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The
organization of a volunteer Fire Company in the Borough of
Silverdale in November, 1914, was effected as a result of a
rather serious fire at the Silverdale Bakery, earlier that
year. The incident created an incentive for an organization of
this nature on the part of a number of public and civic minded
citizens. Organization took place at the initial meeting of
November 11th when 26 members were enrolled. Eleven additional
members were enrolled at the second meeting which brought the
membership up to 37 members.
The first three meetings were held in the Wismer Clothing
factory on main street. Permanent quarters were then
established in the office and packing room of the William W.
Allabough greenhouse. On January 26, 1915, the Company's first
fire fighting equipment was received, namely eight Paragon
fire extinguishers and two doze charges at a cost of $60.50.
On February 2, 1915, six buckets were added to the Company's
equipment and six more were purchased in March of the same
year.
Through the courtesy of J.C.Wismer, the company's first
conveyance was that of Jeffrey truck used in his clothing
business.
The Company's first call came on August 8, 1915, when
lighting struck the barn on the Howard Sensinger farm.
The
company became affiliated as a member of the Bucks County Fireman's
Association in 1916 also the same year badges and uniforms were procured.
On October 7, 1919, the former J.D.Yoder property was purchased to be
converted into a Fire Station. The change, however, was never effected and
the property was rented for living quarters until February 1921, when the
Company disposed of the property. In July, 192, the Company received its
charter and on Saturday, August 14, of the same year the first motorized
equipment, an Olds chemical engine was received at the cost of $3195. Also
in the same year the Ladies Auxiliary was organized.
In May, 1921, the lot on which now stands the present Fire Station was
purchased with the Fire House being erected in 1923 and still being used
to this day. The new Fire Station was formally dedicated on Sunday, May
25, 1924.
The
first year the building served as a schoolhouse after a fire at Gehmans
School with six weeks of school to be finished. Those who lived on farms
near Silverdale attended the fire house for school. In November, 1929, a
Seagraves Pumper was purchased. Everything went smoothly until early in
1941 when a Chevrolet Utility and Chief's Car were added to the fire
fighting apparatus.
When war came in 1941, the Fire Company sent thirteen men into the
military services. On the home front the natural nucleus for Silverdale's
Civil Defense organization was the Fire Company and its Ladies Auxiliary.
Already a well organized fire fighting and relief team, the two groups
quickly became a close knit, effective corps of volunteers who prepared as
readily for the disaster of war as they had for the other emergencies that
normally peril a community.
The
fire siren blew constantly in those days and red cellophane and blackout
curtains replaced the Strawberry Festivals and Carnivals. The post war
years found Silverdale Borough growing and in 1947 the need for more
equipment and better Firehouse became apparent. A third piece of
equipment, a new Maxim Fire Truck was added to the apparatus and an
addition was built onto the firehouse with major remodeling work to the
kitchen and dining facilities. In March, 1948, the Fire Company sponsored
Troop No 68 and kept sponsoring the troop till 1975 when it was finally
disbanded due to lack of young boys wanting to join the origination.
In 1957, a Reo Fire truck replaced the hard worked 47 Seagraves and in
June of 1958, the Fire Company began utilizing two-way radios in the
trucks and firehouse to better cope with growing activities of the fire
fighters.
The
company was soon welcomed into the Bucks County Fire Control network and
Civil Defense work. In 1964 a new Ford truck with high pressure was added
and formally housed on June 15th of that year along with the 50th
anniversary of the company. In 1969, the company purchased a Ford Field
Truck, which is still being used today, to replace the Chief's Car. The
company and the community also said farewell to Luther C. Yost who had
served as Chief since 1941.
The third quarter-century of the existence of the company was marked by
increase in development within the company's coverage area. This
development created a need for additional equipment and facilities. In
December 1966, the company purchased the small house next door and has
been used as a rental property since that time
With
the need for additional storage space for larger, heavier apparatus led
the Company to erect a metal building behind the Fire House in February
1975. In August 1979, the company authorized the purchase of a Pierce 1000
gpm Pumper. This unit was acquired and placed in service in June 1980. In
1984, the company purchased a 1984 International 4000 gallon tanker. In
1988 the company purchased a 1965 Ford and placed in service as a Special
Service Unit carrying a cascade system and provisions for personnel and
scba.
( More to come as soon
as we can find someone to pick up were this has left off )
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