About 1926-1976
Taken from the 1976 50th Anniversary Banquet Booklet from Saturday March 6, 1976:
It was in February of 1926 when the summer house on the then Frank Kern farm, later known as the Francis Kern farm, burned to the ground and were it not for the efforts of the Slatington Fire Co. the farm house would also have burned to the ground. It was then that the residents of this little village of Friedens became aware of the necessity of a fire fighting company. On March 5th in 1926 a group of residents gathered together in the local school house (what is now the Mrs. Joan Wertman home) and organized themselves into a group known as the Friedens Fire Company. The aim of the organization was to give fire defense protection to the community. There were 19 men present at that meeting and of those 19 charter members the following are still living: Walter T. Handwerk and Willian H. Kern. Other charter members are as follows:
Herbert W.E. Peters, Wm. P. Krause, Irwin Krause, Wallace Peters, Granville Geiger, Frank Peters, William Hunsicker, Francis G. Bear, John Krause, Osville C. Peters, Elmer K. Berndt, Alfred Hunsicker, James Zellner, Lewis Hantz, James R. Fenstermacher, Jere. Schneck, Stephen J. Mertz
France G. Bear was chose as the first president. Those present at that meeting subscribed $76.00 towards expenses and purchase of a hand force pump. The Goulds double-acting force equipment cost $78.56 which was purchased and mounted on a platform for four men to operate. Two hundred feet of hose was also purchased so that the water could be pumped from the water supply to the fire where needed. This outfit was hauled to fires by available trucks and in some instances it was pulled by members while loaded on a hand wagon owned by Walter Handwerk. This pump was never sold and is now in display at the present fire hall.
At the second meeting, held on July 3rd 1926, it was decided to purchase a fire alarm. An old locomotive bell was purchased and placed on a heavy wooden pole on the school grounds. This bell was later placed on a heavy Memorial Monument in honor of the fire company members who served in that war. This was a stone monument and Granville Geiger laid up the stone. This piece of work still stands on the former school grounds, however, the bell was taken off. Also at this meeting the residents of Newhards were invited to membership.
The first fire call was in 1927 to the A.A. Kern farm and second to the Herbert W.E. Peters farm in 1928. The fourth call was in 1929 to the Eddie Peters home where splendid work was done and the house with without a doubt saved by the crude fire fighting equipment. The outfit was hauled to fires by available local trucks and in one or two instances it was pulled by members while loaded on a hand wagon.
In 1927, a Ford Model T with solid tires was purchased for $60.00 and the Goulds pump and other equipment was placed thereon. It was stored in the shed of Stephen Mertz. This year the first Fire Chief was elected and he was James F. Zellner. In order to raise funds to keep this organization alive, the first Sauerkraut Supper was held at what is now Shady Nook and this outing showed a profit of $97.71. Frank Smith was the first chairman of the Standing Committee. At the end of 1927, the financial statement showed a balance in the treasury of $37.45. Records show that the first equipment purchased for the first truck was 2 hooks, 6 buckets, 1 crow bar, 2 pair rubber gloves, 50 fee of 5/8" manila rope. During those early years of the life of this fire company, meetings were held only twice a year, in January and then again in July. At the July meeting in 1927, the residents of the School Hill were invited to join the fire company.
In 1934, a Hale Fire Pump was purchased and installed on the truck with 600 feet of hose. This outlay of cost of $831.81. In 1935 a cab and windshield was purchased for the Reo truck as the truck when purchased was not so equipped..
On May 29th, 1936 the Friedens Fire Co. became an incorporation of Penna., and in 1938 the Washington Township Firemen's Relief Association was started. In 1940 the place for holding the annual Sauerkraut Supper was changed to the Menno Scheetz Hotel and thereafter the place was rotated year by year from Scheetz Hotel to Lentz's Hotel.
In 1944 discussions and rumblings are noted in the minutes that the organization is desirous of purchasing land or property on which they can hold suppers, picnics and other functions so as to raise money to keep this organization alive. Committees were appointed to look into some properties and then report back to the group. The this time it seemed as if the infant was now growing up for growing pains were experienced. Up to this time the meetings had been held only twice a year. Now in 1945 it was decided to hold meetings four times a year as it seems as if more and more business had to be discussed. It was also decided that in order to avoid rain drops from diluting the claim chowder, a large tent would be rented under which to serve the supper. This was erected on the property of William Kern and the Clam Chowder Supper for the first time was served under roof. In 1945 the meeting place of the organization was moved to Lentz's garage because the school house was sold for a private dwelling home.
