Barn And Two Out Buildings Destroyed In Lurgan Township

On May 20, 2002 at 7:15 p.m. Franklin County 911 alerted a 51 box for a barn fire at 7753 Brethren Church Road, Lurgan Township. When crews arrived they found a barn and two attached wagon sheds well involved. Along with the buildings a car, tractor, motorcycle, lumber and other items were lost. Approximately 50 firefighters from nine companies battled the blaze and remained on the scene until 1:30 a.m. One civilian was injured. Firefighters shuttled water from a nearby stream. A damage estimate or cause was unavailable. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

Cumberland County Firemen Organize

On May 19, 1927 sixty Cumberland county firemen representing 12 companies attended an organizational meeting of the Cumberland County Firemen’s Association held in Carlisle. Officers were elected.

Criswell’s Warehouse Burned To The Ground

On May 18, 1869 a few minutes past one o’clock in the afternoon an alarm of fire was sounded in Shippensburg. Firemen soon found the fire to be in the rear of Criswell’s warehouse on Railroad Street. Flames spread rapidly in the two-story frame building causing its complete destruction. The building was only 18-months old built after fire destroyed the previous building on the site. Firemen concentrated their efforts on protecting two nearby dwellings and a stable. A damage estimate was not available. Charles Railing of the Cumberland Valley Fire Company suffered a broken arm after it got caught under a brake on the engine while he was trying to attach a hose. The Vigilant Fire and Cumberland Valley Fire companies answered the alarm.

Pinola Road Buildings Burn

On May 17, 1979 in the evening hours firemen from four companies were alerted to a fire on the Pinola Road, Shippensburg R.D. 3. Firefighters arrived to find a workshop and chick shed well involved. A damage estimate and cause were not available. The West End Fire and Rescue, Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the alarm.

Hunting Cabin Destroyed In Early Morning Fire

On May 16, 1962 at 3:30 a.m. the Vigilant Hose Company was sent t the Locust Inn on Shippensburg R.R. 2 for a cabin fire after a neighbor spotted flames coming from the building and called the Shippensburg radio room. When firemen arrived the building was well involved and had extended to the mountain. Efforts were made to stop the spread of fire and protect a nearby garage. The cause was undetermined and a dollar loss was not available. The Vigilant’s returned to quarters about 4:45 a.m.

KGD-556 Begins Broadcasting

On Sunday May 15, 1955 the Cumberland County civil defense radio network was placed into service. The aerial was placed on the municipal building (Vigilant fire station) the day before. Three 60-watt stations cover Cumberland County, the one in Shippensburg and one in the county jail at Carlisle and the West Shore police headquarters. Seventy trucks, ambulances and cars belonging to Cumberland County fire fighting units were equipped with 30 watt sending and receiving radios. In Shippensburg two fire trucks and both ambulances of the Cumberland Valley Hose were equipped and the ladder truck of the Vigilant Hose was equipped with radios. Other units covered by Shippensburg’s station included two pieces from the Newville Fire Company and one from Centerville.

The Shippensburg station was to be manned 24 hours a day by members of the Shippensburg police force. The FCC certified patrolmen as operators of the local station.

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.

Wash House Destroyed, House Saved

On May 13, 1946 at 7:30 a.m. firemen were sent to the Ritner Highway, one mile north of town for a wash house fire. A hot fire in the fireplace used to heat water started the fire. The wash house was destroyed and a corner of the house was scorched. Damages were estimated at $500. The Vigilant Hose Company battled the blaze.

Two-Alarm Fire Damages Chambersburg House

On May 12, 2006 at 10:49 p.m., a Company 1 box was alerted to a house for at 352 West Burkhart Avenue, Chambersburg. A two-alarm fire that started on the back porch and extended to the second floor caused extensive damage to both sides of a duplex. Approximately 30 firefighters from five companies battled the blaze. A cause and dollar loss was not reported. The West End Fire and Rescue Company assisted at the scene.

