OUR HISTORY
OUR HISTORY
All excerpts below are quoted from "The South Fork Story The First 100 Years", by Frank P. Alcomo. All credit is given to the author.
The South Fork Fire Company
"The first reference in the borough council minutes appears on August 11, 1890 when a petition was presented from the fire company for a $50 donation to purchase a hose cart. Apparently, this company was not formalized. No record is available about any meetings or charter. Three years later (1893), council accepted a proposition from South Fork Water Company to pay $200 a year for all fire and water plugs, purchased 500 feet of fire hose. It was May 14, 1894 when council agreed to purchase a hose carriage not to exceed $350. Fire hydrant rental was reduced to $150 a year."
"A meeting was held July 2, 1908 in the office of Burgess Alfred Schofield to organize a fire company. A collection was "taken up to the amount of $4.01" which was "turned over to the treasurer", according to the minutes of this first meeting. The company's second meeting took place in the council rooms July 16. A motion was passed "to make arrangements to have a whistle blow on each meeting night." The admittance fee for members was set at one dollar and dues at $0.25 each calendar quarter. Today's admission fee is $3 and dues are $2 per year. The July 23, 1908 meeting saw a defunct Merchants Protective Association donated $74.10 to the fireman's treasury. The fire company's treasury balance now increased to $105.46. Two weeks after, a fire alarm committee recommended the following: one blast of the whistle for the first ward; two, the second ward: three, Rockville; four, Bealtown and five, Gilestown."
"Weekly meetings continued through September 3rd. A social was approved for August 19, 1908 at the Opera House. The Lyric Theater offered to donate half of their proceeds for two nights. Plans were advanced for the Labor Day dedication of the new borough building which would serve at the company's fire hall. A big parade, baseball, games, athletic events, dancing and countless other amusements were features of this celebration. The flag raising ceremony was part of a solemn program dedicating the new building. Arrangements were in charge of the firemen and committees of citizens appointed by them. All proceeds went to the fire company. At the company's subsequent meeting, it was reported that receipts totaled $1,049.94 and after expenses, the fire company treasury balance reached $898.52. The firemen met in the Sons of Veterans Hall during September and moved to the new fire hall in October. The purchase of a "hose wagon to weigh 900 to 1,000 pounds and a hook-and-ladder wagon of 1,200 pounds" was made in October for $1,080 from the Stewart Company of Rochester, New York."
"The charter for the South Fork Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 was granted November 9, 1908, according to county courthouse records. The charter reads: "of the support of a fire engine, hook and ladder, hose or other components for the control of fire." By the end of the year, there were over 100 paid-up members. Funding continued to be the major project of the firemen throughout 1909. In addition to a carnival, they sponsored the Labor Day celebration, another event enlisting the entire community. Deciding not to sponsor a July 4th celebration, the firemen accepted an invitation to parade in Windber. This was followed by another parade in Portage. Perhaps, these two appearances represent the first for the company."
"A delegation reported to council in 1917 that citizens felt the fire department should be financed from general borough funds instead of community solicitations and fund-raising activities. As a result, the council began a long-standing practice of purchasing fire hose and helping with the payment of big items. And, for many years, one mill of taxes was levied for fire protection. From 1893 to 1952, borough records show that over 12,000 feet of fire hose was paid through borough funds. The first company bought their first motorized pumper in 1921, a LaFrance, 750-gallon pumper, costing $12,500. The final payment was made from borough taxes in 1932 in the amount of $5,890. This pumper is still used for parades by the Pearl River, New York Fire Company who purchased it in 1982 from the South Fork Fire Company. The second purchase was in 1948 when another LaFrance pumper was added at the cost of $15,044. After all pledges for a fund drive were collected, the taxpayers made the final payment of $3,986."
"Ground was broken for a new fire house in November 1957 on land given the company about 1940 by L. Wilt. The lot is located at the corner of Grant and church Streets. The building blueprints were prepared by L. Kimbell of Ebensburg from a design by a South Fork councilman. Construction of the concrete block building was completed in May 19, 1958 at a cost of $20,814, the heating contract for $3,900, and the electrical work for $1,400. Firemen volunteered labor for the finishing touches, using about $1,000 worth of materials."
"South Fork was one of eight companies that formed the Volunteer Firemen's Association March 22, 1922. Other companies were Ebensburg, Portage, Conemaugh, Lilly, Gallitzin, Patton, and Cresson."