History of Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company - 1930's
In the 1930's the town of Owings Mills began to develop and it was obvious the fire company needed to grow as well. Street cars gave way to buses and the power house was abandoned along with the steam whistle which was replaced by a five horse power siren. The company knew a new and permanenet station would be needed in the future and searched for new quarters and debated choices from Pleasant Hill to Garrison. The result was a parcel of property at
Station in late 1930's.
Before a building was constructed, a number of significant events occurred. In 1931, realizing the lack of water and the potential problem it posed the town, the Company built two dams; one containing 50,000 gallons located at Reisterstown Road above Pleasant Hill and the other containing 60,000 gallons on Ritter's Lane. However, they were never needed.
The car barn at the Trouble Station was sold to the Owings Mills Distillery and the company had to find temporary housing. The basement at Hoff's Garage was the temporary site. This location eventually proved the need for more permanent quarters with its electrical difficulties and limited space. The company needed and wanted a place of their own that they could consider home. Discussions were held and soon the first stage of a building had begun. The building contained 2 bays and was located on the east side of Reisterstown Road at where is now the entrance to Garrison Forrest Shopping Center. The siren was reinstalled on the engine house and on July 4, 1934, the fire company dedicated the building.
The new building was a great step forward for the company, but it soon proved to be too small. This problem was solved in 1938 when the first addition of the present building was constructed. It was a third engine bay (currently the ambulance bay) that included a kitchen and rest rooms and allowed enough space for a second piece of apparatus.