The Felton Hose & Chemical Company of Chester Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania was organized in August of 1921. On October 17th of the same year, the Company received its charter. The new company eventually replaced the old Chester Township Fire Company which disbanded about that time. The first firehouse was a former garage at Concord and Chichester Roads, owned by Mr. Wallace Free. Mr. James Dougherty (Baron) of Leiperville donated the first fire apparatus, a hand-drawn parade hose wagon. In answering the alarm, the firefighters had to grasp ropes and run. Mr. Harry Barrowclough was the first President and Mr. Edward Bradfield was elected the first Fire Chief.
The Ladies Auxiliary was also formed in 1921. In 1923 the members built their own structure at the same site as our present firehouse. It was a 20' X 40' building. The single story, frame structure was adequate until 1939 when a wing was constructed for an engine room. The firefighters used an unusual fire signal at first. An iron wheel was obtained from a beer wagon once used by a Philadelphia brewery. Hung over a wooden frame outside the firehouse, the wheel was struck with a sledge hammer. The members also used a bell mounted in a tower atop the firehouse until a siren was added to the alarm equipment. In 2005, the members changed our charter name back to The Chester Township Fire Company from Felton Hose & Chemical Company.
Apparatus History
- 1924 - International 2-cylinder for $150.00 from Sharon Hill Fire Co.
- 1925 - 1922 Reo Speedwagon chassis
- 1927 - Kiesel Car pumper (500 gal.) for $500.00 from Darby Fire #1
- 1928 - Packard Touring Car 12-cylinder
- 1929 - Federal chassis w/500 gal. Hale pump
- 1936 - White chassis w/500 gal. tank & 350 gal. front mount pump
- 1941 - Studebaker chassis (equip. transferred from the White chassis)
- 1950 - American laFrance Ford F-700 500gpm./300gal.
- 1960 - Great Eastern Ford C-800 750 gpm./ 500 gal.
- 1971 - Ward la France pumper 1000gpm/500 gal.
- 1977 - Ward la France pumper 1250gpm/750 tank (Currently in service as 47-2)
- 1988 - 1963 Tasc/GMC rescue truck
- 2001 - KME Panther Pumper / Rescue (Currently in service as Rescue 47)
- 2002 - 1977 Canteen truck from Friendship Fire Company (vehicle retired in 2004)
- 2004 - 1991 Chevrolet Southwind 30' (Currently in service as Canteen47)
- 2005 - CTFC acquired a 2000 Ford Crown Vic from the Chester Township Police Department which will become the Supervisor's Car, 47-8
- 2006 - CTFC acquired a 1990 E-One Hush Pumper from the Cherry Hill Fire Department in New Jersey
From left: Engine 47-2 (retired), Engine 47-1 (retired), and 47-6 (retired) pose outside on a winter afternoon
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