The small community of West Chester was elevated, by an act of the Legislature, to the dignity of a Borough in the spring of 1799. The Town was about one mile and a quarter square, and encompassed some six to eight small farms, the prominent Turk's Head Inn (which stood at High and Market Streets), several small houses, and some professional offices. The Town citizens were farsighted and public-minded from the very start.
During June of 1799, discussions among many citizens about the need for protection of property from fire raised an interest in organizing a fire brigade. At a meeting on the first of July, 1799, twenty-three men agreed to set up a fund for the purchase of equipment and an engine. William Sharpless and Joseph Clarke were directed to attend to the purchase and Joshua Gibbons was appointed Collector of Funds until called for by those appointed to make the purchase.
The Company was officially instituted on August 6th, 1799, and officers were appointed until the regular election. Those officers appointed were all prominent members of the community and were as follows:
Jacob Ehrenzeller, President (Chief Asst. Burgess, 1799) Joshua Gibbons, Secretary (Asst. Burgess, 1799) Issac Webb, Treasurer In addition, the following were appointed to prepare a building for the fire engine: John Rankin; James Jackson; William Sharpless.
On September 19th, 1799, the County Commissioners presented Fifty Dollars towards the fire engine, and, at the Company meeting on that date, it was agreed that twelve buckets be purchased and that the name of the County and the Company be painted on them. The Rules and Regulations for the Company were accepted and signed by those present. The Company completed all official steps of organization when the first election was held on the first of October, 1799, and the permanent officers took over their duties. The first elected officials of The First West Chester Fire Company were: Jacob Ehrenzeller, President; Richard M. Hannum, Secretary; William Kinnard, Treasurer. The next meeting was on the fifth of October, 1799, and additional rules and amendments were adopted. An office of Engineer was established and William Sharpless and Joseph Clarke were appointed for two-month terms.
At a meeting held in November of that year, it was resolved that a ladder and fire hook be provided for use at fires; that the engine house be painted, and that fines be levied on members who are not formally excused from attending meetings.
At the meeting held on January 2nd, 1800, the office of Engineer was revised and the positions of Chief Engineer and one Assistant Engineer created. The term of Chief Engineer would be until October of that year, and the term of Assistant Engineer would be from one meeting to another.
In April of 1800, a motion was brought forward that the President be recognized as the Judge of Excuses, for members not attending posted meetings. It was also resolved that a ladder donated by Jesse Matlack was to be repaired and kept on a hook at the rear of Benjamin Miller's shed.
During the remainder of 1800, few meetings were held and no business of any importance seemed to have been conducted. Ironically, minutes of the early meetings of 1801 show evidence of a feud of some form because several of the original founders suddenly resigned from the Company without any stated reasons. Some weeks later, these men resumed their membership. In addition, at the meeting held in February of 1801, it was agreed that since there had been no record made of the amounts subscribed for the engine back in July of 1799, such record of names and amounts be entered with that meeting's minutes. The sum total subscribed was $307.00
The minutes of 1802 and 1803 do not give us much information about the activities of these years, and 1804 begins slowly, with routine meetings at homes of various members. At the March meeting of that year, the members unanimously moved to accept a gift of five buckets from Dr. Joseph Moore. A motion was put forth that these buckets have an inscription painted on them. The inscription read, "These buckets commemorate the bounty of Dr. Joseph Moore".
In November, 1804, the roll book was reported missing, and it was moved that a new roll book be established in the minute book. "Where it will always be found, if the book is preserved."
The engineer's report of January, 1805, stated that the pump on the engine appeared to be blocked; Engineer Sharpless made a motion that a committee be appointed to investigate and clear the problem. Those appointed were: John Graves; Jacob Righter; L. Jackson; Thomas Kinny.
Since the company's inception, the rules of preparedness for all members demanded that fire buckets be kept available and in proper condition for immediate action. Failure to observe this practice resulted in a fine which, by the spring of 1805, had soared to the stinging sum of twenty-five cents. At the May, 1805 meeting, company clerk Emmor Bradley reported all buckets in proper order, except for one belonging to D. Heister. He seemed to think that his bucket was more useful as a holder for his firearms. He was, of course fined the maximum.
Curiously to this date, there has been no identification in the company records of the engine that was to have been purchased back in 1799 by the $307.00 subscribed from the original organizers and other concerned citizens. Often the minutes note that the engine is "...in good order". or that certain repairs were made or needed to be made, if so agreed upon by the members. It can be understood from these minutes that the engine was kept in sheds belonging to various members and was maintained in a state of readiness by the Chief Engineer.
Later records do show the first engine was purchased from the Neptune Fire Company of Philadelphia and was built by Patrick Lyons of that city.
May 1806, John Graves reported on the condition of the engine in the temporary absence of William Sharpless. His report noted that the bottom of the engine wagon was very decayed, and he made a motion that it be repaired immediately. This motion was accepted, and a committee was appointed to undertake the work; expenses were to be reimbursed from company funds.