Public Gets A Rare Look At Newtown's "Old Washy" In Action (Video)

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Residents and visitors had the rare opportunity on Saturday to see "Old Washy" in action at the Newtown Borough fire station on Liberty Street.

As part of the day-long "Newtown Celebrates America 250" organized by the Newtown Historical Society, Newtown firefighters brought the antique pumper out of the fire station's museum for a rare public demonstration on the stret.

Setting the tone for the demonstration, firefighter Will Fabian shared a brief history of the 1800s pumper and the fire service in Newtown.

The “volunteer fire company” originated in Philadelphia witth the Union Fire Company, co-founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1736, in Philadelphia, recognized as the first volunteer fire company in the United States. It was a bucket brigade organized to extinguish fires, said Fabian.

Firefighters working on both sides of "Old Washy" pumped the water out through a nozzle. "The harder you pump it the greater distance you get out of it," said firefighter Will Fabian. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Volunteers formed a bucket brigade to refill the pumper's 50 to 100 gallon tank. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The first fire company in Newtown was formed about 1823 and was called the Washington Fire Company and its first fire engine was a hand pumper named "Old Washy," which was built in 1812 by Patrick Lyon in Philadelphia.

"Old Washy is a type of end-stroke, double deck engine with two powerful 6 ½ inch cylinders with 7-inch stroke," said Fabian. "It was hand filled with water from people with buckets that brought water from a well, creek or pond. This is how bucket brigades got their name. Remember, there were no fire hydrants in 1823."

Pointing out the year 1796 emblazoned on the side of Old Washy, Fabian said that's the year the pumper's original owner, the Washington Fire Company in Philadelphia, was organized. Old Washy was used for over 100 years before being retired, said Fabian.

Old Washy was last restored in 2009 by Weavertown Coach Shop, an Amish carriage maker in Lancaster County. It is now housed in the fire company's museum on Liberty Street.

Newtown’s first firehouse, then called an engine house, was built on the north side of Centre Avenue east of Newtown Creek. The site was called "Island 10" and is now part of the municipal parking lot.

On June 16, 1865, the fire engine (Old Washy) and other equipment were turned over to the Borough of Newtown by resolution of the Washington Fire Engine Company, under the
condition that the Borough keep the same in good working order and use it at fires in the Newtown area.

The Winona Fire Company, the second fire company in Newtown, was formally organized on June 27, 1871. Its equipment consisted of two hand-drawn, hand-pumped engines belonging to the Borough. The new engine house, the second of its kind in Newtown, was erected on Liberty Street the same year, on approximately the site now occupied by the old firehouse for $475.

Will Fabian shares a history of firefighting in Newtown. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The bucket brigade in action. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

"Old Washy" in action. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The Newtown Fire Association was formed November 13, 1889.
The first piece of fire apparatus purchased by the Newtown Fire Association was a ladder wagon, built by Warner and McGowan, the local carriage makers. It was purchased for
$400 on July 4, 1892. This apparatus is still in our possession and can be viewed in the museum.

On September 16, 1901, the company was formally incorporated under the name of “Newtown Fire Association No. 1” for the purpose of “extinguishing fires and protecting life and property.” In that same year, a new firehouse was erected on Liberty Street where the 1871 firehouse had stood. The building is now the station's fire museum.

Skipping ahead 100 years, Fabian said in 1996 due to declining volunteers during the day, Newtown Township hired their first four career firefighters. Today, he said fire service is provided by both volunteer and career firefighters who work together and operate as Newtown Fire Rescue.

Newtown Fire Rescue provides fire, rescue, and medical response to Newtown Township and Borough and the surrounding communities. Newtown Township’s career firefighters respond to calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Newtown Fire Association’s volunteer firefighters from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Fire Association is always looking for more volunteer firefighters. Contact the station or the Newtown Fire Rescue website - newtownfire.com - to become a member.