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The Greenfield Volunteer Fire Company was organized on March 5, 1948, when Lester Miller called together a few men to discuss the proposition. Roy Richards of the Erie County Firemen's Association was present, also Dennis Hovis and Howard Gay of the Brookside Fire Department, all of whom gave encouraging and imformative talks. It was an enthusiastic gathering as $150 was raised to start a company, and the fund increased to $450 before the evening was over.
At this meeting the following men were appointed: Lester Miller , President; Glen Henderson, Secretary; Burton Thorton, Treasury. After a couple more meetings and with more men joining, an election took place with the following men holding office: Delmas Chesley, president; Ed Chylinski, Secretary; Burton Thorton, Treasury; and Andy Lucas, Chief and Jake Luke, Assistant Chief.
With the Fire Company officially formed they started holding drills every Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Regular meetings were the first Friday of every month.
The Firemens's hats and turnout coats were bought by the Auxilary and they also gave the Fire Company a check for $500.
The first equipment acquired was a 400 gallon second hand Deagrave fire truck, purchased from Oil City for $1500. Later a 1 1/2 ton Chevy Tank truck was secured for $ 800, including equipment. The department had a most successful first year, its membership of active members being 25. The Fire Company responded to about 15 calls that first year.
The fire apparatus was housed in a garage at the residence of Glenn Northrup, while plans were underway to secure a new fire hall. The company held carnivals with Findley Lake to raise money to help build a fire hall to house their apparatus. At that time an alarm would come into the grocery store at Hornby Corner's and a button was pushed releasing long and short blasts to alert firemen within hearing distance. By referring to their code sheets, they could determine where the blaze was breaking out, and everything was dropped immediately, and they were off to the fire. Lester and Margaret Miller donated the land where the fire hall now stands and the Greenfield Volunteer Fire Company was chartered on July 22, 1948. The "first" charter members of the Fire Company were Charley Bonczar, Ken Yost, Delmas Chesley, Dennis Feltenburger, Vernon Lamb, Andy Lukas, Glen Northrup, Harold Parkhurst, Bill Rehm, Ralph Rogers, Burt Thornton and Bernard Yosten.
Their first "new" fire truck purchased by the Greenfield Fire Company was a 1954 Chevrolet fire truck, which included ; high pressure and a 450 gallon capacity tank, it replaced the 1926 Seagrave. This truck was full restored and is still owned by the Fire Company today as a piece of our History . They also had a 1942 Chevrolet tank truck. |
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