| On Saturday July 17, 2010, members of the Thorndale Fire Company traveled to Schuylkill County Pennsylvania for a tour of several firehouses in Shenandoah as well as a visit to the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society. The tour was arranged by Firefighter Mick Arnold and was intended to build camaraderie amongst the members, share the history of the fire service in Schuylkill County, and provide for a nice outing.
The day began early as members met at 07:00 for breakfast together at the Happy Day's Diner in Thorndale, from there the crew departed for the two hour trip north to Schuylkill County. The first stop of the trip was at Kowalonek's Kielbasy Shop in Shenandoah, which is a must if you visit the area as they are known far and wide for their kielbasy. The second stop was at the Columbia Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1, which is one of five fire companies that protect Shenandoah Borough. Our friends, Captain Joe Boris and Lieutenant Shari Boris were welcoming as usual and toured the Thorndale Firefighters around the apparatus and station. After some socialization, the crew departed for the next stop, which was not included in the original plan of the trip.
The convoy traveled a few miles west of Shenandoah to a little town called Lost Creek. Lost Creek used to have a fire company that protected this town, but has since fallen out of service many years ago. Their firehouse is still standing (barely) and we have heard rumors that a fire truck still lives in the building, so we decided to stop and see if we might be able to sneak a peek through a window. As we pulled up to the building, you couldn't help but notice that the building was in very poor shape as it is partially collapsing. A local driving by saw us outside the building and asked if we wanted to see inside, of course the answer was yes. Inside the building was 1950's International pumper lettered for the Citizens Fire Company of Lost Creek, which was in very good condition for its age. The inspection sticker in the window was dated for 1996, so we assume that may have been about when the company ceased to respond. After many photos, the group headed over to the neighboring town of Girardeville, hoping to meet up with our friend, Chief Frank Zagaria Jr. of the Rangers Hose Company. Unfortunately, Frank was unable to tour us through his firehouse and no other members were available.
The next stop was one of the main events, a tour of the Schuylkill Fire Society building in Shenandoah. President Mike Kitsock welcomed everyone to Schuylkill County as we entered the door. Mike gave us a short history of the Fire Society and its mission, then began to show us around the building. The first item was a working Gamewell system, which is what was used for notification of fires in the early days. Angela, daughter of Thorndale President John Cordisco, took the honors of pulling the fire alarm to activate the alarm. A large brass bell began to ring and the printer began rolling punching out the box number. The Thorndale Firefighters counted the rings and read the tape as the system rung out Box Number 35, which was determined to be at Main Street and Coal Street in Shenandoah Borough by looking at the sign that display the box numbers and locations. In the old days, the firefighters would have boarded the fire apparatus and headed that intersection looking for signs of fire from a nearby house.
Other highlights of the museum includes a beautiful 1929 Ahrens Fox fire engine, a 1809 Pat Lyons hand pumper (only one in the world), a 1909 American LaFrance two horse steamer, a meeting room complete with old wooden chairs, equipment storage room, and social room in Basement. Fire Society members and Thorndale Firefighters traded stories and enjoyed lunch together ordered from a neighborhood pizzeria in Shenandoah.
After the members saw everything the museum had to look at, they decided to depart on their walking tour of the Shenandoah Fire Department. They walked two blocks up the street to the Phoenix Fire Company No. 2. The Phoenix operates a two piece engine company from a historic one engine bay station. Inside members found a beautiful engine room complete with hardwood floors and a very neat meeting room on the second floor. This firehouse was recently modified to support the weight of their new 2009 KME fire engine. The wood engine room floor had to be reinforced with steel beams and columns to support the weight of the new engine.
Another two block walk found the Thorndale Firefighters at the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, also known as the "Hookies", which is the only ladder truck company in Shenandoah. As at the Phoenix, we again found the trucks parked on a beautiful hardwood floor and ornate tin ceilings. The Hookies houses a recently purchased tiller ladder and a 2007 American LaFrance tele-squirt. The second floor of the Hookies again was a meeting room with large wooden chairs and benches that lined the perimeter of the room and in the basement was a welcoming social room where Thorndale Firefighter got to speak with several of the Hookies before heading back to the Fire Society.
After the four block walk back, the Thorndale Firefighters thanked the Society members for sharing their collection with us and the convoy left for the second facility of the Fire Society, which is a warehouse located in Frackville that houses the rest of the Society's apparatus. President Mike Kitsock escorted us to Frackville and opened the door to the warehouse that houses nearly 60 pieces of antique fire apparatus. The Thorndale Firefighters walked through the rows of apparatus taking it all in. Some local Chester County apparatus has found its way to the society including a Seagrave pumper from the First West Chester Fire Company, an American LaFrance pumper from the Goodwill Fire Company in West Chester, and an unique Mack L with a snorkel originally from the Paoli Fire Company, then sold to the Kimberton Fire Company.
As the day wound down, the Thorndale Firefighters thanked President Mike Kitsock for his hospitality and began the two hour ride home. The ride back was filled with lively conversation about the Fire Society and the many firehouses we visited on the trip. The crew arrived back in Thorndale at 19:00 after a long, but fun day.
Thank you to the Schuylkill County Fire Society, the Columbia Hose and Fire Engine Company No.1, the Phoenix Fire Company No. 2, and the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 of Shenandoah for their hospitality. Also thank you to Firefighter Mick Arnold, Engineer Rich Rissel, and President John Cordisco for organizing the event.
Please enjoy photos from our trip below taken by Fire Police Lieutenant Ron Miller, Firefighter Jim Kusnierczyk, and Captain Dan Donnachie. |
