Display cases at Hazleton’s Diamond Fire Co. tell a tale of how time influenced firefighting techniques over the past 130 years.
Delegate badges, a pair of tattered leather gauntlet gloves that no longer meet protective standards and a sterling silver parade trumpet are among dozens of items on display at the second floor of the Diamond’s North Church Street station.
While memorabilia on the upper floors is telling of firefighting techniques of years past, apparatus stationed in the bay area sends a message of its own — that the fire company intends to continue protecting lives and properties in Hazleton.
The Diamond recognized its 130th anniversary on Sept. 5 and officials will celebrate the milestone at a banquet at 1 p.m. today at Rocco’s restaurant.
“In our 130-year history, we went from pulling carts by hand to horses,” company President John Nilles said. “We were the first motorized apparatus in Northeastern Pennsylvania. (Today) the Diamond is still solid. We’re still taking in new members, which is a good thing.”
A centennial committee that the fire company organized in 1989 published a book that traces its history.
The late Tom Bast, a longtime member, pieced its history together through interviews, photos, news articles and meeting records.
Expansion to the north
The discovery of coal helped a small village in Northeast Pennsylvania incorporate as the borough of Hazleton in 1851.
By 1857, borough residents participated in their first election, but it was not until a decade later that the first fire apparatus was purchased for the growing community.
The late 1800s brought prosperity and expansion to the borough, particularly to the north in a parcel opened by Diamond Coal and Land Co.
The Pioneer Steam Engine, Hose, Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1 organized in 1869 but development of the northern parcel, known as the Diamond Addition, prompted citizens to discuss forming a second fire company to serve that area.
Discussions involved establishing Diamond Hose, Hook and Ladder Co. No 2 — a second borough fire company that would protect the rapidly developing property and assist members from the Pioneer station.
The proposed fire company was named not only for its service area, but also honored Diamond Coal and Land Co. for its commitment to the borough.
Twenty-three men who originally met about forming the company appointed officers, drafted bylaws and began the process of securing a charter. They formed a committee responsible for petitioning the borough council for the new company and its incorporation into Hazleton Fire Department.
Council approved the committee’s request in 1889 and promised to secure equipment and quarters.
A year later, the council approved preliminary bylaws for the new fire company.
Local resident Otto Brien, who Bast called one of the greatest contributors to the Diamond Fire Co., donated the use of his shed at the rear of Brien’s hotel at Third and Alter streets. Brien also allowed the founding fathers to conduct meetings at his establishment. That base was recognized as the Diamond’s first official headquarters.
In addition to fueling growth of the borough with its land contribution, the Diamond Coal and Land Co. encouraged growth of the newly formed fire company by donating equipment — a hose cart, a nozzle also known as a “play pipe” and about 300 feet of hose. It also provided a monetary contribution.
When laying out the Diamond Addition, the coal company expanded operations and formed Diamond Water Co. It built larger reservoirs and installed underground lines. Fire hydrants were installed throughout the development.
The borough also chipped in, donating an additional hose cart, 900 feet of hose and some coats and helmets.
The company bought additional coats, boots, helmets, lanterns and axes with money it received from fundraisers.
An aged, hand-drawn ladder wagon was donated to the new fire company.
Hose carts were capable of carrying between 600 and 900 feet of hose, which was a necessity at the time because of the distance between hydrants and the need for additional lines when fighting larger fires.
Firefighters used a bell alarm system when responding to calls. Telegraph alarm boxes were mounted on utility poles and connected to the borough building via alarm tape.
When an alarm sounded, officials would ring a large bell at the top of the building to alert personnel and signal the location of a fire. A six-man crew typically responded to calls.
A new location
The Diamond continued reaping the benefits of a giving community in 1890 when the borough purchased land at North Church and Sixth streets to build a new firehouse. A three-story wooden structure was built to serve as headquarters for the growing fire company.
In 1892, the borough was chartered as the city of Hazleton.
Around that time, East End Hose Co. No. 3 organized. The Diamond adopted its own bylaws and began the process of securing a charter.
In 1898, Luzerne County Court granted a charter to the Diamond Engine, Hose, Hook and Ladder Co. No. 2.
The company then turned to the city to purchase a steam engine. Council obliged.
Until that point, the company used hand-drawn equipment, but it was on the verge of being phased out by horse-drawn apparatus.
