Parkland Fire Company

The Parkland Volunteer Fire Company was established in 1922.

Early years

Parkland's population explosion in the early 1920s must have ignited interest in the formation of a fire company. Early in the next year, some men from the village met in R. Tisdale’s home at the foot of Avenue C to talk over the formation and organization of a fire company. As a result, the Parkland Fire Company No. 1 was officially organized and held its first meeting on September 1, 1921, in the Community House. According to the minutes, Joseph Hibbert was the first president and Jacob Root, the first secretary.

By the time the group of firemen met again, one week later, fire company fever was spreading throughout the village. Twelve more men came to that second meeting to ask for membership applications. The records read that H. Degenhart, W. Bodenschatz, A. Henning, R. Tisdale, W. Nutler, J. C. Louden, C. Carter, J. Detweiler, Mr. Einholtz, R. Pilerio, J. Wilson and C. Waterman paid one dollar due each and were accepted into the new fire company.

On September 15, 1921, still another meeting was held. At this time the new firemen’s slate of officers was completed with H. Lake elected to the vice presidency and Irwin H. Heckroth, secretary. Fred Maag became the fire company’s first financial secretary. Also, it was on this date that they acted on the first Parkland Fire Company charter.

Meetings continued to be held, and by November 3 a constitution and the bylaws were accepted and the go-ahead was given to apply for the charter. However, the charter did not come through until early in the year 1922. During the first summer of the fire company’s existence, members raised a total of $900 from a carnival and card party. From this treasury they used $300 to purchase two lots of Avenue A. Plans called for a firehouse on those lots and the purchase of a chemical truck. Then, for some unknown reason, the fire company disbanded on October 3, 1925.

Hiatus and re-establishment

During the next twelve years, as before, Parkland continued to depend on Langhorne for the fire calls. Many old-timers recall that late in the fall of 1937 a house fire on Sunflower Avenue brought a group of young men – all members of the Parkland Boys Club meeting nearby – to the realization that the Parkland Fire Company must be reorganized. The young men persuaded Clifford Scheetz to help reactivate the dormant fire-fighting organization.

Two lots on Avenue D were acquired prior to that 1938 date so the $296.04 original treasurer Clifford Scheetz had guarded since 1921 went toward materials for a firehouse. The men of the village started to build the firehouse and didn't stop until it was completed. Probably never before, or since, has so much enthusiastic brotherly love been so evident for any one project here in Parkland.

Application was made to the First National Bank and Trust Company of Newtown, Pennsylvania, for a loan of $5,100. When their loan officer came to investigate, he happened to see the new firemen down in the excavation digging the foundation by hand. The sight so touched the man he granted the loan without question and without signatures. He was heard to remark that the determination and cooperation he witnessed was enough collateral for him.

As the men worked to build the firehouse, on weekends mostly, the women were close at hand with all sorts of good food to feed them.

Tradesmen needed in the construction of the new firehouse were mostly all from the village. Since the building was made of masonry and brick, local masons and bricklayers starred in their respective vocations. The original firehouse was a one-story building with two bays for apparatus. When the engines were out-of-doors, a large meeting hall with a stage made up most of the interior, bordered by a kitchen, rest rooms and a coatroom. The first officers of the fire company, after reorganization, were Walter B. Carter, president; Jacob H. Root, financial secretary; Ernest S. Roper, secretary; and Clifford Scheetz, treasurer.

The company’s first fire truck was a 1938 Ford made especially for Parkland by a firm in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. It boasted a 500-gallon tank with a front mounted pump. Appreciated possession came their way when Edward J. Pierson donated 2 lots next door to the firehouse. It came in mighty handy for carnivals and for parking.

The fire company purchased their second new truck in 1947. It was a Maxim with 500-gallon capacity and a 500-gpm pumper.

Ladies' Auxiliary

The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Parkland Fire Company organized on December 8, 1921 and elected Mrs. Marion Pierson, president; and Mrs. Leah Tisdale, treasurer. The women met in the Scheetz recreation room at first. During the second year of the auxiliary’s existence they boasted a membership of eighty, but unfortunately, they too disbanded in 1925.

When the auxiliary reorganized in 1938, membership totaled eighty-eight. Mrs. Dorothy Huntzinger was elected their first president.

Much credit can go to the auxiliary for it was through their efforts, hard work and “nothing-is-impossible” attitude that enough capital was raised to maintain the building and equipment during the trying years of World War II. In recognition of the auxiliary continued to serve refreshments. Coveted trophies are aptly displayed in the firehouse as mementos of company participation in many fire company and other parades.

More recent years

From its meager beginning until now the fire company has prospered. The original building seems more than double in size since an addition in 1950. Added was a huge engine room, releasing the hall for recreation. The old doors from that part were removed and a matching brick front replaced them. The new garage section housed a much-in-demand tanker; a rescue unit equipped with resuscitator, stretchers, portable lighting and other rescue necessities; two pumpers; a radio room, large refrigeration unit and heater are there. The lower level facility and the original building are air-conditioned. The seemingly tremendous growth in the ten years led to the acquisition of a club and catering license issued May 10, 1960. In addition, the company owns three rental properties and two extra parking lots.

It was hard to imagine how the company operated prior to 1953 before the luxury of a two-way radio system. The firemen are indebted to one of their own, the late R. Mark Edwards for the acquisition and installation of two-way radios in all fire company rolling stock, and in the establishment of a base radio station in the firehouse. The resulting need for radio operators, their schooling and licensing, was met with his help also. Mr. Edwards was responsible too for requisitioning a tanker, proven a very valuable addition to the fire company and to neighboring companies, too.

In 1955, the fire company purchased a GMC truck with a 750 gpm pump and 1000-gallon tank. Nine years later, in 1964, they added a GMC Hy-Pressure and rescue truck holding 500 gallons of water, to their fleet of rolling stock.

Parkland Fire Company, its territory grown to include Langhorne Terrace, is a member of the Skyline Fire District Association, reported to be the only active organized group of fire-protection, fire-fighting personnel in the state of Pennsylvania. Its inception came about in 1949 when fire companies from three boroughs - Langhorne, Penndel and Hulmeville – teamed with Parkland to discuss closer cooperation for dates for fund drives, dinners and the like. When headway was slow, Angus Johnson, Middletown’s first manager, was invited to help. From then on, meetings were held in the township building with Mr. Johnson’s help and the Four Company Fire Association was formed. The township was divided four ways – in the fire company language - with each having a section to protect and solicit from. This proved very helpful. The Skyline Fire District Association now consists of Langhorne, Parkland, Penndel, and William Penn.

As of 2003, Parklands Fire Company has started construction on new housing for their 1994 Ford F3 extended cab Field truck, 1996 Ford F350 Special Services truck and the Trench–Collapse rescue trailer. The new house will also include bunkers for sleeping, a full bathroom, cascade system and a meeting room. Included in their rolling stock is 1996 Pierce Lance Engine and a 1999 E1 Heavy Rescue truck.