LEESBURG
VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
OUR HISTORY
A timeline of dedication, service and community, since 1803.
FIND OUT MORE ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: The Lost history of the Leesburg Volunteers | Leesburg VA | Facebook
1788 - Fire Company Incorporation
On Jan. 7th, Virginia law allows fire companies to be incorporated
1809 – A Relief Fire Company
On July 29th, a Relief Fire Company was incorporated with 83 members. This Relief Company was the second Fire Company formed in Leesburg and would have provided extra men to assist the first fire company at large fires.
1803 – The First Fire Company in Loudoun County Va.
On Nov. 13 the citizens of Leesburg formed the first fire company in Loudoun County and only the seventh in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The petition of the citizens was entered into the County Deed Book and made official. It read:
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“We the subscribers Residents in the Town of Leesburg do agree (according to Act of Assembly) to form ourselves into a fire company”
There were 48 members in the first company. At this time, Leesburg only had about 500 residents and was not yet an incorporated town. The United States of America was only 27 years old. Thomas Jefferson was in the 2nd year of his first term and the Louisiana Purchase was being finalized. Notice the use of the old spelling for Leesburg.
1813 – The Town of Leesburg becomes incorporated
​The fire company of the town of Leesburg (not the Relief Company) reorganized and became the Leesburg Fire Company on January 30th, 1819 with 79 members. The original document reads:
“enroll ourselves as members a Fire Company under the name of the Leesburg Fire Company and pledge ourselves to by governed by the constitution and bye laws of the old Leesburg Fire Company”
1821 – The Leesburg Friendship Fire Company
The Leesburg Fire Company became the Leesburg Friendship Fire Company on June 11th. Their 43 members in the initial company. The Relief Company continued to be in service.
1819 – Town Law for Firefighting
On Feb. 6th, the Town of Leesburg enacted the following ordinance:
“An Act for the Better Government of the Citizens on Occasions of Fire and Other purposes”
1822 – A Law for the Safe Keeping of Ladders and Fire Hooks in the Town of Leesburg
The Town of Leesburg enacted this ordinance on April 10th, which basically said that anyone who takes a ladder or a fire hook from the storage area except in the case of fire or the alarm of fire, shall pay a fine of one dollar.
1823 – Leesburg Law for the Use of Public Water
November 28th, 1823 – The Town of Leesburg enacts the following ordinance:
“A Law Concerning Pumps and Hydrants”
1826 – Friendship Fire Company Name Change
The Friendship Fire Company was reorganized on Jan. 7th, and a list of the 56 members of the “Leesburg Friendship Fire Company” was recorded in the county deed book. The following year on Oct. 20th, 1827 the company changed its name to the “Friendship Fire Company of Leesburg”. 49 Members are recorded in the county deed book
1830 – The First Fire Station in Loudoun County
Building of the first fire station in Loudoun County was authorized on April 30th, when the County Supervisors gave permission to
“the Fire Companies of the Town of Leesburg to make a shed on the south side of the Market House for the protection of the ladders and fire hooks belonging to said companies”
The Market House was located on the west side of the court house green facing King St. It was used for various functions for the citizens of Leesburg. According to this order, the �fire shed� would have been along King St. probably across from where Lightfoot is today.
1832 – Meetings in the Courthouse
Two years later on November 16th, the County of Loudoun again gave assistance to the Fire Companies with the following order:
“that the two fire companies of the Town of Leesburg have liberty hereafter to hold their annual meetings in the courthouse”
(Note that again there is reference to more than one Fire Company in Leesburg)
1836 – Town Law for Selling Firecrackers
On December 23rd – The Town of Leesburg enacts the following ordinance:
“An Act to Prevent the Sale of Fire Crackers in the Town of Leesburg”
1851 – The Union Fire Company
The Friendship Fire Company was reorganized on February 11th, and the Union Fire Company fire company was created.
1859 – Tub Request
September 5th, the first mention of the United Fire Company was found in this request by the town council, ordered that:
“Water Works Committee be authorized to have a Tub made of sufficient dimensions for the use of the United Fire Company to be used in the absence of a cistern. Said Tub to be placed upon wheels”
1860 – An Engine and Hose Cart
The following entry in the Council Minutes in February, is the first indication that the fire companies had a hose cart as well as engines. It also shows that we have had both the engine and cart long enough to become in need of repair.
1861 – The Virginia Fire Company
On March 16th, the fire companies were again reorganized and the “Virginia Fire Company” was recorded in the County Deed Books.
“Virginia Fire Company organized in the Town of Leesburg Virginia. Members who do not belong to Volunteer Companies (13 members) and Members who belong to Volunteer Companies ( 9 members)”
1861 – The Civil War Years
During the Civil War George Fox, the County Secretary, took all of the county records, court orders and deed books to a safe location well away from Leesburg. Fire company information during this time is very hard to come by. The last fire company entry in the Leesburg town council minutes was April, 22nd. The first fire company entry after the Civil War was on April 1st, 1865.
