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RHC
HISTORY
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Through
action by Town Council on October 1, 1831, the Greencastle Fire Company,
made up
of every white male resident of the borough and paying a tax was
formed. Every person
enrolled shall provide himself with a good and
sufficient bucket made of strong leather and a jacket.
Every person
neglecting or refusing shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty cents for
every training day he is unprovided. With members identified as engine
men,
bucket men, and a few ladder men, fire protection in Greencastle was born.
The
American Steam Fire Engine Company was organized in 1884. After years of
friction with
Town Council, the Steam Fire Engine Company disbanded in
1892, after Council posted notice
on the fire station that it had
"taken over the Fire Hall and contents" and warned all
unauthorized persons to stay out.
During
the 1890's, while the town was proud of its steam fire engine, its fire
companies
appeared to be unorganized. When an alarm of fire was sounded
from the town clock bell,
turnout was scarce and often untrained.
In
1896, the Rescue Hose Company No. 1 was formed. Starting with limited
equipment, the company soon
established themselves as "cool and
efficient firefighters". On May 5, 1904,
the Borough Council turned
over all fire equipment to the care of the RHC.
The
Rescue Hose Company Ambulance Squad was started on October 1, 1967, with
initial equipment donated by
two local Funeral Directors- who had run the
service until that time.
While formed as a separate entity, this
organization is now an important part of the RHC's
total fire protection
and emergency medical services package.
A
move to a new station on South Carlisle Street, an addition and renovation
there during
the 1970's, and then the latest shift in 1998 to South
Washington Street have addressed constantly expanding service
requirements.
While
many changes have occurred more than 100 years that the Rescue Hose Company
No. 1 has been in
existence, some things have remained the same. While
membership is now open to
all and comprised of men and women ages 14 and
over, the organization still strives to
provide professional fire,
rescue and emergency medical services to Greencastle,
Antrim Township, and
surrounding communities.
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