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Inside a garage that usually only houses standard fire station equipment — an engine, emergency vehicles, fire suits and helmets — a huge crowd of people gathered on Sunday to celebrate Vigilant Hose Company's 125th anniversary.

"It was more than we expected," Frank Davis, the company's president, said of the turnout.

Recently appointed U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin Cochran spoke at the event, calling himself an "indirect citizen" of Emmitsburg because it serves as the home of the U.S. Fire Administration and the National Fire Academy.

"This fire company represents all that we try to achieve in the fire service," Cochran said. The Vigilant Hose Company is "one of the greatest, if not the greatest," volunteer fire companies in the country, he said.

One thing that was emphasized throughout the celebration, during speeches by Cochran and members of the company, is that Vigilant Hose has remained entirely staffed by volunteers throughout its 125 years — a modern rarity — and has seen huge involvement within families.

Many current members aren't the only person in their family who serves in the company. Tom Hoke, a nearly 70-year member, is the son of the first recorded chief of Vigilant Hose, Joseph Hoke.

Davis said his family is four generations deep in the company. He reflected on a time before Sept. 11 when Emmitsburg used "fire phones" — certain community members had them in their homes or businesses, where people would call in case of emergency.

There were several throughout the town, he said, but his family had the main one at its The Palms restaurant, which was staffed 18 hours per day, seven days per week and was across the street from the fire station.

It wasn't food service tasks that new restaurant employees learned first, "it was what you did when the fire phone rang," Davis said in a pre-taped interview for a short commemorative film made for the occasion. The next step in the process was for someone to ring the bell on the front of the station, alerting volunteers of an emergency.

Member Bob Rosensteel Sr., remarked in the film that a past Vigilant Hose chief was also a barber in town. When the fire bell would toll signifying an emergency, customers were sometimes left with half a haircut, he said.

In addition to celebrating 125 years of service to the community, the event also served to unveil the newly renovated station.

The right wing of the building was essentially demolished and rebuilt, a $1.7 million project. It now houses exercise equipment, laundry machines, two freezers, a storage area, administrative offices, a lounge and kitchenette, a bunk area, showers and lockers.

It now has the ability to temporarily house residents who are displaced by a town emergency.

"The men and women of this company deserved something better than what they had," said John Damskey, the company's vice president.

"It suits the men and women of today and it will suit the men and women of tomorrow," he said.

According to Tim Clarke, the company's spokesman, funding for the project came entirely from fundraising and community support. While Davis joked to the crowd that the Baltimore Ravens' bye-week was the reason for the event being held on Sunday, it was actually the only open weekend the company had in the fall, due in large part to pre-scheduled fundraising events.

A painting by local artist Rebecca Pearl, featuring images from the company's past and present, was also unveiled at the ceremony. Performances by The Fire Brigade Pipes and Drums of Greater Baltimore, Inc. served as entertainment, but the group also played "Amazing Grace" to honor fallen firefighters.

E-mail Courtney Pomeroy at cpomeroy@gazette.net.