That which clearly emerges when looking at the history of the Vigilant Hose Company is the word, “Family,” for VHC has been blessed to have had scores of families serve with honor and distinction in the community’s all-volunteer firefighting efforts. This long and proud history of families helping families can be traced all the way back to the late 1700’s. The history of community-based fire protection in greater Emmitsburg can be divided into 7 distinct periods. While the organization’s history is really a proud story of the many people, both men and women, who devoted untold years to help keep the community and its environs safe from fire, other emergencies and even disasters, too.

The Emmitsburg Fire Company, as it was initially called, formed for the purpose of fighting fires prior to the creation of the Vigilant Hose Company. Town maps from the mid- to late 1800’s show an “Engine House” located at what is now 115 North Seton Avenue. Located 2 doors north of the current American Legion Post Home (diagonally across from St. Joseph’s Church), and now a private home, that private dwelling is easy to spot as its roof runs perpendicular to the roadway unlike the other homes on each side of it.

The first period then, starts with the beginning of the community in the late 1700’s to the purchase of fire equipment in 1840 – the best label for these years is "The Bucket Brigade Period." When the alarm sounded, everyone grabbed a bucket and ran to form a line from the Well in Town Square to the fire. Men would pass filled buckets, women the empty ones. Every able-bodied person was expected to fight fires, and shirking of this duty brought notices like this one dated May 25, 1829 - "(Name), you are hereby requested to present yourself at the Engine House in Emmitsburg, on the 4th Saturday of May, June, July and August, precisely at two o'clock p.m. with buckets and other requisites for company training."

The second period began with the purchase of an out-dated suction pump in 1840, and a Town Ordinance requiring all men to join the fire company. There was a fine levied for non-compliance. Such subscription produced 141 members. A hand-pulled hose cart, built locally in 1851 at a cost of $13 and now on display in the fire station museum, carries hose from this period. Made of riveted leather, this hose is the first type used in the United States, and a piece of it is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. But, the big problem of this period was water supply. The lack of water, plus increasing population and housing during this 44-year period saw many fires, including several very large fires, in and around Emmitsburg. In 1845, the Otter Hotel, located on the southwest corner of the square, burned. In 1848, the Elder and Taney Warehouse, then located where a portion of the Lutheran Parish House now stands, burned. This fire nearly destroyed the church itself, which is the oldest non-residence building in the community. And, on June 15, 1863, fifty buildings northeast of the square were consumed in what James Helman called, "The Great Fire." He writes in his history: "Oh, the desolation a fire makes; most of the people lost their all, and never recovered. Money was sent from the cities to aid the poor."

The carefulness which protected the community in its early years was no longer a viable safeguard. A new weapon for fighting fires was needed in Emmitsburg. That new defense came in 1884, when water from a newly built reservoir in the hills west of town was piped along the streets and fire hydrants were installed. It was also in 1884 that the Vigilant Hose Company (VHC) was founded. This third period of 45 years records only one major fire loss-the Presbyterian Church on August 28, 1902. The VHC became a legal entity in 1910 and an existing building and property at the site of the present fire house on West Main Street were purchased in the 1920’s, for $4,500. The Chronicle Newspaper utilized the building for some 16 years prior to its being purchased for the fire station and in the very early 1900’s the same building had been Home to the Emmitsburg School.

One particularly large fire of note occurred in winter of 1885 at the then St. Joseph’s College (today’s National Fire Academy / NETC when VHC was only 6 months old. Frederick City fire companies immediately responded and moved their equipment to East Street where they boarded a train on the then Northern Central Railroad (later the Pennsylvania RR) to Keymar at which point they transferred to the Western Maryland RR and then at Rocky Ridge they boarded the Emmitsburg Railroad which brought them to the front entrance of the College. It is said that the fire companies from Frederick made the 18-mile trip from Frederick to Keymar in just 17 minutes – no small feat in that day! Arriving units included “Juliet” - a famous old LaFrance Steamer from the Independents, a Hose Reel from the Uniteds, while the Juniors sent ladders on their ladder truck (some of the longest ladders had to be removed during initial loading due to insufficient space on the rail car). In this period most all firefighting equipment in small towns were still pulled by hand by the firemen themselves (later horses made the task far easier but still dangerous). While help had also been summoned from Baltimore and Hagerstown, too, little is known regarding what help actually came. Also, recorded history indicates that the Town fathers were initially reluctant to allow use of water from the town square. By contrast, the Town’s leaders, men and women alike, of the modern era have shown again and again their strong commitment to community preparedness and unwavering support of the VHC.

The fourth period continued from 1929 to the late 1980's. By far, it was an extremely productive period in the development of the fire company, both in finance and capability. It began with the purchase of the community’s first motorized firefighting apparatus -- a Ford Engine in 1929 for $3,200. Received in 1930, that unit is now the owned by the neighboring Rocky Ridge Volunteer Fire Company thus becoming the first motorized fire engines in both communities. The War Years of WWII saw most men in the community off to War during which several teenagers helped out with a number of them staying active with the department for decades afterward.

