Excelsior Hose Company Number 1 was founded in 1890. It was the the first fire department in the borough of Olyphant.
Formation of the volunteer fire company came in 1887 after fire had destroyed several homes in the community. Fires prior to that time had been extinguished by summoning help from out of town.
On May 14,1890, a few men of the borough who were known as the Olyphant Volunteer Team, met and changed the name to Excelsior Hose Company No. 1, making it the first volunteer fire company in the community. Officers elected at the first session were: Evan Johns, President; David Doyle, Secretary; and S.J. Matthews, Treasurer.
At that time, there was no fire alarm system in the town and breaker whistles were sounded to signify the location of the blaze. A horse cart was pulled by hand.
The first bells and a trumpet were purchased on August 6, 1890. At a meeting on June 10, 1891, the first unit adopted a resolution that the fireman who reached the hose house first after the alarm would be privileged to drive the horse cart. Earlier that year, the fire company purchased one horse to pull the cart and the following year, a second horse was purchased.
In October 1922, the company received the first motorized truck, it was a Garfield chassis, with a 75 horse power engine and a maximum speed of 50 miles per hour. Also, it had a capacity of 1 ½ tons. It was equipped with 1200 feet of 2 ½ inch hose, 250 feet of chemical hose, a 40 gallon 300 pound pressure chemical tank, ladders, flashlights, lanterns, axes and other equipment.
In 1934, a second truck was purchased. It was a Diamond T that cost $3200. The third truck was a G.M.C.. It had a 2 ½ ton chassis with a Howe fire apparatus body that cost $10,000.
The next truck was purchased in 1969. It was an American LaFrance 900 Series Combination pumper. On April 30, 1976 the company purchased equipment which included hand radios, new lights, air packs, hydrant valves and nozzles, and a TS 50 saw which was able to cut through steel, concrete, and other materials. It has been credited with saving a life.
In 1958, the Olyphant Lions Club purchased a second hand ambulance and gave it to Excelsior and Eureka Hose Companies to man. The first ambulance was started for the people of Olyphant and was extended to cover the Mid-Valley area.
In 1977, Emil Hartman, a member, was elected to serve as president of the Northeast Pennsylvania Volunteer Fireman's Federation.
In 1982, a brush truck was purchased equipped with a pump, booster tank, and hose lines. The 1969 American LaFrance was refurbished in 1983. And in 1984, large diameter hose with fittings was purchased.
In 1987 a decision was made to replace the 1969 American LaFrance. The company had purchased a 1988 FMC pumper on a Spartan chassis, which served the borough for over 20 years, and was finally replaced in 2010.
Since the inception in 1890, the company has had 6 members serve as Fire Chief of Olyphant Borough. They are Jack Hadley, Kenneth Reed, Albert Caines Sr., Albert Caines Jr., Timothy Tully, and David Tully.
At the present time the company is operating a 2010 KME Predator Pumper/Rescue, and two 5 ton Military vehicles which serve as wildland firefighting vehicles.
