1892-1896

One hundred years ago, on August 8, 1892, the members of the Honey Brook Borough Council met at the school on the corner of Main and Walnut Streets. The purpose of this meeting was to take into consideration the formation of the Honey Brook Fire Company. The citizens of the town were invited to attend this meeting.

 

At another meeting of the Council on September 10, 1892, John C. Donecker read a letter from the Gleason and Bailey Manufacturing Company. The letter gave a description of the various engines that the company made. On September 30, 1892, a special meeting was called to find out whether the Council would lend the Fire Company a certain sum of money. This request was made in the form of a letter from John C. Donecker. After the letter was read, John Finger made a motion that "the matter be postponed until the next meeting." This motion was not carried. D. H. Buchanan made a second motion that the Council borrows the necessary money to purchase the fire apparatus. This motion carried.

 

On October 10, 1892, at the regular meeting of the Council (Borough School Building, Main and Walnut Streets) Mr. Finger, cashier of the bank, reported that the First National Bank would lend the Borough Council $1,000 at 5% interest. At this meeting Burgess DeHaven and D. H. Buchanan were appointed to purchase the engine. This motion was made by Stephen Long. John DeHaven and D. H. Buchanan went to New York and looked over the engine. When they came home they gave their report to Council, who then signed the contract. At a meeting of the Council, James Buyers and Lewis Guiney were appointed to investigate the renting of the Evans' Blacksmith Shop to house the engine. (The Evans' Blacksmith Shop was located on Broad Street next to the present Methodist Church parking lot.) In the meantime the Council decided it would be a good thing to buy the Evans' shop and lot. Mrs. Evans' price of $1,000, which was considered too high, and the building was rented for $20.00 a year instead.

 

When the engine arrived, Myers, Buyers and Anderson were to put it together. However, the engine was not assembled until August 14, 1894, when Myers, Buyers, Guiney, and Anderson were authorized to assemble it. A motion was made in Council by James Buyers, on August 30, 1893, that the engine, hose cart, hose and ladders, be turned over to the Fire Company if they would incorporate. The Borough Council was to make a yearly contribution to the Fire Company, a practice that continues today.

 

The first meeting of the Honey Brook Fire Company No.1 was held in the Council "chambers" over the Adam Troub Saddle Shop. (This was located on the present site of Beam's Sunoco.) At this meeting the following men were elected as officers for the ensuing year: John C. Donecker was unanimously elected President; William J. Eppihimer, Vice President; Frank B. Davis, Foreman; Harry Seaboldt, 1st Assistant; William Nelms, 2nd Assistant; A. M. Anderson, Secretary; John W. Morton, Treasurer; Frank M. Wagoner, James K. Lewis and Harlan M. Ludwick were appointed Trustees. The President appointed Myers, Buyers, Eppihimer and Spackman to see lawyer Guss and have the Company properly incorporated. It was also decided to procure a room in which to hold meetings.

 

On October 6, 1893, "A regular meeting of the Honey Brook Fire Company was held in the room over Troub's Saddle Shop." The Trustees reported having rented the same room at $2.00 per month. Harry West was proposed for membership at this meeting. Harry was the first new member taken into the Company.

 

Before the engine was purchased, fires were fought by passing buckets of water from one man to another. The water came from pumps nearest the fire. Everyone had a well and pump in 1892. The fireman carried the ladders on their shoulders. The new engine was quite an improvement over the old way of firefighting, but it also presented its own problems.  The engine was heavy and a horse was not always available to pull it; it was so hard to pump that only a group of very strong men could perform this task for a few minutes at a time; and there were no places in town with sufficient water to operate the engine. It could only be used outside of town, near a creek. At the Bidden fire, the hose was thrown into the millrace, and when the pumping began the house was sprayed with mud. Mr. Bidden did not lose anything in the fire but he had a big job cleaning the house.

