The history of firefighting and of some of the equipment goes back as far as 1924; but at that time, all equipment was owned by the town. The entire water supply was in the holding tank (1906) in the top of Mr. S. E. Douglas mill, on Mill Street in Preston; and the first waterlines were run to Mr. Douglas’ house, then to Doctor Phillips’ home. As the years went by, other people had water piped to their homes from the same system, and small fire plugs were installed to help the men of the town with their fire fighting.
Progress continued; and in 1926, the town put in the present water tank and a larger water line to supply more houses and better fire plugs for the firemen’s use.
On May 4, 1927 a meeting of the citizens of Preston was held in the Noble Knight Overland Co. building to reorganize a fire company for the town of Preston. This meeting was called to order by Mr. C. Fulton Noble, minutes of previous meetings on this subject, held Jan. 29, 1924 and Feb.21, 1924, were read and approved.
Also a motion was made to take up a subscription for the purpose of raising funds to pay for several hundred feet of hose, a hose cart, and hand pumper, and the equipment was to be purchased from the Town Commissioners to become the property of the Fire Company.
Immediately a subscription was taken among those present. The sum of 555.00 was raised. To solicit further subscriptions, the president appointed H. M. Hollis, C. W. Elzey and W. J. Bonner.
This was the beginning of Preston Volunteer Fire Company.
In a meeting of May 11, 1927 the treasurer reported that $1008.00 had been subscribed; and in addition, $40.25 was turned over as proceeds from two dances.
A motion was made in this meeting to appoint a committee to draw up articles to incorporate the Fire Company under the name of Preston Volunteer Fire Company. The members on the said committee were: C. B. Harrison, W. M. Wright, A. F. Sisk, and C. F. Noble.
In the following year, April 4th, the first committee was appointed to look into a suitable building for a fire house, and at the same meeting C. F. Noble reported that the Town Commissioners offered the town a lot as a suitable place for a firehouse, members of the new committee were : J. M. Chambers, J. F. Patchett, and J. L. Covey.
A motion was made and carried to join the Caroline County Firemen's Association at this time.
At last, on March 12, 1930, a committee was appointed composed of three members to consider erecting a fire house not to exceed $150.00. The following were appointed: C. F. Noble, T. E. Fletcher, and Lacy Fluharty. At this same meeting a motion was made and carried to look into buying a fire siren. The following were appointed: T. L. Trice, Jr., J. F. Patchett and J. P. Wright.
The building committee was instructed on May 7, 1930 to go ahead with construction of a firehouse at a cost not to exceed $125.00. Also at this meeting the decision was made to buy the first fire engine-a model T. Ford that Hurlock had traded in not to cost over $ 500.00.
At the June 4th, 1930 meeting, Reese Deane was appointed to go to Salisbury and to bring Preston's first fire engine home on June 5th (the next day).
In September the Preston Volunteer Fire Company voted to become a member of the Del-Mar-Va Fireman's Association. So, before the end of the year in December, the company added a five horse power siren. Also, they voted to add six water buckets, six gum fire coats, six fire hats, six pairs of boots, two axes and a fireman's hook, also one pair of goggles.
At a cost of $515.58 installed, the new American-La-Frace siren welcomed the New Year 1931.
The company began to dream of a second engine in February, but the plans for the firehouse came first. The building committee was composed of C. F. Noble J. F. Patchett, Lloyd Brodes, W. H. Collins and Fred Collins.
By November 2, 1932 this committee had met and voted against the present firehouse plans. As result this committee was dismissed.
At the end of 1932 this company decided to join the Maryland State Fireman's Association, both dues and applications were sent in at this time.
By February of 1933, the dream of a second fire engine was becoming a reality. President Patchett appointed a committee composed of C. F. Noble, Reese Deane, Ralph Brodes, Phil Wright, and R. O. Dulin to buy a new engine.
On November 21, 1933 the company voted to buy a new fire engine built by the Hale Pump Company of Conshohocken, Pa., with a Ford Chassis from the Preston Motor Company, to be delivered to the Hale Pump Company. The new engine was to have a 350 gallon contrifugal pump, with a 200 gallon booster tank, a 1,000 foot hose bed, ladders, bell, siren, lights, booster hose, etc.
During this time a committee composed of Harry B. Wright, Sr., W. J. Bonner and Robert O. Dulin was given the job of building the firehouse. This was the time of depression, and money was very scarce. However, the people of the community responded wonderfully. Those who could not give cash donations, especially the farmers, contributed lumber, trees, wheat, chickens anything that could help the cause. The total cost of the engine and the firehouse was slightly less than $9,000.00.
Then on September 5, 1934, the Preston Volunteer Fire Company, held its first meeting in the new firehouse. The fact that the original building is still intact reflects the care and expertness of the builder, William T. Wheatley of East New Market, Maryland.
