The Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc. was formed on August 31, 1978, the result of the merger of Susquehanna’s two volunteer fire companies, the Erie Hose Co. #1, chartered on April 14, 1888, and the Susquehanna Chemical Engine Co. #1, chartered on May 8, 1911. The merger was the dream of a dedicated group of firemen who were willing to put aside years of tradition, competition, and even prejudices to try for a more economic and more efficient solution to the Fire and Rescue services for the Tri-Boro area.
The results are very impressive. The evidence is in the performance and equipment of the modern fire rescue service that is second to none in the surrounding Susquehanna and Broome County area. Today’s firefighters may look at the equipment the fire service relied on at the time of the merger and wonder how fires were ever put out. The advances in equipment, technology, and procedures have been embraced by today’s firefighters.
The Fire Company is built on a rock-solid foundation that will carry it for many years to come! The history is dedicated to all members of the two founding companies, both past and present. They are the fuel that keeps our volunteer fire company on the go.
A number of challenges faced the merged company members: satisfactory, and up-to-date by-laws, decisions on what equipment to keep, what to do with the current buildings, a new building, establish an officer structure to advance the needs of the new company, the color scheme for apparatus, and most importantly keep the Company on sound financial footing. The job was not easy but looking back you can see some excellent decisions were made by the initial members and followed by newer people who literally stepped into their boots. Woven into and through all the years since the merger are the excellent core of members who made sure the dream stayed alive. A closer look at their work will provide you with a history of the Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc.
The new company inherited two buildings; the Erie Hose building was centrally located on Main Street. It was a nice modern building but lacked the size to hold the projected apparatus for the new company and no room for expansion. Parking was very limited. The Chemical building on Erie Ave was a true truck garage built in three sections with cramped room for apparatus, some parking, again no room for expansion, and no room for meetings or social activities. For a time, firemen tried working out of the two buildings, but it soon became evident that it was not working. It was decided to squeeze everything into the Erie Ave building and put the Main Street building on the market and to begin a search for a location for a new station. The Main Street building was sold, putting it back on the tax rolls. The money from the sale was put into an interest-bearing account to be used toward the new building. The sale of the building at less than expected market value provided another benefit to the Fire Company in the reduction of costs from maintaining it. The community gained by having it back on the tax rolls.
The second event had a greater impact on the future building plans. Penelec, a regional electric company agreed to lease the Erie Ave building for a term of ten years. This lease guaranteed the Fire Company payments for their new home. The Borough of Susquehanna had taken over the old railroad shop properties location and construction of a shopping plaza was underway. At the western end of the property the Susquehanna Fire Department purchased a suitable lot for $6,000 and the plan for a new building began in earnest. One of the secrets for success emerged with this project. An affordable budget was developed for the new construction based on current funds and affordable financing for the balance. A 65’ x 120’ frame building was designed with most of the space used for a four-bay design. Three bays to be two units deep and one single bay apparatus room, also a wide bay for two ambulances, an office, meeting room, storage, work room, large kitchen, and rest rooms. One of the truck bays included a rear overhead door for drive through capabilities. The budgeted price was $150,000. Construction of the new building was completed at the budgeted price using all local contractors; some were members of the Fire Company. The contractors involved were Doug Heesh, Robert Treible Excavating, Holleran Plumbing and Heating, DEL Electric, and Harry Aldrich Concrete. A building committee chaired by then President Richard Hennessey oversaw the work and even provided volunteer labor to keep the costs within the budget.
The new building was dedicated with an open house on Sunday, August 31, 1983, exactly five years to the day of the effective date of the merger. Earlier that morning the fire company responded to a house fire at the Clarance and Enid Thomas farm, near Stevens Point in Harmony Township, the dwelling was saved.
The building story continues as the original exterior construction was done with texture T-111 siding, which the committee knew was not a long-term solution. In 1993-94 a long-time fire company member came up with the design of continuing the brick front around the ends, topped by vertical vinyl siding, the end peaks included a dark brown bean design, which framed a beautiful replica of the fire company patch.
