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On January 9, 1812, the Manheim Fire Department was organized and
Articles of
Association were formulated. Thus, the first
fire company was organized 26 years before Manheim was incorporated as a
Borough on April 16, 1838. At this meeting, a small hand engine was
purchased from the Union Fire Company of Lancaster, Pa., which in turn
had been imported from England in 1754. The inscription "January 9,
1812, Manheim, Pa., Hope No. 1" was placed on this new piece of fire
fighting equipment. This piece had been on loan for over fifty years to
the Hershey Museum in Hershey, PA., until 1997, when it was returned to
Manheim. It is now on display in the firehouse in our museum. This
engine was equipped with leather hose in 1812.
In 1836, Manheim
Fire Company, No. 2 was organized, and another hand engine was
purchased. By August 1836, an engine house was built on Market Square,
sufficiently large enough to house both of the engines. The two
companies became known as the "Active" and the "Union" fire companies.
It was decided by the Borough Council that the "Active" Company should
have the part of the engine house which opens towards Prussian Street,
and the "Union" Company the part which opens
On January 9, 1812, the Manheim Fire Department was organized and
Articles of
Association were formulated. Thus, the first
fire company was organized 26 years before Manheim was incorporated as a
Borough on April 16, 1838. At this meeting, a small hand engine was
purchased from the Union Fire Company of Lancaster, Pa., which in turn
had been imported from England in 1754. The inscription "January 9,
1812, Manheim, Pa., Hope No. 1" was placed on this new piece of fire
fighting equipment. This piece had been on loan for over fifty years to
the Hershey Museum in Hershey, PA., until 1997, when it was returned to
Manheim. It is now on display in the firehouse in our museum. This
engine was equipped with leather hose in 1812.
In 1836, Manheim
Fire Company, No. 2 was organized, and another hand engine was
purchased. By August 1836, an engine house was built on Market Square,
sufficiently large enough to house both of the engines. The two
companies became known as the "Active" and the "Union" fire companies.
It was decided by the Borough Council that the "Active" Company should
have the part of the engine house which opens towards Prussian Street,
and the "Union" Company the part which opens
In 1880, a fire company was organized in the lower part of town and took
the name of
"Union Fire Company". The Hope Company turned
over to them the Globe Engine and some leather hose.
In October of 1885,
the Manheim Water Company began service. Forty-eight fireplugs were
placed in the borough at a cost to the town council of $2,827.50.
In 1886, an engine
and hose house was built by the borough on Stiegel Street and was named
the Union Hose House. The Union Fire Engine and Hose Company, which had
been dormant for some years, was reorganized and received from the Hope
Company a proportionate share of the fire equipment. Borough Council
also at this time purchased another hose carriage, which was placed in
the Union Hose House. The Union Fire Engine Company then went out of
existence in 1894.
On January 6, 1897,
the members of Hope Fire Company voted to purchase a lot of ground on
the corner of East High and Wolf Streets. The purpose of this lot was
for building an engine house. In 1901, the members deeded this lot to
the borough for the purpose of building a council chamber and the hose
house. In 1904, the public building and fire station on East High Street
was dedicated.
In 1907, the
Stiegel Fire Company was organized by citizens living in the lower end
of Manheim. After a short, but active, life, during which a chemical
fire engine was purchased, the company disbanded.
A hook and ladder
truck was purchased in 1910, for $600.00.
From June 30th to
July 4th in 1912, a grand celebration, known as "Old Home Week and Hope
Hose Company Centennial" was held. The last day of Old Home Week was
designated as Firemen's Day and featured a parade and reception to
visiting firemen. As a souvenir of Manheim's Old Home Week, the
committee, headed by fire company President, A.K. Kauffman, published a
booklet of 180 pages.
In 1920, at a
borough election, the citizens voted to give Borough Council authority
to purchase an American LaFrance engine for $12,500. This was the
beginning of our motor-drawn fire fighting equipment. During this same
year, an electric fire siren was placed in the tower of the public
building. Also, in July, permission was granted by the Borough Council
to the fire department to answer fire calls beyond the borough limits.
The first "mutual-aid" response was to Lititz.
On July 17, 1921,
the first meeting was called in Manheim, by Hope Fire Engine and Hose
Co. No. 1, to organize the Lancaster County Fireman's Association.
Fourteen
fire
companies took part in this. This count has
grown from year to year, numbering now over eighty fire companies. On
September 21, 1921, the Lancaster County Volunteer's
Firemen's Association held its first annual
convention in Manheim. Mr. H.H. Shenck, of Manheim, was the first
president of the Association, and Mr. Ira Brosey, also a member of Hope
Company, was the first secretary.
