History
Wheeling Fire Department History Project
Wheeling Fire History Project
A History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documents
researched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writing
the history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.
A History of the WFD based on documents written by Captain Joe Leffe Sr. (Retired WFD) and documents researched by Andrew Cunningham. Special Thanks to Capatain Leffe for originally researching and writing the history articles in the 1998 and 1999 Wheeling Fire Department Yearbooks.
The Volunteer Years
The Wheeling Fire Department wasn’t organized into a paid department until 1869. Before that time, fire protection in Wheeling was maintained by Seven Independent Volunteer Fire Companies. From 1807 until 1863, Wheeling was located in the state of Virginia. In 1863, West Virginia became a state of its own. The beginning of fire protection in Wheeling occurred on April 21, 1807, when the town council of Wheeling, Virginia passed several resolutions concerning fire accidents. On November 13, 1819, a by-law was passed by the town council and signed by the mayor that made $700 available from a tax levy to purchase a land-engine, and hooks and ladders. The by-law also called for every male citizen over the age of 16 years old to enroll his name with the city recorder on January 13, 1820. Later that week, the men met to organize a fire company and elect officers. By March of 1820, council made an order to build a suitable structure on the west end of the Market House to store the fire equipment. The equipment included a land-engine, hooks and ladders and heavy black leather buckets capable of holding 2 1/2 gallons of water each.
In 1830, the first of the seven independent volunteer fire companies was established. It was called the “Wheeling Hose Company” and consisted of approximately 40 or 50 prominent businessmen of Wheeling. The firehouse was erected on the corner of Market Street between 12th and 14th streets. The firehouse had a pretentious tower with a large open second floor where elaborate socials took place. One small pumping engine and one hose reel was purchased used from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firemens’ uniforms consisted of black pants and red shirts and regulation fire helmets. Their red shirts lent to their nickname, the “old reds.” The Old Reds went out of service in 1860.
On March 16, 1835, the second volunteer fire company was established. It was called the “Hope Fire Company.” Two-hundred fourteen prominent and professional businessmen signed up on its roster for duty. The Hope Fire Company firehouse was located on the western side of Market Street between 11th and 12th streets. The first order of business for the Hope Fire Company was to purchase seven speaking trumpets. The Hope’s began with a single hose reel and then purchased a 2nd class engine from Philadelphia which was built by Merrick, Tyler and Anew. It required 24 capable men to operate and could throw a stream of water 120 feet. The Hopes were the most elaborate company by far, dressed in dark gray mixed cloth, double-breasted frock coats with large black military collars and Cape of Prussia Duck to the elbows. Although they were known all over for their frequent balls, colorful parades and numerous social events, they performed impressively when summoned for a fire. In 1837, the Hope’s moved to a new firehouse at 51 on 11th Street.
In 1839, the third volunteer fire company known as the “Guards Fire Company” was established. It was organized by 100 men, mostly iron-workers and other metal tradesmen. Their firehouse was located on 21st Street. They had one hose reel with 600 feet of hose and a small hand engine operated from the gallery.
On April 22, 1843, the fourth volunteer company known as the “First Ward Hose Company” was organized by 102 men and was housed in a rough looking shed on Main Street in North Wheeling. A year after it was established, council appropriated $1,250 to purchase a hose reel and some other equipment. By 1849, council donated a parcel of ground at 650 Main Street and allocated funds to construct a substantial brick firehouse for the company. This building replaced their rough looking shed. In 1853, the First Ward Company’s first engine went into service. It was a rowboat type engine and required 32 strong men to operate. But even the strongest and most determined men needed relief after 10 to 15 minutes of operating. The company had several other nicknames including, “76 Hose Company,” the “Independence Hose Company,” and in 1869 they became the “Vigilant Steam Fire Co. No. 3.”
In April of 1846, the “Rough and Ready Fire Company” was organized by a hardy bunch of mostly tradesmen. Their firehouse was located in a 2-story brick building on Jacob Street between 16th and 17th streets. They began with one hose reel but by 1850 had purchased a Hand Engine built in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1869 they were known as the “Atlantic Steam Fire Co. No. 2.”
