Vigilant Bell Removed From Station...

Ken Nehf Sr. and Charlie Myers check out the bell up close.

Henry McShane & Co. Baltimore, Md. 1844

Tuesday (September 13, 2011) morning I set out on the bike for my weekly trip to Shippensburg to photograph the two building construction sites. I stopped and got a few photos of the Vigilant building and was heading down King Street when I noticed a group of men setting on the steps of the old Barbour Funeral home. As I was riding by they pointed to the Vigilant station and the work going on there. I just got lucky that I showed up as Brechbill & Helman the Vigilant's general contractors were about to remove the bell from the tower above the building. Not wanting to miss some history and a chance to see the bell up close I stopped and photograph this event. There was about 10 guys watching many with strong roots to the Viggies, three generations of Nehf's, two generations of Myers's J.D. Byers and a few others.

The information on one side of the bell is posted with the photo, the other side says Vigilant Fire Co. organized Feby. 22, 1843. The bell will be cleaned up and placed in the the new buidling when completed. For some history of the bell click this link for a previous post. This bell is like a fire apparatus bell having been in all three buidlings the Vigilant's have occupied. I am just glad I got to witness this event.

Building Updates...

Sorry no photographs today, after a week of rain and working it is hard to type on this thing when I can be riding the bike. I traveled to Shippensburg yesterday and photographed the work being done on the new Shippensburg Emergency Services Building, I am sorry but that is just to much to say so from now on I will refer to it as what it is the Vigilant Hose Company Station. Block is being laid and most of the buildings foot print is starting to show. I also got to see the floor plans of the building but like a dumb ass I did not photograph them, maybe next time. As for the WEFR building nothing has been done since I was there last Monday. When I stopped I was informed that the construction company said it was to wet.
I did have a bonus by stopping in Shippensburg yesterday, but you will have to wait until tomorrow morning to see it.

Quick Post On SAEMS...

Just a quick post today and maybe my last for a week as I am back to work today and it looks like it will be the tour from hell. My guess is I wont be back home much before next week sometime, I have worked to many floods in this city and I hope it will be my last one. When I photographed the WEFR building on Labor Day I noticed the new sign on the building advertising SAEMS Station 2 and the bus sitting out back. This is the first time I have seen the bus there. Before anyone gets there panties in a bunch I only stop by once a week so maybe it is there more often. I did try to add a video of the trusses being set on the WEFR addition but blogger did not want to cooperate.

You Are Up To Date On The New WEFR Addition...

A good view of the rear, engine bays on the left and gear room in the center. This shows how they blended the existing and new roofs together.

The gear room from the front hallway.

With the exception of the work that was done on Tuesday these photographs will bring everyone up to date on the project. All of these were taken on Monday September 5, 2001. As you can see in the last photograph some brick work was started and looks like it will match up very nice. With the exception of the brick work the outside of the building is getting wrapped up, the earth has been leveled off in the engine bays and the outside are cleaned up. The first two views show how the project is coming along and looks like it will be a great looking building. A doubt much work was done yesterday since we are in the middle of the monsoon season here in Central Pa. , this all coming right after our earthquake season. With the weather and work I will probably not get by again this week until Saturday or Sunday.

We Are Almost Caught Up...

I almost have you caught up on the WEFR building addition. These photographs were taken on August 30, 2011. The roof has been finished, the second floor of the watch room is on and dirt was being moved in the engine bays. In the next to last photograph you can see how the roof was cut into the existing engine room roof, this was delayed until after the hurricane past and by now it should also be sheeted. I will be back today to take more photographs and try to have them posted by Tuesday or Wednesday bringing you up to date. This week I will start the new Vigilant building posts.

More Of WEFR's Addition...

I am sorry to be boring everyone with the photos of WEFR's building. I assume I am since only a couple of you are watching. I was trying to keep the folks that moved away informed but I seem to only be getting to the past Mayor on a regular basis. I guess when I took a break from posting I lost most of you. We are almost caught up with the construction on this building after posting five straight days. All of these were taken on August 26, 2011. I have mentioned do not feel at this point I need to say much about the photos as you should be recognizing the areas of the building by now. These photos as well as all my other posts of the building are in a timeline with the first shot to the last shot. I was up at the beginning of the week and photographed the progress again and they will be coming soon, I hope to get back by Monday again if I am not forced to stay in the hell hole they call a firehouse I work at.

The Work Continues...

Roof trusses have arrived and are the building is almost ready for them.

The masonry work is complete and the ties are in place ready for the brick work.

Mechanical room in the back corner, more wall will be put up across the rear.

View from the rear of the new engine bays.

The view from the gear room showing the two doors (in and out of the engine room) and door way leading to the front hall and watch room. This is where five of us were at when the great earthquake struck the area. The wall in the upper right of the photo that connects to the front wall made knocking sounds and was swinging back and forth. Thankfully it did not fall and we were all safe. On a side note I had one lawn chair topple over from the great quake but I plan to rebuild.

View of side Delta (I guess I paid attention in the nimms class) side showing the decorative block, two personel doors, bay door and the two windows.

All of these photographs were taken on August 23, 2011. By this time roof truss were to be set but rain and other complications delayed this to the following week. Earlier in the day the walls were filled with concrete to ready them for the trusses. I know WEFR has been doing a week by week update but I am hoping that the additional images will give you a better over all view of the construction process. It will also provide another form of documentation for history.