The original Station 2 was built on Vine St in 1918 and was operational until 1928. Little is known about this particular station and how it was used. It is known that it housed one horse drawn hose wagon with one person manning the station at all times. This station closed down in 1928, bringing the hose wagon back to the original Station 1 on John St.
Another highlight for the department occurred in 1913 when the city purchased it's first piece of motor propelled fire equipment. This truck was a four cylinder hose and chemical truck manufactured by The American LaFrance Company of Elmira, New York. This truck was not equipped with a pump, therefore any pumping was still left to Old Mary Alice.
The City of Goldsboro installed its first telegraph alarm system in January 1901. Inscription on the old fire bell, which is no longer used, states it was purchased at this time while E.E. King was Chief of the department.
Chief E.E.King served as a combination volunteer/paid Fire Chief from 1901-1918.
Chief Henry Lee became the fire chief of Goldsboro in 1884, serving for approximately 17 years in a volunteer capacity.
Chief Lionel Weil is the first documented Fire Chief of Goldsboro Fire Department. He served as a volunteer Fire Chief until 1884. Little is known about the start of his career with Goldsboro Fire Department.
Goldsboro Fire Department was established in May of 1881. Before that time, the Eclipse Fire Engine Company was serving the community. The Mary Alice This steam engine pumper, pulled by two horses, was purchased in 1880 by Charles Dewey, the Chief of Eclipse Fire Engine Company during that time. It was named in memory of his daughter. This engine cost the department just under $4,ooo to purchase, which at that time was a hefty expenditure as most chemical engines were under $1000. The Mary Alice was kept in service with the Goldsboro Fire Department during the transition to the new department. The apparatus was rumored to have set a world record for the speed in getting the steam to the correct temperature the fastest and then spraying water the farthest. It served the department as a front line apparatus until 1919, and then was used as a reserve engine until 1940. It was then retired and put on display at Herman Park. During World War II, there was a great need for scrap metal. The Mary Alice was escorted down the streets of Goldsboro one last time on her way to be used for the needed metal for the war. Personnel Very few of the personnel were paid members, most served in a volunteer capacity. The picture below is of the firefighters at the beginning of century with The Mary Alice. It is one of