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The History of the Friendship Fire Company #1 Morgantown
A fire company for Morgantown was suggested when the present water system was installed in 1915. It was on a summer evening of the same year that a meeting was held in the Melby Goodman Shoe Repairing Shop, a little eight by ten frame building that stood where the Morgantown Garage now stands.
Ten or twelve persons attended the first meeting. A temporary chairman and secretary were selected, the object of the meeting was announced, and preliminary discussion followed. A motion was than unanimously passed that the organization should be known as the Morgantown Fire Company. This was followed by a resolution to proceed with the election of officers., which resulted as follows:
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Dr. J.A. Zook - President
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Daniel B. Foreman - Vice President
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Edward E. Gabriel - Secretary
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Martin G. Musser - Treasurer
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Abram R. Swergert, Frank Hoffman, and George Groff - Trustees
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Charles K. Huyett - Fire Chief
Initiation fees were established at $1.00 and membership dues at $1.20 a year. The organization was completed, there was money in the account, and the first meeting adjourned.
Nearby communities showed interest. In 1915, the Friendship Fire Company of Birdsboro offered to give their discarded four - wheeled hose cart if the organization would change the name to Friendship Fire Company #1. The offer was accepted and a valuable piece of property was obtained by passing a resolution. The community donated, and the company raised enough money to buy 200 feet of hose, and the company was ready for business.
For a number of years, running expenses were met by the payment of dues, and a small carnival in the summer. A chicken supper was also run by the fire company in the winter, located in the banquet room of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
The most urgent call for the hose cart in Morgantown, was the fire of the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church. It was struck by lightning in the summer of 1918, and burned to the ground.
From the very beginning the firemen looked forward to the time when they could provide the town with a community hall. The Consolidation of Caernarvon Township Schools opened the way for such a building. Because of overcrowding, poor school facilities, and the hesitation of building a new school, someone suggested a fire hall that could be used by the schools. The idea met with approval and the present day Fire Hall was built in 1921. The Caernarvon Board of Education promptly rented the building, thus providing revenue for the fireman, a community hall for the town, and facilities for a two-teacher high school. The Fire Hall was rented by the school district until 1928, when the new high school building (now the Morgan Court Apartments) was built.
In 1927 the Fire Company bought its first motor driven fire engine. The hose cart that had served the town for the past thirteen years, was replaced by a modern fully equipped fire engine to serve the community in the southern district of Berks County.
Important Dates:
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June 18th, 1915:
July 20th, 1915:
- Ordered 200 feet of 2 1/2" fire hose from the Supplier Hardware Company of Philadelphia, along with three nozzles.
September 10th, 1915:
- The secretary was instructed to write to the Friendship Fire Company of Birdsboro in regards to their hose cart. Birdsboro gave the company their old hose cart with the agreeance that our organization's name be changed from Morgantown Fire Company, to Friendship Fire Company No. 1 of Morgantown.
October 29th, 1915:
- It was motioned to keep our hose cart at C.K. Huyetts until further notice.
November 5th, 1915:
- It was motioned that the president appoint a committee to investigate a sight for a home for the fire company.
November 19th, 1915:
- Frank Hoffman offered his garage to the fire company to house the hose cart.
October 1st, 1919:
- The trustees added to the fire fighting equipment one double ladder, two hooks, and two pinch bars for $15.46.
February 4th, 1920:
- A motion was made by C.K. Huyett that the trustees buy four lanterns for the hose cart.
January 5th, 1921:
- A motion was passed that the fire company accept the charter, and go in force at once. Motion also passed for the trustees purchase three lots adjoining Mrs. Suzanne Kurtz.
- R.B. Reeser elected Fire Chief.
January 19th, 1921:
- Special meeting held in reference to discussing the building of the new Fire Hall. Motion passed that the size of the building to figure being 36' X 76', 12' ceiling height.
April 13th, 1921:
- Special meeting to determine the kind of material used to construct the new Fire Hall. Motion passed to construct the entire building of stone.
- Construction of the Fire hall took place during the summer of 1921
August 3rd, 1921:
- Motion passed that the fire company hold a joint festival with the Athletic Association on Labor Day after the dedication of the new Fire Hall.
