The
Summerhill Borough Volunteer Fire Company #1 was chartered
May 19, 1952. The first officers were Arthur Apple, President;
George Bodenschatz, Vice-President; Felix Bopp, Second
Vice-President; Cecil Bopp, Secretary; and Clement Bodenschatz,
Treasurer.
The original members saw a need to
raise money to purchase supplies to build a building and equipment
for fire protection. In August of 1952, the members started a
monthly 50-50 ticket sales as a fundraiser.
In 1953, the company purchased a
building lot from Alex Betz for $600. The fire station was built on
this lot in 1956 and the building still stands today as the
Summerhill Borough Municipal Building.
The first big fundraiser held by
the department was during 1955. Tickets were sold to chance off a
1955 Plymouth station wagon. $3,475 was brought in on ticket sales
and $480.70 was profited from this fundraiser.
After several years of planning,
in 1958, the fire company finally received its first pieces of fire
fighting equipment, a 1924 American La France Pumper from the Wilmore
Fire Department for $350.00. Also, the Brownstown Fire Department
donated a Buick ambulance to the department to be used as a squad
truck. Shortly after this period, Summerhill Borough became an
active fire department.
Before Summerhill had it’s own
active fire department, fire protection was provided by the South
Fork Borough Volunteer Fire Department at no charge to the residence
of Summerhill. In March of 1958, the South Fork Fire Company, who
also provided to South Fork Borough and Croyle Township, realized
the South Fork taxpayers were assuming too great of a burden in
order to service Summerhill Borough and Croyle Township. Thus a new
plan was devised for a fairer method to underwrite operational
costs.
The plan was based on the assessed
valuation of properties at 1.5 mills. Summerhill Borough agreed to
pay about $500.00 a year for fire protection. This agreement lasted
only one year. In March of 1959, the Summerhill Fire Department
notified South Fork Borough Council that they would handle their own
protection and respond to any and all emergencies in Summerhill
Borough. In that same year the department joined the Cambria County
Volunteer Firemen’s Association.
Over the next few years the
department grew and many changes occurred and seeing the need for
improvements, the department made various equipment purchases. In 1961
the department purchased a 1946 Chevrolet Pumper from Paul W. Miller
for $4,000.00. 1963 saw the purchases of a used siren, new portable
pump and “boots and hats” (turnout gear). In the next year the
department saw the need to be able to carry personnel and equipment
to the scene in a safer manner. So they purchased a 1952 squad
truck from the Portage Fire Department for $350.00.
The fire station was renovated in
1965 at a cost of $1,700.00. In October an Open House was held at
the station to show the community the improvements that were made.
Due to the increase of rural fire
calls and a poor water system in town the department decided in 1966
to purchase a 1,000 gallon Chevrolet Tanker from Wilfred Kibler at a
cost of $550.00.
Charles Huber took over as
President in 1968. Charlie severed in that capacity until his
passing in February of 2004.
In September 1971, the department
purchased their first self-contained breathing apparatus, they were
made by Survive-Air and cost the company $352.00 each. These SCBA
allowed the men to enter burning buildings and attack the fire from
within for extended periods of time. These replaced the gas masks,
which were previously used.
1972 marked a milestone for the
department. They agreed to purchase their first new fire engine from
Paul Miller Fire Equipment. The cab and chassis was purchased from
E. L. Jones Dodge of Summerhill at a cost of $6,885.00 and was
shipped to Tipton Indiana where the John Bean division of the FMC
Company manufactured the body at a cost of $18,742.00. The truck was
put into service in January of 1973, this engine is still in service
as Engine 861.
The Croyle Township Supervisors
awarded the department with a contract in April of 1973 to provide
fire protection to all of Croyle Township north of Route 53, at a
cost of $350.00 a year. This area includes New Germany, Rose Hill,
Pringle Hill, and Jackson Road. The department continues to provide
fire protection to this area today.
Due to the decline in
membership, the department allowed 16 and 17 year olds to become
junior firefighters in 1974. The same year the department purchased
2 MSA SCBA. at a cost of $620.00 each, increasing the total to
four.
1975 brought the purchase of the
company’s first radio equipment, a base station from Westwood Fire
Department and three mobile units from Dale Fire Department. Also,
in the same year the company purchased a new Chevy Suburban at a
price of $5,946.00. This vehicle was used for 17 years as our Rescue
Truck. Later that same year the 1952 Squad Truck was sold to Wilmore
Fire Department for $250.00.
In February of 1976, the company
purchased 1000 feet of 4-inch larger diameter hose, one of the very
first departments in the county to move to this hose. This decision
was made due to the increasing building construction in our coverage
area, and it also brought down insurance cost to the residents in
our coverage area.
After months of talking and
planning the Forest Hills Fire Association was formed in December of
1976. The Association Members were Dunlo, South Fork, St. Michael,
Summerhill Borough, Summerhill Township, and Wilmore. The concept
behind it was to reduce cost through group purchasing and reducing
duplication of equipment in the area.
July 20, 1977 major flooding
occurred in parts of Cambria County including Summerhill Borough. A
pickup truck with one occupant was washed downstream by the raging
flood currents after a bridge gave out. Tom Bodenschatz, without due
regard for his own personal safety, rescued the occupant safely from the truck. The borough did suffer the loss of one life during the
flooding. Tom was awarded the only Honorary Life Membership for
action from the department.
September of 1977, a Truck
Committee was formed to look at and plan for the future purchase of
a fire engine. The committee consisted of Fire Chief, Assistant
Chief and the Truck Foreman. In September of 1979 the company
agreed to purchase a 1980 American La France from William Sprowls at
a cost of $89,000.00.
To help defray the cost of the
truck a monthly Sub Sale was started in August 1979. This sale is a
valuable Fund Raiser still today and continues to be held on the
second Saturday of every month.
In May of 1980, the Sector 8 Air
Association was formed to purchase a “regional” air compressor.
Summerhill Borough along with Beaverdale, Dunlo, St. Michael, South
Fork, and Wilmore Fire Departments formed the Association. In later
years the association went on to buy a 6-bottle cascade for the
system and most recently upgraded to a high-pressure system.
The same year Treasurer Paul Bimle
retired after 29 years of service. Larry Wilburn took over this
position and still holds this office.
Looking into the future, the
department purchased the land adjacent to the fire station in July
of 1983. This purchase allowed the company to construct our new
fire station.
In 1984, Summerhill was elected to
host the 1986 Cambria County Fireman’s Convention and Charles Huber
was elected to Second Vice-President of the association.
From July 26 to August 3, 1986,
Summerhill Hosted the 65th Annual Convention of the Volunteer
Firemen’s Association of Cambria County and Vicinity. During the
Convention the department appointed new Honorary Life Members;
they were: Jay Bimle, Ed Bodenschatz, Jack Bodenschantz, Ed Huber,
Charles Huber, Vince Kitchik and Jack Wilburn.
In March of 1987, the department
purchased the first Hydraulic Rescue System in the Forest Hills
area. The AMKUS Rescue System was purchased from Kaza Fire Sales.
Prior to this tool being put into service, area departments had to
depend upon Portage and Dauntless Fire Companies for a hydraulic
tool at a rescue scene.
With a new found interest in fire
fighting arising once again in the Forest Hills Area, our department
in conjunction with Harrisburg Area Community College and Cambria
County Department of Emergency Services sponsored an Essentials of
Fire Fighting class. Over 25 students participated in this course,
with four from our department.
The Summerhill Borough Fire
Department looks forward to the future growth and development of the
area. Our department has set goals in which to increase training of
the members, to modernize all current equipment and also to expand
the education of the public in the area of Fire Prevention.
