TAMAQUA’S CITIZENS FIRE COMPANY NO. 1 CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

125 Year Anniversary of Citizen's Fire Company, Elks Lodge, Tamaqua, 11-15-2014 (41) — Special to TamaquaArea.com

Members and guests of Citizen’s Fire Company No. 1 in Tamaqua held a 125-year celebration banquet on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at the Tamaqua Elks Lodge.
Speakers and guest at the event included Senator Dave Argall, Representative Jerry Knowles, Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison and others.
Numerous awards and recognitions were given. Some of which included Tom Hartz Jr. (Company Appreciation Award) and Richard Wentz, Joe Hollister, and Charles Hollenbach (each receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award).
Click HERE to visit the fire company’s Facebook page.
Click HERE to view a related Times News story.

Citizen’s Fire Company Slideshow Video:

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Page down further to view all photos.

Current officers of the Citizen’s Fire Company for the year 2014:
President: Jason Hartz
Vice President: Chris Heffelﬁnger
Treasurer: Jason Green
Assistant Treasurer: Timothy Phillips
Recording Secretary: Christopher Hartz
Assitant Secretary: Francis Betz
Trustees: Tom Hartz Jr, Brad Sanders, Ed Herring
Fire Chief: Tom Hartz Jr.
Captain: Jason Hartz
1st Lieutenant: Timothy Phillips
2nd Lieutenant: Jason Green
Chief Engineer: Christopher Hartz
Assistant Engineer: Bill Seladones, Randy Schock
Aerial Foreman: Ed Herring
EMS Captain: Travis Huegel
Fire Police Captain: Brent Confer

History of the Citizens Fire Company:
(As per the event program)

Prior to 1852, the borough of Tamaqua had to depend upon a hand drawn, hand-operated pumper. This hand-operated pumper required six men on either side of the contraption. Water pressure was generated by alternating pumping up and down on a bar, which moved pistons and flowed water through valves and into leather hose. The water tank had to be ﬁlled by a bucket brigade from the nearest well, stream or horse trough.

By 1852, the population of Tamaqua had swelled to over 3000, an increase of 2500 people in ten years. With the population growth, the residents saw the need for organized ﬁre protection. Also, during this time, the Rabbit Run Reservoir was being built in the New England Valley. This meant for the ﬁrst time, hydrant water pressure would be available in the borough.

In the year of 1852, the Perseverance Fire Company No 1 was formed. Among its ﬁrst members were some of the leading citizens of Tamaqua at the time. The ﬁrst president of the ﬁre company was Benjamin T Hughes, who held ofﬁce for 28 years. The equipment of the borough’s ﬁrst ﬁre department was kept in a barn, most likely on Rowe Street, where there were many stables at the time.

In 1857, a steam ﬁre engine, drawn by hired horses, was purchased. At this time, the name of a the ﬁre company was changed to the Perseverance Hose and Steam Fire Company.

In 1861, by deed dated February 13th, the borough of Tamaqua purchased from Benjamin T. Hughes and his wife, Mary, a plot of ground with a ﬁfty foot front on the north side of Rowe Street, just west of Berwick Street. It was on this site that a frame ﬁre house was constructed.

On November 7, 1873, the borough purchased additional ground from Henry T. Stidfole and his wife, Missouri. it was just west of the original lot purchased by the borough and extended. the lot by 58 feet, 3 inches. During this same time frame, sections of Rowe Street and Washington Street were vacated, allowing the construction of the Pine steps with an overhead bridge going across the railroad tracks.

In 1879, the borough erected a two-story, red brick building on the plot. The arch type entrances for the equipment, of which there were several, fronted on Rowe Street. The old frame building had been purchased by Lafayette Fritsch, who moved it across Rowe Street.
remained as a dwelling on that property until 1950, when it was converted into a storage for the Acme Markets. At this time, it was located between the rear portions of the Acme the Newberry’s.

November 8, 1881
The Perseverance Hose and Steam Fire Company are making efforts to raise funds with which to purchase a team of horses. It is claimed that the membership of the company was not strong enough to handle the engine an convey the apparatus to the scene of a ﬁre expeditiously; especially when the elevated portions of town must be reached. Their reasons are certainly plausible, and as the horses can be used for general hauling purposes, the idea will be of great beneﬁt to the town and the means of obtaining a revenue with which to keep the engine and apparatus in good order.

