Excelsior No. 1

 

 

                                                                                                       

Excelsior Hook & Ladder No. 1

to the

Excelsior Fire Company No. 1

Bellwood, Pennsylvania

The 113 Year History

At the midnight hour in the latter part of July 1891, the shrill whistle of a locomotive announcing a fire threatening the business section of town awakened Bellwood, Every man who heard the alarm ran to the fire. The fire destroyed one section of the town. A bucket brigade that was quickly formed did valiant work and absence of wind helped its efforts to prevent the fire from spreading. This fire impressed some of our citizens with the need of an organized fire fighting force. After some preliminary work and discussion a metting was called on August 11, 1891 at Cormessers Hall.

After the fire, T.P. Gheer, Damuel Loucks and O.L. Weaver tarried and discussed the necessity of a fire company. A list of those present includes the following charter members: P.S. Isenberg, J. W. McCloskey, R.B. Stevens, C.M. Gill, Dr. B.B Levengood, G.W. Wolfe, T.A. McCaulley, A. J. VanScoyoc, J.M. McCloskey, L.W. Irwin, T.P Gheer, H.A. Roth, J.C. Innes, Ira Wentxel, Oliver R. Rush, the Rev. J.H. Mathers, the Rev, James B. Stein, W.A. Ford, E.N. Root, and T.W. Wiley. Dr. Levengood was the first fire chief and secretary.  E.N. Root was treasurer until his death.

The meeting was full of enthusiasm and it was decided to organize. A committee was appointed to prepare the constiitution and by-laws. This committee did its work and reported to the following meeting, and the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company was launched. On October 12, 1891, the organization was chartered by the state.

On September 1, 1891, the company purchased the fire equipment. It consisted of a hand chemical engine from Howe Engine and Pump Co., for the price of $750.00 a light hook and ladder truck, and two hundred feet of hose.

March 27, 1894 the members moved to change the name of the company from Excelsior Hook and Ladder No. 1 to the Excelsior Fire Company No. 1 of Bellwood, Pennsylvania. In the month following the members voted to set limits on boundaries, and if the people in the Antis Township area wanted them to help fight fires they would have to help pay for the fire hose. With the company growing in size on October 2, 1894 the members decided to move up to four pieces of fire equipment and they purchased a hose cart from the Excelsior Hose Company of Altoona for the price of $100.00

On June 15, 1896, the company gave permission for the company representative to negotiate with the Methodist Church to purchase the old church. The fire meeting in the new hall was held on February 27, 1900, the history is as follows

       - Originally constructed in 1869 as Mehodist Church. The building to be moved by T.P. Gheer from Main and Tuckahoe Street for the sum of $1,400.00. The land was purchased from Mr. Isset for $300.00. A blacksmith shop was torn down and the firehouse set on the site of 610 South Cambria Street.  Bellwood Borough Council paid for the lot and the price of moving the building. This agreement is recorded in the council meeting minutes of August 7, 1899. Council moved that the building be for the use of the fire company.

In November 1898 the Bellwood Light Co. purchased the first fire siren and placed it on their building. The superintendent would blow the siren when needed. At that time the company set codes for fire alarms at different locations in the Borough. The borough was divided into four wards, and out of town fires would be indicated by 7 blasts of the fire whistle.

In the meeting of February 1900 it was reported that there were only 8 Charter members remaining in the company. They were J.W. McCloskey, G.W. Wiley, T.P. Gheer, W.R. Bush, J.M. McCloskey, F. Wertzs, O.L. Weaver, and E.N. Root. This was the first meeting in the new fire station, and a motion was made to sell the old fire hall to G.W. Wiley. The motion passed. The price was $1.00.

In March of 1900 the company added on to the bell tower by 12 feet and converted it to a hose drying tower. The summer of that year also had many changed in it for the company. The borough wanted to move in with the fire company and add a jail to the basement of the fire station.  This problem drew out all summer, even making its way to Blair County court. When the fire company locked out the borough council, the council had an injunction on all members of the fire company. This disagreement went on until it was settled on September 3, 1901 and the police department moved into the fire station.