 

On May 14, 1894, J. K. Lewis made a motion that the Fire Company holds a festival to raise money for the Company. A special meeting was held and letters were written to various bands. The Coatesville Band's charge was $30.00, Churchtown's Band would play for $18.00 and Reamstown Band asked $25.00. A letter was received from the "Bright Star" Band from Birdsboro saying they would play for $10.00. The Birdsboro Band was immediately engaged but the figures show "not for $10.00." The following is a report of the returns of the festival held

in Long's Orchard on June 16, 1894 (Long's Orchard was located on North Chestnut Street, now the home of C. Miles and R. Briggs): lifting machine, $0.60; shooting gallery, $5.97;image balls, $9.69; gate $53.80; table, $98.51; Charles Lawrence, cash collected, $14.25; Stephen Long's discount, $3.00; Jessie Dauman discount, $2.00; A. B. Patterson discount, $2.00; (a discount was a return to the Festival Committee on the gross bill); L. R. Guiney, cigars, $0.20; J. C. Donecker, peanuts, $1.60; J. C. Donecker, cash, $0.75; A. M. Anderson, box of cigars, $1.00; for a total of $193.37. The expenses of the festival were as follows: 20 quarts of strawberries, $1.50; Star Band of Birdsboro, $27.48; Mrs. McIntire, washing dishes, $1.00; George Griffith, 140 quarts of ice cream, $28.00; Stephen Long, rent for orchard, $8.00; Jesse Dauman, printing, $6.50; A. B. Patterson, boarding band, $23.00; Honey Brook Hardware, $1.75; W. D. Winger, $0.34; L. R. Guiney, $4.28; W. H. White, $6.82; L. H. Whittaker, $10.80; J. C. Donecker, freight, $1.02; Ralph Hampton, waiter, $1.00; George Miller, waiter, $1.00; Abe Clymer, $1.00; for a total cost of $123.49.

 

At the first festivals it was customary to erect a platform for the band. The platform was several feet from the ground and on opposite corners the poles were about six feet higher than the platform. Gasoline lights were fastened to these higher poles. When the lights were lit, burning gasoline dropped constantly from them. Anyone standing beneath then risked having their hats and clothes catch on fire.

 

On October 5, 1894, a motion was made by C.E. Griffith to purchase a 26 inch bell to be used to call the men to fires. The bell was bought for $37.75 and erected on a tower north of the Evan’s Blacksmith Shop where the engine was housed. A long rope hung from the bell to the ground. At this same meeting a letter of condolence was ordered printed in the “Graphic” (the town paper) to John DeHaven for the loss of his building fire.

 

The building referred to was the Greenspack Tobacco Packing Warehouse. It was a large three-story brick building which stood where the old Scott-Powell Creamery plant stood, behind the railroad station (located across from the present bingo stand).

 

Another fire about this time was the cabinet shop of Frank Wagoner (present Mac’s Tavern). Across the street was the house in which Harmon Albright had his shoemaker shop. There was almost always water in the cellar of the Albright house and from there the buckets of water were passed to fight the fire (now Beam’s Sunoco). C.E. Griffith was busy carrying water and was about to step on one end of a board (there were board walks in those days) when someone stepped on the other end. The result was a sudden bath for Charlie. The fire was next to the Graham sisters' house (Anstrand's) and the weather boarding was burned. There were many people at this fire and quite a large bucket brigade helped save the building. The fire started in the stairway where oily rags used to polish coffins and furniture had been thrown. Mr. Clint Buchanan was heard to make the remark that the fire was caused by friction - high-priced insurance and low-priced furniture.

 

On September 10, 1894, the Fire Company was present at the Council meeting to urge the Borough to provide an adequate water supply for the town. The DeHaven fire, in which the building was a total loss, and the fact that the small hand operated pump was not sufficient to fight a fire, made a convincing argument for the urgent need of a good water supply. On a motion made by James Buyers, a committee made up of Myers, Buyers and W. W. McConnell was named to confer with the Fire Company. The Council had appointed a committee to look into the water proposition in 1893 and the first report was made on October 9, 1893. It was not until a year later on October 8, 1894, that progress was made.

 

The following year, on July 22, 1895, James MConnell was to see Mrs. Zepheniah Miller and "make the best possible arrangements for securing her property." The entire property was purchased on August 13, 1895, by James Buyers for $1,000. (This property is now owned by L. Frame, Jr..) The reservoir was completed and accepted by the Borough on September 10, 1896. At a meeting held on November 2, 1894, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company donated a large latern to the Fire Company. Frank Wagoner, Charles Lawrence and James R. Manship were appointed to solicit funds for the newly purchased bell. From 1894 to 1902 there were no written minutes kept by the Fire Company. Also during this time there was no recorded activity of any kind. However, during these years there were several noteworthy fires, one being the Buyers and Lewis Mill (now the vacant lot owned by L. Frame on South Broad Street). It was the custom of the times to fire the boiler with corn cobs. The stack from this boiler went through the building and out of a small tower on the roof. This tower became full of dust and in time caught fire. That night, seeing the fire, David Cauller blew the whistle, forgetting in the meantime to keep the fire in the engine (train) going. It was decided to run the train to a safer place and it was started down the track. The steam gave out however just as the train was opposite the burning mill. There was quite a period of time until the train was moved. After the fire was out and it was dark, Levi Ammon was groping his way wearily through the smoke and ruins when he passed the now leveled shingle shed. He did not notice the pit of the leveled outhouse. Levi spent the next hour soaking in the George Griffith ice pond below the mill (near Swope's).