February 25, 1882
The perseverance Fair has been in progress since last Monday and large numbers have nightly attended. Much enjoyment can be had there at small expense, and the ladies in attendance know how to make a person spend an hour in a lively, sociable, and enjoyable manner. The company is making an effort to obtain money to purchase a team of horses for the steamer, and so for their endeavors have been fairly seconded by the citizens of town young and old. Call over at the engine house this evening and do your share toward helping the company to attain their object.

April 22, 1882
The Perseverance Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company, ﬁnding that keeping of a team of horses is an unprofitable undertaking, has decided to dispose of their handsome pair of blocks by a drawing to be held at the engine house on October 24’” next. Tickets will be sold for $1.00 each and will be ready for sale next week.

November 28, 1885
The 22nd annual ball of the Perseverance Hose and Steam Fire Company was held in Seitzingers Hall on Wednesday evening. Financially and socially it was a great success. About $100 will be added to the company’s treasury. Horn’s Sextette Band furnished excellent dance music, and Conrad Ifland, Jr. treated the 300 people to a Punch and Judy Show.

July 13, 1889
“The Citizens Fire Company”
The above is the title selected for a new ﬁre company organized in this town this week. To, it is hoped, more than to ﬁll the vacancy (3705611 by the ousting from the engine house on Rowe Street by Town Council of the unsavory remains of Perseverance Hose and Steam Company No. 1 of Tamaqua. A name that will not stand upon the Scroll of Fame in letters of gold with brilliant shading.
The Citizens Fire Company starts out under very favorable and promising auspices. Its membership of over seventy, including some of the most respected people of town, and the list is being added to daily.
A preliminary meeting was held at the engine house on Monday evening last when Robert Harris was elected temporary president and Charles F. Allen, temporary secretary. Permanent organization was effected on Wednesday evening and officers to serve until the first meeting next were elected as follows:

President – F. P. Spiese
Vice President – Charles H Weldy
Secretary — Robert Harris
Treasurer — 5.0. Lutz
Financial Secretary – J. D. Kershner
Foreman — PJ. Spraul
Asst. Foreman — George H. Young
Chief Engineer — Charles Rhuf
Asst. Engineer – Joseph Hawker
Asst. Engineer — William Haber
And two to be appointed by the chief engineer
Fireman — Daniel Munday, Charles Wagner
Plug Director — Frank Lynch

Ten Line, Pump and Hose carriers were appointed by the President as follows:
W. C. Dunkeberger, George H. Young, Edward Weaver, Walter McMillen, Edward Donald, George Knierim, Aaron Frantz, Jonathan Kistler, William H.Hunsberger, and Arther W. James.
Trustees – P.J. Young, John Murgot, and Charles Allen

A committee of Laws was appointed and steps will be immediately taken to procure a charter. The regular business meetings of the company will be held at the engine house on the first and third Wednesday of every month at eight thirty o’clock.

The old company refused the amount aﬁered by cauncilfar the carpet and furniture, and they removed the latter last Saturday. Since then, the goods have been sold at an unadvertised auction, only a few members participating in the the bargains. The carpet went for $.10 a yard netting $14 less than the offer of Council for it. The President’s Chair was captured by Henry Rieman by virtue of his office and the large walnut settees went at two dollars a piece.

The new company, in cooperation with the committee appointed by the Town Council, will immediately refurnish the engine house parlor in a neat, substantial manner. It is not the intention to fix it up as a thing of beauty and an object only to look at and admire, but to make it as home-like as possible, and to be used every day in the week if necessary.

The new company enjoys the good-will of the American Hose Company and having, also, the substantial support of our officials and the citizens behind it. We feel conﬁdent that Tamaqua will have reason to be proud of its recognized Fire Department.

After the forming of the Citizens Fire Company, horses were hired from nearby stables until 1901, when the Citizens purchased their own team of horses. These horses were kept in service for the next eleven years. Lamont Perrine was one of the drivers.

In 1912, with the purchase of a horse-drawn combination chemical and hose cart, an additional team of horses were acquired. J. William Lauer was the ﬁrst driver.

The company, also, operated a coal delivery business, which kept the horses exercised a part of each day. The coal clock was located in the 200 block of North Railroad Street. During and after World War I, a shirt factory also operated on this property.

In 1914, the borough erected a town hall, lock—up and ﬁrehouse on the entire plot owned by the Borough on Rowe Street. Part of the cost of the building was born by popular subscription, in the name of the ﬁre company. Eventually, the whole property would be deeded over to the Citizens Fire Company.

