“One gets a sense of something different about the Fame right from its birth”

To truly understand the beginning of the Fame Fire Company, one must go as far back as the beginning of West Chester.  In 1799, when West Chester Borough was incorporated, there was an obvious need for fire protection.  This need was fulfilled by the West Chester Fire Company, who purchased their first fire engine, the “Neptune”, from the Neptune Fire Company of Philadelphia.   After 21 years, in 1831, they raised enough funds to purchase a second, brand new engine.  Seeing that the First West Chester Fire Company had no use for their first engine, a group of seventeen young men gathered to form The Neptune Fire Company.  They would go on to use the Neptune engine for the next 6 years until 1837 when they bought an engine from the Good Will Fire Company of Philadelphia.  Instead of repainting this new engine, The Neptune Fire Company simply changed their name to Good Will Fire Company.  Once again, the original Neptune engine was no longer needed, after serving West Chester for almost 30 years, and was likely headed for the junk pile.  However, this spare engine would go on to see many more years of service. 

               In 1837, residents of West Chester realized the need for “a perfect and substantial” fire company.  After a series of meetings deliberating the creation of this new company, the members decided on the name Independence. They started out by procuring and repairing the old Neptune engine.  On December 30^th of the same year, the Neptune engine was presented to the Independence Fire Company by Angus McKay, Nicolis Mendenhall, and Edward M. Barlett. The motto “With Willing Hearts, We Hasten to Assist, Actuated by Benevolence, Impelled by Emulation” was adopted shortly after in January 1838. Amidst all of this progress a special meeting was called on February 9, 1838 due to some expressed dissatisfaction with the name Independence, and after several ballots, the name Fame was finally adopted instead. Other names considered were: Relief, Hope, and Liberty. The formal institution of Fame was on February 22, 1838. 

“One gets a sense of something different about the Fame right from its birth.”¹  While First West Chester Fire Company was made up of the town’s elite, judges and doctors, and Good Will Fire Company was made up of “men of means”, lawyers and some of the wealthiest families in West Chester.  Fame, on the other hand, was made up of obscure young clerks or artisans, none of which made enough money to even be taxed. 

Fame’s original “Engine House” was located on the courthouse grounds.  They were the first to the scene of the first fire to which it was called on March 28, 1838 at the Gay street home of Good Will Fire Company’s president, William Williamson’s.  However, Fame’s services were not needed. Almost a year passed before Fame was called again. This second call was a fire at Taylor’s “Brew House,” and the Famers earned considerable acclaim for their actions during it. Members elected Samuel S. Heed for President in 1840. A few years later, to complete the development of the company, Fame purchased an engine from Philadelphia in 1845 for $900.00, which was to get a new home when the newly built Court House made in necessary for Fame to relocate to a lot owned by John T. Worthington on the north side of Market Street between High and Walnut in 1846.  In 1852, it was decided to purchase this lot and build a two story building where it would spend the next 121 years.

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Fame Fire Company of West Chester is a 100 percent volunteer fire company supported by public donations.  As a 501(c)3 non-profit, donations may be tax deductible.

The members of Fame rely on generous support from the Greater West Chester Community.  In addition to West Chester Borough, Fame provides services in Birmingham, East Bradford, Thornbury, West Goshen and Westtown Townships.  The Chester County Rescue Task Force that Fame is part of also responds to technical rescue incidents in the Southeastern Region of the state with responses in Berks. Chester and Montgomery Counties so far in 2019.