Past Chiefs                                                                      Past Presidents                                                       Eric R. Feltyberger Firefighter of the Year

Jenkintown was incorporated in December 1874 with the ceding of 248 acres from Abington Township. In the early years, there seldom was organized fire protection for the community located within the municipality.  

From 1852 until 1867 there was a short lived organization called the Jenkintown Engine Company that operated a homemade hose cart from the area of York Rd and West Ave. The company was evicted several times, including to make way for the Cottman House Hotel. As interest faded, operations ground to a halt. 

The story of the Pioneer Fire Company's formation begins in the Spring of 1884 when a stable belonging to a Mr. W.H. Thomas caught fire on Greenwood Ave. The fire very nearly became a conflagration and was brought under control by the hard work of many townspeople. Immediately after this incident many residents of the area began discussing the immediate need for a fire company. In June of 1884 a meeting occurred at Cottman's Hall which was attended by 15 people. 

On June 17, 1884 temporary company officers were elected to begin the process of officially forming a fire company. These officers included Hugh H. O'Neill as President, Byron McCracken as Secretary, and Thomas B. Harper as Treasurer. During the meeting Mr. Harper, having obtained a copy of the by-laws and constitution of the Pottstown Fire Department which had recently been incorporated, read these aloud to help those in attendance consider a framework for the proposed organization. 

It is notable to mention that Thomas Harper, while serving as a charter member and treasurer for over 25 years would become a state senator in the early 20th Century. 

The initial company officers nominated a committee consisting of J.W. Ridpath, Thomas Brannin, and Joseph W. Hunter to begin drafting a constitution and by-laws and to consider possible names for the fire company. 

Just one week later on June 24, 1884 another meeting commenced in which a set of by-laws and constitution were read and adopted. The committee also returned with the proposal to name the organization the Pioneer Fire Company No.1. At this time a committee was created to begin fundraising to purchase equipment, print the approved constitution and by-laws, and to locate a suitable plot to house the fire company. 
 

Harry N. Christie agreed to lease the company a plot of land for $50 per year with a five year lease term. At this time the company was offered the use of the Public Hall Company for further company business until a station could be constructed. 

Permanent officers were elected in August of 1884 which consisted of; Hugh H. O'Neill as President, Joseph W. Hunter as Vice President, Byron McCracken as recording secretary, Howard Fleck as financial secretary and Thomas B. Harper as treasurer. In addition; J.W. Ridpath, George Fleck, Howard Fleck, Joseph W. Hunter, Frederick Palmer, and W.H. Thomas were named as directors for either a term of one or two years. Finally, Frederick Palmer and W.H. Thomas were named as chief engineers; Thomas B. Harper, Frank Kelly, and Thomas Brannin were named as assistant engineers; and Richard Myers was named as foreman. 

On September 24, 1884 the first piece of apparatus was ordered by the company. This consisted of a 50-Gallon single chemical engine with 200ft of 3/4" chemical hose and one hook & ladder truck including with six ladders and complete equipment. This equipment was purchased from Charles T. Halloway of Baltimore, Maryland and was received on November 1, 1884. 

The original fire house was initially erected in October 1884 on Webster Street (now named Leedom Street) by W.H. Thomas, measuring 16'x32'. 

The Pioneer Fire Company's charter was granted by Norristown on December 16, 1884. 

The first fire response of the company occurred on January 25, 1885 where a fire located between the rafters and ceiling of a home was extinguished without issue. Initially the company determined that they would respond to fires within a two mile radius of the Jenkintown Post Office. 

In February of 1886, with increasing responses it was determined that a fire alarm was needed. The company obtained a fire alarm bell and installed a bell tower above the station. 

On February 2, 1889 a notable night of fires occurred where consecutive fires occurred in Abington Township which left some of the company members dissatisfied with the companies performance. Due in part to this event several members resigned from Pioneer Fire Company and began the formation of the Independent Fire Company No.2 in Jenkintown.  

In 1889 the company moved their engine house on two occasions around the area of the current station on Greenwood Ave to the west of York Rd. At this time the company employed a janitor for $3 per month with the function of cleaning the house as well as maintaing the lamp. 

A notable incident occured on March 9, 1890 when a rider arrived in Jenkintown reporting a serious fire in Ambler in the area around Butler and Main Street involving multiple structures. The Pioneer and Independent Fire Companies rang their bells and loaded their equipment onto flat rail cars and arrived in the vicinity within 30 minutes. 

In February 1891 the company paid $6.24 to have the building wired and included the installation of it's first electric lights. 

In April 1894 the company agreed to purchase the plot of land in which the station now sits for $1,200. 

A modern engine house was constructed between 1906 and 1907, finally opening in November 1907. 

The first motorized pump fire apparatus was purchased in 1909, around the time the water company began running water mains in the area and installing fire hydrants. 

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