities. Cost: $30,000.
March 1998: Dewey takes delivery of a 1998 Marion/Freightliner rescue truck. The truck includes an on-board cascade system for filling breathing air bottles at the incident scene, as well as pre-connected electrical, hydraulic and air reels. Cost: 199,671.10.
September 4,2000: Dewey Fire Co. took delivery of a thermal imaging camera from the Scott Aviation Company. This device will aid in the searching of victims in a fire or search and rescue situations. The device uses inferred radiation (which everyone releases) and displays this radiation on a monitor in a way that aids recuers in finding the patient.
December 2000: Dewey Fire Company No 1 took delivery of 25 pairs of Globe Turnout gear made of a PBI type fabric. They have a zipper/ velcro closure and weigh about half of the previous Nomex type turnout gear. Also with these turnout gear, the personell with the new gear were assigned new leather Ranger boots (much lighter and more comfortable than the rubber style) and also Streamlight Survior flashlights to complete their gear. Also in December, Dewey began using Cleamens Industry's PAS V system for firefighter accountablitiy. This will help keep track of what apparatus a member responded on and thier assignment on a fireground.
March 9, 2001: Dewey Fire Company took delivery of ,and placed in service quickly, 18 new Scott Health and Saftey Scott Air Fifty Air packs of the 2.2 (2200psi) model and 2 of the 4.5 (4500psi) models. These airpacks replaced the previous 19 2.2 Scott Air Packs which had aluminium cyclenders. The new packs are made of composite materals and a kevlar wrapped for strength. The packs weigh less than 30 pounds in some cases. They also have intigrated PASS devices that are turned on when the pack's air is turned on, thus eliminating the need to manually turn the PASS device on.
Page Updated 04.19.2001
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