Mont Alto Fire Department - Franklin County PA

HISTORY of the MONT ALTO VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Compiled by Life Member Dennie Monn

June 17, 1916, The Pearl Fire Company had been organized in Mont Alto. At a July 6, 1916 meeting, officers were elected - Paul R. Smith president; D. C. Bittinger vice president; V. C. Kline recording secretary; Weldon Smith financial secretary; and Dr. W. H. Brosius treasurer. The department approved the by-laws August 2, 1916. The last recorded activities of the Pearl Fire Company were dated August 28, 1916.

In 1921 residents of Mont Alto responded to a fire at the Mont Alto Shirt Factory but all its machinery and materials were destroyed in the fire. The Mont Alto Shirt Factory was located where SESCO Company is currently located on Ash Street.

Ten years later in 1931, the residence of Roy Brechbill on Penn Street (Back Street) was destroyed in a fire, which took the lives of his son and daughter, and his wife who died later from the burns she received in the fire. Residents had responded to both fires, but due to the lack of equipment and training, their efforts to combat the fires failed.

In 1925, Mont Alto Borough Council purchased about 300 feet of two-and-a-half inch hose and 200 feet of uncertain aged hose. This was all the equipment the borough had for fire protection. Later, council purchased a 12-foot extension ladder, two hand extinguishers, 300 feet of hose and a fire siren. The siren was mounted on a cross bar between two poles 20 feet above the ground, located in the square directly in front of what is now the Borough Office. But the borough still did not have a fire company. Residents used some of the equipment at the Brechbill fire, but it was necessary to carry the hose in 50-foot sections from the stable of Robert Small to the hydrant on Main Street. Ladders also had to be carried by hand.

Council later purchased a hand-drawn hose reel and a hand-drawn chemical engine from the Borough of Steelton. These were stored in a shed on Penn Street but never used. Sometime later, they were sold for junk.

Shortly after the Brechbill fire, Sam Frampton and Wayne McNesse called a meeting on February 5, 1931 for the purpose of either reviving the Pearl Fire Company or organizing a new one. A second meeting was held February 12, 1931, at which time a committee was named to organize a fire company and draft a constitution and by-laws, the committee was Sam Frampton, H.G. Lewis, E.J. Bittner, H.E. Taylor and Wayne McNesse.

Officers were elected at a February 26, 1931 meeting - Ira Shenefelt, president; Elwood Slater, vice president; H. Rook Smith, secretary; Charles Kennedy, treasurer; Glenn Brosius, Ira Jones, E.T. Bittinger, James Siegrist and W.A. McNesse trustees; Ira Morganthall, chief; Clyde Kuhn, first assistant chief; Robert Verdier, second assistant chief; Paul Grove, chief pipeman; Wilbur Heefner, first assistant pipeman; and Walter Bluebaugh second assistant pipeman. This was the beginning of the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.

On April 10, 1931 borough council turned over all the firefighting equipment to the department, including the fire siren, a Studebaker touring car and 600 feet of fire hose, two 15-foot ladders, three colt cutoff type nozzles, one playpipe, two 2.5-gallon hand extinguishers with five refills, two fire axes and two spanner wrenches. This equipment was stored in Clyde Kuhn's Garage, which is now 3 South Main Street.

July 1931 the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Department was formed, Franklin County President Judge Watson R. Davison approved the charter.

September 1931 Mont Alto became a member of the Franklin County Fireman’s Association.

The first Franklin County Fireman’s Association was held by Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Company June 15 - 16, 1932.

June 28, 1935 a used 1919 American La France chemical truck was purchased, and equipped with a ladder, axes, two 40-gallon chemical tanks, chemical hose, break-type chemical extinguishers, for $580.00. It came with a one-year guarantee against mechanical defects.

July 26, 1937 the department purchased land on the Pond Bank Road (now Main Street-Anthony Highway-Route 997) from Charles F. (Fred) Martin for $300. A two bay engine room was completed July 1939.

August 1941 an auditorium was added to the rear of the fire station where numerous Ham and Oyster and Turkey and Oyster dinner were made and served. Numerous other dinners and banquets were served in the auditorium. The Mont Alto Borough rented a small office in the left front corner of the building and half the basement for storage.

June 1946 an order was place with W. S. Darley for a 500 GPM (Gallon Per Minute) pumper on a Chevrolet chassis.

June 17 to the 23, 1956 the Franklin County Fireman’s Association held their 25^th (Silver) Convention which was hosted by Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Company. On Sunday June 17, a memorial service was held in the E.U.B. Church on Park Street. Monday June 18 was the opening of the Carnival on the Playground. Tuesday June 19 a Civilian Defense Drill was held along with the Carnival. Wednesday June 20 saw free Carnival rides for all orphanage children of local orphanages and the Association’s held their annual meeting and convention business. Thursday June 21, 7:30 P.M. was a giant Fireman’s Parade and the carnival. The carnival continued Friday and Saturday June 22^nd and 23^rd 1956.

In June 1958 the department bought a parcel of land at the end of Spruce Street for use as a carnival ground or possible site for a new building. October, 1972 this land was sold to the borough for additional playground.

March 31 1972 the department purchased land on Ash Street (then State Route 997 now State Route 522 Mont Alto Road) for a future fire station. This land was sold on April 7, 1975 when it was determined it was not suitable for a fire station.

Sunday evening June 18, 1972 a physician on the staff of the South Mountain Restoration Center drove his car into the front of the Fire Station. Damage to the building was estimated at $ 5,300 and to one fire engine was $ 700. Damage to another fire company vehicle and to Dr. Gerald K. Doo's car was set at $ 300 each.

The department then purchased land on South Main Street (Anthony Highway-Route 997) on June 2, 1975. Then in 1976, a new fire station was built by P.E. Lehman Construction with the interior work, (electrical, painting, paneling work) done by the fire department members. This site is the current home of the Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Company.