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THE HISTORY OF DUNMORE
Dunmore was originally named "Bucktown", due to it's abundant deer herds. In 1838, an Englishman named Charles Augustus Murray
History Dunmore Fire Department
Fires in early Dunmore were extinguished by bucket brigades. At the sound of a bell men would run to the section of the town where the bell signaled a fire. The town was divided into four sections; north, south, east and west. A fire in the north section was indicated by one loud peal of a bell; a fire on the south side by two peals and so on. Because of a number of serious fires, the first fire company was organized in March, 1885. It was called the Columbia Hose Company, later changed to Independent Hose Company No. 1. A borough ordinance on September 11, 1889 officially established the Fire Department. There were two companies at this time, the Independents on S. Blakely St. and the Neptunes on W. Drinker St. (1887). The Electric Hose Company (1892) on Ridge Street, which in 1925 would move to Grove and Prescott and the A.D. Spencer Hose Company on E. Drinker St. which would become the Eclipse in 1911, would follow. The Neptunes would be the first company to become motorized in 1917, when a Boyd hose truck went into service. As the fire department became more active, the borough realized paid firefighters were becoming necessary. In 1946 paid firefighters were chartered by the International Association of Fire Fighters. The department didn't change much until 1962 when the Dunmore Lions Club bought an ambulance that was put into service immediately. The department would keep an ambulance in service until 1989. In 1999 firefighters would again respond to medical emergencies in the form of Quick Response Service. Probably the worst tragedy in department history was an explosion that occurred on March 20, 1912 when an explosion killed 9 people at 242 Elm St. Four firefighters have given their lives in the line of duty.
History of the Police DepartmentThe Dunmore police department was organized in 1863 when the borough was incorporated. During these days the police patrolled the borough four hours each night. Their duties began at seven in the evening and ended at eleven. In 1899 the first night force was organized. George Dierks was chief of the first permanent police department. The duties of the police began at 7:00 PM and ended at 7:00 AM. Chief Dierks served until 1900 when he resigned and was succeeded by Patrick J. Healey, who served until 1909. In 1912 the department consisted of ten men; a chief, captain, seven patrolmen, and one’s sergeant. At that time John J. Burke was serving his third year as chief of police; Patrick J. Kays, was captain; Joseph Stewart, sergeant, and the patrolman were: James McDonnell, Patrick O’Hora, Michael Malia, Charles Lamb, John Powell, George Pfahler and John ”Coyle” Ferguson. In those days one member of the department was assigned to day duty and his post was at Dunmore Corners. He worked from 6:00 in the morning and was not released until the night shift reported at 7:00. The sergeant, Joseph Stewart, whose duties were multiple, was stationed in the borough building from six in the morning until the night men reported for duty. Sergeant Stewart, besides relaying all police phone calls, cared for prisoners confined to the borough jail, and had many other duties that did not belong to the lot of a police official. In those days Chief Burke worked a 12 hour shift, supervising the patrol and responding to all calls. He devoted much of his time during the day to detective work and had but few hours for rest and recreation. With the small force in those days, Captain Kays and his patrolman covered every section of the borough, patrolling each beat twice a night. … The salary of the patrolman in 1904 was $60 a month. In 1905 it was reduced to $55, and from that time until 1930 it was gradually raised until the police were paid $150 a month. A few years ago during the early days of the depression, the police, like other employees of the borough volunteered to take a ten percent reduction in wages and since then they are paid under $135 monthly.
For more information please visit and support the Dunmore Historical Society: http://www.dunmorehistorical.com/dunmorehistory
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