How a MD Fire Museum Saved a Piece of History

Works of art depicting the fire service have been a tradition since the beginning days of the first volunteers in America. From ornate paintings and decorations on the earliest “gallery” hand pumpers to Currier and Ives “Life of a Fireman” series, works of art have been used to display pride and tradition in our nation’s fire service for centuries.

For over 30 years, the unique public artwork "Volunteers," depicting the Independent Hose Co. No. 1 of Frederick, MD, in the early 1900's, adorned the front of the Firehouse Financial Center, former quarters of the Independent Hose Co. No. 1, in downtown Frederick. Due to an ownership change in the building, this magnificent work of art was nearly lost forever.

Fortunately, the new owners of the building reached out to the Independent Hose Company to see if they would be able to take possession of this iconic piece of public art. Though the fire company was unable to accept the etching, Dewey Foreman, a longtime Independent member and one of the firefighters that posed for the etching, reached out to the Frederick County Fire & Rescue Museum to see if the museum could accept the donated artwork.

The museum accepted this unique glasswork without any idea how the museum could display such a beautiful art. The first major goal was the removal of the etching from the present location at 12 West Church St. in downtown Frederick and transportation to the fire museum in Emmitsburg, MD, 30 miles away.

Emmitsburg Glass Company came to the rescue, gingerly removing the glass from the former fire house apparatus bay door and carefully delivering it to the fire museum. As the etching weighed 1,200 pounds, it became necessary to close a major city street so a crane and other special equipment could be positioned to remove the glass.

Once in possession of the museum, the next challenge was how to display this glorious fire service depiction. With the collective minds of Dan Reaver of Emmitsburg Glass, John Wantz of S&W Construction, Mayor Don Briggs of Emmitsburg, Mr. William Cochran the artist of the etching and many others, the museum decided to request permission from Frederick County Government to build a large outdoor lighted display next to the museum. This plan provided an exquisite public artwork that would be a welcome to the many firefighters from around the world that attend classes at the National Emergency Training Center just a short walk away.

Several members of the Independent Hose Company No. 1 of Frederick had posed for the artwork: Dewey Foreman, John Grice, Bill Horine, Chuck Handley, Bob Stevens and Chris Cochran, brother of the artist. The engine seen in the glasswork is a 1926 American LaFrance owned by the Arthur Biggs Family and was previously owned by the Pulaski, VA, Fire Department.

After two years of planning and fundraising, the glass etching “Volunteers” was dedicated on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019 during National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend. Over 150 firefighters and public were in attendance with Chief Keith Bryant, US Fire Administrator, Dr. Denis O'Neil, Deputy US Fire Administrator, and other national fire service leadership assisting in the dedication.

Around $40,000 in funding was provided by the Frederick County Office of Tourism, Frederick County Economic Development, Delaplaine Foundation, Ausherman Foundation, Jubilee Foods and Trout’s Seafood, VFIS and the Town of Emmitsburg.

This magnificent glass art can be viewed at the Frederic County Fire & Rescue Museum on South Seton Avenue just north of National Fire Academy.