Fire Guts Lurgan Twp. Home

On May 11, 1990 at 8:36 p.m. a Lurgan Township box was struck for a fire at 10,348 Otterbein School Road. When firefighter arrived the first floor was well involved and rapidly extending to the second floor in the two story stone farmhouse. Firefighters from six companies battled the suspicious fire. Several firefighters were injured; one was transported to Chambersburg Hospital. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

Arson Fire Destroys Barn In Pleasant Hall

On May 10, 1987 at 8:39 p.m. a Pleasant Hall firefighter was emptying trash when he spotted a barn fire to the rear of the station. Firefighters from seven companies were on the scene quickly and extinguished the blaze but not before it caused considerable damage. One firefighter was injured and treated at Chambersburg Hospital and released. Firefighters left the scene at 10:19 p.m. A damage estimate was not available. This was one of a string of arson fires in the area in a few week time period. The Vigilant Hose Company and the West End Fire and Rescue companies assisted at the scene.

This photograph ended up having a greater significance later in the year, does any one remember what that was?

Fire Kills 700 Chickens

On May 9, 1928 in the late morning hours, the cry of fire was heard in Jacksonville. A brooder coal stove started a fire that destroyed a brooder and chicken house, 700 chickens were killed in the fire. A small frame building was also destroyed and the side of the house was scorched. Citizens formed a bucket brigade and were able to save surrounding buildings. Damages were estimated at $1,000. The Cumberland Valley Hose Company answered the alarm.

Hayes Saw And Planing Mill Destroyed In Large Fire

On May 8, 1875 around 5:00 p.m. firemen were aroused by the cry of fire. It was soon realized that the location of the fire was the large saw and planing mill belonging to Dr. D.D. Hayes located at the corner of Railroad and Orange Street, Shippensburg.

When firemen arrived the fire was in the middle and south side of the building. The fire did not spread beyond the building of origin initially because the roof was made mostly of gravel. Many of the cellars on the east side of Railroad Street were filled with water so the Vigilant Fire Company's engine was soon placed in service drafting from them, and placing three lines on the fire. The Cumberland Valley Fire Company's engine was taken to Orange Street and a line was placed in service there. The firemen soon realized that they could not extinguish the large fire and attempts were made to protect the nearby buildings. The intense heat was to much for the surrounding buildings and soon a number of buildings opposite the mill were ablaze. On Orange Street a one-story structure used for storing finished work was burning, on Railroad Street four dwellings were soon ablaze, including those owned by Judge Ruby and Dr. Stewart. The Vigilant engine after exhausting the water in the cellars and wells on Railroad Street was moved to the Branch and pumped a strong uninterrupted stream until the arrival of the Chambersburg steamer. A telegraph was sent to Chambersburg and the fire department was soon loading a train, the train was delayed but still made it to Shippensburg in time to help the effort. The Chambersburg steamer was placed on Orange Street at the Branch stream and soon a heavy stream of water from it was being played on the fire. The Cumberland boys after emptying the wells on Orange Street moved their engine to the C.V. Railroad water tank and flowed water there until the tank was drained. The Shippensburg News reported that the brakes were fully manned, and at no time was there a lack of willing hands and strong arms to keep the engines working.

During the blaze borough authorities requested the hotel and saloon keepers to close their bars for the evening to keep the rowdyism down. One Cumberland Valley fireman was injured when he got caught between the brakes and platform of the engine. In Carlisle the Court House bell was rung alerting firemen to the incident. The apparatus was readied and the Empire Hook and Ladder Company was placed on a car and an engine from the South Mountain R.R. was hooked up to transport them to the fire, but their services were not needed.

Damages were estimated in excess $40,000, a very large sum of money for 1875, could you imagine what that would amount to today. Just think of the amount of alarms we would have gone to and the quantity of fire apparatus, remember this was worked with two hand engines, a steamer, two hose reels and possibly a hose carriage.

I don't like to go to many days without a photograph on my post and they are just hard to come by so for today I will post one of the Vigilant ribbons I have in my collection.

