Today, 155 years ago, the Oxford Fire Company was organized by 21 young men of this community.
The meeting was held in the stock room of the Showalter and Mathews in the Dickey Building which is now the National Penn bank building at 3rd and Locust Streets. The date was February 6, 1871. A second meeting was held a few days later (date unknown) and the name was changed to Union Fire Company No. 1. The name change was made due to that being the name on the used equipment that the Reverend John Miller Dickey had purchased from a volunteer company in Philadelphia. This equipment became available for sale as the city of Philadelphia was going to a professional (paid/career) fire department. At this second meeting George E. Jones was elected Chief Engineer (Fire Chief).
