History of The Emlenton Fire Department

1877-2001

Emlenton Fire Department 1949

Fire-Fighting in Emlenton until the middle of the 1870's was carried out by forming a bucket brigade from the Allegheny River to the scene of the fire. It wasn't until the year 1874 that Emlenton established its first water system. Pumps and lines were installed and a reservoir was built. Until a pumping station andfilter were installed, the water was filtered through river gravel from a crib buried three feet under the river's bed.

W.D. McGinnis, wagonmaker, made the first hose cart, and the Hulings Hose Co., which was Emlenton's first fire department, was founded on the 17th of September, 1877. The Hulings Hose Co. was named in honor of Marcus Hulings.

The First officers of the Company were: President, D.D. Moriarty; Vice Pres., John M. Mitchell; Secretary, Thomas Johnston; Assistant Secretary, S.B. Crawford; Treasurer, J.W. Rowland; Foreman H.H. Bradley; 1st Asst. Foreman, J.B. Kemp; 2nd Asst. Foreman, A.E. Giering; Trustees: J.M. Mitchell, John Nicholson, and S.J. Sturnburg

In the past 121 years, the Company has owned 24 pieces of fire equipment, the newest being an 1997 Spartan Advantage Engine. The Company also at present has a 1993 Spartan Gladiator Engine, 1990 Ford C-800 Heavy Rescue, 1977 Spartan/F.M.C./Bean Engine, 1973 International 1310 Stepside Brush Truck, 1969 American Fire Apparatus Quint, 2 Boats, and the showpiece of the fleet a 1949 American LaFrance Scout Engine.

In 1955 a county wide 2-way radio system was set up by Civil Defense was added to the Company, and Today in the firehouse is the most modern equipment available.

On December 21, 1956, the firemen were incorporated as a non-profit organization.

In 1977 the department moved from its location on Hill street to a larger station located on Main street.

Today Station 55 handles approximately two hundred to two hundred fifty calls per year, the role of the fire departmentis now more demanding than ever. The department continues to stay involved in practically all community activities, and remains the center for many of these civic projects.

 

Friday, July 12, 2002


 

 

 

 

Manhattan firefighters help Emlenton comrades mark milestone
 


By Jerry Sowden -- Emlenton Fire Chief Dave Whitehill, New York firefighters Tom Hogan and Richie Cipoletti, and Emlenton assistant chief Barry Louise (from left) share some spirited firefighting stories Friday night in Emlenton Borough.

Members of Engine Co. 55 of Manhattan helped members of the Emlenton Volunteer Fire Department, also station No. 55, celebrate the Venango County department's 125th birthday Friday night with a surprise parade and birthday party.

 

Richie Cipoletti and Tom Hogan, both members of New York's Co. 55, were part of a surprise party for the Emlenton department at 9 p.m. Friday. The two arrived Friday afternoon in Emlenton and will serve as grand marshals in today's parade marking the 125-year milestone for the oldest organized fire company in Venango County.

New York's Engine Co. 55 was one of the first responders to the World Trade Center disaster the morning of Sept. 11. The Emlenton department members struck up a fast friendship with their "sister" station and soon raised money for the families of some of New York's fallen firemen.

"They're pretty emotional ... pretty excited," said Ron Larimore, president of the Emlenton Fire Company, of his fellow Emlenton firemen.

 

THE 125TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION INCLUDES TWO MEMBERS OF THE MANHATTAN NO. 55, WHICH LOST FIVE MEN IN THE SEPT. 11 ATTACKS.

EMLENTON - Following a weekend-long celebration of Emlenton's Volunteer Fire Department's 125th birthday, the company is looking forward to a long future with its adopted brethren on the East Coast.

 

Not only was Emlenton's summer festival dedicated to Venango County's oldest organized fire department, but two New York City firemen were in town to help the close-knit bunch celebrate its 125-year run.

In the wake of Sept. 11, members of Emlenton's Station 55 learned that firemen from New York City's Engine Co. 55 had lost five of its members in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

Late last year, the Venango County group collected $10,000 for the families of the 55th's fallen members. Firemen hand-delivered the donations to Manhattan, perhaps never dreaming of the friendships that selfless act would spawn.

