Welcome to the Official Webpage for the United Fire Company Fireman's Museum

     Below is the history of fire protection in Montrose, as organized by our friend Joe Kaplatch, our keynote speaker for our annual Installation Banquet held on January 15th, 2022.

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     It was 1847 when the first fire company was organized in Montrose. At the time, the big news in the country was General Zachary Taylor’s storming the Halls of Montezuma, defeating Santa Ana near the Rio Grande, which became the most decisive victory of the Mexican-American War. Taylor went on to become President of the United States, but when the victory occurred, he sported the nickname, “Rough and Ready”. The locals that organized that first company took that as their name, and Rough and Ready Fire Company was born. Two years later, the Pennsylvania State Legislature addressed 523 acts during the session which ran from the first Tuesday of January to the evening of April 10, 1849. Among the acts during that session was the incorporation of the Montrose Rough and Ready Fire Engine Company.

     It would be on May 6, 1851, that the company got its first big test. Just before one o’clock that morning, a fire was discovered in an outbuilding attached to L. Searles’ Hotel. When found, flames had just broken through the roof and were being fed by a steady breeze from the west. Within a few minutes, the fire spread to the rear of large storehouses on Public Avenue. Those buildings were soon enveloped in a sea of flames. The fire continued to spread towards the courthouse and within two hours, the west side of Public Avenue, from Searles’ Hotel to H. J. Webb’s house was smoking ruins. One-third of the town’s business district was destroyed with a loss between $40-60,000. Rough and Ready were on the ground after the fire was discovered and was said to have worked like heroes, with the skill of veterans, and performed wonders. A dark lantern was found near where the fire was first found, and it was believed that the fire was intentionally set.

     A second company was formed on July 11, 1855, and was called Montrose No. 2. Their quarters would be located on the site of the current fire house. That company began after a big fire on November 12, 1854. That fire started either in the Bentley & Read store or O. Baldwin’s harness shop, which was part of frame row on Church Street. It spread down Main Street and Turnpike Street. Rough & Ready was the only company in town and they set up their hand engine at a reservoir near Searles’ Hotel, but for some reason, the engine would not work. Upon seeing this, the drive for a second company began. Town council did not want to hear anything about purchasing a second engine, so it was brought up to a vote where two-thirds of the residents needed to vote in favor. A third company was formed in 1858 and was known as Wide Awake.

     On November 1, 1867, Rough and Ready held one of their Annual Reunions. These reunions would find the members, some honoraries and members of other companies, gather in the engine house. They would then march, led by Beman’s Cornet Band, down Public Avenue as far as Koon’s, then countermarch back to the house of J. S. Tarbell, where a huge meal was waiting. Toasts, speeches, and poems were made. The band would then play a few tunes, and three cheers were given their host and hostess. The group then left the building and marched down to the hotel where the group again cheered their host and were invited in for cigars. The company then adjourned. This tradition had become an annual affair.

     As 1870 came to an end, the announcement came that Rough and Ready Fire Company would have a splendid machine around January 1st. At the time, the town of Great Bend had dealt with several fires, and it was suggested that they should purchase Rough and Ready’s old engine when the new apparatus arrived as it could be bought cheap for a consideration.

     In 1873, another company was organized and was called Montrose Hose Company.

    On February 20, 1874, Montrose No. 2 held their Annual Reception. Their guests, the Tritons of Tunkhannock, reported on their visit. They took the afternoon train on the Montrose Railway. They were met at Allenville by carriages, which took them into town, where they arrived at the hotel and met by No. 2 foreman J. C. Taylor and other members, who escorted the company to Firemen’s Hall, where a supper had been prepared by the ladies of Montrose. At the time, the newspapers reported that only two companies existed in town, Rough and Ready and No. 2. At midnight, the Tritons were returned to Allenville and found Col. Marcy at his store, gifting the company a supply of cigars and apples. A band was also on hand to give the company a sendoff for their train ride home.