June 23, 1914
The old Citizens Fire Company building is being rapidly razed. A force of about 25 men were put to work this morning razing the old red brick building, and they are making quick work of it. At noon today, the roof of the fire house, the lock-up, and the Lowen Building were removed, and the
workmen engaged in taking down the brick and stone walls.

Contractor Alvin Graﬁ expects to complete the work of the razing of the building by the end of the week and will commence immediately in putting in the waterproof cellar walls. At this is slow work, Mr. Graff expects to have all material on hand for the building proper by time this is completed.
He will then push it forward with all possible speed.
He is under contract to finish it by the first of the year (1915) but expects to have it ready for occupancy by Thanksgiving Day.

In 1916, the town purchased a Boyd Fire Truck, which was housed in the new building. All subsequent ﬁre apparatus purchases were made by the company themselves.

In 1923, the ﬁre company found it necessary to upgrade its equipment. The company purchased a 750 gallon combination pumper from the Seagrave Company for $23,000. This was a considerable amount of money at that time (That is the equivalent of $311,000 in 2013). This Seagrave was resurrected from a park in Florida, in April of 2013 by the Tamaqua Historical Society. It is currently being restored at the Schuylkill County Technology Center. Once completed, it will be returned to the borough and stored in our pole building.

In 1937, it was again decided to modernize our ﬂeet. Our 1916 Boyd was sold during this time and a 1937 Seagrave Quad truck was purchased. The Seagrave Quad was a combination of 750 gallon pumper and a ladder truck. This truck is still in existence today, privately owned and meticulously restored in pristine condition.

In 1959, with our Seagrave pumper being 36 years old, we purchased a 750 gallon Mack combination pumper and sold the 1923 Seagrave.

One of the biggest challenges with the 1937 Seagrave Quad, was its long wheelbase and overall length. This made it difﬁcult to maneuver through the streets of the town. In 1978, the company moved to purchase an American LaFrance 1000 GPM pumper.

In 1997, the company again updated its ﬂeet with the purchase of a 1973 (refurbished In 1985) Mack CF Pumper from the Hawthorne Fire Department in New York. This unit was a 1000 GPM pumper with a 500 gallon water tank.

In 1999, after assessing the needs of the areas we served, It was decided that there was a need for a Dumper that would carry a larger amount of water and have a 2000 GPM pump. In the winter of 1999, we purchased a 2000 KME Excel custom pumper with a 2000 GPM pump and 850 gallon water tank. The unit was delivered in July of 2000 and would go on to serve the borough for 13 years.

In 2003, With the need to carry additional equipment to complement our engine, a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban was purchased. This unit served as our Squad until 2008, when It was sold to the BJW Fire Co in Clearfield County, PA.

In March of 2008, with an increased need for a unit to carry additional equipment and additional personnel, it was decided to order a new Squad. The company placed an order with Krammes Kustom Bodies of St. Clair, PA. The unit will be built on 3 GMC 5500 Chassis and will have a 14’ walk—in style body. On March 30, 2009 we took delivery of our 2009 GMC 5500 Custom 14’ Walk-In Squad. This unit has seating for eight ﬁreﬁghters and a command area in the rear area of the body. This unit is equipped with a 15KW PTO direct drive generator; various tools and equipment to support our engine; gas monitors and air monitors; low band, VHF and UHF radio systems, GPS unit, command board, and a Toughbook Laptop.

In late 2012, the membership began talks of replacing our 2000 KME pumper. While it still served proudly and was in great condition, it was beginning to lose residual value as it increased its age. With the increasing costs of new apparatus and beginning to see the residual value of the current engine drop, it was decided it was the best time to design an Engine that is perfect for this Borough.

In the Spring of 2013, we signed a contract with KME to build a 2014 KME Panther Custom Pumper. This unit was delivered on October 2, 2013. It has a 2000 GPM Hale QMax Pump, 600 gallon water tank, and a 20 gallon foam tank. This unit is a shorter wheelbase and shorter overall length than our previous engine, making it perfect for maneuvering the tight streets of our borough… all while maintaining superior suppression capabilities.

For 125 years, the Citizens Fire Company of Tamaqua has served the citizens of Tamaqua with pride and dedication. The members of this company continue to carry on the pride and dedication established by our founders and will continue to carry the company into the future.