Dave Whitehill, Emlenton fire chief, said the New York-Emlenton connection has gelled primarily through the efforts of the group's longtime assistant chief, Barry Louise.

"He spent hours and hours on the phone when we decided that we wanted to raise money for 55," Whitehill said. "If it wasn't for his persistence in getting through to Station 55 and getting this hooked up, this would never have come around. He kept calling back and making the friendships."

Now, it's becoming apparent how strong those friendships have become.

"This is the beginning of something that's going to be long and great," one of New York's firefighters told Whitehill.

Richie Cipoletti and Tom Hogan, two of the men from Engine Co. 55 in Manhattan, arrived Friday in Emlenton to take part in the town's annual summer festival. The duo served as grand marshals for Saturday's parade, crowned Miss Emlenton 2002 on Friday night and got better acquainted with their Pennsylvania counterparts.

"Big town, little town; big department, small department, it doesn't matter - we're all a family," one of the New York men said to Whitehill's wife, Diane.

The chief said his troops planned to show Cipoletti and Hogan around the Emlenton area and let the New York men give the local firefighting equipment a once-over. No sooner did Cipoletti and his wife arrive in Emlenton than the New York vet was asked to assist the Emlenton company with an accident call on Interstate 80.

"About 10 minutes after they got there, he assisted us ... on the call. We got to show him the equipment really good," Whitehill said with a chuckle. "They were impressed."

Hogan arrived a little later, having just come off his shift in Manhattan only six or seven hours earlier.

"I've had no sleep in one-and-a-half days," Hogan said. "I got off my shift and came here."

Though the arrival of New York's firefighters had been a point of excitement for the Emlenton contingent for several weeks, other things happened over the weekend that the firemen had no clue about.

The local firemen attended the Miss Emlenton pageant Friday evening and all were told to go to the firehall afterward, Dave Whitehill said. At 9 o'clock sharp, a barrage of sirens rang out from across the Allegheny River and loudspeakers blared a rendition of "Happy Birthday."

The firemen, most of whom were gathered on a street corner, looked puzzled at the sound of the sirens, wondering what was going on and why none of them heard about it.

But Whitehill said things soon made sense.

Within moments, a procession of ambulances, fire trucks and other rescue vehicles from Emlenton, Knox, Parker, Eau Claire, Petrolia and North Washington rolled into the town with lights and sirens blaring.

"These are the companies we work with all the time," said Ron Larimore, president of the Emlenton Fire Company.

"We were stunned," Whitehill added. "When we heard the sirens ... we sort of knew what was happening. It was one of (those things) that really hit home."

Larimore described the Emlenton volunteers Friday as "pretty emotional ... pretty excited."

"They all appreciate it," Whitehill said.

A short time later, the festivities moved indoors where Chris Hile, former Emlenton fire chief, emceed a roast for the local volunteers. Sitting at the head table were Hile, Louise, Whitehill, Cipoletti, Hogan and a host of others.

Hile paid tribute to the department's chief and his predecessors, while local dignitaries offered their praise to the roster of volunteers.

"Voluntary organizations are really the strength of America," said state Rep. Scott Hutchinson, before presenting the company with a citation from the state House of Representatives. The citation honored the group's "steady growth and solid achievement."

But while Hutchinson and other Venango County natives received warm applause from a crowd that overflowed from the fire department's headquarters, nobody was more warmly welcomed than Cipoletti and Hogan.

Hile repeatedly told local firemen, chiefs and other community members how grateful the department was for their longstanding support.

"We thank you," he kept telling those present. But his refrain changed when he introduced the New York men.

"Gentlemen," he said. "We are so proud of you."

Thunderous applause quickly followed by a spontaneous standing ovation for the humbled men.

"They couldn't believe how much support they had in Emlenton," Whitehill said. "They wanted us to make sure it was expressed how appreciative they were for everything (the community) did for them. It really hit home with them."

He said the men and their families plan to return to Emlenton when they can spend more time in the area and relax.

"They loved it," he said.

Members of the Emlenton VFD will return to New York later this year to visit with their "sister station" once more.

 

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