     1876 saw the organization of Rough and Ready Jr. and 1880 saw the organization of Rescue Hook & Ladder. In April 1881, the Spawn & Dennisson Manufacturing Company of Reading, PA was completing a splendid hook & ladder truck for the Rescue. It was painted by Albert Hoch. The running gear would be a bright vermillion, handsomely striped, and the ladders would also be painted a vermillion color. A grand parade was set for May 11th to celebrate the reception of the truck.

     In 1895, Rough & Ready Fire Company began planning for their 50th anniversary in 1897. An article about the planning shed some light on that huge fire that was the company’s first test. The fire was started by people seeking revenge on the town because of prosecution of counterfeiters. They had been in jail in the basement of the old wooden courthouse. The ringleader of the group was arrested and tried for arson. In April 1897, No. 2 held a celebration of their own as they purchased a new four-wheel hose carriage that was built in Muskegon, Michigan.

     The April 18, 1912, edition of the Montrose Democrat newspaper featured the following classified ad: For Sale- Entire property of Rough & Ready Hose Co. No. 1, consisting of chemical engine, parade carriage, uniforms, hats, caps, belts, furniture, etc. Inquire of H. E. Taylor, O. R. Cook, R. D. Cruser, Committee. A week later, the newspaper ran a story about Rough and Ready saving the Tarbell house. The article then went on to plead for the company not to sell the chemical wagon. It called for the citizens of Montrose to help the company pay off their financial obligations and keep the apparatus. The chemical wagon was purchased in October 1894 and cost $1000. Rough & Ready went into debt for that amount and for a few years, interest was met as well as the principal paid down. However, for fourteen years, the payments began to drift, placing the company in a financial problem situation. A subscription paper would soon be passed around to collect funds to save the company. By May 9th, citizens had donated $200 towards the $860 debt and a newfound interest had been stoked in the fire company. Sixteen new members had joined the company. By July 25th, the debt had been paid off.

     In early April 1925, after much discussion, the fire companies of Montrose decided on the name United Fire for the new combined fire company, as all the companies had merged, the new organization would continue under the original state charter of the Rough and Ready, the oldest in the town.

     On November 14, 1956, a preview was held of several hundred interesting firefighting relics arranged in a display of a museum at the United Fire Company. The museum was assembled under the supervision of Dana A. Watrous. Watrous along with Jesse Thompson, a member of the company for fifty years, were cofounders of the museum. Over the years, curators included George Gardner, Franklin Daly and Pat Daly. Besides the original collection of the Montrose fire companies and various memorabilia from the borough, the company acquired another collection, given on permanent loan from the Everhart Museum in Scranton. That was a collection that dated back to the 1800’s. Harry R. Madison was the chief of the Scranton Fire Department from 1889 to 1893. He was also a fire buff who wrote to fire chiefs all over the world and received badges and photos from them. When Chief Madison passed away, the collection became part of the Volunteer Firemen’s Association, which was located on Spruce Street after the Scranton Fire Department went paid in 1901. One of the active members was a man named Joseph Hall. Hall was a volunteer in Scranton and a paid firefighter for a short time. Hall moved to Clarks Summit where he became its postmaster and was the organizer of the fire company there. He was active with the Firemen’s Association until it disbanded and ended up taking possession of Chief Madison’s collection in 1912, combining with his own. Joe Hall died at age 88 in March 1947, his son Calvin, who is the small child in turnout gear in the photo in the museum, died two years later at age 51. But before Joe died, he turned his collection over to the Everhart Museum in October 1946, who then placed the collection on permanent loan to the Montrose Fire Museum.

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     Below is our 1948 Dodge Power Wagon, purchased new by the company and was in service from 1948 to 1977. The company has been fortunate enough to re-acquire the '48 a few years ago and dedicated members have been working over the years to slowly but surely restore the Power Wagon. If you would like to donate to the Power Wagon project and the United Fire Company Fireman's Museum, please use the link below. Absolutely no funds from the company are used towards this project.

https://united-fire-company.square.site/product/donation-to-fire-museum-fund/5