In 1859, the “United Fire Company” came into existence just prior to the Civil War. The members that established this company were mostly B & O Railroad employees. Their firehouse was located on 24th Street, on the alley corner between Main and Market streets. In 1862, the first Steam Fire Engine came to Wheeling and was used by the United Fire Company. The engine was built by Poole and Hunt of Baltimore, Maryland. The second Steam Engine came to Wheeling shortly after the “United” Steamer Engine. This engine was built in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
During these early years the fire service experienced the transition from manpower to steam-power. Earlier hand operated pumpers required as many as forty strong men working vigorously to maintain a single water stream directed on the flames. The early hand operated pumpers were usually pulled to the fires by the firemen. Powerful horse teams pulled the heavy steam operated pumpers, billowing smoke from their stacks, as they built up steam on their way to the fire. Steamers could flow several streams of water with only a fireman and an engineer. During this era of firefighting, cities were growing in size and complexity and the steam engines were requiring more skills to operate. It soon became necessary to establish an organized professional fire service.
The Paid Years
In 1869, the City Council of Wheeling, West Virginia passed an ordinance establish and regulation a paid fire department for the city. On the third Tuesday in December, William Winder (formerly of the Atlantic Engine Company) was appointed to be the first Fire Chief of the Wheeling Fire Department. Andrew J. Sweeney and William H. Harrison were the two first Assistant Chiefs. These three men constituted the Board of Control of the Fire Department. Chief Winder was officially sworn in as Fire Chief in 1870. He divided the city into two fire districts. District 1 was everything North of of Wheeling Creek including Wheeling Island. District 2 was everything South of Wheeling Creek. After this, 4 fire companies were formed. Three Steam Engine Companies and one Hook and Ladder Company.
The United Fire Company No. 1 was located on 24th Street on the alley corner between Main and Market Street. It was equipped with one 3″ class Steam Fire Engine with 800 feet of hose, one 1st class Hose Carriage and three horses.
The Atlantic Steam Fire Company No. 2 was located at 17th and Eoff Streets and had one steam fire engine, one hose carriage (drawn by hand), three horses and 500 feet of serviceable hose, and one hose carriage drawn by horses.
The Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company No. 3 was located at 650 Main Street and had one steam fire engine, 500 feet of hose, three horses, on four wheeled hose cart for horses and one four wheeled hose cart drawn by men.
The Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was housed on 21st Street and had one hook and ladder truck, 500 feet of hose and one hose carriage. After the horses pulled the Steam Fire Engine (of another engine company) to the fire, they were returned to pull the Hook and Ladder Truck to the fire scene.
At the time of its inception, the new paid Wheeling Fire Department consisted of 33 officers and men, three steam fire engines, one hook and ladder truck, nine horses and extra older equipment. Fire alarms were given by ringing bells in the firehouses. There were 108 fire plugs throughout the city. Each company had brass speaking trumpets, necessary in those days for communication at a fire.
In December of 1878, William A. Eccles became the second Fire Chief of the Wheeling Fire Department. Chief Eccles had many changes and upgrades to make in the department. Once such change was that he had automatic snap collars and swing harnesses installed in the firehouses to relieve the horses from wearing their harnesses 24 hours a day which would result in making their backs and necks being raw and sore. Three additional companies were added to the department by Chief Eccles. The Gamewall Fire Alarm System was installed with 57 alarm boxes throughout the city. The first fire alarm box to be activated was Box 6 at 31st and Chapline streets. It summoned the WFD to a small fire at the pottery. Western Union Telegraph preceded the Gamewall Fire Alarm System.
On December 23, 1882, James J. Dunning became the third Fire Chief of the WFD. In 1886 Chief Dunning constructed a new firehouse on Wheeling Island and in 1889 he purchased the first Chemical Fire Engine.
