In the year 1898, a number of citizens of the Borough of West Conshohocken met in Odd Fellows Hall for the purpose of taking preliminary steps to organize a fire company. The meeting was called to order by Burgess Reese P. Davis and was temporarily organized by electing officers. Organization, finance, location and apparatus committees were also named. Forty-seven citizens were present at the meeting.

The apparatus committee discussed a proposition from John H. Clay of Philadelphia as follows: that Mr. Clay would present to the fire company a hose carriage constructed at a cost of $800 with the provisions that the town erect a suitable building to cost not less than $1,500 and the company be named after his brother, George, hence the name "George Clay Fire Engine and Hose Company."

A meeting was held to elect permanent officers. The constitution of the fire company was accepted and Mr. Clay's offer of the previous week was accepted.

The question as to whether persons living out of town could enroll as members was discussed. There being no reason to oppose them their membership will be thankfully recorded. The Finance Committee was instructed to ask Borough Council for an appropriation of not less than $333. Today, the fire department receives approximately $45,000 per year for appropriations.

Life membership was extended to John J. Clay and his brother Clemen Clay during the monthly meeting of August 1898. THe location committee discussed the several sites proposed for the building, but it wasn't until September 6, 1898 that the question of location was discussed with renewed vigor. It was moved to negotiate for the purchase of an 80' x 125' frontage on the upper side of Matsonford Road adjoining Maria Street, subject to serve at a price not exceeding $500. A vote was taken as follows: 18 in favor, 4 against, motion carried. The by-laws passed the third reading and were adopted. Meetings were held in October to discuss the size and construction of the building.

A communication from the Washington Hose Company in Conshohocken was read in which they would offer to present the company with a hose carriage if they could provide proper housing. Their gift was accepted and the secretary instructed to write verifying acceptance and extended a vote of thanks.

In 1898, Mr. Clay was elected Chief Engineer and also the acceptance of Mr. Albert Nolblit's bid of $3,200 to construct a building to house the equipment. The first meeting was held in the new building in February 1900.