To see our historical pictures collected over the lifetime of the
Skippack Fire Company Click Here

In the late 1890's, Schwenksville Fire Company and Collegeville Fire Company were the only fire companies from the Perkiomen Valley area that had been established.

A hay rick fire on the property of A. H. Seipt inspired the citizens of Skippack to form a fire company. H. K. Tyson headed the bucket brigade that saved the large barn from destruction. The citizens of Skippack, realizing that fire protection was badly needed in this area, held three meetings during the summer of 1899 in the hall of the Valley House Hotel.  A Committee was appointed to investigate the possibility of starting
a fire company to serve the village and surrounding countryside. 

The company was organized on August 9, 1899. There were 62 charter members.  Each member was asked to make a voluntary contribution of 25 cents yearly dues. The firemen used various fund raising methods to pay for the building and equipment, including canvassing for donations, sponsoring lectures, holding festivals, clam bakes, and serving suppers. (The Fire Company has served at least one supper in each year from 1900 to the present.) 

The new fire company purchased a Racine chemical engine for $500.00. After several meetings, a wagon was purchased to “hook on to the chemical engine”. 

An engine house was constructed on the corner of Skippack Pike and Mensch Road, by the end of January, 1900. The fire alarm, a large rim, was hung on the front of the building. (Although no longer used, the rim still occupies an honor place on the grounds in front of the building we currently occupy.) 

In June, 1900, Skippack Fire Company received their first invitation to participate in a parade. The invitation was from the Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale. The
 invitation was accepted after the membership voted to purchase proper  
 uniforms. The uniform adopted included a Rough Rider hat, black satin shirt,    
 white belt with black trimmings. The Skippack Band accompanied the Fire 
 Company free of charge. Henry F. Bean furnished two horses and a wagon for 
 one half of the band members, and John B. Mensch furnished two horses and a 
 wagon for the balance.
 In 1901, two 18 foot ladders were purchased and a pump costing $45.50 was
 added to the equipment the following year.  This pump was kept in the
 firehouse. Eli Pool, who was the undertaker (which is the location today of the Skippack Roadhouse),
 received the alarm. He then would hook up horses to his hearse wagon. The firemen would arrive and
 throw the pump into the wagon and then all would go the fire. (The original pump was presented to the
 Fire Company by Sylvester Tyson in 1955 and is on display in the fire company engine room). 
 Although the fire company was organized in 1899, the charter to incorporate the fire company was not
 registered until 1916. 

In 1915, Norman H. Moyer was elected Fire Chief, a position he held for 25 years. An electric siren was purchased in 1920 for $402.33 and the large rim was placed out of service as the primary method of alerting members for an emergency. 

A story was told by our older members about  two used Simplex trucks that were purchased in 1921 for $335.00. The trucks were sent to Skippack Machine Shop, where they were combined into one vehicle. We believe this to be the first motorized apparatus purchased by the Fire Company. 

In addition to Skippack Township, Skippack Fire Company also provided the primary fire protection to Lower Salford Township until 1921, parts of Towamencin Township until 1949, parts of Perkiomen Township until 1951 and most of Worcester Township until 1960. Skippack Fire Company and Worcester Fire Department currently have a mutual aid agreement that provides emergency service to each other’s primary coverage area. 
During the first 25 years, Skippack Fire Company responded to an average of less than 15 calls per year. Some of those calls that were recorded in the Company minutes included barn fires on the property of Philip Alderfer, Charles Ludwig, C. R. Hunsicker, Charles Smedley and Warren Cole. 

The Fire Company also responded to a large fire at the Elizabeth Bean Hotel in Worcester. 

In May 1922, a wagon house owned by F. H. Shupe was destroyed. The fire was started by children playing with matches. A daughter of Sam Bookheimer perished. 
As the Fire Company grew, more space was needed. A new fire house was built for $7,536 and first occupied in January, 1924.  The building was dedicated in ceremonies held on February 23, 1924.  The building, now being used as a commercial establishment, is located on the corner of Skippack Pike and Mensch Road.

In 1929, a pumper was purchased from Hale Fire Pump of Conshohocken for $5000.00. The pumper was housed on October 5, 1929 with refreshments of sandwiches, coffee, pickles and cigars. In 1958 the truck was retired from service and sold at auction. In 1976 the truck was relocated by the Fire Company and repurchased with the hope of restoration.

The Year 1938 saw the purchase of two "gas masks" along with a dozen Army helmets for use at fires, as protective gear became more important to the firefighters.

By the 1960's the fire company was in need of more room and purchased 6 acres on route 113. This is the current location of the Skippack firehouse. In January of 1968 the new firehouse was complete and the equipment was moved in.

In 1999 the Hale truck restoration was completed after more than 3000 member hours, just in time for our 100th Anniversary Celebration.. This pumper is currently on display at our firehouse.