The Fight For Motorization

May 14, 1919 after trying in previous years to go motorized in late May the Vigilant Hose Company announced that they want a motorized fire engine and have established a committee. The company planned to launch a fund drive to purchase a rig. At the June Council session a delegation from the Vigilant’s made a request for motorized fire apparatus. With no progress the Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies both presented their cases for motorization at the August council session. Over the next several months American LaFrance visited Shippensburg and the local News Papers took up the cause of getting the firemen motorized equipment. By October Council set dates to visit Dillsburg, York and Carlisle for the purpose of inspecting their fire apparatus. No further action was taken by Council until there March 1920 session when they introduced an ordinance to purchase an American LaFrance rotary gear pumper and a Ford chemical wagon. In Councils May 1920 session the ordinance was finally passed to purchase two pieces of motorized fire apparatus for the borough companies. In July Council voted as to where to place the apparatus with the ALF pumper going to the C.V.’s and the Ford chemical going to the Vigilant’s. This started another riff between the Vigilant’s and Council, which will be covered, in a different post. On September 11, 1920 the American LaFrance combination chemical and hose car mounted on a Ford 1-ton chassis arrived in Shippensburg. On November 8, 1920 the American LaFrance “Junior” pumper arrived in Shippensburg finally giving the two companies a motorized piece of equipment.

There has been major incidents to occur on this day but this is an entry that needed to made someplace and the best place seemed like the beginning.