Laurel Fire Company No. 1
In 1769 and 1770, quite a number of buildings being erected, mostly of logs, which were liable to take fire, the villagers becoming aware of the necessity of making some provision to protect their property, held a meeting at the house of Baltzar Spangler, then Bauermeister, and discussed the propriety of organizing a fire company, this as in December, 1770.
Another meeting was held in January, 1771, where a motion was made to organize a fire brigade, and 24 men enrolled themselves as members, under the title of the Sun Fire Brigade of York town.
Members were required to furnish themselves with a leather bucket, a basket, and a bag, to be hung close to the entrance of his home. Items are to be marked with the owner's name and the name of the company. The company's rules were to be conspicuously displayed in close proximity to these items. Members were required to meet every Saturday afternoon to participate in a drill. Anyone absent from the drill paid a two shilling fine.
The first engine was purchased in August of 1772 in Philadelphia. The apparatus was six feet long and six feet high, mounted on four low wheels, and was worked by levers, one on each side. The apparatus was painted all red, except for the gallery, which were painted with a representation of "a laurel wreath enclosing the rising of the sun." A committee was formed by the Sun and Hand-In-Hand fire brigades to take care of the engine. Saturday afternoons the members would proceed with the engine to the square, where an exercise or drill was held.
On July 8, 1773, the Sun Fire Company approves the construction of a frame shed for the engine on the Henry Miller lot on North George Street, adjoining John Hay's property and the Sorrel Horse Hotel. On February 10, 1774, Rudolph Spangler appointed as custodian of the Sun's engine, with an annual salary of three dollars.
In 1777, while the Continental Congress in session in Yorktown, "An appropriation of $50.00, Continental currency, be granted to the fire company of York town which has a laurel wreath design painted on its fire wagon." The Sun Fire Brigade eventually changes its name to the Laurel Fire Company.
Between 9:00 and 10:00 pm, an alarm of fire was sounded for a large fire in the alley behind Market Street, between Duke and Queen Streets. The fire extended to 18 buildings, including the home of the Laurel, then located at 33 South Duke Street. A strong wind blowing toward the Laurel's station, and the close proximity of Mr. Brown's frame building, doomed the station. Spectators watched as the Laurel's 1,447.5 pound bell glowed white hot, cracked, and fell to the ground.
On July 24, 1877, the Laurel station's cornerstone was laid at 51 South Duke Street. The building was completed and occupied on February 22, 1878. A Dedication was held on May 2, 1878.
On March 17, 1886, the Laurel purchases two bay horses, names them Harry and Frank. These were the first fire horses for the city. The Vigilant and Union companies purchase horses by the end of the year. Fire companies will later use horses for street sprinkling and draying to raise funds.
The Laurel adds an ambulance in the summer of 1895. Driving the ambulance horses at a pace faster than a trot was prohibited by a company resolution on February 4, 1896.
On October 29, 1940, Eugene Greiman, Laurel driver is killed. The fire department responded to Box 131 at College and Pershing Avenues. Greiman was operating the Laurel booster engine at the scene of a fire at 242 West Princess Street where he collapsed. He was rushed to the hospital in a police car, where he was pronounced dead from a coronary occlusion.
On March 22, 2018, career Firefighters Ivan Flanscha and Zachary Anthony were killed in a sudden building collapse that occurred at about 3:17 p.m., twenty-three hours into a fire at the former Weaver Piano and Organ factory at 127 North Broad Street. Another firefighter and an assistant chief were seriously injured in the collapse.