At the meeting of July 2nd, 1945, President Francis G. Bear resigned due to his moving out of the community. Walter Hunsicker was chose his successor and who served until the end of 1947 after which Victor Deibert became president.
At the meeting of January 7, 1946 the Standing Committee was authorized to purchase the Miller property on which our Fire Hall now stands at $1.50 per front foot. The deal was finally consumated sometime in 1947. This was the year in which the organization decided to build a hall and a building committee was appointed. A well was drilled and a pump installed and building plans were drawn up and approved. Now came the time for the annual Clam Chowder Supper and since there was no building in which to serve it, a tent was again rented and the supper was served on the fire company grounds under this large tent.
In November of 1947 after the untiring urging of Charles Deichman, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Company was organized and its first president was Mrs. Dewey Lentz. The amount of work and the amount of money raised by this group of women can never be realized. They paid for the furnishings of the kitchen, the emergency power plant and thousands of dollars in money were turned over to help pay the debt on the hall. Thru all of these years the Ladies Auxiliary has stood 100% behind the Fire Co. and we want to tell them that we appreciate their efforts and express our sincere thanks to them.
In 1948 the By-Laws for the Fire Co. were written and adopted at a meeting on March 1st of that year. During that summer the refreshment stand was erected. Finally in 1949 the Social Hall became a reality and the first Clam Chowder Supper was held indoors. The floor of the hall was not cemented, however, the supper was served with tables and chairs on the ground floor. A few days after our first Thanksgiving Dinner of the same year, a server storm took off the roof of the hall causing extensive damage to the floor upstairs. The building not being covered by insurance for extensive damage, it cost the Fire Co. between $2000 and $2500 to get the building back in shape. Cost of the hall, grounds, refreshment stand, etc. was $31,738.31.
On Sunday, September 11, 1949 at 3 P.M., the cornerstone for the hall was laid with a full program.
Our first Schnitz and Knepp Supper was served on January 27th, 1951, serving 90 persons.
Up to 1953 the fire truck had been stored in the Dewey Lentz Garage. Mr. Lentz now needed the extra space and asked that the Fire Co. find suitable place to store same. In 1955 the outside garage on the Fire Co. ground was completed and the fire truck moved on to Fire Company property. On August 3rd, 1953 a motion was made to purchase a Diamond T. Truck and have the fire fighting equipment mounted thereon.
In February of 1958, two way radios were installed on our fire trucks.
From 1948 to 1960 the Fire Company members and the members of the Auxiliary worked hard to raise money to cover the debts that were incurred from the building program. In January of 1960 the final debt was paid and the Fire Company was free of debts.
In 1961 a used unit the Brockway Fire Truck was purchased. At this point, now we had a Diamond T. Truck and the Brockway Fire Truck. In 1962 a water tank was purchased and installed on the Diamond T. chassis so that now we owned a Brockway Fire Truck and a tank truck.
In 1962 an addition was built to the Fire Hall to house the fire trucks.
On August 7 1967 it was voted upon unanimously to purchase a brand new fire truck at the cost of $24,000.
In 1968 the tank truck was sold. By June 3, 1968 the sum of $7000 was paid off on the note for the loan with had to be made to purchase the new truck and this was partly due to the generous donation of the Ladies Auxiliary in the amount of $2000.
In 1969 the entire loan of the new truck was paid off.
In October 1970, it was voted unanimously to purchase a new tank truck at a cost of $27,000. By February 1974 this debt was paid off.
In 1972, the Junior Firemen were organized under the direction of the Chief and his Assistants.
New improvements to the building and property since 1972 were new storm windows and aluminum installed on the hall, painting of upstairs and downstairs, parking lot and driveway chipped and tarred, and a new built up roof on the Fire Hall.
In June 1975, the new home alarm system for firemen went into effect. This system was tied in with the County Communication Center located at the Court House in Allentown.
At the end of 50 years the Company has 2 trucks; one Ford truck with a John Bean high pressure fog pump and a two stage 750 gallon pump with a 1000 gallon tank; and one Ford truck with a 1500 gallon tank and John Bean high pressure fog pump.
The Company was very fortunate in having only seven presidents in the 50 years of existence. We owe a great deal of gratitude to these men and their faithful fellow officers.
The Ladies Auxiliary has done far more than what was originally expected and are due sincere gratitude for all they have done. May the good work continue by the two organizations and their members work in harmony, understanding and teamwork.
The Company started with assets amounting to $76.00, by 1951 showed assets of $40,000 and by December 1975 $145,000. Paid up members on the roll total 370 and 9 Junior members.
