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Connellsville Township VFD History
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In the late months of 1939 a group of men from Connellsville
Township had been meeting in some of their homes, with the
purpose of forming a badly needed volunteer fire department.
They had discussed many ways to finance the department and
had worked up a set of by-laws from by-laws loaned to them from
area fire departments.
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On the evening of January 24, 1940 the first formal meeting of the
Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department was held.
During the meeting Administrative Officers were elected, by-laws
were voted on and adopted and plans were made to apply to the
Commonwealth for a Charter. At a meeting held in late January
1940, business transacted to establish dues, raise the necessary
funds to apply for the Charter and determined that the Charter
would be closed on March 24, 1940.
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In October 1940, CTVFD received their Charter from the Commonwealth and had it
recorded at the courthouse in Uniontown. In December 1940 the first annual
election of officers was held and the business of the department moved along. A
used Packard Sedan was purchased from Frank Gallo and used as a squad truck.
The original Studabaker became unreliable, and discussions began with
representatives of American LaFrance to purchase a replacement. In May 1941 the
department looked into purchasing a 1923 American LaFrance pumper from Mr.
Herbert D. Porter of Pittsburgh. The pumper was originally purchased new from
American LaFrance by the Ligonier Volunteer Fire Department. The pumper was a
right hand drive (the driver sat on the right side of the truck), had a 750 gpm Rotary
gear pump made of solid brass, a 300 gallon tank, a chain drive and solid rubber
tires on the rear wheels. The pumper was purchased by CTVFD for $900.00.
In June 1941 the members decided to purchase property in Connellsville Township
to build a permanent home for CTFVD. Three lots on Rodgers Avenue in the
Hillcrest section of Connellsville Township were purchased. Although they had the
property, it would be several years before any further action was taken to build a
new station. The City of Connellsville granted the department a permit and a garage
was built at the Sligo Office to house the fire truck and squad. In September of this
year the members of Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department fought its
first major fire by assisting the City of Connellsville Fire Department at Dulls
Warehouse on McCormick Avenue.
Throughout the war years progress for the department was very slow. In April 1946
Mrs. DeMire contacted the fire department and offered to trade four lots of property
she owned for the property owned by the fire department. Mrs. DeMire planned to
open a night club and wanted to be facing Rodgers Avenue and not on a side street.
After debate and consideration the trade was agreed to and Mrs. DeMire was given
the lots on Rodgers Avenue (the present day Sons of Italy) and the fire department
received the property on the west side of what was then known as North 12th
Street. North 12th Street was later renamed to Fireman's Street. Work on the new
station, however, would not begin until February 1953.
Over the years, the 1923 American LaFrance became worn out and the department
was looking into replacing it. In September 1947 the department purchased a Dodge
chassis and cab with a power take off for $2000.00. Once delivered, the 1923
LaFrance was taken out of service and the new LaFance was fitted with a the pump
and redesigned hose bed. The new truck was painted white and lettered. The
color white has been the standard for all department vehicles from that time
forward. However, there are records which show that the actual approved vehicle
color is supposed to be Robin Egg Blue. It has never been discovered who or why
this color change was made.
Throughout the ensuing years growth continued for the Connellsville Township
Volunteer Fire Department. Additional apparatus was purchased, the new station
was completed, membership grew and the department prospered. In January 1956
the Fayette County Firemen's Association began a program to outfit the fire
departments throughout Fayette County with two-way radios and a Control Center.
The department purchased a base radio and three mobile radios in late 1956. It was
not until March of 1957, however, until the equipment went on the air along with the
other companies in Fayette County.
The members of Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department continued their
efforts to grow and become a better department. The foundations laid by these
predecessors are the foundations which we follow still today. The foundation of
commitment to the people of the communities we serve... The foundation of
protecting life and property... The foundation of service to others before ourselves.
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Prepared with excerpts from history written by Fred R. Gustafson
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On March 29, 1940 during a Special meeting of the Department, a heated discussion
took place as to where the temporary home of the department should be located.
Finally, it was decided to rent the old Sligo Mill Office on North Pittsburgh Street
Extension. In April of that year members of the department traveled to Bedford, Pa
and purchased the first department vehicle, a Studabaker Fire Truck. This truck was
brought back to Connellsville Township repaired and placed into service. Now
ready to do some actual firefighting, in April of 1940, Connellsville Township
Volunteer Fire Department elected their first Line Officers.
