History of the Hacks Point Fire Company

Station 9 – Cecil County, Maryland

Hacks Point Fire Company started in May of 1947. Russell C. Shew, then President of the Hack’s Point Community Association, felt that the two existing fire companies, Chesapeake City and Cecilton, were too far from Hack’s Point to give prompt service. He purchased an old 1924 Chevrolet Fire Truck from the Galena Fire Company for $100. He called a meeting of men in the community to confirm his ideas. They agreed with him and that began the unconfirmed company.

There were ten members that started the company and each contributed $10 to pay for the $100 truck that Mr. Shew had paid. They were:

Arthur, Eugene	Assistant Chief Engineer
Davidson, Capt. Earl	Philadelphia Navel Department
DeShong, Roy	Secretary
Hoffman, Charles	Member
Rauch, Leslie	Treasurer
Shew, Russell C.	President
Sutton, Edward	Chief Engineer
Walker, Henry R. (Bob)	First Chief
Walker, Richard B.	Vice President

In the next month, many meetings were held and officers were elected. Only two of the group had previous fire company experience. Eugene Arthur and Henry R. (Bob) Walker had experience in the Elsmere Fire Company in Delaware. Bob Walker was elected Chief and Eugene Arthur was elected Assistant Chief. Other members are listed above. Credit for the first phase of the Hacks Point Fire Company’s existence goes to this group of ten original members.

In June of 1947 the first truck was housed and reconditioned for service in the Walker’s garage on Hilltop and Beachview Avenue in Hack’s Point. In September 1947 permission was given to house the truck in the Community Center on Parkside Drive. Vince Ercolino, a member, made a truck door in the Community Center and this was used until late in 1949 when a meeting was held to decide on larger quarters for the expanding company.

On July 24, 1948, the Company decided to purchase their first “real pumper” from the Millington Fire Company, a 1937 model, for $700. The wives of the firemen held their first recorded fundraiser, a bake sale, to raise money to pay for the cost of paint and repairs of the second truck. Final payment on that truck was made on July 16, 1949. On July 22, 1949 the Ladies Auxiliary was officially formed. Mary Sutton was named President. The auxiliary served spaghetti dinners and hosed bingo to help raise money for the Company.

A new location to house the fire trucks was needed and the men knew that Ed Sutton was building a new store on Glebe Road. The old store, The Bohemia Market, was purchased from Mr. Sutton in 1951. Chief Bob Walker made a design model of the new firehouse to scale from toy bricks. Don Madosino, owner of Continental Black Company in Wilmington, Delaware and a homeowner in Long Point, donated all the block for the extension of the new firehouse. The firemen then set to work and added two bays for the engines. Vince Ercolino and Eugene Arthur, both being masons, donated their labor to lay the blocks and all the members worked to complete the building.

In May of 1953, ten men from the Chesapeake City, Hacks Point and Cecilton Fire Companies completed the Basic Firefighting Course. On June 23, 1953, Hacks Point Fire Company was accepted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association. The first delegates to the convention were selected in 1954. In March 1954 Hacks Point Fire Company applied for membership in the Harford-Cecil Fireman’s Association. Because the company did not have an approved pumper, they were rejected. On March 1, 1954, the Company purchased a 1942 LaFrance pumper from the Independent Fire Company of Annapolis. With the purchase of this truck the Company qualified and was accepted into the Harford-Cecil Fireman’s Association.

In August 1955 Bob Walker moved from Hack’s Point and Eugene Arthur was elected Chief and Ed Sutton became Assistant Chief. When Eugene Arthur moved from Hack’s Point in 1957, Ed Sutton was elected Chief.

This is an ongoing project. Please check back often for updates to the history