FIRE: Firefighters — they’re a staple in communities across the nation, and Bradford is no different.
According to the Bradford Landmark Society, the Bradford City Fire Department has been fighting fires since 1903. The department tallied its 100th anniversary in 2003 — 116 years of fighting fires, per 2019.
Bradford’s first “big fire” took place on May 30, 1868; where the Bradford House at the intersection of Main and Mechanic Streets completely burned to the ground. The damage amounted to a monetary loss of $10,000 (totalling to nearly $177,000, per present currency values).
Another “big fire” happened in June of 1876. The inferno would spread from the Olmstead oil well to the McKean County pipeline, the PCLP Company tank, P.T. Kennedy’s mill, the Prentiss & Company’s tanks, the Jackson & Walker well and tank, and to the J.T. Farrel well. The blaze destroyed 40 empty tank cars and a house. The damage was estimated to have been a loss of $90,000 (over $2.1 million at today’s currency value).
The next year, in 1877, the first volunteer fire department was formed under the name F.S. Johnson Hose Company No. 1. The Borough of Bradford (not yet incorporated) was given some equipment to the fire company. The Hose Company was later given a hose carriage in gratitude for their efforts fighting a fire that destroyed all of the buildings on Main, Pine and Mechanic streets and Tuna Creek.
Fast forward to 1903, where the Borough had 10 fire companies and would establish the Central Fire Department. As a result of the imposition of the Central Fire Department, the volunteer fire companies would proceed to cease operations.
More about historical fires in and around Bradford can be found in the Landmark Society’s book “Something’s Burning.”
HISTORY: While we’re on the subject of Landmark, and of history, we’ll share this tidbit from the society’s calendar: On this date in 1950, ground was broken for the construction of the St. Francis of Assisi Church.
The shovel was wielded by then-Rev. G. Carlton Ritchie.
