Shippensburg Fire Department: Vigilant Ladies Aux.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Community Ambulance Completes First Year Of Service

On Thursday May 26, 1932 the Cumberland Valley Hose Company Community Ambulance completed exactly one year of service to Shippensburg and the surrounding community. In the year the ambulance made 85 trips and massed over 4,000 miles.

This photograph appeared in The News Chronicle on May 26, 1967. Pictured are the officers of the Vigilant Ladies Auxiliary. Seated from left to right are Dolores Myers, president; Blanche Mastalski, vice president; Nancy Holtry, treasurer. Standing left to right is Evelyn Helm and Catherine Sanders, trustees and Nancy Thompson, secretary.

Bradley Myers

Born into a fire service family firefighting is the only thing I knew for many years. I started my career with the CV Hose in Shippensburg in 1977 until I became old enough to join my family at the Vigilant's in February 1979. After getting married I moved to the other end of town within walking distance of the West End Fire and Rescue. After a few years of traveling across town to never catch a rig it just made sence to change my active status. I am also a member of the Empire Hook and Ladder, Carlisle and the Camp Curtain Volunteers No. 13 in Harrisburg along with numerous other fire service organizations.

I have spent many years researching the history of the SFD and this will be a way for me to share it with others.