A Silsby No. 3 Steam Engine signaled the end of the hand-drawn era when it was delivered to Diamond firehouse. It could pump 750 gallons of water per minute and could be drawn by four horses.
The new engine was looked upon as a major improvement, Bast wrote.
During this period, the city bought a new hook and ladder wagon for Pioneer Fire Co., which handed its older model down to the Diamond.
Changes
The turn of the century brought about some changes.
The Diamond had its first telephone installed, the ladies auxiliary formed and a “suitable team of steel gray horses” was purchased for $455 to cart the Silsby. Stalls and a stable area were built at the rear of the fire station.
Before buying its own horses, the department used horses lent by a neighbor.
In the early 1900s, the city began paying the salary of a driver, who was responsible for driving the engine to a fire, caring for horses and maintaining the firehouse and equipment.
Company apparatus consisted of a horse-drawn engine, a horse-drawn ladder wagon, two hose carts and an equipment carriage.
The Diamond played a key role in joining up with the Pioneer and East End companies in 1904 to organize the Four County Fireman’s Association. That venture evolved into the Six County Firemen’s Association, which worked to obtain legislation “beneficial to all firemen and to foster the ideals of fire service,” Bast wrote. The association included fire companies from Luzerne, Schuylkill, Columbia, Lackawanna, Montour and Northumberland counties.
A new home
Realizing they had outgrown the firehouse at Church and Sixth Streets, the Diamond petitioned the city council for a new headquarters. Council again lent a hand, allocating $10,000 for construction.
The new firehouse was built at the same location as the previous headquarters. The former firehouse was sold in June 1906 and moved to the northeast corner of Ninth and Vine streets. A double home stood in its place when the centennial book was published 83 years later.
Bast said that crews at the time more or less picked up the building and moved it. Relocation of the former firehouse cleared the way for work to begin building the new one.
Before construction began, however, the fire company was asked to change the firehouse’s original three-story design to a longer, two-story structure. With construction underway, Diamond members met at various meeting halls while its apparatus was placed in a city-owned building on Wyoming Street. North Side residents offered to house remaining equipment at various storage sheds.
The fire company returned to Church and Sixth streets in 1907. Apparatus and equipment was moved back and officials dedicated the building in February of that year.
That building remains operational today.
By 1911, with its hose carts battered, the Diamond’s request for a new horse-drawn wagon brought some substantial changes to its firefighting techniques.
Once again, the city offered assistance — but decided to replace the aged carts with a motorized vehicle.
The city bought a Robinson Auto Chemical Engine for the Diamond. It helped the fire company achieve recognition as Hazleton’s first motorized outfit. The vehicle had a four-cylinder motor, chain drive and solid rubber tires.
The Robinson could carry 100 gallons of water that was mixed in two tanks with soda and acid. It could carry 1,000 feet of hose, nozzles and other gear.
Dubbed the “Otto,” it served the company beyond World War I. Its arrival was the beginning of the end for the fire company’s horses.
“Shortly after the arrival of the Otto, one of the horses died while on duty,” Bast wrote. “Maybe it knew?”
World War I
The onset of the “Great War” in 1917 prompted many Diamond members to sign up with the armed forces.
During that time, the Diamond Water Co. further expanded its system of reservoirs and installed pumps to boost pressure in underground lines.
Hazleton Heights Fire Co. No. 4 organized in November 1917 and was equipped with a cart and hose.
About five years later, the Diamond’s Robinson fire engine overturned while responding to a call. The chemical tanks sustained the most damage, limiting its use to hauling hose.
The city bought new trucks for the Diamond and Heights companies after members reported equipment problems. The Diamond purchased a hook and ladder vehicle.
Around 1919, the 14th Ward Fire Co. No. 5 was the last outfit to join Hazleton Fire Department. It was created to cover the East Diamond Avenue section of the city.
The Roaring ’20s brought about some setbacks for the Diamond, as its April 1928 meeting minutes noted that it had been “reprimanded” for violating the Volstead Act, or prohibition.
No more horses
Two years later, city council purchased a Hahn City Services Truck for the fire company. The motorized Hahn brought about the end of the era, as horses were no longer needed.
The Silsby was put into storage and its days came to an end when it was melted for scrap iron to support the Allied efforts during World War II.