~ During WWII, VHC received a Civil Defense Trailer with pump and ladders. Later, the town used the trailer and its pump to pump water up to Rainbow Lake during drought periods. One particularly famous event was described in the December 1965 Baltimore Sun when VHC organized numerous mutual aide fire companies who in a day-long event pumped some 250,000 gallons of water from Tom’s Creek up Hampton Valley across Hartman’s Bridge (steel). Source – John Hoglund – MFRI.

There were several large fires during this period (and more than a fair share of tragic automobile accidents, too). Two of the largest fires occurred in 1958 at the Stouter Oil “Bulk Plant” west of town and then the Bowling alley fire on West Main Street just a block from the stationhouse. It was also during this time that a number of horrific vehicle accidents occurred at the then crossroads of Route 15 and Route 140 (then Rt. 97) which was an at-grade intersection. Unfortunately, it took one especially bad event that caused the Governor of the State to visit that site which then lead to today’s overpass there. In every one of these events, and hundreds more, too, VHC personnel went about their work without much fanfare or news coverage – rather, they just re-set their sites on learning from each and every call to then be better prepared and equipped for the next one. Such has been the hallmark of those who unselfishly serve as firefighters for well over 350 years in America – and worldwide, too.

During these years, there were subsequent purchases of equipment that included: a 1945 Ford Engine for $7,000 (while this beloved unit was placed out of service in 1982, it remains in the hands of a former department chief and life-long local resident who restored it several years ago now); a 1951 Ford Engine for $15,000 (sold in 1977); a 1961 Ford with a 500 gpm front-mount pump and a 500 gallon tank for $20,000; a 1971 Ford with a 750 gpm front mount pump and 1,000 gallon tank for $34,000; and a 1968 “light rescue truck” for $7,000 (which remained in very active and faithful service for 34 years). This unit is was upgraded to become a brush unit with the purchase of the department’s first heavy-duty rescue unit in ‘78; a 1977 Ford/Pierce Engine with a 750 gpm mid-ship pump and 950 gallon tank for $65,000 (sold to an Alabama department); a 1978 Ford/Swab heavy-duty rescue squad that carried a complete array of rescue and fire-fighting equipment which include the company’s first Hurst Rescue Tool and Ram; a 1973 International/Pierce mini-pumper 300 gallon mid-ship with 200 gallon tank, sold in 1988; a 1989 Pierce custom-built, triple-combination, Class A pumper placed into service at a cost exceeding $204,000. This latter vehicle, known as Engine 63 was the first totally-enclosed engine ever operated by the department owing to a commitment to improved firefighter safety. It was during the last decade of this fourth period of department history that women became actively involved in emergency response operations. Even as this period was drawing to a close, VHC members had already begun laying the foundation for future major improvements yet to come.

The fifth period began with the process of significant enhancements of the organization, its facilities and its equipment which started in the late 1980's. Significant upgrades were undertaken such as the establishment of a first-time ever commercial-grade kitchen in 1992 plus additional enhancements including a museum, new restrooms and a expanded Line Officers’ work area / office (the former location had for decades been a small 3’ x 3’ closet area under an old wooden staircase such that only one person could only just barely squeeze into to it in order to write reports, use the base station radio or answer the phone!).

The early 1980’s saw the installation of the first emergency generator which more than paid for itself in the big snowstorm a few years later when the fire station became shelter for many who had lost power thus having no heat, no running water or lights – including an amazing tale of an infant on a breathing machine necessary to sustain life. At the time, there simply were no other areas in town with the capacity to have kept town folks warm and dry during a winter event that dragged on for days and during which firefighters were summoned again and again for a broad range of emergencies (including several major fires and vehicle accidents) plus what seemed like a near endless number of service calls to rescue stranded motorists, cut downed trees from roads, break up dangerous ice jambs on building roofs, assist ambulance personnel needing help navigating patients on stretchers around and through high snow drifts. One of the tales that today’s firefighters still proudly tell is that old Brush 65 was essentially the only vehicle that rather freely moved around the town until the arrival a day later of massive snow plows brought in by the State from the western-most areas of Maryland.

Tragedy would strike the small department when on February 15, 1999, when Firefighter Terry L. Meyers, long-time operational and administrative member, would die in the line of duty while operating at a fire on the campus of Mount Saint Mary’s University at age 51. Firefighter Myers was involved in all aspects of the department from response to committee leadership, fund-raising, maintenance and social roles, too, like the fire department’s ball team which during his years more often than not had winning seasons. Well know throughout the region and for over 33 years, day or night, in any kind of weather, and any day of the year, Terry was renowned for his skill as a safe and effective operator of large fire apparatus. Terry’s family had long been and still remains very active to this day in the department.