In 1924, a Kearns
fire engine was purchased for $7,800. The cost was met by a contribution
of $1,000 from the Borough Council and donations of $6,800 by Manheim
citizens and farmers, who would benefit most by this piece of apparatus.
In 1926, a fire
alarm switch was installed in the local phone exchange, in order to help
citizens to report fires faster.
In 1930, Fire Chief
Paul Z. Knier of the Hope Fire Engine and Hose Company, No.1, was
elected Lancaster County Fire Marshall by the LCFA. He held this
position for fifty years, until 1980, when he retired at the County's
Firemen's Convention in Quarryville.
The Fireman's
Relief Association of the Hope Fire Engine and Hose Company, No. 1, was
organized in 1930, which provides substantial payments to firemen
injured while on
active duty. Today, we have six directors in our Relief Association.
In 1932, a Reo fire truck was
purchased by the fire company with a 250-gallon booster tank and capable
of pumping 500 gallons per minute (gpm).
In 1946, the Fire
Police of the company was organized.
In 1947, another
Reo fire truck was purchased, with a modern 7-man cab installation,
capable of pumping 500 gpm, and an 800-gallon water tank.
In 1954, a Seagrave
750 gpm pump was purchased for $18,000.00 to replace the 1932 Reo fire
truck.
In 1958, a Metro
walk-in truck was purchased for $4,000.00 to carry men and extra
equipment to the scene of a fire. This truck was known as the "Squad"
truck.
In 1959, the fire
department purchased for $46,000.00 and put in to service in 1960 a new
Seagrave Quint,
combination 750-gpm pump and 85-foot aerial ladder. The
"Quint" carried 500 feet of 3-inch hose, 600
feet of 2
inch hose, 400 feet of 1-inch
hose, and has a 250-gallon water tank. This
piece of apparatus was the first cab-ahead-engine in the eastern United
States. In February 1976, this truck had the gas engine changed to a
Detroit Diesel engine. The aerial truck was purchased in
order
to better respond to the expanding industry,
business districts, the residential areas that consisted of more than
two stories dwellings and other buildings. In addition, this unit helped
to serve several neighboring communities,
In 1965, another
Seagrave pump was purchased for $28,000.00. This was a 1,000 gpm pump
with a 500 gallon booster tank, 1,000 feet of 3 inch hose, 1,200 feet of
2
inch
hose, 600 feet of 1
inch hose, and 500 feet of 1 inch hose. This piece of apparatus
replaced the 1948 Reo truck.
In 1967, the fire department
purchased a new 1967 Divco squad truck for $8,000.00 to replace the
Metro squad truck. This truck was needed to carry the additional fire
fighting equipment that was purchased to improve fire-fighting
abilities.
In 1968, the fire
department installed the Plectron Alerting System, with 66 radio
receivers furnished to active firemen to help answer calls more quickly
and more effectively.
In 1969, the fire department saw
a need for a larger fire station, and through the cooperation of the
Borough and a lot of good firemen, the fire department moved into its
present quarters, at the corner of South Main and East Ferdinand
Streets. The cost of this project was $133,000.00.
In 1970, a Howe
1,000 gpm pump was purchased to replace the 1954 Seagrave pump for a
cost of $33,000.00. This truck had a 500-gallon water tank, 2,000 feet
of 2 inch hose, 600 feet of 1
inch hose, and 600 feet of 1-inch hose. This pump was
equipped with a Detroit Diesel engine with an
automatic transmission, which was the first of its kind in our county.
In 1974, the fire
department purchased a 1974 GMC rescue truck to replace the Divco squad
truck. This truck carried miscellaneous firefighting equipment, a Hurst
tool and Porto-power tool (for vehicle accident extrications), a Stihl
saw, medical equipment, rescue ropes and an electrical generator. The
total cost of this rescue truck with all of its equipment was
$40,000.00.
In 1976, the fire
department took delivery of its first tanker truck. Local fuel dealer,
Worley & Obetz, donated a 2,600-gallon tank for this truck. The members
of the fire company and the maintenance department of Raybestos
Manhattan made and installed compartments and the tank on
a 1976 GMC cab and chassis. Raybestos Manhattan
donated the compartments.
In 1976, the Hope Fire Engine and
Hose Company, No.1 was responding to an average of 90 fire alarms per
year.
In 1983, the fire department held its first annual raffle of a vehicle
at their summer
carnival. This first year saw a Chevrolet
Chevette given away. The raffle still continues today, with the prize
typically a full size extended cab pickup. The raffle receives a lot of
support from the community, with the bearer of the last ticket drawn of
6,000 tickets taking home the grand prize.
Also in 1983, the
fire chief and members saw a need for "large-diameter hose". The company
was introduced to 5-inch hose by purchasing 2,000 feet of it.
