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HISTORY
of the
CONCORDVILLE FIRE & PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
In the year 1924, a group of local businessmen held a meeting at the home of Fred M. Schwalm, located on what is now the Concord Country Club property. The meeting was called to consider means of checking the wave of petty night thefts prevalent at that time across the Township, as well as to talk over the possibility of a future community fire company. Present at that meeting were the following: Fred M. Schwalm, Dr. H. H. Darlington, C. Canby Darlington, Howard C. Garrett, Taylor W. Richards, Paul L. Willits, and J. Gilbert Schrader. An organization was formed that night and given the name of "Concordville Fire & Protective Association," with temporary officers as follows: Fred M. Schwalm, President; Dr. H. H. Darlington, Vice President; Howard C. Garrett, Secretary; J. Gilbert Schrader, Financial Secretary; Paul L. Willits, Treasurer; and C. Canby Darlington, Fire Chief.
 July 22, 1925 a public meeting was held in Concordville Hall at which time the organization was confirmed and officers as above stated were elected. From this date until the spring of 1927, several meetings were held to discuss the development of the organization.
April 21, 1927 the Charter was ordered.
The Charter was later signed on February 24, 1928 and on March 8, 1928 the charter was completed.
On April 26, 1928, at a public meeting, Mr. George H. Hill, then president of the Delaware County Firemen's Association, presented our charter to Dr. H. H. Darlington.
The first piece of equipment was a soda and acid tank mounted on a frame between two carriage wheels, with a clamp for quick attachment to the rear bumper of a car. The 1924 Willys Knight was the property of Canby Darlington and towed by him when needed.
 December 1928, an order was given to the Seddon Motor Co. of Flourtown PA, for a ½-ton Federal chassis with four 80-gallon horizontal connected water tanks, 300' and two 500' sections of high-pressure 3/4" hose nested in baskets. Delivery was made March 24, 1929. Cost of the chassis was $1700.00 and the mounted equipment $2105.00.
 On March 29, 1929, work began on the first firehouse, located in the parking area of our current location. Dr. H. H. Darlington leased the ground to the Company for $1.00 annually, the dollar always being returned as a donation. The rectangular one-story block building housed the engine, with space on one side for shuffleboards and an open area in the rear for recreation and meetings. A fireplace also added to the comfort during the winter months. In front of the building was mounted a large locomotive band tire, with an iron striking sledge, a token of the days when fire alarms were thus sounded.
April 1929, our company joined the Delaware County Firemen's Association.
Dedication of the new building took place on May 31, 1929, sponsored by Lenni Heights, Feltonville, Media and Chester Township Fire Companies.
The first regular meeting was held in the new firehouse on June 6, 1929.
In 1932 need for another engine of the tank-type was discussed and in October a used Pierce-Arrow chassis was ordered with a 1000 gallon tank and other necessary equipment mounted. ($450 for the used chassis and $550 to construct the tank, mount a ladder, paint the vehicle and add an exhaust whistle. This truck was delivered January 12, 1933, and in May 1934, a Barton front pump was mounted on it.
 In 1942, to provide more space, it was voted to buy the Chapel across the road, and remodel it to suit our needs. The cost of the Chapel was $1200. We moved into it and held our first meeting there February 11, 1943. The original building was sold and torn down.
In 1942, 14 years after the Concordville Fire & Protective Association received its charter, a handful of women organized the Ladies' Auxiliary to give a helping hand to the firemen.
On November 8, 1945, a 1000-gallon tank truck complete with a 500-gallon per minute pump was ordered from the Hahn Fire Equipment Co. at a cost of $6,872.00. Due to shortages in materials, delivery was delayed for many months.
The Pierce Arrow Tank truck, out of service for mechanical reasons, was stripped of equipment and pump and was sold January 9, 1947 for $260.
 On June 10, 1947, the Hahn was finally delivered. Lenni Heights Fire Company housed the Hahn on Saturday, September 27, 1947.
In March of 1949, we purchased a new Chevrolet chassis on which we mounted a 200-gallon pump and a 300-gallon booster tank.
On February 9, 1950, the new truck was put into service at a cost of $4500.00. January, 1951, found us adding a portable lighting unit to our equipment.
At a special meeting held on November 26, 1951, a motion was made and carried that we purchase 4.3 acres of the former Darlington property directly across the road from the firehouse at that time. This was purchased in January 1952, the cost being $5500.00.
At a meeting of the Association held April 14, 1960 it was voted to build the present new firehouse. Work was started around June 1 of that year and the building completed and occupied February 25, 1961, the architect being George N. Sprague, Chadds Ford, Pa., and the builders, Lafferty & McCoy, Wilmington, Del.
 During our regular monthly meeting on October 12, 1961, a call was received from the Concord-Thornbury Lions Club advising that they would secure an ambulance if we would house and operate it. After checking with other fire companies who operated ambulance services in the area, it was decided to accept the offer. Shortly thereafter first aid classes were started for this project as the Lions club worked to raise funds for the purchase.
