Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro
ORIGINAL FIREHOUSE AND EQUIPMENT 1891
The Enterprise Fire Company of Hatboro was organized on August 23, 1890 and the first firehouse was constructed at 114 South York Road.
Hatboro’s First Apparatus, a Gleason & Bailey Hook and Ladder Cart, with a hand pump, was ordered in September of 1890. Gleason & Bailey included a hand-drawn Hose Cart at no additional cost.
The equipment was to be delivered in November, but had to be delayed until the completion of the new firehouse in January, 1891.
1890 GLEASON & BAILEY HOOK & LADDER
This photo from about 1908 shows the Ladder Truck ready for a parade, with members (sitting on top) George Kotz, Fred McVaugh, Alfred Downs, Harry Dickenson, Edward Shinn and William Craven, and (standing) Howard Winner, George Duncan, Ervin Amber and Howard Clark. Enterprise Fire Co. photo.
1890 HOSE CART
A hand-drawn Hose Cart was provided with the purchase of the Hook & Ladder Truck by Gleason & Bailey at no additional charge.
There are no photos of this Hose Cart, or of a second Hose Cart that was acquired later by the Company.
STEAM PUMPER
In 1910, a large horse-drawn steamer was acquired on loan from the City of Philadelphia. The steamer served Hatboro from 1910 until 1919 when it was replaced by a new motorized Simplex pumper.
1911 WALTER-BOYD CHEMICAL TRUCK
Hatboro’s First Motorized Apparatus was a Walter chassis with a Boyd body. The Walter was substantially under-powered for it’s purpose (20-h.p.) and was replaced after only 3 years.
1914 BUICK-BOYD CHEMICAL TRUCK
In 1914, a Buick chassis with a 37-h.p. motor was purchased and the Boyd body was transferred from the Walter.
The Buick served well and was replaced in 1928 by the 600 g.p.m. Ahrens Fox.
1919 SIMPLEX PUMPER
A new Simplex pumper was purchased in 1919. After a troublesome seven years, it was replaced by the 1926 Ahrens Fox piston pumper.
Unfortunately, there are no known photos of the Simplex.
1926 AHRENS FOX PUMPER
750 G.P.M. Piston Pump
The Ahrens Fox piston pumper was received in April of 1926 and replaced the 1919 Simplex pumper. The 1890 Gleason and Bailey ladder cart was also taken out of service at this time. The “Big Fox” served until 1947, when it was replaced by the 1947 Hahn quad.
In the photo above, Chief Alvin Winner poses with the ’26 Ahrens Fox. The photo also shows the firehouse after the 1936 renovation with two overhead doors.
1928 AHRENS FOX PUMPER
600 G.P.M. Rotary Gear Pump
The “Little Fox” served Hatboro from September, 1928, when it replaced the 1914 Buick, until December, 1948, when it was replaced by the 1948 Maxim pumper.
The truck then served the Community Fire Company in the Lake Tract Section of Deptford Township, New Jersey.
The truck is currently privately-owned by William Foxall of Rockledge, PA.
ORIGINAL FIREHOUSE – 1891-1972
Remodeled in 1936 and 1958
MEMBERS WITH THE 1926 FOX
1942
Members posing in front of the 1926 Ahrens Fox pumper. On the far right is H. Leslie Winner. 3rd from the right is Clarence Butterworth.
1947 HAHN QUAD
750 G.P.M. American-Marsh Pump, 225 gallon tank
Serving from February, 1948 until May, 1965, the Hahn was designated ‘953’. It was replaced by the 1965 Mack pumper.
After leaving Hatboro, the Hahn went on to serve the Northampton Fire Co. in Richboro, Bucks County, and the Upper Makefield Fire Company in Washington’s Crossing, Bucks County.
1948 MAXIM PUMPER
750 G.P.M. Hale Pump, 300 gallon tank
Served from December, 1948 until September, 1964 and designated as ‘952’. Replaced by the 1964 Mack Pumper.
The Maxim then served the fire brigade at the Rohm & Haas Chemical Company in Bristol, PA, and then the Bucks County Fire School in Edison.
1954 DODGE-MAXIM MINI-PUMPER
250 G.P.M. Hale Rotary Gear Pump, 350 gallon tank
Served as ‘954’ from September, 1954 until January, 1967, when it was sold to the Warrington Fire Company and replaced by the 1966 Dodge-Hahn.
Warrington later purchased a new pumper from Mack Trucks and used the Dodge as a trade-in. Mack then donated the truck to firefighters in American Samoa in the South Pacific.
MEMBERS WITH THE 1948 MAXIM
1955
Top Row: Chief Ed Stauch and Assistant Chief Jim Greener
Second Row: Bill Penglase, Frank Baxter, Gil Krueger, ___, ___, Clyde Penglase, Bud Johnson and Joe Shebest.
Front Row: ___, George Landis, Bob Hambrecht, ___, John Girard, Stuart Bearn, Pete Craig(?), Ed Stauch, Jr. and ___.
Other Members at that time: Paul Tast, R. Millar, R. Teasdale, J. Burian, Al Keebler, Art Kumme.
HATBORO LUMBER FIRE
January 29, 1957
Chief Mike Aiman walking (right foreground) past the 1947 Hahn Quad, with the 1954 Dodge-Maxim in the background.
The Hahn’s American-Marsh pump froze due to the severely low temperature that night and had to be replaced with a 750 g.p.m. Hale Pump.
MEMBERS WITH THE MAXIM AERIAL
1971
Bill Freas and Jim Thompson (sitting), Chief Mike Aiman, Jim Saldutti, Lou Pisch, Andy Yondura and Bob Hohlefelder (standing).
Photo was taken on a Friday evening in the Borough Parking Lot, behind Colonial Realty, Burdicks and Philadelphia Nation Bank.
