Contents

1. History
2. Photos
3. Notes

History

The beginnings of fire prevention in Wayne are in the North Wayne Protective Association, which invested in fire alarm systems and a hose cart in 1885, the year of the Association’s founding. The hose cart cost $13, and the alarms never worked well. A small, 12 foot by 8 foot shed was constructed to house this equipment, and the Association’s members met there at least once before it was moved to Beech Tree Lane in 1888 on land given by Drexel and Childs. In 1891, a new building was constructed on the site, with an engine house and meeting hall.

A year later, the Wayne Public Safety Association in South Wayne raised money to build their own fire house, after the fire at George Aman’s house. The building was constructed in 1892 on Audobon (later South Wayne) Avenue by local builder Jonathan Lengel, and a chemical engine and ladder truck were supplied by the Public Safety Association. Horses were supplied by veterinarian Dr. Leinhardt, later fire chief, and also R.H. Johnson & Co. The first fire chief there was florist Frank Adelberger. The fire house itself was rented to schools, including Miss Farrell’s School and the Radnor School District in the 1897-98 school year.

The North and South Wayne fire departments consolidated their efforts in 1906 following the fire of the Suburban building on Lancaster Avenue near Kromer Road. The February 10 fire destroyed records dating back to 1876, and the trajedy inspired the community form a more orgainized method of fire protection. They had expected that the newly formed Radnor Town ship government would take control and impove upon the fire department. On Feb. 13 meetings began and on March 15 the Radnor Fire Company, with 24 men, was officially founded. William W. Hearne was elected president. North Wayne’s fire house was no longer needed after the consolidation, and was rented to many businesses over the years, including the Lyman Electric Company in 1919. The building was eventually sold to the American Legion Post 418 in 1923, where it stayed for 40 years. The building came down to make way for the entrance to the newly donated Merryvale Park in 1969.

Today the Fire Company often boasts at how they owned the first motorized fire engine in the United States, made by the Hale Fire Pump Company in Conshohocken. It is little known, however, that their story is only half-true. Although Radnor placed the first order for a mechanized fire engine, the fire department at Thompsonville, Connecticut placed an order just after Radnor to the Knox Automobile Company in Springfield, Mass. The delivery by Knox was made to Thompsonville before they could deliver Radnor’s engine. The purchase of the original engine was investigated by firemen Charles Wilkins, Charles Steward and Charles Clark; the “three Charlies.” The engine was nicknamed the “Fireman’s Herald” by the firemen, and could go 25 miles per hour, carry 35 gallons of water and carry 1000 feet of hose. The pump of the engine proved too powerful for the chassis, and vibrations caused the engine’s wheels into muddy ground at fire sites, and was difficult to remove. Radnor spent so much on the first Knox pump that jealous firemen from other companies nicknamed Radnor the “Millionaire Fire Company.” The title was later given to Bryn Mawr, but Radnor was renamed te “Billionaire Blaze Battling Battalion."

The fire company bought a new pump, also from Knox, in 1908. Only the chassis was made by Knox, as the pump itself was made by the Waterous Engine Works Co. in St. Paul, Minn. The pump could handle about 400 gallons per minute. Three Radnor firemen with experience with the two engines inspired them to found the Hale Fire Pump Company. The company originated in Wayne, then moved to Conshohocken. The first Hale pump was on call during the Opera House fire.

The original two Knox engines were decomissioned in 1919. They were replaced by two White engines which had Hale pumps. Although today the Fire Company braggs about the two Knox engines, thier fate was unfortunate, and aviodable. The original two were taken apart for scrap and stored in a barn behind Leinhardt’s Bakery. Both the Smithsonian and Franklin Institute expressed intrest in acquiring the pieces of the historic engines, but they were allowed to rust away and had to be sold for scrap. The only remaining piece is the bell which hung on the front of the original engine, which was later put in the fire house meeting room.

In 1916, the original fire house building was put on rollers and moved back several feet to make way for a frontal addition. The addition contained expanded garage area for the new engines and a second floor balcony. More additions were to follow, including in 1936. In 1963 the fire department bought the Masonic Hall next door in order to expand their garage space. The building was razed, and the much needed garage space was added. In 1995 the Company began raising funds to build a new home for their five engines and two ambulances. In 1997 the old building, including the original fire house in the back, was demolished and construction began on the new fire house.

The Radnor firemen have been involved in many missions, near and far. Some include three fires at Villanova University, various incidents at Valley Forge Military Academy, and even a 1,200 mile journey to flood-stricken Louisville, Kentucky in 1937. Other events include the Autocar plant fire of 1956. The Ardmore fire was faught with help from Radnor, some of who’s engines came from that very plant.

Photos

Radnor Historical Society Photos
A drawing of the original South Wayne fire house after the first structure was moved back and added onto. The drawing is from a souvenir of the dedication of the new addition in 1918.		A newspaper article about the Company's newest acquisition. The truck pictured here was sold to a Vermont fire company in the 1970s, where it was put into active service until 2002, at which point it was reacquired by Radnor.

Wayne History Online Photos
The "Billionaire Blaze Battling Batallion" posing in 1911. The banner is still owned by the fire company.		The two first motorized fire engines at Radnor, 1911.		Firemen and the "Firemen's Herald," their first motorized engine, in 1911.
Early firefighters and the original Knox engine.		The Radnor Fire house draped with bunting for a holiday.		An old engine shortly after acquisition.
The 1953 Mack engine, which the company would later re-obtain.		The Radnor fire crew in 1955.		Firefighters practicing in front of the school on South Wayne Avenue.
A practice drill being conducted on the roof of the School District Administration Building.		The Radnor Fire House in the 1990s, just before the original building was demolished.

Notes

Many of these photographs came from an earlier version of the official Fire Company website.