ADAMS, Mass. — Dozens of fire trucks escorted by marching firefighters made their way around downtown Adams on Saturday to the sounds of drums, fifes and the skirl of the bagpipes.

 

The parade was years in the making to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the No. 1 Alert Hose Company, the town's volunteer fire department. 

 

"It was great. That was the number one biggest thing. The weather really cooperated. It's been a beautiful day," said Fire Chief David Lennon. "It was nice to see everybody out, see all the fire departments that came out. A lot of smiling faces. Really, really good. ...

 

"We had a committee that did a really nice job with that. It's all on them, not on me. They did a great job."

 

The Alerts, lead off by the Holyoke Caledonian Pipe Band and Grand Marshals and former Foremen William Gero and Joseph Koscinski, marched from St. Stanislaus' Church, down Summer and around to Park Street. They saluted as they passed the reviewing stand of current and former firefighters, and where David R. Bissaillon and Tyler Bissaillon were emcees.  

 

They stopped at the fire station to cheer on the other companies from around the region that had participated in the celebration. 

 

At the company's 20th anniversary, attended by more than 100, the company's first secretary and treasurer F.H.B. Munson told how the town had no formal fire department. The Alerts — part fire company, part social club — was born of a conversation in the backroom of Sam Tanner's store. After getting the signatures of 31 citizens, the first officers were elected at meeting in the Greylock Hotel on May 20, 1876. Charter members included Munson, Foreman A.B. Mole and First and Second Assistants John Whipple and James Osborne.