Celebration To Close Out Doylestown Fire Engine's 100th Anniversary

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Doylestown Fire Company No. 1 will join the Doylestown Historical Society to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the 1923 Ahrens-Fox fire engine in Doylestown Borough.

The event, to be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 at Doylestown Fire Company (Station 19) at 68 Shewell Avenue, will mark the arrival of the truck at the station house 100 years ago. It will also close out the truck's memorable anniversary year.

The evening will include speakers, presentations by members, a tour of the 1902 Oscar Martin-designed firehouse highlighting the modern fleet, along with a video presentation on the Ahrens Fox.

Admission is free with parking available courtesy of the C&N Bank. Pastries and beverages will be provided by Maryanne Pastry Shoppe and Wawa.

A limited edition Mercer commemorative tile will be available for sale as a memento of a memorable year.

The “Fox" pumper was purchased by the Doylestown Fire Company from the Ahrens-Fox Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, in June 1923 at a cost of $13,400. It was commissioned for service by the Doylestown community in Dec. 1923.

The truck, along with a twin 1923 Fox destined for service by the Lambertville, New Jersey Fire Company, were shipped via the Reading Railroad to Doylestown in October 1923.

The “Fox" served as a key firefighting apparatus protecting the Doylestown community for more than 50 years, with its last response being a fire at the old Borough School on Sept. 23, 1973.

A vintage photo of the Ahrens-Fox Fire Engine. (Courtesy of the Doylestown Fire Company No. 1)

The truck's anniversary celebration has been memorable, with the truck making appearances at every Doylestown special event this year including the Doylestown Memorial Day Parade, the Doylestown At Dusk Car Show, the Village Improvement Association's Village Fair and the 109th Doylestown Christmas Tree Lighting.

The truck also made special appearances at the company's pancake breakfast and at its fire prevention open house. It was also front and center when the company unveiled a mural at the fire station in June honoring the truck's anniversary.