Arson Fire Destroys Vacant House

On May 7, 1990 at 3:53 a.m. firefighters were alerted to a house fire on the Britton Road, Southampton Twp. Cumberland County. When firefighters arrived they found a vacant house well involved in fire. Approximately 50 firefighters from six companies battled the blaze that completely destroyed the 2-1/2-story frame house. Damages were estimated at $9,500. The cause of the fire was listed as arson. The Vigilant Hose, Cumberland Valley Hose and West End Fire and Rescue companies operated at the scene.

Fire Destroys Garage And Car

On May 6, 1943 at 4:15 p.m. an alarm of fire was sounded for Seneca Street and Jones Alley (rear of West King Street). Firemen arrived to find a three-car garage and car involved in flames. The extremely dense smoke hampered firefighting efforts. Firemen had the blaze under control quickly but not before it destroyed the car and badly damaged the garage. Damages were estimated at $1,500, a cause was not listed. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies answered the call.

Scotland Fire Company To Get New Building

In the Friday May 5, 1933 edition of The News Chronicle it was reported that the Scotland Fire Company was building a new fire hall and community building. The main hall to be 60 feet, 4 inches long and 34 feet and 4 inches wide and equipped with a hard floor when finished. The main hall to used for a gymnasium, community meetings, church suppers and others things. There will also be an annex to the building to be used as a kitchen and for holding township elections and to store the chemical fire engine when not in use.

The building was being build with concrete blocks and steel. It was located almost at the outskirts of town along the Fayetteville Pike. When finished the building would cost approximately $4,000.

Jennie Cameron

The Jennie Cameron was a four-wheel hose carriage that was purchased by town council from the Hope Fire Company, Harrisburg, Pa. for the Vigilant Fire Company in August 1877. To tell the story of the Jennie Cameron I need to start in Harrisburg in 1866.

A the soldiers monument fair, September 1866, held at the State Capitol a number of fund raising events were held to help fund the erection of a monument. I could go into greater detail on the monument its location and the reason for it but I will try and keep the information centered on the rig itself. One of the events held by the committee was a polling, or purchasing of votes by the seven different fire companies of the city.

The prize for the company gathering the majority of the votes was a hose reel. The reel was a gift of Mrs. Virginia “Jennie” Cameron MacVeagh, the daughter of Simon Cameron, President Lincoln’s first Secretary of War. The carriage was awarded to the Hope Engine Company No. 2, which after the votes were tallied garnered 548 votes.

The Button Company of Seneca Falls, N.Y, built the hose carriage. As stated in the Harrisburg Telegraph the carriage was handsome in design and elegant in its ornamentation. The unit was built as a parade carriage, painted white and was valued at $700. On April 18, 1867 the Hope took possession of the rig.

In February 1877 the Hope moved to give the trustees the power to sell the Jennie Cameron. In April of the same year the company agreed to sell the carriage for $400. In May a committee of firemen from Shippensburg traveled to Harrisburg to look over the rig. In June town council offered the Hope $300 for the rig, they were informed that the price was $400 and they would go no lower. In August the sale was completed and on August 4, 1877 the Vigilant’s took possession of the carriage.

There are many stories about the Jennie Cameron from it being shipped down the valley during the railroad riots to the bells that adorned it; all can be read at the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum in Harrisburg. All are probably true stories but they apply to two different carriages. When the Jennie Cameron was placed in the museum and the history boards placed behind it we believed that it was the rig the Hope won in 1867. But after research by David Houseal and myself it was determined that the rig in the museum is not the original Jennie Cameron but a rig purchased in 1858 and that the Jennie Cameron had been sold to Shippensburg.