Above Photo: Old Chemical Engine Company
On December 23, 1890, Frank J. Healy became the fourth Fire Chief of the WFD. Cheif Healy purchased Loeb respirators for the firemen and constructed a new firehouse in North Wheeling at 650 Main Street.
On August 15, 1892, Wheeling Fire Company No. 4 on South Jacob Street went into service. In July of 1892, the old Atlantic engine, purchased in 1868, was badly in need of repairs, and on being overhauled, was found to be beyond redemption. The fire committee ordered the purchase of a new Ahrens engine and the American Fire Engine Company loaned the city a substitute engine known as “Black Jack,” which had seen service in many other cities. The most notable occasion was in Chicago during the Great Fire of 1871 when it worked 87 hours. It was also used in New York in 1872 when it worked 72 hours. The new Atlantic Engine was placed into service on December 6, 1892. Its life was short as it was destroyed in a train wreck while heading for a conflagration in Cameron, WV. The train derailed at Rosby’s Rock and killed the engineer. During this time, the “Black Jack” engine came back into service in Wheeling until a brand new Ahrens No. 1 steam fire engine was put into service on August 4, 1895.
In 1891 the Viligant No. 3 (old First Ward Hose Company) firehouse burned down and was replaced by a new brick firehouse at the same location of 650 Main Street. On August 15, 1892, the full paid fire department came into service. Previous to this date, the department consisted of eighteen men on fully pay and the balance of $100 a year. Each one is selected for his special fitness for the position he occupies, and is retained as long as he proves himself worthy of the trust that is reposed in him.
In 1897 Charles Klieves became the fifth Fire Chief and he upgraded the Gamewall Fire Alarm System by completely rewiring it making it more efficient.
In 1899 Robert D. Kline became the sixth Fire Chief and added two new fire companies: the Fort Henry Engine House in East Wheeling on McColloch St. and the Fort Kalbitzer in the 8th Ward.
James P. Altmeyer became the seventh Fire Chief for the Wheeling Fire Department in 1909. Chief Altmeye brought the department into the motorized era with a Mitchell Roadster, the first Fire Chief car. An automatic repeater was installed in the Gamewall Fire Alarm System, greatly improving its efficiency. Also, a new fire engine was purchased for the Atlantic Fire Company.
Above: Fort Henry Engine House No. 9 – 1223 McColloch St. (1900)
Above: Uknown Firehouse, Possibly Fort Kalbitzer (1900)
Above: Niagra Engine House No. 3 – 23-25 24th St. (1906)
Above: Hook and Ladder Co. No. 6 – 27 21st St. (1906)
On September 3, 1912, Edward T. Rose, a former pipeman from 8th Ward Engine Company became the eighth Fire Chief. Chief Rose witnessed the last teams of fire horses in the WFD at fire companies 2, 3, 4, and 10. The horse teams were replaced with 4 Peerless Combination Hose/Chemical Engines. By 1919, the entire Wheeling Fire Department was motorized. Also in 1919, Burley Thompson became the ninth Fire Chief and at this time the city annexed Warwood, Woodsdale and Elm Grove. Chief Thompson extended the fire alarm system into the new areas as well as manning the firehouses located there.
In 1922 Edward A. McGranahan became the tenth Fire Chief of a now 81 man fire department working out of 14 firehouses. The Firehouse at 298 Poplar Ave. was replaced with a new one. There were now a total of 188 red fire alarm boxes located throughout the city. In 1932, Chief Edward T. Rose returned and became the eleventh Fire Chief of the WFD. A new firehouse replaced the old one on the Island. Chief Rose would guide the WFD through the war years of World War II. In 1933, Chief Rose implemented the two platoon system which would allow firemen to work a 24 hour shift and then have 24 hours off. The Fire Insurance Underwriters objected this and said it wouldn’t work, but it did and increased the efficiency of the department. In 1934 Chief Rose adopted the squad system of running a truck out of Headquarters with 5 men to bolster up weak manpower in outlying sections of the city where fires on hill-sides required long layouts of hose or where additional men were required. This squad concept work exceptionally well. In 1935, Chief Rose did away with all soda-acid chemical engines and adopted the booster system which reduced the fire damage loss considerably. In 1935 the Wheeling Fire Department adopted the 1 1/2 ” hose system of cutting the large streams down to the small hose that handled better in a residential fire and after a major fire had been knocked down. It worked and was praised by all members of the department.
