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History |
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Greensburg Hose Company #8 was the last city fire company to be formed. It was organized on January 23, 1906, by a group of men from the newly created Eighth Ward. Their first piece of equipment was a two-wheel cart, used until 1921 when a hose truck was rebuilt from a Peerless 60hp six-cylinder car. The company’s first fire station was a converted private dwelling located just above the current Hobart Sales & Service Co. on Highland Avenue. Extensive renovations were done to accommodate their fire truck. The building still stands today. |
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History
They called it Paradise, a place of happiness. This was the community where most of the men who formed the nucleus of Greensburg Hose Company #8 resided. On June 27, 1905, by a special election, Paradise, Ludwick, and Underwood were consolidated into the Borough of Greensburg. A meeting was held January 9, 1906, in the borough council room to discuss how to go about forming a fire company. The organization of the company was completed on January 23, 1906, with 29 men signing the roster.
At a meeting on January 30, 1906, the name of Greensburg Hose Company #8 was decided upon. A two-wheeled cart having 300 feet of 2-1/2 inch hose, two nozzles, a plug wrench, crow bar, and fire ax was placed in service.
In 1921, the hand cart was replaced by a 1916 Peerless touring car that was purchased from a Supervisor with the Jamison Coal Co. Using funds raised by the members, this car was converted into a chemical/hose wagon. Then, in 1926, City Council purchased a 500 gpm Seagrave Pumper. This would be the first of four Seagrave pumpers to see service at "8 House." In 1949, a Quad was purchased, followed in 1965 with a 1000 gpm pumper, and the present rig, a 1978 1000 gpm pumper.
More advancements were made in 1936, when Company #8 became the first city fire station to man a second piece of apparatus. A 1935 Dodge bus chassis was purchased, had a service body installed, and served as the first of six salvage trucks. The second salvage, a 1945 American LaFrance pumper, initially served Hose Company #8 until being replaced with a new Pirch. A used Dodge van was purchased from the Bunny Bread Bakery to replace the LaFrance, followed in 1965 with an International Metro step van. Then in 1980, a GMC chassis was purchased and had an Atteco, custom built walk-in body installed. The present salvage truck is a 1991 UD chassis with a custom, non-walk-in, service body that was built by Kenco in nearby Scottdale.
Because salvage operations are given high priority and to compliment the larger salvage truck, in 1983 a used Dodge van was purchased from a local carpet cleaning business. After having all but the vacuum recovery unit removed, this vehicle was named the "Water Salvage." This unit is used in place of the old Vac-Packs and canister vacuums. This unique approach to water recovery was sold in the April, 1987, issue of Fire Command magazine. The Dodge van was replaced in 1987 with a 1987 Chevy Van that was followed by a trailer mounted unit that is able to use two vaccum lines at one time and is towed by a 2007 Chevy Utility Truck which carries various medical and salvage tools. A second trailer with a mounted unit that is identical to the first unit was placed into service in late 2009.
Company #8 has always been a leader in change. In the 1930s, company members started a First Aid Crew. This would later become known as today's EMS. Hose Company #8 has received encouragement and support throughout the years from the Ladies Auxiliary which was organized in 1922.