May 7th, 1924:
- Permission was granted to the memorial Association to erect a memorial to the soldiers of all wars.
March 4th, 1925:
- It was ordered that the company hold a "smoker" on their next meeting night. The president notified the membership to come and bring a friend. The secretary was ordered to secure sandwiches, coffee, and cigars.
June 8th, 1927:
- Specifications were gone over for five different new fire engines. Hale, American LaFrance, Buffalo, Prospect, And Hahn. A unanimous vote was held in favor of the Hahn.
November 2nd, 1927:
- Motion was passed that the company purchase four pairs of gumb boots, and four gumb coats for the firefighters.
January 4th, 1928:
- Webster Muhlenburg elected Fire Chief.
January 2nd, 1929:
- David Kurtz elected Fire Chief
July 24th, 1929:
- Motion passed that Mr. Sensnic, a dealer in birds, dogs, and other animals, is to bring his complete line of animals to the festival August 10th.
June 18th, 1930:
- Motion passed that the committee adopt the plans of a Band Stand and accept bids and award contracts with the sanction of the trustees.
- Construction of the Band Stand and CookHouse took place in the summer of 1930
January 7th, 1931:
- John Sweigart elected Fire Chief
January 6th, 1932:
- David M. Kurtz elected Fire Chief
January 4th, 1933:
- John Sweigart elected Fire Chief
January 1st, 1936:
- Ralph E. Spotts elected Fire Chief
April 1st, 1936:
- Ralph E. Spotts resigned as Fire Chief, and the 1st Assistant Norman Mcfarland took over.
May 7th, 1947:
- The engine committee recommended the purchase of a new Hahn pumper, a HFD model 150, 750 GPM pump at a cost of $12,969.00.
October 1st, 1947:
- Motion passed to purchase the Hahn.
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January 7th, 1948:
- Mr. Spangler of Hahn Motors came to the company meeting with high hopes of a new fire apparatus design. He advised that the double engine pumper could sold to the company with no down payment, and be given a 30 day "experimental trial period" to test the new rig. The price tag on the truck dubbed "The Spangler Dual" was $14,500.00.
May 4th, 1949:
- Since the Spangler Dual was rejected, and returned to Hahn Motors, the engine committee recommended the purchase of a Dodge Power Wagon for $1,8885.00 & the re-signing of the Hahn engine they had spec'd earlier.
August 3rd, 1949:
- Dodge Power Wagon delivered.
December 14th, 1949:
March 7th, 1951:
- Offered the 1927 Hahn to Geigertown.
April 4th, 1951:
- Geigertown informed the fire company that they had voted to form a fire company and would accept the 1927 Hahn.
August 5th, 1953:
- Fire Chief Norman McFarland resigns. President Clyde Kochel appointed Jim Detwiler to serve as Fire Chief for the remainder of the year.
February 5th, 1964:
- Chief Detwiler reported that the new Seagrave engine had arrived, and invited all to inspect it. Jim said he considered the new pumper, "A damn nice piece of apparatus." The president reported that the cost was $27,793.50
April 1st, 1964:
- Motion passed to sell the 1949 Hahn to the Honey Brook Fire Company for a cost of $2,000.00.
October 4th, 1967:
- Engine committee reported that the new International 4 X 4 Barton American pumper would be arriving tomorrow afternoon.
October 6th, 1971:
- Chief Detwiler reported the 1971 International Brush truck is in the process of assembly. The two bids received for the 1948 Dodge Powerwagon were considered too low. Motion passed to keep the Dodge for our own use.
June 6th, 1973:
- Motion passed to purchase a Chevrolet commercial cab & chassis from El-Mor Chevrolet, at a price of $7,498.00. Total price for new Rescue Truck from the Swab Wagon Company was $40,106.00.
August 7th, 1974:
- During a previous special meeting the company was presented with a new communications system. This involved a 24 hour base station / dispatcher at the Grace Mines guardhouse, complete with individual tone alert receivers.
November 1st, 1978:
- A letter of resignation was received from Fire Chief Detwiler effective the end of the year, following 25 years of service.
December 6th, 1978:
- Charles Byler elected Fire Chief.
December 8th, 1982:
- Michael McGinn elected Fire Chief.
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