 

The next fire at the mill was after James K. Lewis was the sole owner. This fire was discovered by Wayne McConnell and Frank Wagoner. They gave the alarm and then broke into the mill through a window. The fire was confined to the boiler room and did not break through to the outside. The third fire at the mill was not a large fire. (More on the mill and fire later.) Great concern was caused when a frozen fire plug could not be opened.

 

In 1902 James K. Lewis made the first entries in the record book since 1894. He was then Secretary.

 

The McDowell barn at the east end of town (Robinson property) was another big fire. The barn was struck by lightning and completely destroyed. Rats in great numbers were seen running across the pike from the burning barn.

 

On August 8, 1902, at a meeting of the Honey Brook Fire Company, William Nelms was authorized to clean the engine after the McDowell fire and he received $2.10 for his work. (At the present time the members clean everything before leaving the station after a fire and for no pay.) At this same meeting it was decided to buy ropes to be used to stop traffic (horses and wagons) along the road at the scene of a fire.

 

At a Council meeting on March 3, 1902, a committee reported that the Evans' building where the fire apparatus was then stored was satisfactory and a change was not advisable. Dr. C. Glan Treichler made a motion that "a vote of thanks be tendered to our Fire Department for prompt and efficient service at the Huie McDowell fire." About this time it was evident that the town needed a better means of fighting fires than with the old hand pump.

 

At the December 7, 1906 meeting R. L. Hampton and William Nelms were authorized to find a buyer for the fire engine. They weren't successful, for at the meeting held on August 1, 1907, a motion was made again to sell the engine for $175. At the next meeting the price was reduced to $150, but even at that price there were no buyers. (The engine was finally sold for scrap by William Nelms, after the Fire Hall burned in 1924.)

 

A new building for the Fire Company was first discussed at the meeting of May 7,1909. J. K. Lewis and Elmer Long were appointed to see about getting a location for the building. At a meeting, three months later William Nelms was also put on the committee.

 

1909-1913

 

On a Saturday afternoon (about 3 o'clock) August 1909, the Creamery (Scott-Powell) located behind the railroad station (on the site of the John DeHaven Tobacco Warehouse) burned. (Note: The Creamery was torn down a few years ago by L. Frame and was located across from the Carnival Grounds. The train station was located across from the older part of the Fire Hall and has been moved across Route 10 to be used as the Borough Building.) It was one of the hottest fires that anyone remembers. The building was frame and very close to the station. The fire started in the boiler room where the stack went through the roof. Since the fire was on Saturday and many people were in town, there was plenty of help, which was needed because a west wind was blowing carrying burning material across Railroad Avenue and Main Street. (Wright's Department Store; Main Street Station Drugstore; Dr. Treichler's barn; Honey Brook Family Dentistry; General Wayne Hotel, the barn and stables were all on fire at various times.)

 

There was a shipment of high-test gasoline in the station warehouse and great excitement was caused when the barrels were rolled from the station to Pequea Avenue. This gasoline was ordered by the Council from the oil wagon driver, John Wert, but it was shipped to Honey Brook by freight. The gasoline was used in the gasoline street lights in the town. The Creamery was a total loss, but the station was saved. When it was decided that the Creamery could not be saved, the hose was turned only on the station.

 

At the September 3, 1909 meeting, the Treasurer reported having received "a donation of $25.00 from the Railraod Company for services rendered when the Creamery burned," and at this same meeting William Nelms was ordered "to get the bell in shape and have it put up at the end of Mrs. Isaac Graham's barn." Council had rented the Graham barn to be used as an engine house. Mr. Nelms reported that he had moved everything that belonged to the Fire Company from Dr. Munholland's barn.

 

At the meeting of February 10, 1911, the Committee submitted five locations which could be purchased for the new building:

1. The lot of David Martin 68 x 185 for $600

2. The lot of Wesley White 65 x 105 for $500

3. The lot of D. H. Buchanan 60 x 135 for $325

4. The lot of Thomas Hampton 55 x 135 for $75

5. The lot of Charlie Lawrence 60 x 150 for $200

The David Martin lot (present site of the Fire Hall) was bought and a committee was named to solicit funds for the new building.