Above: No. 8 Atlantic – 1614 Eoff St. – Fire Chief Robert Klein in his old rig, with the horse he drove (April 1925)
Above: Truck Co. 1 / Engine Co. 2 – 650 Main St. (1925)
Above: Engine Co. 3 – 23-25 24th St. (1925)
Above: Engine Co. 4 – 3618 Jacob St. (1925)
Above: Engine Co. 5 – 128 Zane Ave. (1925)
Above: Hose and Ladder Co. 6 – 27 21st St. (1925)
Above: Engine Co. 7 – Fire Dept. Headquarters – 41 11 St.
Above: Engine Co. 8 – 1614 Eoff St.
Above: Engine Co. 9
Above: Engine Co. 10 – 4312 Jacob St.
Above: Engine Co. 11 – 1609 Warwood Ave.
Above: Engine Co. 12 – 870 National Rd. Woodsdale
Above: Engine Co. 13 – 296 Poplar Ave. Woodsdale
Above: Engine Co. 14 - 2220 National Rd.
In 1946, William S. McFadden became the twelfth Fire Chief of the WFD. Chief McFadden brought back from military service many new concepts including the use of firefighting foam, fog nozzles and navy nozzles. The transition from gasoline powered fire engines to diesel powered began with the purchase of several new fire trucks. New firehouses replaced outdated ones in Elm Grove and South Wheeling. A training tower was erected on the North end of Wheeling Island for fire training and remains in use today. On March 13, 1047, by act of the WV Legislature, the Wheeling Fire Department came under the Civil Service System. The fire department was one of the first to operate an emergency car. Eight firehouses were in the city at this time.
Above: Fire Headquarters at 17th and Eoff Sts. (1944)
Above: Ladder Co. 1 / Engine Co. 2 – 650 Main St. (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 3 – 24th Street (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 4 – 36th and Jacob Sts. (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 5 – Zane St. (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 9 – Warwood Ave. (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 10 – 298 Poplar Ave. (1944)
Above: Engine Co. 11 (1944)
Clifford Sligar became the thirteenth Fire Cheif of the WFD in 1971. He remained Fire Chief until July of 1995. Chief Sligar took over a well organized fire department and was instrumental in modernizing much of the department’s equipment and upgrading the level of services provided. The WFD relocated a new Fire Headquarters at 2126 Market St. in Center Wheeling. The previous Fire Headquarters was located at 17th and Eoff Sts. New firehouses were built in Warwood, North Wheeling and Elm Grove. New fire apparatus was purchased throughout the department. The color of the fleet was changed from red to Omaha orange. New concepts were institued. The department began running 2 paramedic squads as well as a heavy rescue company. Reliable self contained breathing apparatus (air masks) were provided for each firefighter on the fire ground as well as portable radios for all fire officers. This enhanced communication at incidents. Training intensified in areas of Hazardous Materials, Emergency Medical and High Rise firefighting. The fire alarm box system began to be phased out in 1986-87 to be replaced by the new 9-1-1 radio communication system. The fire department now had seven firehouses . A first alarm assignment activated 2 Engine Companies, 1 Ladder Truck Company, 1 Heavy-Rescue Company and the Duty Chief. An Engine Company and a Paramedic Squad unit responded to most medical emergency calls.
Above: Engine Co. 10
Above: Engine Co. 4
Above: Ladder Co. 6
Above: Engine Co. 11
Above: Engine Co. 9
Above: Engine Co. 2
Above: Engine Co. 8 and Engine Co. 2 (rear)