As of this date tonight, we are proud to say that this Company is again debt free.
It was in February of 1926 when the summer house on the then Frank Kern farm, later known as the Francis Kern farm, burned to the ground and were it not for the efforts of the Slatington Fire Co. the farm house would also have burned to the ground. It was then that the residents of this little village of Friedens became aware of the necessity of a fire fighting company. On March 5th in 1926 a group of residents gathered together in the local school house (what is now the Mrs. Joan Wertman home) and organized themselves into a group known as the Friedens Fire Company. The aim of the organization was to give fire defense protection to the community. There were 19 men present at that meeting and of those 19 charter members the following are still living: Walter T. Handwerk and Willian H. Kern. Other charter members are as follows:
Herbert W.E. Peters, Wm. P. Krause, Irwin Krause, Wallace Peters, Granville Geiger, Frank Peters, William Hunsicker, Francis G. Bear, John Krause, Osville C. Peters, Elmer K. Berndt, Alfred Hunsicker, James Zellner, Lewis Hantz, James R. Fenstermacher, Jere. Schneck, Stephen J. Mertz
France G. Bear was chose as the first president. Those present at that meeting subscribed $76.00 towards expenses and purchase of a hand force pump. The Goulds double-acting force equipment cost $78.56 which was purchased and mounted on a platform for four men to operate. Two hundred feet of hose was also purchased so that the water could be pumped from the water supply to the fire where needed. This outfit was hauled to fires by available trucks and in some instances it was pulled by members while loaded on a hand wagon owned by Walter Handwerk. This pump was never sold and is now in display at the present fire hall.
At the second meeting, held on July 3rd 1926, it was decided to purchase a fire alarm. An old locomotive bell was purchased and placed on a heavy wooden pole on the school grounds. This bell was later placed on a heavy Memorial Monument in honor of the fire company members who served in that war. This was a stone monument and Granville Geiger laid up the stone. This piece of work still stands on the former school grounds, however, the bell was taken off. Also at this meeting the residents of Newhards were invited to membership.
The first fire call was in 1927 to the A.A. Kern farm and second to the Herbert W.E. Peters farm in 1928. The fourth call was in 1929 to the Eddie Peters home where splendid work was done and the house with without a doubt saved by the crude fire fighting equipment. The outfit was hauled to fires by available local trucks and in one or two instances it was pulled by members while loaded on a hand wagon.
In 1927, a Ford Model T with solid tires was purchased for $60.00 and the Goulds pump and other equipment was placed thereon. It was stored in the shed of Stephen Mertz. This year the first Fire Chief was elected and he was James F. Zellner. In order to raise funds to keep this organization alive, the first Sauerkraut Supper was held at what is now Shady Nook and this outing showed a profit of $97.71. Frank Smith was the first chairman of the Standing Committee. At the end of 1927, the financial statement showed a balance in the treasury of $37.45. Records show that the first equipment purchased for the first truck was 2 hooks, 6 buckets, 1 crow bar, 2 pair rubber gloves, 50 fee of 5/8" manila rope. During those early years of the life of this fire company, meetings were held only twice a year, in January and then again in July. At the July meeting in 1927, the residents of the School Hill were invited to join the fire company.
In 1934, a Hale Fire Pump was purchased and installed on the truck with 600 feet of hose. This outlay of cost of $831.81. In 1935 a cab and windshield was purchased for the Reo truck as the truck when purchased was not so equipped..
On May 29th, 1936 the Friedens Fire Co. became an incorporation of Penna., and in 1938 the Washington Township Firemen's Relief Association was started. In 1940 the place for holding the annual Sauerkraut Supper was changed to the Menno Scheetz Hotel and thereafter the place was rotated year by year from Scheetz Hotel to Lentz's Hotel.
In 1944 discussions and rumblings are noted in the minutes that the organization is desirous of purchasing land or property on which they can hold suppers, picnics and other functions so as to raise money to keep this organization alive. Committees were appointed to look into some properties and then report back to the group. The this time it seemed as if the infant was now growing up for growing pains were experienced. Up to this time the meetings had been held only twice a year. Now in 1945 it was decided to hold meetings four times a year as it seems as if more and more business had to be discussed. It was also decided that in order to avoid rain drops from diluting the claim chowder, a large tent would be rented under which to serve the supper. This was erected on the property of William Kern and the Clam Chowder Supper for the first time was served under roof. In 1945 the meeting place of the organization was moved to Lentz's garage because the school house was sold for a private dwelling home.