 

About this time the advance agents of the Welsh Brother Circus met with the Fire Company. A show was arranged for the coming summer. The show was to help raise money for erecting the Fire company building. Nelms, Hampton, and Troub made up the committee to see that everything proceeded as scheduled. From a clipping in an old “Graphic” it states the Fire Company realized $105 from the circus performance.

 

The following is from a "Graphic" clipping of July 4,1911, at Honey Brook:

 

"While Honey Brook will not have a real old fashioned Independence Day celebration on July 4th, there will be enough doing to entertain the town and its visitors. The Honey Brook Fire Company has arranged to hold the corner stone laying of its' new building in the afternoon. This program will begin at 2 o'clock.

 

"John DeHaven of Churchtown, one of the incorporators of the Honey Brook Fire Company, will give a history of the organization. An address will be made by Walter S. Talbot, Esq. of West Chester, a native of Honey Brook Township, who has become a prominent as a legal light in this county.

 

"The corner stone will be laid by John McElhaney, the oldest member of the Fire Company. Special honors are due Mr. McElhaney for several reasons. He is a veteran of the Civil War and, besides his'.pension, has no income save what he earns by his daily labors, yet when he paid his subscription toward the building fund of the Fire Company, he doubled it, thus giving as much as, and even more than many of our professed leading citizens, who are apparently wealthy enough to live without any work. A man with so kind a heart and being so deeply interested in the welfare of the community deserves far more honor than we can bestow.

 

"In the evening the annual festival of the Fire Company will be held in Long's Orchard. This event will be similar to the festival held last year. There will be free moving pictures thrown on a screen in full view of all the grounds. This is usually the event of the year."

 

Moving pictures were becoming popular everywhere about this time. Honey Brookers had to go away from home to attend a show.

 

At the July 11, 1913 Fire Company meeting R. L. Hampton was given the concession to rent the Fire Hall for $5.00 per night for the purpose of showing moving pictures. He was to furnish his own light and power and his own janitor service. "Hook" Hampton started immediately by installing a two-cylinder gasoline engine in the cellar and building a movie booth.

 

One Saturday evening, before the eight o'clock show starting time, Hook was in the cellar cranking the engine (he had been cranking for sometime). He was softly wishing the engine was somewhere else when Dick Mayer (the barber), slipped down the cellar steps and threw a large fire cracker back of Hook. It went off with a terrific bang. Hook jumped right over the engine. Dick started yelling, "He's dead, he's dead." It took Hook some time to come to. Some minutes later he said, "Like hell I'm dead."

 

In November 1913, a piano was purchased by a committee for $145. The piano added much to the shows. Mrs. Mary Ranck was the piano player at these first shows.

 

1916-1925

 

In March 1916 the Fire Company took over the moving picture venture themselves. A settlement was made with R.L. Hampton and the Company took over the entire moving picture equipment. W.L. Traub was the manager of this new venture. Samuel Patton was the operator and Alfred Stauffer was his assistant.

 

At the May 3, 1918 meeting of the Fire Company, it was decided that an adequate alarm system should be installed to replace the bell on Mrs. Graham's barn. A siren, however, was not installed until after the fire at the Fire Hall in 1924. It was erected on the roof of the D. M. Wright Department Store (now Main Street Station Drug Store) and was installed by John Witmer of Goodville.

 

At the December 1921 meeting a committee was appointed to solicit funds for new apparatus. H. C. Bucher was the Chairman of this committee. At the meeting on April 7, 1922, H. C. Bucher made a motion that a committee be appointed with authority to purchase new fire apparatus if the committee could raise the money.

 

A fair was held in the auditorium and a carnival was planned for the summer. The first car that the Honey Brook Fire Company chanced off was a "Ford" two-door sedan fully equipped demountable rims with a spare rim and an electric starter. The car was purchased from Kennel Brothers. The tickets sold for fifty cents each. On the night of the carnival it rained and the tickets were taken into the bar room at the Hotel, where Edward Morton drew the lucky number. Martin Styer (father of Roy Styer) was the lucky winner.

 

In 1923 two fire engines were shipped to Honey Brook on a flat car. (During the early 1900's freight and passenger trains were quite common in Honey Brook.) One of the engines was driven to the Eden Fire Company and the other stayed in Honey Brook. The engine was a Reo chassis and a "Deluge" rotary pump. It was sold to the Fire Company by Frank Soule, of Coatesville.

