( Still updating ) If anyone has any additional information about the fire company that you would like to share, or any pictures ( we are looking for any old pictures ), please contact Christian Boyd or David Johnson at svfd@wpia.net. Thank you!  

History of the Stoystown Volunteer Fire Company

By:  Christian Boyd

August 2007 

The history of the Stoystown Volunteer Company has never been extensively researched and is somewhat vague.  Information related to the fire company has been gathered through research of old written ledgers and by speaking with longtime residents of Stoystown and local townspeople. 

Some of the historical contributors include: 

David Johnson (current Fire Chief)    Charles Deaner                        Larry Barnhart

Donald Deaner                                    Claudia Boyd                          Kathryn Phillips

David L. Fox                                      Wilma Manges                        Margaret Mong

Brian Johnson                                     William Boyd                          Bob Shaver    

Elaine Zimmerman     

On April 9, 1928 at 10:00 AM, the written certificate of incorporation was filed through John A. Baker, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.  The certificate stated that the application was “an act to provide for the incorporation and regulation of certain corporations” and that this charter was intended for this corporation to be called “The Stoyestown Fire Department” (note town spelling).   

The object of the fire department, according to the original Charter Notice, is  “ to extinguishing fires and protection of life and property in the borough of Stoyestown and vicinity”, according to the charter. 

The original charter lists the names below as directors, which, according to the charter, is fixed at five members.  The five founding members / directors were:

 

W.K. Walker             Homer Schwartz       Daniel Swank

Joseph "Bucky" Metzgar     Herbert Zimmerman

 

The names of the original members, or “subscribers of this charter” are found below: 

Thomas Stackem         Harry Swank               Charles Shank             F.C. Zimmerman

Fred Koontz                Robert Barnhart          Dewey King                R.A. Hummel

William Findley          Lyman Croyle             Fred Shaffer                K.A. Lohr

Milton Weimer            Eugene Lohr               J.B. Gardner                I.A. Shaffer

Regis Canivan             Dean Keith                  R.S. Shaver                 B.F. Specht

Charles Christ             Lewis Spangler           C.C. Lease                  Don C. Specht

Harold Swank             Charles Swank            H.W. Blanset              Clyde Miller

James Canivan            Lloyd Specht              C.F. Schrader              H.L. Horner

Raymond Beistel        Ellwood Mong            Joseph Spangler          F.O. Lease 

The first fire station was built on the 200 Block of West Main Street in the Borough of Stoystown.  The land was purchased through an agreement between Stoyestown Borough and the Johnstown Trust Company, Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Before the station was built, it was used by the Reformed Church (denomination unknown). 

This building had one apparatus bay that stored two fire engines.  According to Mr. Barnhart, the engines were open cab engines, gas powered and chain driven.  The engines were built by American LaFrance (1928 and 1932 models). As a child, he recalls the difficulty the firemen had when trying to back the engine into the station and the noise the chain drive engines made.  He also remembers the engines being used for the parades after World War II when The United States of America declared victory over Germany (V-E Day-May 8,1945) and Japan (V-J Day August 15, 1945).   

As a child, Elaine Zimmerman recalls the telephone that was installed in her parents bedroom on the 200 block of their West Main Street house.  This telephone was used for fire alarms only, and when it would ring, her father (Earl Smith) would answer the telephone and run to the fire station.  He activated the house siren and waited for the firemen to run to the station.  This telephone was used for actual fires calls only and served no other purpose.  The fire company did not handle all of the type of calls it does today. 

In he 1930’s, most of the men worked around Stoystown and would run to the station to respond on calls.  No one drove personal cars to the fire hall.  Elaine also recalls that the fire company had one open cab engine and the men “hung on” the back. Her father always drove the fire engine to the call. The firemen then did not wear any protective gear, just the clothes they were wearing. 

Elaine mentioned that Howard Horner owned the local garage where her father was employed as a mechanic.  Mr. Horner operated the local tow truck service in Stoystown. 

Mr. Shaver recalls the first Somerset County Firemen's Convention being hosted in Stoystown in the summer of 1930.  According to Bob, "it was a great time to be an eleven year old boy." Mr. Shaver also remembers Joseph "Bucky" Metzgar serving as long time Fire Chief, all during World War II.  Ralph Blanset also served as long time Chief for many years in Stoystown. 

Claudia Boyd recalls parades during the 1950’s that lasted more than one hour and had well over 100 participating units.  In her words, “it was the best parade in the county.”  The late William Williams was one of the men responsible for organizing the parades.   

The Stoystown Memorial Day Parade is still one of the largest parades in the county and is currently organized by Donald Deaner and David Fox.    

The original fire station also included a library and a jail.  The library was managed by Melda and Herbert Zimmerman and Frances Schrader and was referred to as the Stoyestown Library Association.  The library held numerous events, including sponsoring an annual Halloween Party which was held at the Stoyestown School.  Charles Deaner recollects American Legion meetings being held in the fire station library as well.  When the library was eventually closed, the money it raised was given to the fire department.  

When the fire department was needed, there were several pull boxes located throughout town which activated a fire siren located on the roof of the fire station.  The person requesting the fire department pulled the pull box handle, which activated the fire siren (or “whistle”).  The person who activated the pull box had to meet someone at the fire station or pass the information via word of mouth until it reached the fire station.  Radios, pagers, telephones, fax machines, cellular phones and GPS systems were not used.  Landmarks were given instead of street names or directions.  During this time period everyone knew the landmarks. The original whistle was moved to the roof of the Stoyestown School and is still in use today.   

According to fire department ledgers, the “e” in Stoyestown was dropped between 1932-1933 and the spelling was changed to “Stoystown.” 

