This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
La Marque Volunteer Firefighters Formed In 1943
La Marque created its volunteer fire department in January 1943 with about 50 citizens meeting at the old Ross and Oak Street school. Homer H. Lawrence served as first Fire Chief and initial officers included E B Jones and H A Rilat. Early equipment included a Bogatto pickup and sacks, later expanding to a 1945 Mack pumper Unit 601 and 1942 Mack Unit 602. The force grew with more pumps, a telephonic alert, and 24 hour staffing, culminating in Station No. 1 at Laurel and Second, Station No. 2 on Main Street, and units 603 through 607. The department funded operations via a 50 cent monthly water tax, built sleeping quarters, and established regular drills with a women’s auxiliary excelling in pumper races in 1968-69. men won in 1962 and 1975.