The History of the Roxbury Fire Department

The first fire department in Roxbury, name the B.B. Bouton Hose Company, was organized on September 2, 1890. A hose cart was purchased in January 18 91. A second fire company, the Hook and Ladder Company, was organized on November 2, 1892, after Helen M. Gould gifted the community with a hook and ladder truck and a Babcock fire extinguisher. The two groups combined to form the Roxbury fire department in 1929. This photograph shows a Sanford truck purchased in April 1929 (left) and a Chevrolet truck purchased in February 1937 (right). The firehouse was on Main Street in the building that previously housed the Roxbury Town Hall. The fanning store building was torn down to make way for the new firehouse, as the old one needed to be replaced by 1966. The new, modern, fireproof building provided space for a growing collection of equipment, as well as meeting and community space. The dedication of the new building was held on April 15, 1967. The first elected fire chief Elton LaRue served from 1948 to 1975. Maru, who appears to be dressed for a parade, poses here in front of Roxbury Central school with fire trucks and antique house-cart.