HISTORY OF THE BART TOWNSHIP FIRE COMPANY
Chartered September 24th, 1946.
Organized fire protection came to Bart Township
in 1946 when 38 residents met at the Bart High School to organize a fire
company. It was March 5, and William Bland presided as temporary chairman.
Dorothy Beyer served as secretary. Before the night was over Thomas Matthews was
elected president and Bland chosen as the first fire chief.
The company launched its first fund drive. Postage was only one and one-half
cents on each of the 300 letters mailed to residents. The response was great and
the company went shopping for its first truck. The company purchased a 1937 Rio
chemical truck from the Intercourse Fire Company for $830.00.
On July 2, 1946, twenty-eight people had shown active interest in the fire
company. These members became the charter members of the company when it was
chartered on September 24, 1946. The company purchased a lot in Georgetown for
$100.00. Construction of the firehouse began. The Bart Post Office now stands on
the original lot.
The company purchased its new piece of new equipment in August of 1954. The
purchased a 1954 GMC 500-gallon pumper with a front end pump and 500 gallon
booster tank. The cost of the brand new piece was $6,458.50 and still serves us
a reserve piece today.
The community began to grow rapidly and the future expansions were to be
considered. In 1961, the company bought another piece of land in Georgetown
where the firehall stands today. Money was needed to pay for the new land and
building. So in 1964, the company held its first annual all day sale which still
continues today the 1st and 3rd Saturday’s in March. The company took some sale
profit and purchased a 1951 Ford tank truck. Initial construction started on the
new firehall by Steve Esh and company in 1966. It was completed in May 1967.
The company purchased a new 1969 Ford 1,000 gallon pumper to better serve the
community in its time of growing need. In 1974 the company purchased a new Ford
squad truck to carry men and rescue equipment. The community continued to grow
and another piece of apparatus was purchased. In 1979, the company took delivery
of a new Ford Pierce Tanker that carries 2,500 gallons of water.
In 1982, the Special Division (ladies auxiliary) came up with a new fund raiser.
The engine bay of the fire hall had been enlarged and in 1983 our first
all-you-can-eat-breakfast was held. The breakfast was so successful, that the
kitchen was enlarged and remodeled to accommodate our needs. The breakfast is
still held today the 2nd Saturday of every month from 6-10 a.m. The company also
began to hold an annual Festival held on the 3rd Friday and Saturday nights of
June to help raise money.
The community began to rapidly grow throughout the late 80’s. A new 1985 Pierce
Lance Rescue/Pumper was purchased to help better serve the community with a
compliment of advanced vehicle rescue and fire fighting equipment. In 1988, a
new Chevy Suburban was purchased to carry manpower to calls and our
QRS
equipment . In 1990, the company purchased a new E-ONE pumper to replace the
1969 Ford pumper.
In May of 2001, we sold the 1985 Pierce Lance Rescue/Pumper and purchased a new Rescue/Pumper. The unit designation is Engine 5-1-1. The new engine is a 2001 Pierce Dash 2000 Rescue/Pumper. The unit has a 6 person enclosed cab.
In July 2005, the Company started an Engine bay addition onto the existing firehouse and kitchen renovation. The new engine bay addition will allow for the apparatus to come back in from the tin pole barn in the rear of the property. The new addition will also house a lounge, offices, work room and will be setup to accommodate the flow of people during our annual sales. The kitchen was expanded to allow for more cooking, food preparation and cleanup areas. The kitchen cabinets and appliances were updated as well. The project was completed in January 2006.
On September 2, 2006, the Bart Township Fire Company faced it's greatest challenge. The Nickel Mines Amish School school shooting struck our community. Five girls were hospitalized, five girls were laid to rest, and families’ lives were shattered. Our whole community was shocked and is grieving since that fateful day. Our company and our community have been tested and tried. Together we were able to work our way through these difficult times. Our fire company was able to meet our responsibilities to the community during this tragic event and in the months that followed due to the support we received from our neighboring Fire companies, Emergency Medical Services, Law Enforcement forces, and the South Central Pennsylvania Regional Counter-Terrorism Task Force. The Bart Township Fire Company supplied the facility and leadership for the response to this event. As the world watched Fire, EMS, and Law Enforcement worked hand in hand with the Amish Community. In fact, many volunteer members of our fire company are Amish. However without the support of our community, this tragic event may have been worse. Counseling sessions were held at the fire station for months following the incident. Separate sessions were offered for the families, Fire/EMS, and the community. The Nickel Mines Accountability Committee that was established to receive and disburse funds contributed in response to this tragedy holds its meetings in the fire station. Hundreds of packages and thousands of letters flowed through the fire station. All packages and letters were sorted and checked before being distributed to the families. Volunteers from the community helped our fire company sort and distribute as many as 900 letters a day during those first weeks. The Special Division (Ladies Auxiliary) of the Bart Township Fire Company, with help from community and local businesses, provided three meals a day to all Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement, and the Amish families of those involved during that first week. They served more than 800 meals a day during the time of the funerals. We as a fire company have learned that life will never return to what it was before
At the February 2007 monthly company meeting, an apparatus committee was formed to replace our aging 1979 Tanker. In January 2008, a new 2008 Kenworth T800 Pierce tanker pulled into the station. The new tanker has a Hale 2,000 gpm pump and a 3,000 gallon ellipitical water tank. The new tanker is designated Tanker 5-1-1.
The company also holds an annual fund drive, chicken bar-b-que and a ham supper
to help fund each years operating expenses.
One of the unique features of the Bart Township Fire Company is its volunteers.
The company currently has 85 active members, 42 social members and 20 life
members. There is a heavy concentration of Amish in the community and
approximately 50 percent of members are Amish.
The fire company also provides an extensive fire prevention program for the Bart-Colerain Elementary School, which we have been providing since 1966.
The company has been fortunate to receive
numerous Federal, State, Local and Foundation grants.
The grants grants assisted with the purchase of new
SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus), turnout gear, vehicle exhaust
extraction system, fire prevention safety house and miscellaneous fire
equipment, tools and hose.
The company serves all of the residents of Bart Township and portions of
Sadsbury, Colerain, Eden and Paradise townships.
Here is a link I found while surfing the net.
It is the
"History of Bart Township" and surrounding areas. Really interesting.