The History of the Glenwood H&L, E&H, Co., Inc

1917-1926

At this time, there were events occurring on the continent of Europe that would have a profound impact on the nation and the Company - the "war to end all wars." World War I. When the United States entered the war in 1917, many of the members of the Company answered the nation's call to arms. Among those who volunteered for military service was Harry Tappen. who had just been elected as the first chief. During the war years of 1917 -1918, a Home Defense League was formed by the Company to help maintain the home front.

In April of 1918. a new flagpole was dedicated in front of the firehouse on Grove Street. The new flagpole was donated by Mr. James Fyfe of Fyfe's Shipyard on Shore Road. The flagpole was a mast from a large sailing ship, which raced in the International Yacht races. For more than sixty years this flagpole stood in front of fire headquarters, until the early 1980's, when the base of the mast became so rotted, that the mast had to be removed, in fear that it could collapse in a severe storm or wind.

The Company entered the motorized era of fire apparatus in 1919, when a Ford chassis truck was purchased for $593.00. This was the first new piece of apparatus the Company purchased. No longer would the Glenwood Fire Company purchase "used" equipment.

In the mid 1920's, as the company continued to purchase new and more modern equipment, it was agreed by the membership that the old schoolhouse was no longer large enough to accommodate the new and larger apparatus and the Company voted to construct a new firehouse on the same site as the old schoolhouse. Donations from the community contributed greatly to the construction of the new firehouse. One of the biggest benefactors of the new firehouse was Mr. Benjamin Stern of the famed Stern Brothers Department Stores. Mr. Stern, in addition to providing the majority of the funds for the new building, also provided the architects - Cherry & Matz, to design the new firehouse.