Shaft Volunteer Fire Department

The Borden Shaft Volunteer Fire Company No1 was organized in October 1938 and Chartered December 22, 1938. The first meeting was held in December 1938, at which point the Constitution and By-Laws were amended. We are known today as the Shaft Volunteer Fire Department.

Shaft was organized by Elmer Kight from the Frostburg Fire Department. He was treasurer of the Maryland State Fireman’s Association at the time and he donated the first dollar. We then spent that dollar on a rope to pull the hose reel, which was also donated to us by the Frostburg Fire Department No.1.
The first official fundraiser was a raffle for 12 tons of coal as the prize. For the $500.00 Dollars we raised, we purchased several hundred feet of hose for the hose reel. Later, we bought a 1923 Dodge Fire Truck from the Lonaconing Good Will Fire Company No 1 $25.00. We used this truck for a total of only 8 years.

During World War II in 1941, three-fourths of the members were drafted into Military Service, leaving only 8 remaining members to keep the Department running during the four years of World War II. When the Veterans returned, the Department had raised enough money to purchase the Department’s first new fire truck. It was a 1947 “Reo” Fire Truck that was purchased fully equipped for $8,700.00. The Department also purchased new uniforms for parades and ceremonies.

The main source of income at that time was an appropriation from the County Commissioners in the amount of $375.00 per year. In 1939, the members constructed an outdoor dance floor on the ball-field. The dance floor did not work out so well, because it rained almost every dance night. Eventually it was tore that down and an engine house with a meeting room overhead was built. The Engine was kept there and a bar known as the Shaft Fire Hall was originated there. Several years later, additional space was added for a complete bar and tavern. The bar became the main source of income from 1939 to 1980.

In 1948, the first Ladies Auxiliary was established. They provided an income by holding dinners and soup sales.

In 1962, we donated the building to the church. The same year, we built an Engine House on the same site where the school that was donated by the Borden Mining Company was located. This is part of the present building. In 1968, a second new Engine was purchased. It was a 1969 Ford C-Series Pumper, 750 gpm pump, 1,100 gallon water. That was also the year we converted a war surplus two and half ton International truck with a milk tank into Moe, our 2,200 gallons tanker known as Tanker 17-20.

From the early 1970s to mid-1990s the Department sponsored the Shaft Junior Fire Department. It was a youth organization dedicated to supporting the Fire Department. It members ranged in age from 12 to 16 years of age. A few of today’s members were part of the organization.

In 1974, we purchased a 1974 Pierce - Dodge Power Wagon Mini-Pumper. It was equipped with all the latest rescue equipment, porta-power, air chisel and light generator. Over the years it was known as Rescue 17-40, Engine 17-13, and Min-Pumper 17. This unit went out of service in 2007 and sold to the Baltimore Pike Volunteer Fire Company.

In 1979 – 1980, we built an addition to our engine house, which was built by the members at the time. It was dedicated in memory of all past and present firemen. Today it is now known as “Memory Hall”.

In 1987, we purchased a custom-built Pierce Lance 1000 gpm pump, 750 gallons of water for $140,000.00. It was the first completely closed cab to the area.
In 1988, we purchased a 1988 GMC – 4Guys Tanker for $75,000.00. Our main income then came from the County and State, donations from the public and a weekly BINGO game. It was sold to Fountain Volunteer Fire Company in 2003.

In May 2003, we purchased a 2001 Ford F-350. Utility 17 was placed in service in July of 2004.

In September 2003, the decision was made by the department to purchase a new Pierce Arrow XT with the assistance of Laurel Mountain Leasing. The unit has a 1250 gpm pump, 750 gallons of water. The new Engine was placed in service in mid-June 2004. Tragically on August 21st , 2004, the engine was struck from the rear on Interstate 68 while responding to a fatal vehicle crash. In 2010 the unit was converted into an Engine-Rescue carrying Holmatro Core hydraulic tools and air bags. In November 2015 this unit was paid off.

In May 2005, we purchased a 1995 Dodge 3500 Brush Truck from the Hughesville Volunteer Fire Department for $4,000, and $4,000 for a brush skid unit. This unit also doubles as our snow plow to keep the station open and fire hydrants in our first due area clear.

Since then, we have had several fund-raisers for our main income including the weekly bingo game, cash bashes, family portrait sales and hoagie sales. We now operate four pieces of apparatus: Engine-Rescue 1-7-1, Engine 1-7-2, Brush 17, and Utility 17.

It is hard to believe that all this has happened because of a one-dollar donation and a $500.00 profit for a 12 ton coal raffle. Whatever has happened was for the best and we still are thankful for those that have helped our department along its way. For 78 years we have been...

“Few Serving Many.”