One of the highlights of the Hose Company #1 centennial celebration this weekend will be a rare opportunity to see the 1874 Silsby steam fire engine in operation.
The horse-drawn engine is the pride and joy of one of the sister companies of Hose Co. #1, Protection Engine Co. #3. Together with Alert Hook & Ladder #2 and Texas #4, they make up the Honesdale Fire Department. Engine Co. # 3 actually used the Silsby fire engine, between 1874 and 1936.
Beginning at 12 noon, Saturday, September 12, the public may see the Silsby on display and ask questions about its history and operation. It will be set up on 6th Street, between Main and Church streets, the same street as Gravity Ice Cream. At about 3 p.m., the engine will be moved to be hitched to a team of horses, to participate in the parade which begins at 4 p.m. Afterwards, between 6 and 8 p.m., the Silsby will be back on display on 6th Street.
Stan Pratt, who is a member of Co. 3 and the Department Chief, said that by around 6:30 p.m. the Silsby should be at full steam for the demonstration. Bituminous coal will be used to fire it up. He said that that the Silsby was last demonstrated in Wayne County about 10 years ago when Honesdale Fire Department hosted a parade for the 125th anniversary of their engine. Other fire companies having Silsby engines brought them as well.
In 2001, Co. 3 last operated the Silsby, at an event in Ohio marking the centennial for another fire company. A part on the Silsby unfortunately broke at that time, and Pratt said it took this many years to have the part custom made. “You just don’t go down to the Silsby parts store,” he quipped. “But now it’s ready to go.”
The engine was tested last week. Co. 3 has an operating crew especially trained in the operation of their antique, George Korb, Bailey Rutherford and Pratt. The engine boiler is fully certified. The Silsby was fully restored around the early 1980’s. It has brought back many awards from special fire department competitions. Pratt said it is the oldest operating Silsby in the Unitede States.
For more information, see www.engine3.com.
More activities
Hose Co. #1 is also hosting a block party on Friday at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, at 2 p.m., by their fire station at 504 Main Street. There will be food games, live entertainment, and children’s activities. The public is also encouraged to see the special exhibit on the history of Wayne County fire fighting, at the Wayne County Historical Society museum, 810 Main Street. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
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One of the highlights of the Hose Company #1 centennial celebration this weekend will be a rare opportunity to see the 1874 Silsby steam fire engine in operation.
The horse-drawn engine is the pride and joy of one of the sister companies of Hose Co. #1, Protection Engine Co. #3. Together with Alert Hook & Ladder #2 and Texas #4, they make up the Honesdale Fire Department. Engine Co. # 3 actually used the Silsby fire engine, between 1874 and 1936.
Beginning at 12 noon, Saturday, September 12, the public may see the Silsby on display and ask questions about its history and operation. It will be set up on 6th Street, between Main and Church streets, the same street as Gravity Ice Cream. At about 3 p.m., the engine will be moved to be hitched to a team of horses, to participate in the parade which begins at 4 p.m. Afterwards, between 6 and 8 p.m., the Silsby will be back on display on 6th Street.
Stan Pratt, who is a member of Co. 3 and the Department Chief, said that by around 6:30 p.m. the Silsby should be at full steam for the demonstration. Bituminous coal will be used to fire it up. He said that that the Silsby was last demonstrated in Wayne County about 10 years ago when Honesdale Fire Department hosted a parade for the 125th anniversary of their engine. Other fire companies having Silsby engines brought them as well.
In 2001, Co. 3 last operated the Silsby, at an event in Ohio marking the centennial for another fire company. A part on the Silsby unfortunately broke at that time, and Pratt said it took this many years to have the part custom made. “You just don’t go down to the Silsby parts store,” he quipped. “But now it’s ready to go.”
The engine was tested last week. Co. 3 has an operating crew especially trained in the operation of their antique, George Korb, Bailey Rutherford and Pratt. The engine boiler is fully certified. The Silsby was fully restored around the early 1980’s. It has brought back many awards from special fire department competitions. Pratt said it is the oldest operating Silsby in the Unitede States.
For more information, see www.engine3.com.
More activities
Hose Co. #1 is also hosting a block party on Friday at 5 p.m. and on Saturday, at 2 p.m., by their fire station at 504 Main Street. There will be food games, live entertainment, and children’s activities. The public is also encouraged to see the special exhibit on the history of Wayne County fire fighting, at the Wayne County Historical Society museum, 810 Main Street. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday.
Why 1 is 1 and 3 is 3
How did the Honesdale Fire Department companies get their numbers?
Honesdale’s first fire company started in 1843. By the time Co. 3 was formed in 1853, there already were two companies, by the names of Deluge and Rescue, Pratt stated. Both were in the lower section of downtown. Co. 3 was organized further up town, but in the downtown section.
Borough Council owned the fire apparatus, and purchased two Silsby steam engines in 1874. Both were designated as Protection Engine Co. 3 equipment. To help pay for them, hand pumpers were taken from both each of the companies to be sold. By the time the first major fire broke out, the original Co. 1 and 2 quit, and let Co. 3 operate with their steamers.
In October 1898, Alert Fire Company (later Alert Hook & Ladder #2) formed on Willow Avenue, and Texas #4 was organized on the hill section west of town. Both of these areas were part of Texas Township at the time; the areas were annexed by the Borough in the 1920’s. James Bader, a 52 year member of #4 and a Wayne County Historical Society trustee, said that Texas #4 was so numbered because it was within the township’s fourth voting district. How Alert became #2 is unclear but was so designated in 1921.
Pratt suggested that #2 was picked because the other numbers had already been taken.
When Hose Company was formed in 1909, at that time with only one other company within the borough using number three, it was only natural to take number one, Pratt said.
