History

Home /

History

Department History

Today we all live in a time of history. Throughout that history, Milton Fire Department has been there to help people in need. For the past 100 years that is just what the volunteers of this community have done. Whether its a natural disaster, rescue, accident, or fire, when the call came, Milton Emergency Volunteers responded. The seemingly quite town of Milton has had more than a fair share of history, excitement, and glamour before any fire department was formed. In the early days of this settlement when a house or building caught on fire, the citizens would remove all the items they could before the fire overwhelmed them. What they were doing was what we today call Salvage in the Fire Service.

The first piece of equipment purchased by the Milton Fire Company in 1901

Milton is a part of a 1,000 acre tract patented to James Gray on April 29. 1686. During the next 100 years there was very little settlement until the early 1800’s when lots were sold off and what is Milton now became the village known as Osborn’s Landing and Head of Broadkiln. On February 3, 1807, an act of the general assembly changed the name from Head of Broadkiln to Milton, in honor of the poet, John Milton who had settled here. In 1809 the assessment roles listed 4 stores and 7 granaries. Milton was a large shipping port sending out about 500,000 bushels annually. Before the heavy silt filled the Broadkiln Creek at the head where Milton is located, six vessels sailed regularly between Milton and Philadelphia and five others carried consignments of freight to New York. Tons of grain were shipped along with thousands of cords of wood. As you look at the door of the Milton Fire apparatus today, we remember our history by displaying what was Milton’s principal industry which was shipbuilding. The height of the industry was between 1861 and 1880 with the last three masted schooner being built in 1891. Milton’s schooners sailed all over the world.

History shows that during this time in history there were many fires that did take lives and property but still no organized fire department. Headline in the Wilmington Morning News 1881 the month of May, the smoke house or out kitchen as it was called of the J.H.B. Mustard was destroyed by fire on Sunday morning containing some of Mrs. Mustard’s best table and silverware. The structure was a used summer kitchen. On the evening before the fire, company visited the family and took tea, and these articles were taken out to be washed and left there. At 3 o’clock on Sunday morning the church bell rang and the call for HELP! FIRE! FIRE! rang out through the streets of Milton. Still no fire department.

Milton did have six practicing Physicians, four apprentice medical students and two busy drug stores. In October 1890 a cannery owned by J.B. Counselman of Houston, Delaware that had been built in 1884, caught fire and in short time was nothing but smoke and ashes. In 1891 the town’s people wanted a fire department and approached the town council. In October of 1891, George S. Hopkins, Chief of the Fire Department of Middletown, Delaware and a representative of the Fabric Fire Hose Company of New York City was summoned to town to speak to council about establishing a fire company in Milton. There was no interest by the sitting town council at that time.

The topic was discussed many more times however no action taken. In 1896 a movement was underway by some town’s people who did not like the lake of action by the town council to secure a fire engine, fire extinguisher, and a fire fighter for the town. A petition was hanging in the Post Office.

It was not until 5 years later that the Volunteer Fire Company of Milton as it was called was organized on November 14, 1901. A group of concerned citizens gathered at a home to discuss bringing a chemical fire engine to town to be put on exhibition and force the town council to vote for the fire department. The council had the citizens vote for the purchase of the fire truck and with a vote of 76 to 33 the engine was purchased. To get things started the Milton Town Council elected Charles H. Davidson as Fire Chief and signed up 26 men. Chief Davidson held a meeting to organize the fire department and R. B. Hopkins was named President, Vice President W. H. Stephens, Secretary W. W. Crouch, and Treasurer W. W. Conwell.

A Howe Chemical and Water Fire engine had been purchased for what people thought was an outrageous price of $1,250.00, together with 600 feet of fire hose. The firm from Chicago where Milton purchased the truck had a representative of the company come to town, built a house and filled it with combustibles and set it on fire to demonstrate how the engine will operate. Not long after that the hose cart that is here today was purchased in 1902, a Fire King.

Once organized, the equipment was learned and the Milton Fire Department, Inc. was protecting life and property with their ladies behind them. The Ladies Auxiliary was not officially organized until years later, but the ladies were the backbone of the men then and now. The fire service can not survive without the Ladies Auxiliaries.

On a very dry Friday August 13th morning in 1909 disaster struck the town. Fire was discovered by Wesley Coverdale, the night watchman at the Royal Packing Company. It was about one A.M. The fire was inside the back part of what was called the “Big Store” of Markel and Hartman that was located on the northeast corner of Federal and Front Streets. The alarm was given, the fire engine responded, and the citizens gathered to help the firemen fight the fire.

It soon became apparent that it was going to be a big fire as flames gained rapidly and began to spread to other buildings. The Post Office was soon on fire, then C.A. Conner’s Store and the entire lower Front Street into Union Street and down to the bridge. When the “Big Store” fell, S.J. Wilson and Son’s Undertaking and Furniture Company caught fire and nothing could be done to save the whole lower part of the town. Eighteen buildings burned in the business part of the town. At this time Milford, Lewes, and Georgetown apparatus and their town’s people were summoned, but they did not arrive until about 5 AM, many by a special train. By this time it was too late, but the firemen were busy putting out smoldering wreckage, pulling down the brick wall of the Ponder Hotel, pushing over the burned telephone poles, and other dangerous ruins. The sun rose that morning on desolation. The fire hoses were attached to the Ship Maria Thomas continued to throw water on the smoldering fires. That was the name on the ship thatappears on our fire apparatus today. The list of stores and other properties destroyed was Markel & Hartman’s store, W.T. Starkey’s Store, Mason & Davidson’s Grocery, Post Office, the telephone exchange, C.A. Conner’s General Store, Black & Lingo Store, Carey & Darby’s Store, J.H. Walls’ Meat Store, Hall & Stevens Store, Mary E. Field’s Store, First National Bank, te Ponder House Hotel, W. H. Mears: Barber Shop and residence, J.B. Gram’s residence, J. C. Clendaniel’s Meat and Provision Store, and S. J. Wilson & Sons, Funeral Directors and Furniture Store. The devastation covered several blocks and took only 4 hours to burn. There were only two injuries at the fire. One man broke his arm while helping to move the safe out of the Ponder Hotel and another was slightly burned. The estimated loss was $100,000.00 for the 18 buildings.

