Third oldest fire company in Shenandoah Pa.the Phoenix Fire Company was formed August 25,1885 when 30 men,seeing the need for added protection against fires in the borough, gathered in the public house of Thomas J. Mckeone, located on East Center street.
Those who showed enough interest in the welfare of the town to attend that first meeting were Thomas J. McKeone, Edward J. McGuinness, Martin J. Monaghan, John M. Mack, B. J. Monaghan, John Reddy, Frank J. Brennan, John Bradley, James Duffy, John Dowling, T. J. O'Brien, Martin O'Hara, John J. Canfield, J. J. Fahey, Thomas Cussick, John Dalton, Richard O'Connell, J. B. Lovette, Timothy Lynch, Michael Lally, John Hines, Robert McAlee, John McGowan, Edward J. Brennan, Patrick E. Brennan, John O'Hara, Patrick Golden, Edward Ford and Patrick Smith.
The following officers were elected at that meeting: Thomas J. McKeone, president: Edward J. McGuinnes, vice president: John B. Lovette, secretary: and T. J. O'Brien, treasuer.
Prior to the organization of the Phoenix, the Columbia Hose Company and the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company were the only fire companies in the borough.
The company first established its quarters on South Market street in a frame building at the rear of a hotel operated by B. J. McGuinnis.
Later when the company moved in the Ferguson Theatre building (Strand) on South Main street, the membership applied for a charter to the Common Pleas Court of the county. The charter bore the names of the following: Thomas J. McKeone, B. J. Duffey, John B. Lovette, John W. Mack, J. J. Fahey, Martin W. Monaghan, John J. Hines, John F. Kernan, Edward J. McGuinnes, T. J. O'Brien, Martin Kelly and B. J. Monaghan.
On March 23, 1891, negotiations were completed for the purchase of the Robbins property at 21 North Jardin street and the rear lot owned by George W. Beddall. Sufficient room was provided to house a handdrawn small hose carrage. Meeting and social quarters for the members were also constructed.
The William Harkins property (the present site of the company) at 17 and 19 North Jardin street was purchased on Novenber 6, 1894. The transfer of the property was consummated and properly recorded on January 28, 1895, in the recorder of deeds office at Pottsville by Attorney M. M. Burke.
The old frame buildings were torn down and a contract for the construction of the present stone and granite building was entered into with Knelly and Frederecks Building Contractors. The structure has been improved and enlarged from time to time to meet the needs of the membership and to permit sufficient space for the larger and improved apparatus.
Much credit for the errection of the companies present home is given to Mrs. William J. Grant wife of the prominent coal company official and owner of the Grant Colliery which was later purchased by the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. Mrs Grant advanced the necessary funds to liquidate the morgage and to pay all claims due against the building .
Through the wholehearted and persistent efforts of the membership the final payment on the mortgage was made on August 26, 1901, or 16 years after the company organized.
One of the first events staged by the company to help raise funds was a grand fair and bazaar from which a tidy sum was realized.
A crab hose cart was then purchased and later the horse drawn fire apparatus came into use, necessitating the purchase of a team of horses. These horses were affectionately named Frank and Jim in honor of Frank J. Brennan and James F. O'Haren past presidents of the company.
Additional horses were purchased when the company entered the coal hauling and drayage business and the company was awarded a contract by Borough Council to sweep the streets . The company at one time also operated a cab service. A frame building was erected at the rear of the lot to house trucks, carts,cabs and other equipment . This building composed of a garage on the first floor and a storage room on thr second floor, still stands on North Ferguson street
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