Highlighting the period was the undertaking of a 3-year "Campaign for Community Safety," which lead to a major expansion and renovation project to Fire Station No. 6 and also included the acquisition of "Tower 6", a 1995 100' Pierce Aerial Platform. Substantial facility renovations occurred at a cost of more than $440,000 which allowed for increased operational areas, offices, storage and recreational space. And, Tower 6, at a cost of over a half-million dollars, brought about a new era of emergency response capabilities unlike anything in department previously. It was also during this period that a new multi-purpose brush unit was placed into service at a cost of $100,000, which also increased VHC's emergency medical service assistance capabilities. Never had the men and women of the VHC ever taken on this kind of debt. As a result of generous community-wide support and a great deal of hard work by VHC members the anticipated 10-year pay back period was actually cut to less than 7 years.

The latest period, the seventh and current, began just as the old millennium came to a close. In 2000, VHC purchased “Engine-Tanker 64” which replaced old Engine 64 – a vehicle nearly 30 years old which was given to a needy rural Arkansas fire department. ET-64, a Pierce Dash 1,500 gpm water tank and 1,500 gpm pump (both firsts for VHC) also features a 40-gallon Class A foam tank (for deep-seated fires in ordinary combustibles) which supplies its on-board Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) became the first of its type of in the region and which has proven its worth many times over. The arrival of Rescue Squad 6, a 2002 Pierce, replaced old Squad 6 which was 24 years old. It, too, having faithfully served our community was also given to a needy rural fire company located about 45-miles south of Branson, Missouri. The new RS-6 carries a wide assortment of specialized tools and equipment of all kinds to mitigate emergencies both small and large. It was featured on the front cover of the internationally renowned Fire Chief Magazine (October issue). The accompanying article pointed out that it was the first time the vehicle’s manufacturer custom-mounted all the many tools and equipment after VHC personnel trained with and then properly marked them prior to being shipped to Wisconsin for mounting. Much of the coordination for what was to be mounted in the various compartments was done via the Internet using digital photos – the approach proved to be so successful that the manufacturer then made the practice an option for other customers.

We’re not alone… In addition to ours, there are also other Vigilant fire companies / departments, too, to include the Vigilant Hose Company #1 of Shippensburg, PA; the Vigilant Fire Department of Ebenezer / Town of West Seneca, NY; the Vigilant Engine and Hook and Ladder Company of Great Neck / Long Island, NY; the Vigilant Fire Company of Columbia / Lancaster County, PA; and a Vigilant fire company (1 of 8 companies that make up the Thibodaux, LA, VFD (south of New Orleans); while from history – there once existed the Vigilants of Pittsburgh (later becoming the Vigilant Steam Fire Engine and Hose Company) to even later be consolidated into the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau; and in Baltimore there was a Vigilant Number 7 fire company from 1804-1859 and which later became BCFD Engine 3, plus there was even a Vigilant Fire Company in the Georgetown section of what later became the Washington City Fire Department in our Nation’s Capital (from 1817-26) that was a processor of today’s DCFD (). And, no doubt there may even be more, too.

As addressed elsewhere in these pages, the most recent facilities-related project undertaken was the newly expanded and renovated building project. Of course, the real story of the VHC isn’t trucks or equipment or buildings – rather it’s the people of the VHC who have so willingly over 125 years given of them selves again and again to help others in their time of need. Such dedication has included thousands of hours of community service, training, formal education and also the redoubling of efforts when times were tough. For it has been that VHC members – men and women – working together for the residents of Emmitsburg and surrounding communities – along with their supporters who have developed their hard earned reputation that they can be counted on.

To be so positioned is without doubt an awesome and often tiring responsibility yet, most of the time, an extremely rewarding one, too. The membership has always been pleased that some of the men and women of our department who began their fire and emergency services career with the VHC and who then went on to serve with honor elsewhere including in the full-time (career) fire service across the region and beyond, too. A particular source of pride comes from the fact that the VHC is among the most visited fire stations in the world owing to its proximity to the National Fire Academy / United States Fire Administration – NETC (established in Emmitsburg in 1979). VHC’s “Firehouse near the Town Square” has received thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Families and family values still strongly resonate in the organization. Today, preserving the excellent tradition of community service are over 100 active members, both men and women, in emergency response roles including First Responders titles ranging from Fire Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Rescue Specialists, Fire-Police and Hazardous Materials Technicians, too. Many others are involved in critically important support roles via respected positions in the department’s Auxiliary, Fire Corps and the 2 youth programs – the Fire Explorers and Junior Inspector initiatives. Further, a number of those who have earned the honored title of Life Members continue to assist as their health, availability and well-being allow. The department has also conferred special recognition on others as Social Members and also the prestigious category of Honorary Members. And, as has always been the hallmark of the Vigilant Hose Company, the department is still reaching new heights with a passion to serve with distinction, compassion and dedication.

*** SPECIAL NOTE – at the close of the department’s 125th Anniversary Year in 2009 the VHC proudly began to offer both a professionally produced DVD Video production (featuring 3 segments) and an accompanying commemorative 60-page Booklet – both have drawn great praise locally and nationally. Both are available for purchase.