Once again, a local contractor, Joseph Frye Construction assisted in bringing this project in at the price of $8,000. While redoing the exterior it was decided to spruce up the inside. Young members of the fire company were contracted to paint the interior of the apparatus room. The wall separating the ambulance and fire truck bays was removed and a radio room was added to the back or the area between the ambulance and truck bays. This area is now the main office area along with being the communication center within the fire station. Along with this area the Department now has a state-of-the-art compressor station and cascade system room that allows for filling SCBA air cylinders. Also found in this room is the heavy-duty washer for washing turnout gear.
A much stiffer challenge faced the members in putting together a plan for what to do with the merged companies apparatus. What units to keep and what units to sell and probably the most difficult of all, what color should the color scheme on the apparatus be. This turned out to be the easiest of all merger decisions with members settling on the white over red adopted originally by the Chemical Engine Co. What to keep was a formidable task as soon as the merger was approved. A detailed plan was developed on what units were to be sold and what would be kept. Along with this, a truck committee was put into place with the task of putting together the plans for a new pumper/tanker. The proceeds from the sale of the other apparatus would be used toward the purchase of this piece of apparatus. Since this time there have been many other purchases of apparatus by the Fire Department, right up to what we have in-service today.
There has surely been great progress in the Susquehanna Fire Department since the merger. This progress has allowed for today’s firefighters and ambulance technicians to respond to emergencies with the best equipment, technology, and training than ever before.
There is no other occupation that is so filled with tradition and history! Firefighters feel this connection to the past and wish to carry on with the history and traditions. Before entering the Fire Station’s main entrance there is a memorial to all our deceased members. As you enter the front entrance of our Fire Station you will see our trophy case. You will immediately see the ornate speaking trumpets which were used mainly by the Chief to pass on orders or directions. Today they have been replaced by radios. The trumpets today are used to denote rank of officers. There are old badges, helmets, pictures and of course trophies. No matter where you look you will see the Maltese Cross. These go all the way back to the Crusades. They are a symbol of honor and bravery. Our meeting room walls are covered with pictures of major fires along with some of the apparatus. There is also a large plaque denoting all the names of our deceased members.
The fire profession takes great pride in displaying its history and traditions. Hopefully this overview of The Susquehanna Fire Department’s gives you some insight into ours!
The results are very impressive. The evidence is in the performance and equipment of the modern fire rescue service that is second to none in the surrounding Susquehanna and Broome County area. Today’s firefighters may look at the equipment the fire service relied on at the time of the merger and wonder how fires were ever put out. The advances in equipment, technology, and procedures have been embraced by today’s firefighters.
The Fire Company is built on a rock-solid foundation that will carry it for many years to come! The history is dedicated to all members of the two founding companies, both past and present. They are the fuel that keeps our volunteer fire company on the go.
A number of challenges faced the merged company members: satisfactory, and up-to-date by-laws, decisions on what equipment to keep, what to do with the current buildings, a new building, establish an officer structure to advance the needs of the new company, the color scheme for apparatus, and most importantly keep the Company on sound financial footing. The job was not easy but looking back you can see some excellent decisions were made by the initial members and followed by newer people who literally stepped into their boots. Woven into and through all the years since the merger are the excellent core of members who made sure the dream stayed alive. A closer look at their work will provide you with a history of the Susquehanna Fire Department, Inc.
The new company inherited two buildings; the Erie Hose building was centrally located on Main Street. It was a nice modern building but lacked the size to hold the projected apparatus for the new company and no room for expansion. Parking was very limited. The Chemical building on Erie Ave was a true truck garage built in three sections with cramped room for apparatus, some parking, again no room for expansion, and no room for meetings or social activities. For a time, firemen tried working out of the two buildings, but it soon became evident that it was not working. It was decided to squeeze everything into the Erie Ave building and put the Main Street building on the market and to begin a search for a location for a new station. The Main Street building was sold, putting it back on the tax rolls. The money from the sale was put into an interest-bearing account to be used toward the new building. The sale of the building at less than expected market value provided another benefit to the Fire Company in the reduction of costs from maintaining it. The community gained by having it back on the tax rolls.