On March 1, 1903 with the growth of the town and the gravity pressure, fire firemen were encouraged to greater efficiency. A hose reel was purchased and the Borough council bought a hose and ladder wagon. The necessity of more power and speed resulted in the purchase of a team of horses on March 11, 1903. The price for the team was $550.00. During most of the years this wagon was in service, Mr. George W. Wiley provided horses and drive. Horses were housed in the Livery Barn of Harry Clark Cornmesser.

Our Relief Association was granted a Charter on April 27, 1908. During this time a real pumper was a "fireman's dream." A campaign was launched to purchase a Stutz Pumper. The goal was set at $12,000 of which $10000 was pledged and $8000 paid. The Firemen by their own efforts raised the difference adn this dream came true. June 1, 1920, when a 600-gallon Stutz Fire Pumper was purchased. This was followed by a Sewart Hose Truck and a Buick Ladder Truck equipped with liquid fire extinguishers. The Firemen at their own expense built these two trucks.

From 1928 to 1938 the Fire Company built their own fire trucks from the vehicles donated to them by the Fouss and Glass Mortuary. The first vehicle was a Buick hearse. The company placed the vehicle in the W.R. Bush barn where they cut the frame apart, lengthened it, and made a hook and ladder truck. The second vehicle donated by the mortuary was a Rockfalls hearse. The company again cut the frame, lengthened it, and placed the equipment from the other vehicle on it. Work done on this vehicle was performed at the Bush barn and  at the C.C. Keith machine shop on North Antis Street. This vehicle served its purpose until  Decemeber 12, 1950 when the hook and ladder truck from Bellefonte was purchased. The members built these trucks on their own time.

The supplies for the company were ordinarily provided by approgpriation of Borough Council and with what the firemen had contributed. This left the town with as fine a supply of fire firefighting equipment as any samll town in the state. The approximate value was nearly $25,000 backed by the membership of 140 men and the Ladies Auxiliary.

In August of 1938 the Stewart Hose truck finally gave out and would not pass inspection. At that time the company took a small step back and returned to the use of the old hand drawn hose truck. After informing Dorough Council, the council agreed to purchas a chassis rather than the whole apparatus. One year later the company received a General Motors Truck chassis from Lingenfelters Garage for the pric of $700.00.

The company took the GMC to Pipers Body and Paint Shop for a body to be added. The cost was $789.37 and by 1941 the company had a new hose truck that they used until 1997 when the truck was sold to Thomas and JoLane Whiteford for the sum of $1005.00. This truck is still used by the company today for special events. This truck is remembered by all of us in the town as our first fire truck ride.

On October 12, 1946, after months of planning, the firemen purchased their firest custom built fire engine. It was a Mack powered by a 213 horse power gasoline engine, with a 750 gallon a minute pump, and a 150 gallon booster tank. This engine cost a total of $10,000.00. The company was now operating the 1946 Mack, the 1939 GMC hose truck, and the Rockfalls Ladder Truck.

On April 13, 1950 the Borough Council placed a proposal on the election ballot for permission to build a new building. The voters approved the proposal by one vote majority at the April election. The Fire Company was notified that the trucks would be stored in the Loganbell Dairy for the winter months. The siren was to be placed on a telephone pole at the sit of the new buildigns. Mountain City Junk tore down the old hall. The Fire Company stored their relics, records, and small equipment in the John Cornmesser building. IN the spring that building was a victim of a major fire, with the top floors burning. Both the company and the Borough Council lost valuable property. The Borough Council received bids to construct a new building. The cost of rebuilding was $45,000.00. The cost of plumbing, heating, electricity and concrete apron work totaled approximately $25,000.00. A total cost of the unfinished building would reach $70,000.00. This did not include the finishing of the basement or the borough offices. Borough Water Rents and the Secretary's Office were at the C.F. Wertz residence on North Cambria Street. In the spring the fire trucks were removed and placed in the Borough Shed on North First Street. The building was far enough along to house the truck for winter. In October 1951 trucks were back in the hall.

