About Us: Berthoud Hose Co. No 1
The Berthoud Hose Company No. 1 was created in 1888, shortly after the Davis-Hartford Mercantile Building burned to the ground. At that time, the store was stated to be the largest mercantile store between Denver and Cheyenne. In 2018 a small group of retired Berthoud firefighters formed the Caretakers of Tradition, a Colorado nonprofit, 501-c3 with the stated mission: To preserve the history of the community volunteer fire and rescue services and to exhibit these historical items for educational purposes. Through the years, the name of the Berthoud firefighting organization has transitioned from the Berthoud Hose Company No.1 to the Berthoud Fire Department and in the early 1950’s to the Berthoud Fire Protection District resulting in the expansion of fire and EMS services to the rural areas surrounding the incorporated town limits. The nonprofit has since adopted the trade name BERTHOUD HOSE COMPANY NO.1 to honor the original Berthoud firefighters.
Volunteer Firefighter/Fire Investigator Lee Brian Scott had, for several years gathered Berthoud Fire memorabilia items and was recognized as the organization’s historian. When Lee unexpectedly passed away, the Scott family donated funds in Lee’s name to the nonprofit to continue the restoration efforts. It is with these funds that the nonprofit was able to restore the original 1888 firefighting hose cart and the 1927 GMC/Julieus Pearse fire engine. Over $20,000.00 and more than 400 volunteer hours were invested in the restoration of these historic pieces.
