2020 DuBois Community Days dates: June 12th and 13th, 2020

Hose 1 photo

Volunteer Hose Company #1
Engine 72 / Truck 72
33 East Park Avenue
DuBois, PA 15801
(814) 371-4490

The Volunteer Hose Company is the oldest hose company in DuBois. The members are a hardworking, motivated group who are proud of their history and record of service. They have performed admirably for the community through the years and feel privileged to be able to serve the good citizens of DuBois today and in the future.

About Volunteer Hose

volunteer hose co

It was June 25, 1888, that the Volunteer Hose Company No. 1 was organized
First firefighting unit to become a functioning city affiliate
First home for the Volunteers was a building located on West Scribner Avenue between Brady Street and High Street. At present at this location a new building houses the city offices and the DuBois Police Department.
Present location of the fire station East Park Avenue and North Stockdale Street in the Second Ward since 1949.
Engine 72 , Truck 72 with Chief Ben Blakley IV

Since 1994 at Community Days we, with the help of family members & friends, have had a food booth at the City Park. Since 1996, the main food has been hot sausage, haluski, & pierogies, making up the famous “Firemen’s Platter”. In 2012 we made 6000 pierogies, 1000 pounds of haluski, and 1500 links of hot sausage.

DuBOIS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT COMPETITIONS… The Volunteers have won a total of 12 times in the firefighter competitions amongst the five stations during “Firemen’s Week” – 1981, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2008, & 2011.

“TRADITIONS: THE POCKET WATCH”… In the late 1970s, family members of James Whitehill came across a pocket watch that was given to Mr. Whitehill. James Whitehill was the first Fire Chief of the DuBois Fire Department. He served from 1888 to 1904. Chief Whitehill was a member of the Volunteer Hose Company. Chief Whitehill received this pocket watch for his dedication & service as Fire Chief. We do not know if it came from the Fire Department or the Hose company, or just how it originated. The Whitehill family sent the watch to Tom Swauger in the late 1970s. Tom continued to keep the watch in safe keeping and in 2009 a new tradition begins – Chief Joseph Bigar completed his term and at our banquet to honor Chief Bigar the “Whitehill” pocket watch was turned over to him for safe keeping and it will be passed down to the next outgoing Fire Chief from the Volunteer Hose Company. At the present time that would be Chief Blakley in 2019.
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