CHESTER TIMES
August 31, 1922
CLIFTON HEIGHTS’ FIRE ASSOCIATION
Some Early History of a Well-Organized County Institution
There
is an amusing story related in connection with the early history of the Clifton
Heights Fire Protective Association. It
is to the effect the company purchased a hook and ladder from the Burlington
fire laddies. On arrival, one of the
ladders was found to be eight feet longer than the fire house in which it was
to repose. This created considerable
discussion regarding as to whether the aforesaid ladder should be sawed off or
an addition built on the fire house to accommodate its full length. Finally it was decided to saw eight feet from
the ladder. So ended an episode which
was fraught with humorous and yet hazardous contingency.
Those
who are possessed with retrospective viewpoints can readily discover material
for reflection in analyzing the amount of real estate valuations represented in
the real estate holdings of the volunteer fire companies of Delaware
County. When it is considered the moneys
for the purchase of land, buildings and firefighting equipment were raised in
most part by a continuous chain of festivals, fairs, dances, etc., the receipt
from which were never too alarming, the total money outlay represented is
almost beyond comprehension. For
instance, the lot on which the Clifton Heights Protective Association built its
fire and club house originally represented an outlay of $1,000. Today that piece of ground approximately has a
market value of $12,000. The fire house,
of stone and brick, 2 stories, and of ornate architectural style, is worth
considerably more than $20,000. Add to
these two items that of apparatus and club house furnishings brings the total
capital investment in the neighborhood of $45,000. Naturally the industrial interests about
Clifton Heights have contributed liberally toward the equipment and maintenance
of the firefighting units, yet withal the greater portion of this sum was
derived from the general public in dimes and dollars. It is said residents of Clifton Heights have
invariably demonstrated liberality in the treatment of its fire companies. The firemen themselves probably admit this to
be a commendable fact.
At
Clifton Heights, the advisability of organizing a home fire brigade was talked
over for some time previous to the formation of one. It took a disastrous fire to incite
action. In 1895 fire destroyed a factory
which was then turning out wooden bicycle wheels, located on Penn Street.
During the year 1896 the Clifton Heights Fire Protective association No. 1,
came into being. Its equipment consisted
of a 4-wheel hand pump hose cart and a discarded hook and ladder. But in those days this was looked upon as a
wonderful equipment. The present
apparatus consists of a combination truck and funds are now being accumulated
for the purchase of an engine.
For
the purpose of reminiscence, among those who originally formed the company
were: James Jordon, Lewis Fielding, John
Morgan, George B. Frankenfield, Dr. Bartleson, Morris Gilmore, John Spear, John
A. Buggy, Michael Halfpenny, William F. Kelly, Harry C. Bartleson, L. R.
Carpenter, Barnard Dougherty, Frank P. Morley, Thomas Manley, T. T. Clancy,
Isaac Lord, Irving Kelly, W. D. Carpenter, Nelson Kershaw, Charles McDonald and
George Fink.
The
present fire house, located on Baltimore Avenue, was constructed during 1907,
though the original home of the company was in a one-story frame shack on
Walnut Street. The apparatus, recreation
room and a shuffleboard take up the entire first floor of the headquarters,
while a well arranged and roomy auditorium and a ladies’ parlor occupy the
second floor. The fire alarm system is
not as modern as that established in some of the other boroughs, consisting of
a bell and phone service.
Hi! i was wondering if you had any pictures of delco for a research project me and my friend are doing. if you do they would be greatly appriciated.
ReplyDelete