Stations of the Covington Fire Department
Station 1
Station 2
Upon organization on March 4, 1902, the 34 new members of the Covington Volunteer Fire Department realized the need for shelter to house their fire apparatus and equipment.
At a meeting of town council in April 1902, an alarm bell was ordered to be placed near the Mayor's Office. Today, the Mayor's Office is owned by the Alleghany Historical Society. It still sits across from the Hawthorne Street Bridge on Court Avenue.
Prior to this bell, the firemen relied on steam engines in the railroad yard to sound the alarm of fire with their steam whistles. This proved to be an unsafe plan because an engine was not always in the yard.
The town was divided into two wards in those days, and soon after the organization the fire department was divided into Hose Company No. 1 and No. 2, serving Wards One and Two respectively. A second station was located in the 200 block of East Walnut Street to serve Ward Two. It is presumed the reel stored at the Mayor's Office was moved to the Walnut Street station.
In 1903, a Seagrave ladder wagon was purchased and housed at the temporary quarters in Ward One. The fire department depended on two horses, normally used to pull the trash wagon, to also pull the ladder wagon. On sounding of the alarm bell, the horses would be unhitched and they would race to the fire station to be hitched to the ladder wagon. If the horses were unavailable, the firemen had to pull the ladder wagon.
This temporary arrangement continued until 1917, when a new two-story, three-bay brick station was built on Dickey Street (now West Hawthorne Street). Both Hose Company No. 1 and Hose Company No. 2 moved into the new quarters.
Reliable information also indicates that another temporary station was created in the late 1920s and early 1930s to provide fire protection in the South Covington area (Old Rayon Village). This was during the time the Industrial Rayon Plant was built and housing was being developed in the Rayon Village.
In 1966, larger and additional fire apparatus, plus deterioration of the 1917 structure, necessitated efforts to have a new facility constructed.
A committee was appointed by then-President Harry W. Robertson Sr. to pursue replacement of the old station. Serving on that committee were Percy Caldwelll, Eddie Q. Jones, William E. Bosserman Jr., John Rice and Jerry Burks.
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new station were held October 14, 1968, with Mayor William A. Taylor Jr., Chief Lawrence Wolfe, Eddie Q. Jones, Percy Caldwell, William E. Bosserman Jr., and Jerry Burks participating. G.C. Fawley served as Master of Ceremonies.
On November 1, 1969, a move was made from the old station into the new station. The new station had been built around the 1917 station to the east side and rear and soon after occupancy the new facility the old station was demolished and a paved apron was installed in front of the new station.
Dedication
ceremonies and an open house at the new station was held on May 24, 1970, with
First Assistant Chief G. C. Fawley seving as Master of Ceremonies and 300 people
and guests in attendance. The new fire station was dedicated by President John
Rice to past president, the late Harry W. Robertson Sr.
A three-bay extension of the main fire station on Hawthorne Street was completed
in November 2001. This extension was made possible by a donation from the Bobby
Neil estate and houses our antique 1927 American LaFrance Pumper Hezekiah, a
Haz-Mat trailer and rescue squad equipment. Dedication of the extension was held
during a week-long 100th anniversary celebration in March 2002.
In 1977, the need was realized for a substation on the south side of the city. This station would be designated as Station 2 and would house one fire engine and one rescue squad unit. In 1980, funds were approved by the city for construction of a station on land donated by Hercules Inc. in the 700 block of West Edgemont Drive.
Upon occupancy of Station 2, the membership of the fire department was increased from 60 to 70 volunteer firefighters.
Mayor James L. Jamison, Fire Chief Jerry Burks and Rescue Squad Captain Harrison Scott dedicated the station on April 24, 1982.
Station 2, which covers the city south of I-64 with back-up from the main station, was dedicated to Fire Chief Jerry Burks at the annual fire department banquet on March 5, 1988.
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Volunteer Fire Department
Covington, Va.