History

Early Years

The Folsom Fire Company marked its 100th anniversary on September 8, 2008. Its first fire chief was J. T. Campbell. The original board of directors included Chris Lare, Charles R. Shank Sr., R. J. Haggerty, S. W. Hyawthorne, George Clark, W. W. Briggs, J. E. Shank, Charles B. T. Gallagher and B. J. Brandt. Garling served as company president for 20 years.

The company initially met in a small frame office belonging to the Folsom Land Company at MacDade Boulevard and Springfield Avenue. In 1909, it purchased property at Fourth and Sutton avenues, where members erected a one-story brick firehouse.

Equipment and Expansion

The company purchased its first piece of firefighting equipment from the Berwyn Fire Company for $30. It was also among the first fire companies in the area to operate a motorized vehicle. In February 1912, the company bought a Columbia touring car for $200.

Later in 1912, the firehouse roof was raised to add a second floor. Until 1962, that floor housed the Ridley Township municipal administration offices. The Ridley Township Police Department maintained working quarters beside the engine room until its new building was constructed at Morton Avenue and MacDade Boulevard.

A New Fire Station

In late 2005, the old station was demolished to make way for a modern facility on the original firehouse site. The project cost more than $1 million and was funded without residents' tax money.

Generations of members helped build the necessary funds through community fundraising, newspaper and scrap-iron recycling, and long-term investments. Members sometimes traveled to Philadelphia and Chester to sell collected materials.

Rooms in the new station were dedicated to past and present members:

• The meeting room honors the late company president Hugh Maginnis.
• The chief's office is dedicated to Burt Blackburn.
• The lounge honors Bill Urian.
• The Peter Maginnis Banquet Room is named for company president Peter Maginnis.
• The engine room honors past and present members of the fire company.

Apparatus at the Centennial

At the time of the company's 2008 centennial, it operated three engines and a chief's vehicle donated by PECO in 2001. The members thanked the community for its support throughout the company's first century.