In August 1962, a squad truck was put into service for the purpose of hauling men and equipment. The vehicle was a 1950 Chevrolet crew cab with a walk-in utility body. The squad truck previously served as a Springfield Water Department truck and fire company members worked to transform it into a suitable squad truck.
 In April 1964, a letter was written to the Concord-Thornbury Lions Club accepting the ambulance. The Fire Company purchased the necessary equipment to operate the ambulance and a 1964 Chevrolet Suburban ambulance was placed in service in May of that year.
In March 1965, we purchased from Talleyville Fire Company a 1200-gallon tank truck on 1946 International KB chassis. , This truck was purchased with money donated by the Ladies' Auxiliary.
 In December 1963, a Fund Drive committee was appointed to secure funds for a new fire engine. Another committee was appointed to write specifications and to get bids. After many hours of research and visiting other fire companies, bids were received and opened. On October 26, 1966 we voted to buy a Mack C model fire engine, with a gasoline-operated motor, 1000-gallon pump carrying 750 gallons of water. This engine was placed in service in September 1967.
On March 13, 1969 the ambulance committee advised that they were considering the purchase of a second ambulance. A 1970 Chevrolet Suburban ambulance was put into service in March 1970, known as 59-7A.
In December 1970 a decision was made to purchase a new chassis with an International diesel motor to carry the 1200-gallon tank.
November of 1971 our 1950 Chevrolet Squad Truck was permanently placed out of service due to mechanical issues.
 Our Hahn truck, 59-2, went out of service. In September 1972, we put into service a Mack CF diesel fire engine with a 1250-gallon pump carrying 750 gallons of water, known as 59-2. Also in a 1972, a Chevrolet Suburban ambulance was purchased to replace the original ambulance, 59-7.
In February 1971, our officers were authorized to sign the necessary contracts to operate with the Delaware County Fire Board at Media, and alarm cards were prepared to cover our area.
A replacement for ambulance 59-7A was needed and a 1975 Ford ambulance with an unusual configuration of two rolling stretchers (due to the high volume of serious vehicle accidents where multiple patients were being transported) was placed into service in April 1976.
  We purchased a 1976 Mack CF pumper-rescue diesel with a 1000-gallon capacity pump and 500-gallon tank with large compartments to haul necessary equipment for rescue operations. This is our Rescue 59-6 and it was placed into service in September 1977.
1980 we purchased a GMC brush truck, retiring 591, a 1949 Chevrolet.
In 1983, an addition was completed on the fire station. This addition included three bays, office areas and a meeting room.
1985 Riddle Hospital placed an ALS chase car in our first due (Brinton Lake Road and Route 1) to provide ALS care to our community. The Riddle Hospital paramedic and the ALS chase car moved into our station in 1987.
October 1987 we held our 59th anniversary with a parade and triple housing for our GMC Squad truck, Ambulance, and 1985 Mack MC Engine.
 1989 we purchased twin pierce engines which replaced the 1976 Mack CF Rescue and the 1972 Mack Engine respectively.
At a fire call the night of January 18, 1992, Fire Police officer and Chaplin, Raymond (Dick) Talley suffered a heart attack, dying several weeks later. Dick is the only recorded Line of Duty death of the Concordville Fire & Protective Association.
1993 we purchased a 1993 Mack MB Saulsbury dry rescue to assist in rescue operations.
October 22, 1998 a special meeting of the Fire Company empowered President Lee Weersing to sign all contracts regarding a complete renovation and a two bay addition to the existing firehouse. (Completed in 2000)
November 1999 the fire company approved the purchase of a used 1985 Simon Duplex LTI 100’ Ladder Tower which was delivered in 2000. Also in 2000 we took delivery of a 2000 Pierce Quantum Engine to replace our 1985 Mack MC engine.
June 2001, Riddle Hospital personnel staff Medic 597-A as a full time ALS unit for our service area.
February 13, 2003, using a portion of grant money, an expandable training trailer was purchased to be placed behind the firehouse.
April 2003 the Fire Company agreed to sell the existing 1985 Simon-Duplex tower ladder and purchase a used 1995 Spartan LTI 100’ Tower ladder from Talleyville Fire Company.
September 13, 2003 the company hosted the FOBH, (Friends of Bill Hammond) fund raising event. This fundraiser was to benefit our past assistant chief who was partially paralyzed in a hunting accident. A total of more than $125,000 was raised on his behalf.
June 2002 we hired two driver/Firefighter EMTs to assist in daytime response. These are our first career employees.
2005 a Pierce Quantum Engine was purchased to replace the 1989 Pierce Lance engine. The following year, a 2006 Pierce Quantum Rescue we delivered to replace the 1989 Pierce Lance Rescue.
2006 we held a housing to house the Pierce Rescue, Pierce engine and an ambulance
2009 we replaced the Mack R model tanker cab and a 2009 International cab and chassis
2011 A Brush truck was purchased to replace the 1980 GMC Brush Truck
2014 Tower 59, a 1995 Spartan /LTI Tower was placed out of service and sold as we awaited the arrival of a newly ordered Tower Ladder.
2015 Tower Ladder 59, a 2014 Seagrave 95' Aerialscope was delivered and placed in service.
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