Because the paper never mentioned the rig by name or of council or the company selling a carriage of this type it is not known when the Vigilant’s stopped using it or what its final outcome was. Unfortunately the Vigilant’s no longer have their minutes from this time period. There is only two know photographs of the rig, one a stereoscope view taken July 4, 1876 in front of the Hope and the other a post card from the 1889 Pennsylvania Sate Convention held in Carlisle. Because of this card we know the Vigilant’s still had the carriage in September 1889. In December 1908 the Vigilant’s got a new hose wagon. They may have used the rig up until then but I doubt they used the rig after this.

If you have never been to the Museum make it a point to stop sometime. The carriage on display (Jennie Cameron 1858) there is much like the one the Vigilant’s used. The building is beautiful and the artifacts are second to none.

If you click on the photographs they will get larger. The quality is not the best but that is what we have and it is better than no photographs. In the post card the Jennie Cameron is in the center of the picture to the left of the steamer.

I guess I failed to point out that no major incident occurred on this date, unless it was last year and I have not entered that information yet.

P&R Engine Drops A Spark On Roof Causing Fire

On May 3, 1909 at 11:45 a.m. a passing Philadelphia and Reading Railroad dropped a spark on the roof of a house in the area of the P&R freight yard on Seneca Street. The strong winds along with the construction of the nearly 100-year-old house spread the fire rapidly. Both hose companies were on the seen quickly and had three streams of water playing on the fire. The second floor and attic were destroyed. A damage estimate was not available. The Vigilant Hose and Cumberland Valley Hose companies battled the blaze.

Bank Barn And Outbuildings Burn Near Mowersville

On May 2, 1951 at 3:30 p.m. while working the fields, Mr. Beam and his son spotted flames shooting from the roof of their barn. The younger Beam ran to the barn where he opened the doors to free the cows and pulled two pigs out of the pen buy their ears, burning his arms in the process. A passing Cumberland Valley Cooperative truck went to the Mowersville store and called firemen.

When the Vigilant hosemen arrived they obtained water from a pond on the farm and fought the blaze for several hours. Besides the barn a milk house, wagon shed, chicken house and pigpen along with four heifers were lost in the fire. Also lost was five tons of straw, a half-ton of fertilizer and a quantity of hay. Damages were estimated at $20,000. A cause was not available. The Vigilant Hose Company answered the alarm. They were called back later in the evening to extinguish burning embers.

The photograph today was sent to me by Kevin Nehf. It is the Baltimore Road fire that occurred on April 23, 1982 and appeared in the Shippensburg News Chronicle. Here is a link to the posting http://shippensburgfiredepartment.blogspot.com/2008/04/house-burns-down-on-baltimore-road.html

3 Hustontown Firefighter’s Die In Well

On May 1, 1990 at 5:30 p.m. members of the Hustontown Volunteer Fire Company in Fulton County were out performing a service call. They were requested to pump out a covered unused well that was emitting a foul odor.

When the pump was placed at the top of the well it was not able to draft water from the well so two firefighters took the pump down into the well and started it. After about 15 minutes one of the firefighters complained that he was starting to feel sick. A firefighter entered the well in an attempt to rescue the men but was unable to do so. Another firefighter descended the ladder and tied a rope around one of the unconscious firefighters. Other firefighters entered the well in an attempt to rescue their brothers but only one made it out alive. Thomas Lane, 39, James Chestnut Jr. 20, and Richard Hershey, 40 perished in the well. It was later determined that all three died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Additional resources were requested at 7:30 p.m. including the Vigilant Hose Company for the Shippensburg Area Vertical Extrication and Search Team (S.A.V.E.S. Team) with 14 men. The team under the direction of Larry Kerns set up a haul system and monitored the atmosphere in the 38-foot deep well. Danny Byers and Jim Pickings were lowered through the four-foot opening. Within five minutes Byers located the victim about four to five feet below the water with a pike pole. A harness was attached to the victim and he was brought to the surface.

In all firefighters from more than a dozen companies were on the scene along with Life Flight helicopter from Geisinger Medical Center, two medic units and a scuba team from Huntington County. About two-dozen people were treated at a local hospital.

The three firefighters were buried a few days later with full fire department honors.