After the “Great Fire of 1909” the men regrouped and went on. On January 28, 1916, a re-organizational meeting was held and new officers elected. Charles A. Virden elected President, Frank B. Carey elected Vice President, Leon Black as Secretary, Joseph M. Lank as Treasurer, and Samuel Fithian as Fire Chief. The year 1921 brought to the fire service an organization that represents the fire service today as the leader on all issues that face us known as the DVFA, the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association,which is now 60 volunteer fire departments strong. Milton Fire Department has also been involved heavily in the DVFA from the first formation meeting that took place in Milford’s Fire Station with just seven departments at that time. Samuel Banning & Samuel Fifthin represented Milton’s interest on that historic day.

In 1925 Milton Fire Department ordered a new American LaFrance 500 gallon pumper fire engine, This was the first motorized piece which our membership is proud to still have today. The truck arrived in early 1926 the year it was titled.

In 1928 the Volunteer Fire Company of Milton incorporated and changed its name to Milton Fire Department, Inc., under the administration of President Charles Barker, who served for 25 years as President, and Chief Floyd Hurley. In 1930 another 500 gallon pumper was added and shortly afterwards a third truck was purchased. This enabled the fire company to answer calls in the country and still leave a truck home for local fire protection. 1932 brought a new Chief, Louis Victor Spencer. Mr. Spencer held his post for the next 38 years. 1937 brought a new young Treasurer, Linwood “Jim” Rogers who held his office for 41 years and in 1978 asked the department to replace him. Denny Hughes was selected as Rogers’ replacement and still holds the office today, 23 years later.

In 1939 Milton Fire Department had its own fire with a fire that destroyed many important archives and minute books of the era.

During the war years the Ladies had to pick up the hoses while most of their men were away serving their country. The Auxiliary has been organized several times over the years, but organized or not, they were always by the men, raising much needed money, having dinners, feeding their men at fires and performing any other duty needed.

In 1942, a 1,000 gallon tank wagon was added and in 1943 a second tank joined the collection. In 1946 came a Ward LaFrance 1,200 gallon pumper.

In 1948, Milton Fire Department added another service new to our town, the Ambulance. The first Ambulance was purchased from Ellendale Fire Co. A Cadillac which had the first call on its arriving day. Tom Hughes and William Spencer took that inaugural run from the first fire station that was only a single garage with swing open front doors located at the corner of Magnolia and Union Streets were the Town of Milton Sign sets now.

Milton was now a growing town in Sussex County and with that growth the fire department purchased the FOX Theatre and an adjoining building on Union Street.

By the mid 1940’s the fire department needed a large facility and purchased the property of it’s current location on Front Street. In 1949 the construction of the lower bay of this building was begun and dedicated in 1950. That was a two story designed including housing for eight pieces of equipment, meeting, and recreation rooms along with a kitchen.

In 1954 Milton was honored by being selected to host the 34th DVFA Convention. The town was decorated from one end to the other with bunting and flags. With no hotel/motel base the town’s people opened their homes for the firemen & ladies to stay. Jack Ryan from New Castle County noted the uniqueness of the convention was the trade mark green beer that was severed in the souvenir steins. Graham Dill was President and Dr. James C. White was Vice President at the time.

1957 brought another milestone to our town with Life Member Owen Davis being appointed to the State Fire Commission. Owen was very active in the county, state and Delmarva’s Firemen’s Associations. 1970 brought another first in Milton with Earl Argo becoming Sussex County Firemen’s Association President followed by Lynn Rogers in the 1980’s and Dale Callaway in the 1990’s.

The 1950 building served us well and growth continued. In the 1960’s the Wilkerson property was purchased that is now our back bay for $40,000.00

In 1979 a committee was formed to look towards the future and a major construction project. The construction lasted 1½ years giving a face lift to the existing building and a major addition in the rear. On December 10, 1979, the Milton Ladies Auxiliary had 10 women successfully complete the Ambulance Attendant Course boosting the Ambulance Crews second to none at that time.

Milton Fire Department, Inc. and Ladies Auxiliary have always kept state of the art equipment with the financial support of the communities we serve and we thank them. The membership today stands proud of our fore fathers that laid the foundation that makes us what we are today. With their vision, today Milton protects and provides emergency services to the Town of Milton, Broadkill Beach, Prime Hook Beach, and the community of Harbeson, along with the rural areas around them that are experiencing explosive growth. Today you see the apparatus of Milton and other departments from throughout Delaware. The fire service of Delaware is family, we no longer grow as one department, the fire service grows together, we depend on each other more everyday with the specialized emergencies that we all face. From the department, county, to the state levels of our organizations, Ladies Auxiliary, Fire Police, Ambulance Association, Fire Chiefs and Administrative Bodies we move forward to an uncertain future with God as our Chief to guide us in that darkness.

mvfd-sec@comcast.net

History

Department History

The first piece of equipment purchased by the Milton Fire Company in 1901

Member Login

Chief 360 Portal

Email

Contact us

Mailing Address

Phone / Fax

Stay Connected