In the late months of 1939 a group of men from Connellsville
Township had been meeting in some of their homes, with the
purpose of forming a badly needed volunteer fire department.
They had discussed many ways to finance the department and
had worked up a set of by-laws from by-laws loaned to them from
area fire departments.
On the evening of January 24, 1940 the first formal meeting of the
Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department was held.
During the meeting Administrative Officers were elected, by-laws
were voted on and adopted and plans were made to apply to the
Commonwealth for a Charter. At a meeting held in late January
1940, business transacted to establish dues, raise the necessary
funds to apply for the Charter and determined that the Charter
would be closed on March 24, 1940.
On March 29, 1940 during a Special meeting of the Department, a heated discussion
took place as to where the temporary home of the department should be located.
Finally, it was decided to rent the old Sligo Mill Office on North Pittsburgh Street
Extension. In April of that year members of the department traveled to Bedford, Pa
and purchased the first department vehicle, a Studabaker Fire Truck. This truck was
brought back to Connellsville Township repaired and placed into service. Now
ready to do some actual firefighting, in April of 1940, Connellsville Township
Volunteer Fire Department elected their first Line Officers.
In October 1940, CTVFD received their Charter from the Commonwealth and had it
recorded at the courthouse in Uniontown. In December 1940 the first annual
election of officers was held and the business of the department moved along. A
used Packard Sedan was purchased from Frank Gallo and used as a squad truck.
The original Studabaker became unreliable, and discussions began with
representatives of American LaFrance to purchase a replacement. In May 1941 the
department looked into purchasing a 1923 American LaFrance pumper from Mr.
Herbert D. Porter of Pittsburgh. The pumper was originally purchased new from
American LaFrance by the Ligonier Volunteer Fire Department. The pumper was a
right hand drive (the driver sat on the right side of the truck), had a 750 gpm Rotary
gear pump made of solid brass, a 300 gallon tank, a chain drive and solid rubber
tires on the rear wheels. The pumper was purchased by CTVFD for $900.00.
In June 1941 the members decided to purchase property in Connellsville Township
to build a permanent home for CTFVD. Three lots on Rodgers Avenue in the
Hillcrest section of Connellsville Township were purchased. Although they had the
property, it would be several years before any further action was taken to build a
new station. The City of Connellsville granted the department a permit and a garage
was built at the Sligo Office to house the fire truck and squad. In September of this
year the members of Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department fought its
first major fire by assisting the City of Connellsville Fire Department at Dulls
Warehouse on McCormick Avenue.
Throughout the war years progress for the department was very slow. In April 1946
Mrs. DeMire contacted the fire department and offered to trade four lots of property
she owned for the property owned by the fire department. Mrs. DeMire planned to
open a night club and wanted to be facing Rodgers Avenue and not on a side street.
After debate and consideration the trade was agreed to and Mrs. DeMire was given
the lots on Rodgers Avenue (the present day Sons of Italy) and the fire department
received the property on the west side of what was then known as North 12th
Street. North 12th Street was later renamed to Fireman's Street. Work on the new
station, however, would not begin until February 1953.
Over the years, the 1923 American LaFrance became worn out and the department
was looking into replacing it. In September 1947 the department purchased a Dodge
chassis and cab with a power take off for $2000.00. Once delivered, the 1923
LaFrance was taken out of service and the new LaFance was fitted with a the pump
and redesigned hose bed. The new truck was painted white and lettered. The
color white has been the standard for all department vehicles from that time
forward. However, there are records which show that the actual approved vehicle
color is supposed to be Robin Egg Blue. It has never been discovered who or why
this color change was made.
Throughout the ensuing years growth continued for the Connellsville Township
Volunteer Fire Department. Additional apparatus was purchased, the new station
was completed, membership grew and the department prospered. In January 1956
the Fayette County Firemen's Association began a program to outfit the fire
departments throughout Fayette County with two-way radios and a Control Center.
The department purchased a base radio and three mobile radios in late 1956. It was
not until March of 1957, however, until the equipment went on the air along with the
other companies in Fayette County.
The members of Connellsville Township Volunteer Fire Department continued their
efforts to grow and become a better department. The foundations laid by these
predecessors are the foundations which we follow still today. The foundation of
commitment to the people of the communities we serve... The foundation of
protecting life and property... The foundation of service to others before ourselves.
That is why our motto is...
"We Serve Because We Care"
1940 to 2006
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