Late in 1983, the Lancaster
County 911 dispatch system changed to its current system of dispatching
fire departments by their station number, not their name. This fire
department operates under the identification of "Station 2-6".
In June of 1984,
the arrival of a new 1984 Pierce Arrow pump occurred. This engine
replaced the 1966 Seagrave pump, and cost approximately $143,000.
Features of the new engine include, a 5-man cab, 500-gallon tank, 1500
gpm pump, 3 pre-connected hand lines, and 2,000 feet of 5-inch hose.
This piece is known as Engine 2-6-2.
Also in 1984, the
hydrants in Manheim were pressure tested by firemen and the tops of the
hydrants were painted different colors to show the various pressures.
In January 1985,
the fire department purchased its first ever computer system, to aid in
recording the fire alarms, financial statistics and administrative
notes, such as minutes of the company meetings.
In April 1986, the
purchase of a 1987 Pierce Lance pump was approved for approximately
$167,000. This engine which includes a six-man cab, 1,000-gallon tank,
1,750 gpm, and 5 pre-connected hand lines was placed into service in
August 1987. This piece is known as Engine 2-6-1.
At the same time,
an opportunity to purchase a new ladder truck surfaced. A used 1971 GMC-Sutphen
aerial truck was purchased for $135,000 and arrived in October. The main
feature of this truck is its 85-foot aerial device, which includes a
bucket for firefighters to operate from at the tip of it. This is in
contrast to the ladder truck it replaced, the 1959 Seagrave, which was
an 85-foot straight ladder. The truck has a 1,250 -gpm pump and carries
equipment needed for ventilation and overhaul operations. At this time,
both the Howe pump and the Seagrave ladder were sold to the dealer of
the Sutphen for $18,000 and $30,000, respectively.
One of the biggest
fires in Manheim history occurred on January 27, 1987 when the J.H.
Brubaker Lumber Yard lit up the early morning sky in the western part of
town. Several hundred thousand dollars of damage was suffered, as
buildings, vehicles, and inventory were all consumed by this devastating
fire. The firefighters battled extremely cold temperatures and
inadequate water supply conditions, as they were able to
contain this
fire from spreading to any adjoining properties.
Throughout the years, the members
of the fire department went door to door in its response district
collecting coin cards to raise funds. In 1987, the department decided to
end this form of fund raising and started in 1988 a new way of raising
funds. A fund drive letter was mailed to all households and businesses
asking for a donation to be sent back to the fire department. This new
method has generated a bigger return of contributions and has saved many
hours of work for the firefighters.
In January of 1990,
the department took delivery of a new 1990 Autocar Tanker. Tanker 2-6,
as it is known, has a 500-gpm pump and a 3,000-gallon tank, and was
built by S&S in Indiana.
In February of
1990, the GMC tanker truck was sold for $21,000 to Northeast Fire
Apparatus.
Also in 1990, the
fire department received the approval of the FCC to operate its own
private frequencies, 33.42 & 33.62, in the companies' fire radios. The
addition of these frequencies has been a tremendous asset to our
company, allowing us to switch from frequencies that are occupied by
heavy radio traffic.
For years, the
department always refueled its apparatus at fuel pumps located at the
rear of the station. However, due to environmental concerns, the
underground fuel tanks, some of which were located here when the
property was purchased, were removed in August of 1990.
n March 1991, the fire department purchased
new Motorola Minitor II pagers to supply to the active firefighters to
alert them of fire alarms. These pagers have greatly decreased the
response time of the firefighters, and today, you'll hardly find a
fireman without one.
In January 1992,
the company voted to have the cab of Engine 2-6-2, the Pierce Arrow,
fully enclosed to provide more safety for the firefighters. By doing
this, there will be no more riding on the tailboard of the apparatus for
the firefighters. Pierce Manufacturing enclosed the cab for $21,000,
which increased the interior seating of firefighters to six.
In February 1992, a
timer was installed on the siren located at the firehouse. This timer
will not permit the siren to be sounded between the hours of 11PM and
6AM. Also, the engine room garage doors will no longer automatically
rise upon tone activation, a tradition that has occurred for years. Also
in this month, the company formed a committee to purchase a new rescue
truck.
In May 1992, the
first Paul Z. Knier Volunteer Award was given to the high school senior
who has performed outstanding volunteer service to the community. This
award has been a $100 United States Savings Bond and is still given
annually.
In May 1993, the company voted to purchase a Pierce Custom Dash Chassis
with a
Pierce Heavy Duty Rescue Body for $294,000.
