The beginnings of the Ivyland Fire Company date back as far as 1876. In that year, a supply of canvas fire-buckets with rope handles, fire hooks, and a horn for sounding an alarm was purchased. The equipment was stored in William Henry Barton’s sawmill on the corner of Wilson and Mason (now Pennsylvania) Avenues, where the War Memorial stands today. Barton was believed to be the first fire chief.

In the event of a fire the horn would be blown, and all of the approximately 20 residents would rush to form a bucket brigade. A double bucket line would be formed, with loaded buckets moving hand to hand from the nearest water source to the fire. The buckets were emptied on to the fire, and were passed back for refilling via the second line.

Some years later, a locomotive tire was purchased to ‘upgrade’ the town’s alarm system. The tire was mounted and was struck with a sledgehammer to sound an alarm. The alarm was put to the test in 1884, when the earliest recorded fire in Ivyland’s history occurred. William Barton’s stables burned to the ground.

Early one Monday morning in 1886, the house at 84 Gough Avenue burned to the ground. The fire was remembered as happening on a Monday morning because the housewives of the town freely donated their hand-pumped wash-water to fight the fire.

Ironically, William Henry Barton’s sawmill-machine shop-smithy complex was the scene of Ivyland’s largest fire to date. In January of 1893, while the ground was covered with snow, fire destroyed Barton’s mill building, wheelwright, and blacksmith shop, along with his brother Edmund’s carpenter shop and icehouse, and stables belonging to Mrs. Edwards and Silar R. Yerkes. William Barton began rebuilding his mill immediately after the fire.

With that devastating fire, the Fire Company was homeless, and had to store its equipment in a shed behind George Stockburger’s butcher shop, located at 95 Gough Avenue. George also served as chief.

By 1895, Edmund Barton had finished construction on a new two-story building, that would be known for many years as Barton’s hall. Located at 88 Wilson Avenue, Barton had his carpenter shop on the first floor, and an open floor and stage on the second.

Ivyland had been functioning as a village since its conception in 1873. In 1903, a proposal was made to make Ivyland a borough. After two years of deliberation, and intervention by a superior court, Ivyland was incorporated as a Borough on March 1, 1905. The council held its meetings in George Stockburger’s butcher shop, at the cost of $50 per year. Ivyland now included the original Ivyland tract, along with Breadyville, and surrounding farmland.

Until this time, Ivyland Fire Company was loosely organized; there was only the chief, with the rest of the ‘company’ consisting of the townspeople. In 1905, the Fire Company was reorganized, incorporated and officially adopted by a special committee consisting of A.C. Hobensack, John Robinson, and Frank Shoeller. Further, the Ivyland Fire Company’s Ladies Auxiliary was formed, with Mrs. W.W. Carr serving as the first president. In the same year, the Fire Company’s equipment was upgraded. The members at a total cost of $169 constructed a four-wheeled, hand-drawn, hand operated pumper. To accommodate the new piece, a cinder driveway was laid at the rear of George Stockburger’s shop. In 1912, a brass bell was purchased and installed which is still on the apparatus today. The ‘hand-drawn’, as it is affectionately known, is currently stored in the firehouse, and is still fully operational. Although only used in parades, it has won numerous trophies and awards over the years, including the best appearing hand-drawn apparatus in the 1998 Bucks County Fireman’s Association Parade.

In 1910, the Borough council decided to purchase the Stockburger butcher shop, but was unhappy with its location. The borough purchased a plot of land on the southwest corner of Wilson and Dubois avenues and Stockburger relocated the building at a cost of $400. Borough Council had a new permanent home, however the Fire Company was rendered homeless once again. A new station was found in Barton’s Hall, where the old Borough Hall used to stand. A ramp and wide doorway was installed, and the hand-drawn was housed.

In January of 1913, the Bucks County Fireman’s Association was organized. Ivyland joined on February 22, 1913, and has been a member in good standing ever since. In 1915, the Fire Company moved yet again. An addition was built onto Borough Council’s hall, doubling the width of the structure. In 1918, a second addition was built on the rear of the building to hold extra equipment and to provide a meeting place. The locomotive tire was relocated as well and mounted on a timber and pipe frame beside the hall.

Later that same year, an Ivyland tradition was started. The Chicken Salad and Ham Supper dinner was started, and was held annually every May for approximately the next 60 years. Sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary, it would attract local and distant followers by the thousands. The supper created a special community atmosphere, with amusements, fire truck rides, and flower sales.

With the success of the supper, the Fire Company was able to purchase a brand new 1916 Cadillac chassis, and equipped it the following year to compliment the hand-drawn.

As Ivyland Borough continued to grow and prosper, fire protection was a concern. To address this, the company purchased two acres of land surrounding the stream known as Ivyland Run, in 1924. The land extended from Jacksonville road to the foot of Twining Avenue. A wooden dam was constructed across the stream and a pond was created which the company used as a ‘hose dip’. Two years later, the Borough Council bought the fire dam area for $450, and in 1933 built a new concrete dam. The dam measured 18 feet across and a foot and a half thick. A pipeline was laid across town to supply the newly installed fire hydrants on every block.

In 1935, the Fire Company purchased Barton’s Hall from the Bean family. A year later, the Borough Council purchased it from the Fire Company. When the dust finally settled, the two organizations had effectively switched homes. After numerous relocations, the Fire Company would have a permanent home for the next 45 years; Borough Council would have one for the next 63.

In 1938 another fire occurred in a section of town known as ‘Dutch Row’. Three dwellings on the northwest corner of Wilson and DuBois Avenues burnt to the ground. As time marched on, the Company continued replacing equipment as it got older.

During the mid-1980’s, the 1962 Chevrolet was replaced by a 1974 Pierce mini-pumper. It was purchased from Warrington Fire Company for approximately $8000. During its time with the company, it would serve as a TAC/QRS unit, providing not only fire suppression capabilities, but emergency medical support as well.

By this time, the Chicken Salad and Ham supper was too labor intensive for the members of the Fire Company. A new tradition replaced the old one when the Fire Company’s pancake breakfast started. For approximately the last 15 years, the Fire Company has held four breakfasts a year, drawing people far and wide. Be it the golden pancakes or delicious sausage, the breakfasts always draw a big crowd.

Early on Monday morning, January 5th, 1998, the new engine’s capabilities would be put to the test. At 12:15 a.m. the following was heard on Bucks County dispatch: “BOX 62-1, Attention engine 62, engine 90, ladder 90, rescue 90, engine 93, tower 93, and Montgomery County ladder 95. Fire reported at 88 Wilson Avenue - the town hall.” Initial reports came in stating fire was blowing through the roof. As units responded, the fire intensified, and it became apparent that the building was a total loss. The structure that served as a carpenter shop, firehouse, theater, social gathering and meeting place for the residents of Ivyland for numbers of years was a total loss. On a bright side it was the only building that was lost. As radiant heat melted the vinyl siding off of the house next door, the Ivyland Fire Company, with help from surrounding community’s fire departments, was able to stop any further damage. The lot where the hall once stood is vacant now.

The Ivyland Fire Company has served the Borough well since being founded nearly 125 years ago. As you can see, the fire company’s history is rich in tradition and has been an integral part of the Ivyland community. We will always strive to continue serving our community with the best equipment and trained personnel possible for many years to come.