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First fire truck: 1933 American LaFrance.
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Finally after many months of planning and fundraising, the time had come to move into the new fire department. December 14, 1933, was the beginning of the Sykesville Fire Department. An old store on lower South Main Street was purchased to be the new fire house and a 1933 American LaFrance fire engine was purchased to serve the community. The engine had a 500 gallon a minute pump plus a 100 gallon booster tank. The department started out with 52 members.
Only thirteen days after being placed in service, the new engine rushed out to Eldersburg for its first fire. There was a chimney fire at the Gilbert Randal residence. The department responded to 42 calls in the first thirteen months of its existence.
Things went fast for the department since the start up. In September of 1934, the department was able to purchase helmets, boots and turnout coats. In November of that year the department was able to provide certain personnel insurance coverage. In January 1935, Sykesville Department was invited to attend its first meeting of the Carroll County Firemen's Association. On May 31 of that year, the department became a member of the Carroll County Firemen's Association. Since the department had become a member of a fire organization, this entitled the station to participate in the University of Maryland Fire Service Extension's Basic Course in 1938. They took part in the class again in 1940. This was the beginning of a continued commitment to educate and train through the university.
In 1939, plans were made to acquire new apparatus. The current fire station was too small so the station moved to across the street to the 'old stone store'. This building was used until 1949 when it was sold to St. Barnabas Church.
During World War II, the fire department struggled to stay in service. There wasn't much money available and even worse, there was no manpower. A few faithful members along with a lot of help from wives and families kept the department afloat.
With World War II over and the men returning to Sykesville, plans were in the works to purchase a new fire station. On May 14, 1949, a new station on Main Street was placed into service and during the dedication ceremony, the station received its first call.
As the years went by, a better form of communication was needed. During this time, fires were called into a neighboring house to the fire station. In 1953, two-way radios were introduced and Sykesville Fire Department signed on as KGC-765. This starting point of two-way radios has now grown into base stations, two-way mobile units, portable radios, pagers and computer aided dispatch which links the department to central communications and all neighboring jurisdictions.
During this time all ambulance service was provided by the local funeral director. The department decided they needed an ambulance service. In 1957 a red Pontiac ambulance was put into service. The closest hospitals to Sykesville were in Baltimore City. In 1958, 7,957 miles were put on the ambulance on 152 calls. There were also 111 fire calls that year.
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1969: Main Street Station Fire
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Liberty Road was developing around this time and the department knew it needed to expand to cover the Flohrville-Eldersburg area. In 1967, land was acquired in the Flohrville area to serve as a permanent carnival site and a future fire station. Things were going well until 1969 when a fire tore through the Main Street station. The fire was contained in the engine bay but all the fire apparatus was destroyed except for one.The ambulance also made it through with minor damage. The community really pulled behind the department and with the contributions they provided along with the insurance money, the station was able to restore the Main Street station and to purchase three new pieces of equipment.
Dennis Beard (left), fire company president, Dave Walters (on ladder) and Jamie Keene work on the new South Carroll fire station. |
Once everything was completed at the Main Street location, development of the new Flohrville site became a high priority. Community members and students of the South Carroll Vo-Tech contributed all they could to the construction. A permanent carnival structure and sports area was established. Construction of the new fire station was started in 1971. The formation of the structure was contracted out. The interior finishing was all completed by the department and by the community.
The station was finished and placed into service in late 1972. With the addition of this station along with the Main Street station, the department had decreased response time and improved services to a growing area.
Elizabeth (Libby) Luebberman, one of Sykesville's female firefighters, responded to the most calls in 1978 - 161. She accepts an award from fire chief Edgar Holman. |
In the past years, women played an important role to the fire department. Most of the women were in the Ladies Auxiliary and did not ride the apparatus. In 1972, Libby Luebberman changed the women's role at the department. Libby became the very first female to qualify to ride the emergency apparatus in Sykesville. She was the first woman to qualify to do so in the county and one of the first in the state.
During the late 70's, many younger people in the Sykesville area became interested in the volunteer fire service. A junior fire department program was developed to get them involved. The programmed worked since many of the first class of junior firefighters are now senior members of the department.
Sykesville Firefighters voted unanimously to close the old Main Street fire station May 15. (George Welty photo) |
As the Eldersburg and Sykesville area grew and grew, the current situation of two stations was not working. There were just too many calls. In 1978, the idea of combining the two stations was first brought up. In November of 1981, a unanimous vote was passed to combine the stations at one location.
Once the consolidation had been made, it was obvious that there needed to be more room. On May 5, 1985, a ceremony took place for a 6,662 square foot addition with included a radio room, small meeting room, membership meeting room, hall and kitchen area and some other small rooms for membership use.A 270 square foot addition to the main food pavilion on the
Under reorganization plans, Sykesville station 2 in Flohrville is to be remodeled, using a $300,000 low-interest loan. (Times photo) |
carnival grounds was also established.use. A 270 square foot addition to the main food pavilion on the carnival grounds was also established.
In 1987, the department realized there were not enough people around during the day to respond to calls. In 1987 and 1988, paid members became part of the department to assist during the day when most volunteers were at work.
