Added to our Register of Historic Places: Warrington Volunteer Fire Company No.1
Built by community volunteers in 1934 and dedicated in March 1935, the Warrington Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 firehouse has been officially added to the Heritage Conservancy Register of Historic Places. We’re grateful to accept this building that represents nine decades of civic spirit and is recognized for its deep ties to the community history of Warrington Township and Bucks County.
The story of the firehouse began from tragedy. In 1919, a devastating fire destroyed a house at the corner of Street and Kansas Roads. Firemen arrived from Horsham, Willow Grove, Hatboro, and as far away as Doylestown. Yet, despite all of their efforts, the house was completely lost. The story goes that many of the local men had been gathering in the evenings at Worthinton’s General Store to play cards and discuss the news of the day. After the fire, the conversation turned to what was needed to protect the community.
1934 datestone on the original firehouse.
The Start of Fire Co. #1
By September 1921, a group of men had been meeting to discuss the real possibility of organizing a fire company in Warrington. Community member Harry Woern oversaw the gathering, and everyone agreed to move the idea forward. On March 27, 1924, the Warrington Township Fire Co. #1 was formally organized. Twenty-two members signed up and paid their dues, which were $1 each. Their first fire truck arrived that year as well, it was a 1925 Ford Model TT American LaFrance chemical fire truck, purchased for $2,083. The 40-horsepower engine struggled with the hills of Warrington, but it managed. The garage behind the Worthington General Store was the unofficial home for the company, with a bell installed at the top that was rung to call firefighters in an emergency.
The 1925 Ford Model T fire truck on display at Fire One, 2099 Maple Avenue, formerly Fire Company No. 1
Built by the Community
On April 3, 1934, the Trustees signed a bill of sale to purchase land on which to build a permanent firehouse. A. Oscar Martin, a Doylestown architect, well-known for his blocky, square masonry style and attention to symmetry, drew up the plans. Ground was broken shortly after, and the formal dedication took place on March 2, 1935.
The total cost of construction was $5,882, which in the Great Depression was no small sum. $2,880 of that amount was donated by the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Warrington Township Fire Company, while the Warrington Women’s Club contributed an additional $300. The finished building held equipment and fire engines on the ground floor, an auditorium on the second floor, and a basement room for suppers and social events. It was a true community gathering place.
When the building was being constructed, a cornerstone was laid with an interesting time capsule sealed inside: a copy of The Daily Intelligencer from October 27, 1934; a copy of The Public Spirit of Hatboro from October 24, 1934; copies of the by-laws of both the fire company and the auxiliary; histories of both organizations; the building plans; a fireman’s badge; a picture of the fire truck; membership cards; and a few small books. In 1939, a second floor was added to the building.
Peter Walts at the firehouse, before renovation.
Decades of Change
After forty years of active fire service, the fire company made the decision to leave the original building in the mid-1970s, and a second, updated firehouse was built on Easton Road and Freedom Way. The original firehouse changed hands multiple times over the following decades. At one point, it sat on the market with most of the potential buyers planning to demolish most or all of the building. The township and the Warrington Historical Society discouraged any demolition. And then Peter Walts stepped in.
A Horsham resident and volunteer firefighter, Walts purchased the building through his company Centropy Group, LLC in 2022 with a vision to restore it to its 1930’s glory. The rehab was extensive and included exterior pointing, oak floor refinishing, new windows and doors, updated plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. Walts was diligent in keeping with the original character of the structure during the remodeling.
The former firehouse, now Fire One.
A New Place in History
Today, the building is known as Fire One. It is home to Walts’ Centropy Group and to the Fireman’s Hall Corp, LLC — a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the fire services of Bucks County. Inside, visitors can find antique fire memorabilia, equipment, uniforms, documents, and photographs on site. Fire One also operates as a venue and is available to rent for events, celebrations, and meetings.
On January 20, 2026, Heritage Conservancy Resource Protection Specialist Tara Camp wrote Walts to confirm that our Historical Review Board Committee had approved his application for a listing in the Register of Historic Places. This listing recognizes the building’s important role in the history of Warrington Township and Bucks County, and the community members who made it a reality. Warrington’s first firehouse is now officially part of the historical record, right where it belongs.
Sources: The Daily Intelligencer (March 1935); Warrington Historical Society Newsletter, Mary Doyle Roth (October 2023); Heritage Conservancy Register Application (December 2025).
