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| Eagle Hose Company #2 Firemen (CIRCA-1913) |
*The Eagle Hose Company #2 organization was affected on
December 18, 1911 at the home of Mr. William East, by 20 young men.
According to historical data concerning the organization, there was only one company
in the Borough of West Berwick. The young men saw the need for a second company and accordingly were organized. At the first
meeting the receipts were less than one dollar, but this did not daunt the ambitious young men. Mr. East and several other
citizens set out on what proved to be a greater task than what they had anticipated, but they were equal to the task. They
all had visions of a nice fire hall and equipment and the manner in which this was accomplished is an intresting part
of the history of the Berwick Fire Dept.
The company had no funds and no place to meet, nor any equipment with which to
fight fires. However they were determined to win the Borough Council to their plans and to also gain their confidence. Meetings
were held in vacant store rooms and barber shops until the Borough Council rented a store room on LaSalle St. for a meeting
house. The company was quartered here for several years. Finally, the Council gave them better quarters in the Town Hall with
the other company.
When the charter was obtained or the company by Alex C. Jackson on May 29, 1912,
there were forty charter members.*
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| Eagle Hose Firehouse (CIRCA 1921) |
In 1916 the Borough of West Berwick merged with the neighboring Borough of Berwick.
Both the West Berwick Hose Co. #1 and Eagle Hose Co. #2 joined the ranks of the Berwick Fire Dept. which consisted of the
Reliance Fire Co. #1, Ranger Hose Co. #2, and Defender Fire Co. #3.
When West Berwick was merged into the Borough of Berwick, all municipal business
was moved into Berwick City Hall. The former West Berwick Borough Hall was left to the Borough of Berwick and was utilized
as the Eagle Hose Co's hall until 1995.
In 1995 the Company aquired property on South Mercer St. A new hall was erected on
the site and is the current base of operations for the Eagle Hose Company.
During the Eagle's long history, the Company went through many changes. Various apparatus
were assigned or purchaced through the years. Each piece of appararus designed on the success of their predessors
in turn strenghtening the services provided by the Eagles to the community.
*Information obtained from Harvy Eckhart, lifetime Berwick Firefighter,
and transcribed verbatum. Thank you Harvy.
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| Delivered June 9, 1941 for a cost of $7,283.00 |
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