The Rescue arrived in late February 1994, and was placed into service as
Rescue 2-6 in April 1994. New features of this rescue include seating
for ten firefighters, pre-connected hydraulic and air lines for the
Amkus and other rescue equipment, a 6000 watt telescopic light tower,
and a
command center in the walk-in
box, complimented with two low band radios, one high band radio, and a
cellular phone. The 1974 GMC Rescue was sold for $38,000 to Northeast
Fire Apparatus.
In November 1993, "Pluggie",
a robotic fire prevention assistant, was purchased from Robotronics for
approximately $4,500. Pluggie has been a great asset to the company's
fire safety program, being used mainly at the day care centers, and
nursery and elementary schools. Pluggie is about three feet tall and is
painted to resemble a firefighter, complete with fire gear. Pluggie was
dedicated in memory of Captain Cary T. Cantrell in April 1994.
In August 1994,
after several months of research, a new utility truck was voted upon to
be bought for the department. This new truck is a 1995 Ford 4WD Diesel
pick-up truck with a 4-door crew cab. Aluminum utility boxes were added
to the bed of the truck to store equipment without using the bed space.
This truck was purchased from Phillip's Ford for $26,688, and was
received in November 1994, and is now known as Squad 2-6. The squad is
used to carry extra manpower and equipment to the fire scenes and also
for the firefighters to use when traveling to training classes out of
the area.
In February 1995, a
committee was formed to look into the expansion of the firehouse. In May
1995, the company agreed upon the bid from Penway Construction of
$162,924 for the building expansion. The expansion of the firehouse was
to the rear of the building and included: a new engineer's room
(maintenance shop), added storage rooms, a handicapped-accessible
bathroom, a new apparatus bay for the squad truck, and a larger meeting
/ training room and undeclared room on the second floor. This undeclared
room later became the fire department's museum.
In June 1996, Mr.
Joseph Young, owner of the property at 75 South Main Street approached
the department stating that he would like to sell his property. The
company approved of the purchase of the three-story house and yard for
$142,000 and agreement papers were signed in August. After possession,
the rear yard of the property was converted into a parking lot for the
fire department. The building houses four apartments that are taken care
of by a management company. Several improvements have been made to the
property since our purchase, mostly dealing with heating, electrical,
and plumbing. With the purchase of this property, we have been able to
solve our parking problem by adding approximately 20 new spaces.
In order to allow more space for the officers of the company to work in,
the
department decided in 1997 to renovate the
second floor of the original building by creating two additional
offices.
In February of
1997, the fund drive mailing of the department was revamped again. The
fund drive mailing is now handled by an outside company and includes a
second mailing so that more contributions are received. This has
increased the number of properties donating, however, the actual amount
of those giving is still less than 40 percent.
In March of 1997,
the Hershey Museum sent the department notice that they would like the
pieces of fire equipment on
display there to be removed. They approved the
return of our fire equipment to our
department, which includes a hand pump and a hose cart. The fire
department has also received a leather helmet and a leather bucket.
These pieces along with many other pieces of Manheim Firefighting
history are now on display in our museum, located on the second floor of
the new addition.
In order to
encourage more attendance at the annual firefighter's carnival,
fireworks were returned to this event in 1997. The response and
enthusiasm of the crowd has been well received.
In December of
1998, the Manheim area witnessed its biggest fire ever. On December
15th, four buildings were damaged or destroyed by fire on Market Square.
Nearly $1,500,000 of damage was encountered, along with 16 people left
homeless and four businesses temporarily shutdown. Over 200 firefighters
from 40 fire companies assisted with extinguishing the fire, in which
the Manheim Fire Company spent nearly 16 hours on the scene.
The number of fire
responses is continuing to climb each year, as the Manheim area
continues to develop structurally and as population increases, creating
more traffic. The fire department protects all of Manheim Borough, and
parts of Penn and Rapho Townships. We provide approximately 50 square
miles of fire protection, as well as responding to assist neighboring
communities.The Manheim Fire Department is an all-volunteer company,
operating on the donations and support of its community. The demands on
the firefighters go beyond the normal firefighting tactics for today's
firefighters. The members participate in fire training, perform repair
and maintenance on the equipment, teach fire prevention and safety in
the community, and raise funds to operate the department. Each year,
more time is expected of these firefighters to provide the firefighting
service to the community. The most important thing that you
can do for these dedicated
individuals is to offer your support. Financial help as well as physical
help are always needed. New members are encouraged and welcome to join.
Currently, there are 90 active members, of which nearly 50 are active
firefighters and fire police, 116 Honorary members and around 200 social
members in the fire company. The department needs the help of everyone
to get the job done, not just the firefighters. The year 2000 will mark
188 years of firefighting service provided to citizens of Manheim.
Protecting lives and properties has been and always will be the purpose
and duty of the Hope Fire Engine and Hose Company, Number 1! |
