Founding and Early Years (1913-1915)
On October 22, 1913, a meeting of South Ward citizens was held to establish a fire company. The following individuals were elected as temporary officers:
- President: Jacob Betz
- Vice President: J.H. Derr
- Secretary: E.J. Davis
- Treasurer: Ed Lynch
Fred Ditchey, Henry Steinert, and Jay Ulrich were appointed as trustees.
Initially, meetings were held at Lynch’s Hotel and Fred Ditchey’s home until August 1915, when the company began renting office space at the Vulcan Iron Works.
First Firehouse (1916-1950)
In 1916, the company purchased land and built its first firehouse at the corner of Swatara and Van Gelder Street. This two-story wood-frame building featured:
- Basement: Social quarters
- Ground Floor: Engine room
- Second Floor: Stage and hall
In 1923, Harry “Honey” Miller was hired as the club steward, a role he held until his passing in 1946. He was instrumental in the early success of the company. Upon his death, the company received $30,000, which funded the construction of a new firehouse.
Construction of the Brick Firehouse (1950-1951)
The original building was demolished in 1950, and a new brick firehouse was designed by architect Russ Long of Tamaqua. The new building, constructed on the foundation of the old one, was officially occupied on January 1, 1951.
Notable features of the 1951 firehouse included:
- A 52-foot-long bar
- A large social hall and kitchen
- Central air conditioning, uncommon at the time
- A relocated engine room, requiring rock removal done by members with mining experience
Most of the masonry and steelwork was completed manually by dedicated company members.
Firefighting Equipment Through the Years
- Early Equipment: Hand-drawn chemical wagon with 400 feet of hose
- 1921: First fire truck – Hahn Pumper
- 1931: Buffalo 500 Pumper replaced the Hahn
- 1954: A new Federal Pumper added
- 1968: Buffalo Pumper sold, replaced by a Hahn 750-Gallon Pumper
- 1981: Federal Pumper sold, replaced by an Mack Pumper ($81,000)
- 1995: 1968 Hahn replaced by a 1250-Gallon KME Pumper, which remains in service today
- 1981 Mack Pumper later sold to a fire company in St. Clair
Expansion and Relocation (1988-Present)
By 1988, the original engine room had become too small for modern equipment. The company constructed a three-bay garage, which was completed in 1989, providing much-needed space.
With declining social hall activity and the construction of Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC), the company decided to sell the brick firehouse to the college. It was remodeled and is now the Jane Scheeler Center of LCCC.
The proceeds from the sale allowed the fire company to:
- Expand the engine room to six bays
- Add a day room, bunk room, communications room, and office space
A Legacy of Service
Over 97 years, the South Ward Fire Company has built three firehouses and consistently maintained modern firefighting equipment. We continue to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of our community, ensuring that we will serve the people of Tamaqua for many years to come.