The Wheeling Fire Department wasn’t organized into a paid department until 1869. Before that time, fire protection in Wheeling was maintained by Seven Independent Volunteer Fire Companies. From 1807 until 1863, Wheeling was located in the state of Virginia. In 1863, West Virginia became a state of its own. The beginning of fire protection in Wheeling occurred on April 21, 1807, when the town council of Wheeling, Virginia passed several resolutions concerning fire accidents. On November 13, 1819, a by-law was passed by the town council and signed by the mayor that made $700 available from a tax levy to purchase a land-engine, hooks and ladders. The by-law also called for every male citizen over the age of 16 years old to enroll his name with the city recorder on January 13, 1820. Later that week, the men met to organize a fire company and elect officers. By March of 1820, council made an order to build a suitable structure on the west end of the Market House to store the fire equipment. The equipment included a land engine, hooks and ladders and heavy black leather buckets capable of holding 2 ½ gallons of water each.
           

In 1830, the first of the seven independent volunteer fire companies was established. It was called the “Wheeling Hose Company” and consisted of approximately 40 or 50 prominent businessmen of Wheeling. The firehouse was erected on the corner of Market Street between 12th and 14th streets.. The firehouse had a pretentious tower with a large open second floor where elaborate socials took place. One small pumping engine an done hose reel was purchased used from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firemen’s uniforms consisted of black pants and red shirts and regulation fire hats. Their red shirts lent to their nickname, the “old reds.” The Old Reds went out of service in 1860.
           
On March 16, 1835, the second volunteer fire company was established, called the “Hope Fire Company.” Two-hundred fourteen prominent and professional businessmen signed up on its roster for duty. The Hope Fire Company firehouse was located on the western side of Market Street between 11th and 12th streets. The first order of business for the Hope Fire Company was to purchase seven speaking trumpets. The Hope’s began with a single hose reel and then purchased a 2nd class engine from Philadelphia which was built by Merrick, Tyler and Anew. It required 24 capable men to operate and could throw a stream of water 120 feet. The Hopes were the most elaborate company by far, dressed in dark gray mixed cloth, double-breasted frock coats with large black military collars and Cape of Prussia Duck to the elbows. Although they were known all over for their frequent balls, colorful parades and numerous social events, they performed impressively when summoned for a fire. In 1837, the Hope’s moved to a new firehouse at 51 on 11th Street.
           
In 1839, third volunteer fire company known as the “Guards Fire Company” was established. It was organized by 100 men, mostly ironworkers and other metal tradesmen. Their firehouse was located on 21st Street. They had one hose reel with 600 feet of hose and a small hand engine operated from the gallery.
           
On April 22, 1843 the fourth volunteer company known as the “First Ward Hose Company” was organized by 102 men and was housed in a rough looking shed on Main Street in North Wheeling. A year after it was established, council appropriated $1,250 to purchase a hose reel and some other equipment. By 1849, council donated a parcel of ground at 650 Main Street and allocated funds to construct a substantial brick firehouse for the company. This building replaced their rough looking shed. In 1853, the First Ward Hose Company’s first engine went into service. It was a rowboat type engine and required 32 strong men to operate. But even the strongest and most determined men needed relief after 10 to 15 minutes of operating. The company had several other nicknames including, “76 Hose Company,” the “Independence Hose Company,” and in 1869 they became the “Vigilant Steam Fire Co. No. 3.”
           
In April of 1846, the “Rough and Read Fire Company” was organized by a hardy bunch of mostly tradesmen. Their firehouse was located in a 2-story brick building on Jacob Street between 16th and 17th streets. They began with one hose reel but by 1850 had purchased a Hand Engine built in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1869 they were known as the “Atlantic Steam Fire Co. No. 2”
           
In 1854, the “Young America Hose Company” was started by a small group of former members of the Hope Fire Company who lived on Wheeling Island. Their firehouse was believed to be located at 128 Zane Street. They had one hose reel.
           
In 1859, the “United Fire Company” came into existence just prior to the Civil War. The members that established this company were mostly B & O Railroad employees. Their firehouse was located on 24th Street, on the alley corner between Main and Market Streets. In 1862, the first Steam Fire Engine came to Wheeling and was used by the United Fire Company. The engine was built by Poole and Hunt of Baltimore, Maryland. The second Steam Engine came to Wheeling shortly after the “United” Steamer Engine. This engine was built in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

During these early years the fire service experienced the transition from manpower to steampower. Earlier hand operated pumpers required as man as forty strong men working vigorously to maintain a single water stream directed on the flames. The early hand operated pumpers were usually pulled to the fires by the firemen. Powerful horse teams pulled the heavy steam operated pumpers, billowing smoke from their stacks, as they built up steam on their way to the fire. Steamers could flow several streams of water with only a fireman and an engineer. During this era of firefighting, cities were growing in size and complexity and the steam engines were requiring more skills to operate, it became necessary to establish an organized professional fire service.

In 1869 the City Council of Wheeling, West Virginia passed an ordinance establishing and regulating a paid fire department for the city. On the third Tuesday in December, William Winder (formerly of the Atlantic Engine Company) was appointed to be the first Chief of the Wheeling Fire Department. Andrew J. Sweeney and William H. Harrison were the two Assistant Fire Chiefs. These three men constituted the Board of Control of the Fire Department. Chief Winder was officially sworn in 1870. He divided the city into two fire districts. District 1 was everything North of Wheeling Creek including Wheeling Island. District 2 was everything South of Wheeling Creek. After this, 4 fire companies were formed.

            The United Fire Company No. 1 was located on 24th Street on the alley corner between Main and Market Street. It was equipped with one 3” class Steam Fire Engine with 800 feet of hose, one 1st class Hose Carriage and three horses.

            The Atlantic Steam Fire Company No. 2 was located at 17th and Eoff Sts. And had one steam fire engine, one hose carriage (drawn by hand), three horses and 500 feet of serviceable hose and one hose carriage drawn by horses.

            The Vigilant Steam Fire Engine Company No. 3 was located at 650 Main Street and had one steam fire engine, 500 feet of hose, three horses, one four wheeled hose cart for horses and one four wheeled hose cart drawn by men.

            The Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was housed on 21st Street and had one hook and ladder truck, 500 feet of hose and one hose carriage. After the horses pulled the Steam Fire Engine (of another engine company) to the fire, they were returned to pull the Hook and Ladder Truck to the fire scene.

At the time of its inception, the new paid Wheeling Fire Department consisted of 33 officers and men, three steam fire engines, one hook and ladder truck, nine horses and extra older equipment. Fire alarms were given by ringing bells in the firehouses. There were 108 fire plugs throughout the city. Each company had brass speaking trumpets, necessary in those days for communication at a fire.

In December of 1878, William A. Eccles became the second Fire Chief for the WFD. Chief Eccles had many changes and upgrades to make in the department. One such change was that he had automatic snap collars and swing harnesses installed in the firehouses to relieve the horses from wearing their harness 24 hours a day which resulted in their backs and necks being raw and sore. Three additional companies were added to the department by Chief Eccles. The Gamewall Fire Alarm System was installed with 57 alarm boxes throughout the city. The first fire alarm box to be activated was Box 6 at 31st and Chapline Streets. It summoned the WFD to a small fire at the pottery. Western Union Telegraph preceded the Gamewall Fire Alarm System.

On December 23, 1882, James J. Dunning became the third Fire Chief for the WFD. In 1886 Chief Dunning constructed a new firehouse on Wheeling Island and in 1889 he purchased the first Chemical Fire Engine.

Chemcial Engine Company - At the "Hope" Company House