| History |
| Women were admitted to the company as members in 1976 and have taken their place beside the men. In 1971 the fire company celebrated their 100th Anniversary in September with a week-long gala event, topped by the largest parade ever held in Oxford. Approximately 100 companies from four states helped the local firemen on this grand occasion. The Union Fire Company has always been parade conscious. Members have paraded countless times in the 125 years of it’s existence. The two most famous marching clubs were the one in the 1920’s and the other during the 1940’s and 50’s. In the early years of the company’s existence, numerous fairs have taken place as fund raisers. In more modern times carnivals have replaced the fairs. In 1919 the first of these was held after World War I. With the exception of one year during the Great Depression and four years of World War II, the 73rd annual carnival was held in 1996. These events have become a financial bonanza to the local organization. It has been said that the Oxford Firemen’s Carnival became a worthy successor to the Oxford Fair held many years ago. Numerous other fund raisers have been introduced: a banquet hall facility was built to house banquets, Sunday breakfasts, weekly bingo, wedding receptions, dances, craft shows, and many other occassions. In the 1950’s the company sponsored a Drum and Bugle Corps. The cost of music to parade with the Marching Club became expensive and the forming of this group alleviated the problem. The fine showing of the Blue Haze Marching Club and the Blue Haze Drum and Bugle Corps won many prizes and the title of Chester County Champions. The Union Fire Company is the fourth oldest in the county, exceeded only by the three West Chester companies. It also has the largest fire district in the county, comprised of Oxford Borough and the five townships of Upper and Lower Oxford, East and West Nottingham, and Elk, making a total of approximately 90 square miles. The fire company is at or near the top in the amount of emergency equipment for a single in Chester County. Three engines: a 1985 Pierce Arrow, a 1993 Pierce Lance, and a 1994 Pierce Lance with a hydraulic hose reel carrying 2000 feet of 4 inch supply hose; a 1992 Pierce Lance Rescue truck carrying a full line of Hurst Rescue tools, air bags, and confined space rescue equipment; a 1989 Pierce Arrow 105 ft. Aerial ladder; a 1964 Dodge Power Wagon brush piece; a 1989 Ford E350 manpower and command van; a 1995 6000 gallon Walker-New Lexington tank trailer drawn by a 1977 Mack tractor; and two ambulances: a 1993 and a 1995 Ford-Horton Type III. n September of 1997, the company celebrated it’s 125th Anniversary with a week-long celebration. Once again a parade capped off the activities. From the days of our pioneer firemen and their trials and tribulations, sometimes not knowing where their next dollar would come from, to the present day, have handed down a trust to each succeeding generation of firefighters. To future generations, as the 21st century is rapidly approaching, we continue to hand down this perpetual trust. If the second 100 years of our existence is as favorable as the first, we can only say, “Good job, Well done.” |
| Instituted February 6, 1871 |
| Incorporated October 31, 1872 |
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