In 1945, the fire deparment could be summoned by calling the local funeral home (Deaner’s Funeral Home Inc.).  This number still exists today and was used until the late 1970’s.  When the phone rang, Charles Deaner, or one of his family members would answer the phone, record the information, activate the fire siren from their home and the respond to the fire station.  Information about the alarm was recorded and passed on at the fire station until pagers and radios were developed.  In the 1980’s. the fire department could be called by dialing 445-4133 and later, the 911 system was introduced. 

Mr. Deaner also recalls operating the first ambulance service in town while a high school student. The ambulance was used to transport people only.  No medical treatment was provided.  This ambulance was a 1940’s model Plymouth “Woody” Wagon.  “Woody” refers to the wood grain body style.  The wagon was used to transport flowers during funerals and was later given to the fire department to use as an apparatus. 

In 1961, the fire station was moved to its current location at 141 West Forbes Street in Stoystown.  Each year the fire department hosted a carnival where animals, tents, vendors, games and other attractions were brought into town.  Larry Barnhart remembers the carnivals as far back as the 1940’s.  Somerset County Fire Conventions were also held in Stoystown and were a big attraction for townspeople and local visitors. 

The fire department still operates out of the same building it has since 1961.  The building is referred to as the “Community Building” and still contains the library, a three bay garage and kitchen.   

American LaFrance fire engines were used throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s.  Retired firemen recall responding on calls while riding on the tailboard or sideboard position.  These older engines had no heater, air conditioning, defrosters or other modern comforts.  The firemen wore only rubber coats and boots, “Kamikaze” style helmets (WWII surplus Navy helmets) and rubber gloves.  SCBA air packs were not introduced yet.

The fire department’s original identifier was “Company Y.”  All Somerset County fire departments were identified using an alphabetical letter until 1988-1989. The identifier “Company Y” was changed to Station 604 by County Sheriff Ronald Delano, SR , David Johnson and James Karashowsky in 1988-1989.  All Somerset County Fire Department’s were given a 600 Station number at this time.  Mr. Delano and David Johnson explained how the county communications committee started with a center point in the county and worked their way from the center point (Somerset) to the county boundary lines.  The Somerset Fire Department was given the number “Station 601” since they are situated in the center of the county.   

In January of 1979 “Chinatown” burned inside the borough.  This area was a block stretching from midtown and continuing east towards the Deaner Funeral Home on Main
Street.  Some of the buildings on this block included apartments, a bar, restaurant and residential structures.  Many fire departments responded to this incident and water was used from hydrants and local ponds.  Nearby houses were evacuated and water was directed on nearby exposures as the building was unable to be saved.  Area residents recall local townspeople helping the fire department with hose line management and putting coal ashes on the streets to help the fire apparatus get through the snow.  Bingo was in session the evening the fire occurred.  Due to freezing temperatures during bingo, fire apparatus was stored in local garages, so firemen had to remember where each piece of equipment was and drive to that person's garage.

In November of 1979 the fire department purchased the second Hurst rescue tool in the county.  This tool was a 2-cycle engine that powered the “Jaws of Life.”  This tool first saw action in January of 1980 during a rescue call on Route 281 near Reading Mines. The Stoystown Volunteer Fire Department was the first department in Somerset County to purchase this type of equipment.  

In late 1979, the fire department purchased its first tanker truck.  This vehicle was a cab-over model and was used until accidentally rolled over on icy roads during a winter fire.  The tanker was replaced with the current 604-3 with the 3,700 gallon tank being made locally at Highland Tank Mfg.  

The recently retired Dodge Attack 604-2 was purchased in 1978 and was used as a first out vehicle on all calls.  This unit is powered by a gasoline 400 cc motor and was used until 2003.  In 2003 it was taken out of service and replaced with a Ford F-550 Diesel.  The “old” Attack 604-2 is still in station today.  One of its most important runs was to the UAL Flight 93 crash site where it was used to battle brush and debris fires after the crash. 

The current Rescue 604-4 replaced on older van-style ambulance in 1995.  The old van ambulance was sold to PBS Coal Company.  The fire department began its QRS Service in 1978 to assist Somerset Ambulance.  Somerset Ambulance was based in Somerset until Station 902 (located on Route 30 in Stoystown) was established on January 01, 1996.  Before that time, the ambulance response time from Somerset was often extended and the QRS (Quick Response Service) was called upon to stabilize sick or injured people until the ambulance arrived.  The QRS service stills exists today and includes EMTs , First Responders and Paramedics from the Stoystown area.   In 2006, the QRS service was called upon over 200 times. 

In 1986, the fire department purchased a 1980 lime green International fire engine from a volunteer fire company located near the outskirts of Philadelphia. The engine had a partially open can and was powered by a gasoline engine with an automatic transmission.  It was later painted red/white and a diesel motor with a six speed manual transmission was installed. 

Throughout the years, the fire department has continued to hold fund raisers and update equipment.  Newer radios, pagers, thermal imaging cameras, GPS units and digital cameras have been added to the equipment list.  Breathing apparatus have been replaced by newer models and the firefighters' personal equipment has been updated to meet modern standards.   

In 2004, the fire department purchased a 1978 American LaFrance fire engine from the West Hills Regional Fire Department (Westmont, Pennsylvania).  This engine was purchased to replace the troubling 1980 International fire engine.  The 1978 American LaFrance was built with an enclosed cab, an automatic transmission and a 1500 GPM (gallons per minute) pump.  This engine is still in service today and has been called on to respond to several building fires in neighboring towns. 

The fire department now has a web address at:  www.stoystownfire.com

Information related to events, alarms and fund raisers are found on this website. 

In July 2007, the fire department received its first ever federal grant for $105,839.00. The money was requested to update firefighter safety equipment and will be used to purchase new gear (coats-boots-helmets etc.), radios, pagers, breathing apparatus, along with many other items.