[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      TO HONOR THE LANSDOWNE FIRE COMPANY ON ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. WOFFORD. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 
Lansdowne Fire Company of Lansdowne, PA, on its 100th anniversary.
  On December 18, 1890, before Lansdowne Borough existed, fire 
destroyed a row of small wooden stores on the east side of South 
Lansdowne Avenue, north of the railroad tracks. On January 2, 1994, the 
borough contracted with the Lansdowne Water Co. for 12 fire hydrants. 
In early December 1894, concerned citizens organized the Lansdowne Fire 
Company. Elected were Joseph S. Van Sandt, president, and Joseph L. 
Lowden, fire chief. The first hand-drawn apparatus, a two-wheel hose 
reel, was housed in the three-story tank house of the Lansdowne Water 
Co., located behind 15 Madison Avenue.
  The Lansdowne Fire Company was incorporated on November 9, 1897, by 
the Commonwealth court. This 1897 charter allowed the company to own 
real and personal property ``provided that the clear yearly income or 
value of said real estate shall not exceed $20,000.'' They operated 
under the original charter until December 4, 1978, when a new corporate 
charter officially gave nonprofit status under all applicable 
Pennsylvania and United States--IRS--laws.
  A permanent home was provided in the 1903 borough hall at 12 East 
Baltimore Avenue. A property they owned was contributed, and this was 
acknowledged by borough ordinances recognizing the Lansdowne Fire 
Company, conveying tenancy of its quarters, and granting an annual 
appropriation of $200.
  Given larger facilities, horse-drawn apparatus was added by a ladder 
wagon in 1904 and a chemical wagon prior to 1908. They never had 
horses. When the fire alarm sounded, a nearby stable would send a team 
and other teams going by were loaned for the duration of the emergency. 
In 1913, converting a horse-drawn hearse, they began one of the 
country's first ambulance services.
  The Lansdowne Fire Company motorized prior to 1914 with an American 
La France chemical/booster truck which cost $7,500. Later, two 1925 
American La France trucks were obtained, a 750-gallon-per-minute engine 
and a city-service ladder. Also in 1925, a motorized ambulance was 
purchased. The approximate cost of these three units was $30,000.
  Fire Chief George A. Gowan was the first member whose life was 
sacrificed in the performance of fire-fighting duty. Chief Gowan 
succumbed from severe exposure to smoke, cold, and water on December 
29, 1925. In 1928, an Autocar 250 g.p.m. booster truck was obtained. On 
August 21, 1937, they housed an Autocar 750 g.p.m. engine and in 1939, 
it was driven to the 1939 New York World's Fair.
  Chief Walter L. Fraim became the second member to die in the line of 
duty on June 10, 1940. He may best be remembered for his blood-donor 
work, and a blood bank was named in his honor. A 1941 Buick ambulance 
went in service and the real threat of war gave first-aid training new 
priority. On January 14, 1942, a Mack city-service ladder replaced the 
1925 ladder. Fifty-one members saw active duty in World War II. Those 
serving on the home front organized high school students as auxiliary 
junior firemen, some of whom later went into military service.

  On April 12, 1944, the 50th anniversary was celebrated with a 
banquet. Lessons learned from the war gave greater importance to 
organized, standardized training. H. Newton Walls and Russel P. 
Wentzel, Sr., intensified ongoing efforts to train better and more 
effective firefighters, greatly raising morale and pride.
  When peacetime truck production resumed, a new Mack 500 g.p.m. engine 
was housed on November 1, 1947. A 1949 blue Buick Ambulance replaced 
the 1941 unit. In 1953, the 1937 Autocar was rebuilt with a new pump 
and was recertified by the underwriters as a first line engine. In 
1954, a Mack 750 g.p.m. engine replaced the 1928 Autocar booster. In 
1956, a GMC-Christopher rescue truck replaced the ambulance and was one 
of the first emergency-only units in this area, taking patients to the 
closest hospital.
  Assistant Chief G. William Joines died on November 22, 1961, from the 
onset of a heart attack at a working fire. The third member to be lost 
in the line of duty, he was also a Lansdowne Police Department 
sergeant. On June 17, 1961, they housed their first aerial ladder, an 
85-foot cab-ahead Seagrave. A double housing occurred on August 26, 
1967, a 1966 1,000 g.p.m. cab-ahead Seagrave replaced the 1947 Mack, 
and a 1966 International rescue truck costing $7,750 replaced the 1966 
GMC-Christopher rescue.
  On May 10, 1969, the 75th anniversary was observed with a large 
parade. Plectron tone-alerting radios were placed in service December 
19, 1969. The first alert was for a working fire in Clifton Heights on 
Christmas morning. In 1972, the four 7th district companies hired 
Delaware emergency medical technician instructors to start local E.M.T. 
training as there was no Pennsylvania program yet.
  A 1974 Chevrolet-Providence Body Co. modular rescue vehicle replaced 
the 1966 International. Carrying a Hurst ``Jaws-of-Life'' tool, it was 
called an Emergency Care and Rescue Unit. In 1975, a 1,500-g.p.m. 
enclosed-cab-ahead Hahn costing $60,000 was obtained, and this addition 
focused their attention on the need for a new station. The Hahn spent 
its first year at the Yeadon Fire House, prompting a group visitation 
to borough council. The result was the ``tin shed'' on the municipal 
parking lot and at last the Hahn was home in Lansdowne. On May 17, 
1977, a bond issue for a new combination police, fire, and borough 
building was defeated at the polls, 1302 to 1143.
  Norman D. Wilson, fire policeman, became the fourth member to die in 
the line of duty. He had a fatal heart attack while directing traffic 
at a collision on the infamous Marshall Road curve on January 20, 1979.
  On November 2, 1982, a $500,000 new station bond issue passed by a 4-
to-1 majority. On August 26, 1983, they gave a $61,739 check to the 
borough for the fifth bay to house the ambulance, electricity-saving 
skylights, and a station-wide fire sprinkler system. On October 4, 
1986, a double housing and building dedication parade was held. A 1985 
enclosed-cab-ahead Hahn-Fire Spire 100-foot aerial ladder costing 
$302,000 replaced the 1961 Seagrave aerial ladder. A 1984 Ford-Collins 
Ambulance replaced the 1974 Chevrolet rescue. The new station with 4 
double bays and a single bay replaced the 1903 station and tin shed. 
The tin shed was torn down.

  A 1991 Ford-Horton ambulance costing $85,000 replaced the 1984 unit 
and a 1989 used Chevrolet Caprice was purchased for use as a command 
car, rotating weekly between chiefs, and it is also used to transport 
members to fire schools and other events.
  On September 26, 1906, the first ladies auxiliary was organized with 
10 members, and by 1914 had 35 members. The present ladies auxiliary 
was formed on May 5, 1952, and currently has 30 members.
  Through the years, the Lansdowne Fire Company has helped other fire 
companies to get started. They lent a hand-drawn ``spider'' hose real 
to the Highland Park Fire Company in 1912, and a hand-drawn hose cart 
to the Cardington Fire Company in 1916. In 1955, the members Vincent J. 
Christi and Frank Z. Russel helped to found the Primos-Secane-Westbrook 
Park Fire Company, ``Beans'' Russel becoming the first chief. They also 
gave hose and equipment to various companies throughout history.
  Mr. President, I am proud to honor the service of the Lansdowne Fire 
Company on its 100th anniversary, and I wish the company the best for 
the next 100 years.

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