 

On the morning of December 8, 1924, fire threatened the entire block on Railroad Avenue, north of the Fire Hall in Honey Brook. The following was copied from the minute’s book of the Fire Company:

 

"The Fire Hall was ignited by flames from the Henry Bucher Company fire and our building was completely gutted. Fire was discovered about 4 o'clock Monday morning, December 8,1924, by Clayton Ressler and Harry Troup, who gave the alarm."

 

This was a big fire. It is recalled that William Nelms, the Fire Chief, one of the first to arrive on the scene, was observed to say to himself. "Oh, oh, I've forgotten my badge." He went back home and got the badge before giving orders at the fire.

 

There weren’t too many fire engines in the nearby towns at this time. Downingtown and the two companies from Coatesville responded to our call for help and were responsible for saving that entire section of Honey Brook. A pumper from Coatesville put a fire out in our engine which had caught fire, or the engine, too, might have been destroyed with the building.

 

During the fire William Troub and Alfred Stauffer were in the auditorium of the Fire Hall at the rear fire escape door next to the Bucher building, trying to spray water from a hose on the Bucher building. By this time Coatesville had their big pumper going at the Buckwalter plug (Main and Broad Streets). This took all the water in the main and their hose wouldn't squirt across the alley. (The Bucher building was located on Railroad Avenue.)

 

When the fire was finally under control, the Fire Hall, the Bucher building, and another building built years before by the Honey Brook Band, and used as a storage house by Bucher, were completely destroyed.

 

Only a little more than a month after the big fire that destroyed the Fire Hall, another threatening fire occurred. The following is an account taken from the minute’s book:

 

"Flames were discovered, by Mrs. Curtin Wilson, breaking out from the stable and barn owned by J. K. Lewis and used for storing hay, straw and other material on the evening of January 31, 1925, at about 7:10 p.m. The alarm was given and our company responded and together with the visiting companies saved the mill buildings and the residence of Mr. Lewis (now the home of Weiskopf). Special credit is given the Churchtown Company who did great work in helping save the mill building. There were seven companies here who responded to our call for help. "

 

It was at this fire that Chief Nelms, who was standing on top of a barrel of molasses directing the hose men, fell into the barrel when the top caved in. It is no longer recalled what Bill said, but it probably could not be printed anyway. Fire fighting was stopped until Bill was hosed off. In the excitement of the fire Mr. Lewis thought the water was not coming fast enough and tried to help. He unscrewed the top off one of the valves on the engine, and it was some minutes before the top could be screwed back in place.

 

William Nelms served as Fire Chief of the Honey Brook Fire Company for 26 years and was honored on May 1, 1925, when he was presented with a gold medallion by James K. Lewis, President of the Fire Company.

 

Monday night, the very night of the fire, a meeting of the Fire Company was called. At this meeting a committee was appointed to collect money to purchase an electric siren. A motion was made at this meeting that William Nelms be made Honorary Chief of our Fire Company.

 

After the fire, the engine was housed in the Warren Piersol barn for a few weeks and then moved to the Bruce Henry barn (now Sanders Saws). The Fire Company met in the garage of Bruce Henry after the fire destroyed the Fire Hall. This was the meeting place until the Hall was rebuilt.

 

The Fire Hall cost $12,000 to rebuild. The insurance adjustment amounted to $9,384.65. Samuel Patton local contractor did all the carpenter work. All other contracts were separate.

 

1926-1929

 

Sometime in 1926 it came to the attention of Isaac Weaver that an old Cadillac "Dead Wagon" could be bought in West Chester for $125. Ike promptly took the matter up at a Fire Company meeting. A committee was appointed to purchase the "Dead Wagon." Ike supervised the rebuilding of the Cadillac into a squad wagon. It is reported that after the Cadillac was bought Ike did no work for three days; he talked to everyone who came around about the new squad wagon the Fire Company was to have.

 

Work was started by John Patton with the help of many members. It was built in the Sanford Ames Blacksmith Shop and at the Fire Hall. The new squad wagon was turned over to the Fire Company on June 4, 1926.

 

About this time a motion was made to have the old bell on the Buckwalter building (R-V Apartments) put in shape so that if the electric power was off at any time an alarm could be given.

 

The fact that each year the Fire Company had to find a suitable place to hold the now yearly carnival, made the members think about buying a piece of ground close to the Fire Hall. By this time the thinking was toward a permanent band stand and booths that could be closed and locked at night. It was always a problem to move the novelties, and if it rained, it was worse. Back of the Fire Hall was just the place, the old drove lots that belonged to the Hotel property, and at this time owned by John H. Ziegler. A committee was appointed to see Mr. Ziegler to ask him for a price on the lots (there were two). He said he would take three thousand dollars for them (October 1, 1926). The matter was then dropped for the time.