Meanwhile, the Diamond’s members concentrated on bringing change to their firehouse. A small kitchen was installed and a bar and other equipment added.
Civil Service was introduced to the drivers’ system in the 1930s.
Diamond members also installed a siren on the roof of the firehouse, enabling drivers to summon volunteers when a call came in. A 1938 Hahn Fire Engine was purchased and replaced an American-LaFrance. The Hahn was placed into service later that year and was christened “The Champ” in honor of the Hazleton High School basketball team that won the state championship.
The Hahn was equipped with a 750 gallon-per-minute pump, a 150-gallon booster tank and booster reel. It could carry 1,200 feet of hose. The increasing size of vehicles prompted the fire company to replace its double doors with a large overhead door.
Drivers unionized in the 1940s in response to changes in labor laws.
The North Side fire company emerged as a community leader in civic affairs, as it donated $10,000 toward the establishment of St. Joseph Hospital and became involved with various community-oriented groups.
The Diamond kept rolling along, but years of heavy use began catching up with a City Service ladder truck. Construction of the hospital and other high-rise buildings prompted a call for an aerial ladder truck.
Once again, the company worked with the city council and purchased a Seagrave 75-foot aerial ladder truck to replace the City Service engine.
The truck arrived in late 1949 and was equipped with wooden ground ladders, pike poles, hand tools and other equipment. It had eight storage compartments and a bed beneath the main ladder to carry additional hose and equipment.
In December 1949, just three months after its delivery, the Seagrave was involved in an accident while crews were taking Santa Claus to the company’s annual children’s Christmas party. “Slight” injuries were reported.
Changes in firefighting technology resulted in the North Side fire company receiving its first enclosed cab engine in 1960. The FWD vehicle featured a 750-gpm pump, a 250-gallon booster tank, twin booster reels and line and 10 equipment compartments.
Setbacks
Technological advancements weren’t the only changes in the 1960s and later decades, as politics and cost-cutting crept into the scene.
The city began shutting down equipment and stations to save money.
The Pioneer lost a pumper, the East End also lost a vehicle and the Diamond’s aerial ladder was sold in 1983. None was replaced.
Drivers were reduced by attrition, then by layoffs, Bast wrote.
In 1988, the Heights and 14th Ward stations were open “50% of the time.”
A 1987 Mack engine, which replaced the FWD, served as the Diamond’s response vehicle.
The city bought a 2002 KME pumper in 2002 with federal Community Development funds. That pumper remains in service, Nilles said.
Modern challenges
With the Diamond recognizing its latest milestone Nilles said the company remains “pretty solid.” Finances, a diminishing interest in volunteerism and language barriers with the public are among its challenges, he said.
More minority residents, however, are expressing an interest in working with the company, which is helpful for communicating with fire victims, he said. The department has a translator group to improve communications.
“A lot of the calls we’re going to are homes who are not speaking English,” Nilles said. “A lot of them cook with oils and grease and when the home catches fire, sometimes you go there and they’ll be standing in the middle of smoke.”
City police assist with translating, when possible, he said.
As with all aspects of the city — and other departments — finances are a challenge.
Each fire company purchases replacement equipment, which is costly. Relief funds help out, but much of that money is earmarked for death benefits, he said.
The Diamond relies on its annual fundraiser, which typically involves a city-wide mailer each May. It also holds bingo events to raise funds for buying equipment and maintaining its building.
“The city is obviously distressed and just doesn’t have that money floating around,” he said.
Over the years, the fire company oversaw roof replacement and waterproofing projects and wiring, lighting and furnace upgrades at its facility, Nilles said. The 14th Ward and Southside stations do the same, he said.
Recruiting volunteer firefighters is also a challenge, but is not unique to the city or the state, he said.
“Our challenge is trying to get new recruits to come in, to go through training and actually stay,” Nilles said. “You can get people to come in, but some of them say ‘This isn’t for me’ and walk away. That’s why you’re seeing a lot of consolidations of fire companies. It’s because of membership, the upkeep of the buildings. You try and keep everything floating.”
Bast ends the historical portion of the centennial book on an upbeat note, saying that while he’s not sure what the future holds, he’s confident the department will work to protect residents and properties.
“We do look to the next century and are ready for it,” he wrote. “This is not the end, only a pause in the story.”
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