Recent calls
Quick Knock Down on Winter Street House Fire...
Tuesday, June 13th, 2017
The early afternoon of June 13, 2017 the Hagerstown Fire Department was alerted for a house fire on Winter Street in the West End of Hagerstown. The Washington County ECC received calls reporting smo...
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2nd Alarm Fire Displaces 46 Residents....
Monday, June 12th, 2017
On the morning of June 12, 2017 the Hagerstown Fire Department was alerted, along with crews from the Long Meadow Vol. Fire Company and Community Rescue Service for a reported Apartment Building Fire ...
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Working Apartment Fire on Salem Avenue...
Monday, November 21st, 2016
Hagerstown stations were alerted to Box Alarm 3-4-7 for an apartment fire at 809 Salem Ave. at 09:33 hrs. Engine 4 (Western Enterprise) arrived shortly after dispatch and reported smoke coming from t...
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2nd Alarm Structure Fire at Doey's House....
Monday, November 21st, 2016
An individual leaving Meritus Medical Center contacted 9-1-1 advising a building was on fire near Yale Drive. Box Alarm 10-3 was immediately dispatched at 02:50 hrs. bringing multiple departments on ...
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FHHC: Fireman's Museum

First Hose Company's

Museum of Firefighting History

This page is hereby dedicated to the Museum of Firefighting History.  After several years and alot of labor from members of the Hose Company, the second half of our building at 31 S. Potomac Street has become the Museum of Firefighting History.  

The museum is packed full of historical artifacts that date back to the early 1800's and encompasses the history of the First Hagerstown Hose Company, all of the volunteer fire companies that make up the Hagerstown Fire Department and the Hagerstown Fire Department in itself.

 

"COMING SOON"

With the recent closure of the Pioneer Hook-n-Ladder Company's firehouse and their move to Engine 3's quarters.  The memorabilia from their years of service are being moved to the Museum of Firefighting History.

Volunteers from the Pioneers and our members will be moving their items and setting up their display in its new home shortly.  

Check back or stop into the museum to see this wonderful display. 

 

"NEW ATTRACTION"

The Museum of Firefighting History recently received a "Handmade" Quilt that is now on display.  The quilt displays all the names of the men and women who lost their lives in the devastating attacks on September 11, 2001.

Please stop in and see this magnificent display honoring those who lost their lives.

 

SOME OF OUR DISPLAYS

Framed photographs of fire apparatus that saw service with us at the First Hose Company and the Hagerstown Fire Department adorn the walls of the museum.  These are just a few of the hundreds of photographs that we have in our possession.

Pictures of our firemen from years gone by and the equipment that they used from our beginnings as a bucket brigade are proudly displayed throughout the room.

Prominent members of the Hose Company whom went into the career fire service of the Hagerstown Fire Department and rose to great heights have their won displays within the museum.  The display above shows items from one of those individuals, Mr. William Karn, who rose to the rank of Deputy Fire Chief and Acting Fire Chief.  Mr. Karn's turn-out gear, uniform hats and badges from his long career are prominently on display.

The tables to the right are set up like they were in our game room of the engine house years gone by.  This is where many men enjoyed card games, laughs at jokes and pinochle.

                           

The early gear worn by the firemen of the Hose Company is on display just as it hung in the adjacent engine room years ago, ready for the sounding of the arm.  

Generations of firemen wore the "Tin Lizzy" helmets seen on the left and rubber coats before they were issued canvas coats.

The coat proudly displayed on the right was worn by our beloved A. K. McGraw, a driver of the Hose Company.  Many of the photographs that adorn the walls of our museum were taken by Mr. McGraw and thanks to his family, the Hose Company was able to retain his photographs.

Steam engines became the norm for many fire departments across the country in the late 1800's and the early 19th century, Hagerstown had two (2) steam fire engines in its long history.  Proudly displayed within the museum is one of the torches used to ignite the steam engines here in Hagerstown.  

These engines were owned by the Independent Junior and the Western Enterprise Fire Companies.

 

 

The museums hours of operations will be:

Friday & Saturday

1:00 - 5:00

Closed on all major holidays

Special Tours can be arranged in advance.  

Please call (301) 797-0907, (301)797-0843, (301) 733-3339 or email us at museum@engineone.org to make arrangements and one of our Museum Curators will be glad to assist you in making the arrangements.

© 2023 The First Hose Company of Hagerstown