In September of 1956 the company attempted to start the Ambulance service back up. A committee was appointed with members J.R. Shaner, W.H. McCaulley, John Walker, Jack Evans, Charlie Gunsallus, Blaine Folk and James Kissel. By October of the smae year the first officers were in place and the license was received from the state. The officers were as follows: President James R. Shaner, Secretary Charlie Gunsallus, and Treasurer John Walker. The fire company gave the ambulance officers permission to house the ambulance in the fire houses. The first ambulance was a 1948 Packard. It was purchased from Bob Irvin International Truck Sales of Alexandria, PA. On October 23, 1956 it was voted to adopt the ambulance association into the fire company. The service later advanced to a 1970 and 1973 Pontiac ambulance, then to a 1980 Dodge Van, and a 1982 Ford Van. With the growing community, in June of 1983 the ambulance service branched ot of their own and moved to their present location at North Third and Truckahoe. By April 1, 1996 the ambulance service instituted its paid staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

On March 3, 1972 the first company made another first when they voted to purchase a Mack Tele Squirt. Chief Jack Dunn stated that this apparatus was the first of its type in Pennsylvania. It was a Mack Model 650 diesel engine, cab forward body with jump seats, 500 gal. booster tank, hose bed, a 1000 gpm centrifugal pump, two booster reels, but what made it different was that the 55 foot ladder and prepiped waterway to a nozzle could be operated by one man at the back of the apparatus. A motion to purchase this truck was made by Clair Greene. As he stated, it was time to move into the 20th century. Second came from Joseph A. Whiteford. The cost of this vehicle was $63,000.00. The Borough co-signed the note for $26,000.00 at the rate of 4% interest. On Decemeber 26, 1972 chief Dunn reported that the new truck was finished and two members needed to fly to St. Joe, Missouri and drive the truck back to Mack Inc. in Pittsburgh for final service. This is one of the most multi useful pieces of apparatus that is till in service today as of 2006, over 34  years later.

In February 1976 the company took a major step in the communication age by purchasing two hand held portable radio's. These were 5 watts and 2 channels. The officers at that time felt that with the chief and assistant having radio's to communicate with Logan base they could save more time and hopefully lives. The reason this took so long was that the price of the radios was $750.00 each. ALso that year the company sent 23 members to county fire school, the most from any one company that year.

In December 1977 with a new egnine on order from Mack, the 1946 was sold to Mill Run fire company for the cost of $3,500.00. On March 7, 1978 a new Mack 1000 gallon a minute pumper was delievered to the station. This engine also had a closed cap and many added features to make it as up to date as it could be for the time. The cost was $71,053.00. The 1978 Mack engine stayed in service until it was replaced with a Spartan Salusbury Rescue/Engine in the year 2001. In 1982, still moving ahead the company ordered the first pager for the members at a cost of $379.00 each for a total cost of $8,900.00.

In February 1989 with the 1963 engine not getting any newer, the company voted to upgrade and purchase a W.S. Darley Pumper/Tanker for a cost of $179.427.00. The new piece of apparatus was delivered in June of 1990 and is still in service with the company as of 2006.

In March 1991 the company, feeling that they were outgrowing their station, first talked about the purchase of the South Side School Property at South First and Boyles Street. Boy October of the same year the company received the deed for the ground. The Fire Company acquired the lot for the new fire station, South First and Boyles Street, from the Bellwood-Antis School District. On April 4, 1998 ground breaking was held for the new fire station. The approximate cost of the new fire station was $300,000.00. A three day celebration was held for the grand Opening of the new Fire Station. Since the completion, fire station has become the social hall for the town. With the cooperation of all the men and women many dinners have been catered.

The new century brought many new ideas to the company. Along with fund raising and traning in fire suppression many members felt that we needed to move forward in the ways of rescue. After much more training and working to raise money for specialized tools, the company became a Rescue Company with the purchase of a 2002 Spartan Salusbury Rescue/Engine, the first one of its kind in the area with a rear mounted pump.

Also another idea started, on that added to the history of the department, when we decided to host the Central District Firemen's Association Convention for the first time. FOr three years the plans have been made to make this one of the best conventions on record. The President for the Central Distric Firemen's Association Convention for the year 2004 was Robert. J. Whiteford.

This history was compiled witht he help of Robert Bush, Jack Evans, Robert Weiser, Scott Delozier, Thomas Whiteford and many other people who helped in many ways. I wish to thank everyone. Without their help this could not have been completed.