At the meeting of July 2nd, 1945, President Francis G. Bear resigned due to his moving out of the community. Walter Hunsicker was chose his successor and who served until the end of 1947 after which Victor Deibert became president.
At the meeting of January 7, 1946 the Standing Committee was authorized to purchase the Miller property on which our Fire Hall now stands at $1.50 per front foot. The deal was finally consumated sometime in 1947. This was the year in which the organization decided to build a hall and a building committee was appointed. A well was drilled and a pump installed and building plans were drawn up and approved. Now came the time for the annual Clam Chowder Supper and since there was no building in which to serve it, a tent was again rented and the supper was served on the fire company grounds under this large tent.
In November of 1947 after the untiring urging of Charles Deichman, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fire Company was organized and its first president was Mrs. Dewey Lentz. The amount of work and the amount of money raised by this group of women can never be realized. They paid for the furnishings of the kitchen, the emergency power plant and thousands of dollars in money were turned over to help pay the debt on the hall. Thru all of these years the Ladies Auxiliary has stood 100% behind the Fire Co. and we want to tell them that we appreciate their efforts and express our sincere thanks to them.
In 1948 the By-Laws for the Fire Co. were written and adopted at a meeting on March 1st of that year. During that summer the refreshment stand was erected. Finally in 1949 the Social Hall became a reality and the first Clam Chowder Supper was held indoors. The floor of the hall was not cemented, however, the supper was served with tables and chairs on the ground floor. A few days after our first Thanksgiving Dinner of the same year, a server storm took off the roof of the hall causing extensive damage to the floor upstairs. The building not being covered by insurance for extensive damage, it cost the Fire Co. between $2000 and $2500 to get the building back in shape. Cost of the hall, grounds, refreshment stand, etc. was $31,738.31.
On Sunday, September 11, 1949 at 3 P.M., the cornerstone for the hall was laid with a full program.
Our first Schnitz and Knepp Supper was served on January 27th, 1951, serving 90 persons.
Up to 1953 the fire truck had been stored in the Dewey Lentz Garage. Mr. Lentz now needed the extra space and asked that the Fire Co. find suitable place to store same. In 1955 the outside garage on the Fire Co. ground was completed and the fire truck moved on to Fire Company property. On August 3rd, 1953 a motion was made to purchase a Diamond T. Truck and have the fire fighting equipment mounted thereon.
In February of 1958, two way radios were installed on our fire trucks.
From 1948 to 1960 the Fire Company members and the members of the Auxiliary worked hard to raise money to cover the debts that were incurred from the building program. In January of 1960 the final debt was paid and the Fire Company was free of debts.
In 1961 a used unit the Brockway Fire Truck was purchased. At this point, now we had a Diamond T. Truck and the Brockway Fire Truck. In 1962 a water tank was purchased and installed on the Diamond T. chassis so that now we owned a Brockway Fire Truck and a tank truck.
In 1962 an addition was built to the Fire Hall to house the fire trucks.
On August 7 1967 it was voted upon unanimously to purchase a brand new fire truck at the cost of $24,000.
In 1968 the tank truck was sold. By June 3, 1968 the sum of $7000 was paid off on the note for the loan with had to be made to purchase the new truck and this was partly due to the generous donation of the Ladies Auxiliary in the amount of $2000.
In 1969 the entire loan of the new truck was paid off.
In October 1970, it was voted unanimously to purchase a new tank truck at a cost of $27,000. By February 1974 this debt was paid off.
In 1972, the Junior Firemen were organized under the direction of the Chief and his Assistants.
New improvements to the building and property since 1972 were new storm windows and aluminum installed on the hall, painting of upstairs and downstairs, parking lot and driveway chipped and tarred, and a new built up roof on the Fire Hall.
In June 1975, the new home alarm system for firemen went into effect. This system was tied in with the County Communication Center located at the Court House in Allentown.
At the end of 50 years the Company has 2 trucks; one Ford truck with a John Bean high pressure fog pump and a two stage 750 gallon pump with a 1000 gallon tank; and one Ford truck with a 1500 gallon tank and John Bean high pressure fog pump.
The Company was very fortunate in having only seven presidents in the 50 years of existence. We owe a great deal of gratitude to these men and their faithful fellow officers.
The Ladies Auxiliary has done far more than what was originally expected and are due sincere gratitude for all they have done. May the good work continue by the two organizations and their members work in harmony, understanding and teamwork.
The Company started with assets amounting to $76.00, by 1951 showed assets of $40,000 and by December 1975 $145,000. Paid up members on the roll total 370 and 9 Junior members.
As of this date tonight, we are proud to say that this Company is again debt free.