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Undine Hose Co. No. 2.
Undine hose was organized in August, 1871, and obtained its charter on December 9th, 1871. Daniel Hastings (future Pennsylvania Governor) was the original president. John G. Love (later a distinguished judge) was its first secretary. The company immediately arranged to built their "hose house" at the corner of Perry Alley and Bishop street, and bought their hose carriage of Neptune Hose company of Philadelphia. They also purchased a hand engine of Parson & Son, Lock Haven, supplied with six hundred feet of hose.
During the 1870s, a great rivalry existed between the Logan Hose Co. & the Undine Hose Co. This resulted in quick response, as each company would race to be the "first" on scene. Far too often, though, the companies would swiftly arrive at a fire only to find that the Borough water system could not provide adequate water until they started the steam pumps at the spring, and the water pressure built up to a point that sufficient water could be trained on the fire. As a result, both companies would race to a fire with a full complement of equipment, only to stand by and watch the building burn to the ground.
In 1875 the company was reorganized and remained in existence until 1885. The terrible fire that winter destroyed their quarters on Bishop street and the company again practically disbanded. By 1885 the Borough agreed to take over the maintenance of the department and both companies were placed under the direct control of the council. The Undine Co. building, with its engine and carriage, were sold , and the location of the company moved to East Logan Street New engines and other supplies were purchased at this time.
This continued again until December 1891, when a new company was formed. In the 1890's they purchased and paid for a large Clappe & Jones steam engine.
A distinguishing feature of the Undine Hose Co. was their band which was organized in Oct. 1894. All the musicians were, firemen, they wore the regulation company uniform, the instruments were silver and "of the best and latest design, and their renditions are of a high order."
The company's 1895 equipment consisted of engine, hose carriage, hose cart, supply of hose, gum coats, boots, etc.
Near the end of the ninth team century so many disastrous fires had occurred in the town that the council again we organize the department, creating one ahead and placing both companies under its management at fires. In 1898 the Undine Co. purchased a lot and built a new building on Bishop Street (its present location). The borough assisted the Undine Co. in its acquirement of a more modern engine.
In 1914, with what would be considered the opening of the "motor age," the Undine Co. purchased an automobile with which to transport its chemical apparatus and hose. By 1920 a further reorganization was made in the department and in the following year they were fully motorized under the direction of Robert E. Kline, with George Carpeneto as his active assistant. In 1927 John J. Bower, Esq., was made fire marshal and devoted much of his time to the betterment of the service.
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