 

On June 3, 1927, the Company decided that a Fire Company Band would be a good thing and the instruments of the Parkesburg Band were bought for $114. The 1927 carnival was the best the Company ever had up to that time. The amount taken in was $6,166.63. The expenses were $3,797 and the profits were $2,369.43.

 

From the minutes of the Ladies' Auxiliary of November 3, 1927, is recorded the burning of the mortgage:

 

"Six gentlemen from the Fire Company were present namely, William Mason, Eugene Wright, Mahlon Kent, William Troub, William E. Poole and Horace Plank. After considerable discussion it was decided to celebrate the burning of the $4,000 mortgage on Saturday afternoon, November 19, 1927, in a fitting manner.”

 

"A street parade of a number of organizations and the Fire Company Band was formed at 4 o'clock. This was followed by a supper served by the Ladies' Auxiliary at 7o'clock in the Fireman's Hall. The mortgage was burned by David Buchanan, the oldest member of the Fire Company. The officers, several members of the Fire Company, the speaker, Burgess William C. Mason, Doctor Evans, of Malvern, Rev. T. William Smith and Rev. Charles Van Horn, of Honey Brook, were all on stage. In a neatly prepared speech Mr. Buchanan held the paper over the blaze until it was consumed and fell in the tripod. After which "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" was sung." As recorded by Louella Richwine, Secretary.

 

At a meeting on March 9, 1928, Eugene Wright made a motion that a prize of five dollars be given each meeting night to a member whose name was drawn at the meeting. This was to try to keep up the attendance at the meetings. At this meeting 48 new members were taken into the Fire Company. At the June 9, 1929, meeting the fire at the George Dague farm is recorded. The barn was struck by lightning. It was a total loss. About the same time that evening the printing plant of Edwards and Andes was also struck (very little damage). This is the first report of two buildings being struck about the same time.

 

1930-1939

 

At the meeting on May 9, 1930 it was decided to buy a Ford one ton truck and put the Cadillac squad wagon body on it. The Ford was purchased from the Kennel Brothers Garage. During the 1930's a lot back of Dr. William Clemenson's property was purchased for $400.

 

In 1930 an early and. prominent member of the Fire Company died, Dr. A. C. Morozzi. His death was a great loss to the entire community. The fire siren that was installed on the roof of the D. M. Wright Department Store was moved to the top of the Fire Hall.

 

Christmas 1930 was the start of a community Christmas tree in Honey Brook. The Fire Company selected a large cedar tree from the Barr farm (Narvon) and moved it to a location beside Mrs. Henninger's building (present Kim's Ice Cream).

The tree was beautifully lighted. Basketball was first started in the Fire Hall during the 1930's. This continued until the consolidation of the Twin Valley Schools. The Honey Brook High School plays and graduation exercises were also held in the Fire Hall. I'm sure many people will remember the floor shaking as we played basketball. During the 1940's dances were held every week at the Fire Hall. Fire losses during this period were estimated to be $21,800.

 

At the January 9, 1936 meeting it was decided to purchase a medallion for Chief Horace Plank. He was elected an Honorary Chief.

 

In March of 1931 the entire property back of the Fire Hall (the old drove lots) was purchased from William J. Eppihimer. Mr. Eppihimer had previously bought the lots from Mr. Ziegler when the Fire Company did not have the purchase price. Mr. Eppihimer was a public spirited citizen and he believed that the Fire Company should own the lots. He sold them to the Fire

Company for the price he paid giving them ample time to make the entire payment.

 

On January 8, 1932 Harry West was made a Life Member of the Fire Company. He was one of the Charter Members.

John Climenson was the only other Life Member. The minutes of the next few years were routine. The accounts that were deposited in the Honey Brook Trust Company were transfered to the First National Bank.

 

A new "Reo" fire engine was bought at a cost of $4,340. In October, 1933 the fire at the Albert Humes barn was recorded (located in the area of the now Community Park). Lighting struck the barn. At the time there was no water in the reservoir because it was being rebuilt. Morgantown, Churchtown, White Horse, Elverson and Parkesburg responded to the call for assistance. Water was relayed from the creek on the Fred Reel farm (now the Myers Glenn development). The barn was a total loss but the other buildings were saved.