Littlestown Alpha Fire Company No. 1 History
A large group of interested citizens met on Saturday, August 8, 1885,
in the school building. Their purpose was to organize a fire company
for the protection of property. Dr. E.K. Foreman was emporary chairman
and Charles B.Barker was temporary secretary. A committee of three,
Mr. Barker, Joseph E. Kearnes and D.B. Allenman was appointed to
frame a series of resolutions to be presented to the Burgess and
the Town Council....this was it....
"RESOLVED; That the Burgess and the Town Council are hereby
requested to procure at once a good and sufficient quantity of
hose, hose reel, laddeers and trucks, also fire buckets, all of
which are deemed necessary for the proper equipment of said company;
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED: That the Burgess and the Town Council at
their earliest convenience procure a lot and erect thereon a suitable
building for the accommodation of said apparatus at aas central
a point as possible."
A committee of five - C. B. Barker, James W. Ocker, L.M. Alleman,
John Whaler and John A. Shorb, was appointed "to procure not
less than 50, good able men to become active members of the Fire
Company."
Friday, August 13, a second meeting was held - 90 signatures had
been secured for membership and 65 answered the roll. These officers
were elected to serve for one year:
President..............Dr. E. K. Foreman
Vice President......Joseph W. Ocker
Secretary.......................C. B. Barker
Treasurer...................John A. Shorb
When a name was selected -- "Alpha" polled 38 votes; the
second closest was "Junior" with 10 votes. The engine house
was built on a lot 33 ft. x 264 ft. on East King Street, purchased
from Lewis Rickstine and wife, Louisa, for $700. Drawings and specifications
cost $20.00. The Building itself, erected by John Eliine, cost $3000.
Official dedication was Nov. 18, 1886. The fire bell, atop the engine
house was purchased January 3, 1887. In October, 1951, an addition
to the building was begun. The total cost upon completion was $5398.42.
In 1964 another addition was begun and completed early at a cost
of $39,500. In the 1990's another addition was added to the building.
$206.50 was spent on the first equipment purchased for Alpha Fire
Company No. 1.
Since 1910 several renovations have been made to the engine house,
including a large addition to the back of the building in 1991. In
1985 a building was erected on the site of the former tennis courts
on Locust Street for use during the annual carnival.
In 1974 the fire company assumed the responsibility of providing
emergency medical services to the community due to the increasing
amount of calls and the decreasing amount of personnel to operate
the service. Prior to this time, the service was provided by American
Legion Post 321. The Legion turned the ambulance service over to
the Borough of Littlestown who in turn transferred it over to the
fire company. The ambulance in service at this time was a 1972
Cadillac.
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