The second event had a greater impact on the future building plans. Penelec, a regional electric company agreed to lease the Erie Ave building for a term of ten years. This lease guaranteed the Fire Company payments for their new home. The Borough of Susquehanna had taken over the old railroad shop properties location and construction of a shopping plaza was underway. At the western end of the property the Susquehanna Fire Department purchased a suitable lot for $6,000 and the plan for a new building began in earnest. One of the secrets for success emerged with this project. An affordable budget was developed for the new construction based on current funds and affordable financing for the balance. A 65’ x 120’ frame building was designed with most of the space used for a four-bay design. Three bays to be two units deep and one single bay apparatus room, also a wide bay for two ambulances, an office, meeting room, storage, work room, large kitchen, and rest rooms. One of the truck bays included a rear overhead door for drive through capabilities. The budgeted price was $150,000. Construction of the new building was completed at the budgeted price using all local contractors; some were members of the Fire Company. The contractors involved were Doug Heesh, Robert Treible Excavating, Holleran Plumbing and Heating, DEL Electric, and Harry Aldrich Concrete. A building committee chaired by then President Richard Hennessey oversaw the work and even provided volunteer labor to keep the costs within the budget.
The new building was dedicated with an open house on Sunday, August 31, 1983, exactly five years to the day of the effective date of the merger. Earlier that morning the fire company responded to a house fire at the Clarance and Enid Thomas farm, near Stevens Point in Harmony Township, the dwelling was saved.
The building story continues as the original exterior construction was done with texture T-111 siding, which the committee knew was not a long-term solution. In 1993-94 a long-time fire company member came up with the design of continuing the brick front around the ends, topped by vertical vinyl siding, the end peaks included a dark brown bean design, which framed a beautiful replica of the fire company patch.
Once again, a local contractor, Joseph Frye Construction assisted in bringing this project in at the price of $8,000. While redoing the exterior it was decided to spruce up the inside. Young members of the fire company were contracted to paint the interior of the apparatus room. The wall separating the ambulance and fire truck bays was removed and a radio room was added to the back or the area between the ambulance and truck bays. This area is now the main office area along with being the communication center within the fire station. Along with this area the Department now has a state-of-the-art compressor station and cascade system room that allows for filling SCBA air cylinders. Also found in this room is the heavy-duty washer for washing turnout gear.
A much stiffer challenge faced the members in putting together a plan for what to do with the merged companies apparatus. What units to keep and what units to sell and probably the most difficult of all, what color should the color scheme on the apparatus be. This turned out to be the easiest of all merger decisions with members settling on the white over red adopted originally by the Chemical Engine Co. What to keep was a formidable task as soon as the merger was approved. A detailed plan was developed on what units were to be sold and what would be kept. Along with this, a truck committee was put into place with the task of putting together the plans for a new pumper/tanker. The proceeds from the sale of the other apparatus would be used toward the purchase of this piece of apparatus. Since this time there have been many other purchases of apparatus by the Fire Department, right up to what we have in-service today.
There has surely been great progress in the Susquehanna Fire Department since the merger. This progress has allowed for today’s firefighters and ambulance technicians to respond to emergencies with the best equipment, technology, and training than ever before.
There is no other occupation that is so filled with tradition and history! Firefighters feel this connection to the past and wish to carry on with the history and traditions. Before entering the Fire Station’s main entrance there is a memorial to all our deceased members. As you enter the front entrance of our Fire Station you will see our trophy case. You will immediately see the ornate speaking trumpets which were used mainly by the Chief to pass on orders or directions. Today they have been replaced by radios. The trumpets today are used to denote rank of officers. There are old badges, helmets, pictures and of course trophies. No matter where you look you will see the Maltese Cross. These go all the way back to the Crusades. They are a symbol of honor and bravery. Our meeting room walls are covered with pictures of major fires along with some of the apparatus. There is also a large plaque denoting all the names of our deceased members.
The fire profession takes great pride in displaying its history and traditions. Hopefully this overview of The Susquehanna Fire Department’s gives you some insight into ours!
