Feasterville Trevose
Pennsylvania
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Lower Southampton Fire Compay No 1
The Trevose Heights Fire Company No. 1, located at 466 Elmwood Avenue, Trevose, Lower Southampton Township, in Bucks County, PA was formed in 1929 by a group of approximately ten men and their wives who realized the ever-growing need for fire protection in the community. This group, dedicated to the concern of community safety, met jointly for a while and then formed separate organizations. The meetings were held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Beaver of Elmwood and Park Avenues, Trevose Heights, and then at the Siles School Building on Brownsville Road.
The Company received its charter on July 31, 1931. The present site of 466 Elmwood Avenue was acquired during that first year of operation (December, 1931). A wooden building was constructed on the site to house the first two fire engines, a Red Chemical Truck and a Dodge Pumper.
The chartering members of the Company were: Walter Beaver, Michael Binsfield, Patrick Corr, Charles Creely, Theodore Creely, Elmer Ervin, Wilson Graves (the first elected chief), Andrew Martin, Peter Martin, and Gordon Shires. These men chose the name "Trevose Heights Fire Company Number 1," for their corporation. The Company was organized with the mission “to purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, support, maintain, and operate fire engines, pumping machines, hook and ladders, hose carriers, and all other appliances necessary or proper to be used in and about the successful protection of buildings and other property from damage or destruction by fire.” More importantly, the Company was formed for the preservation of life in the town of Trevose Heights in Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County.
Several years later, the wooden building housing the fire equipment was torn down and replaced by a cinder block and wood firehouse. As it had always been since the inception of the company, all work was done by the members of the department who not only donated much of the materials used in the construction, but also their time, hard work and dedication. Eventually, a small meeting room and kitchen were added to the building. This was subsequently remodeled into an office and radio room. In 1949, another addition was built which served as a meeting room and a social hall. In 1957, restrooms and a kitchen were added to the ever-popular social hall.
During this beginning period of rapid growth, the Trevose Heights Fire Company No. 1 also started an emergency aid program to serve the residents of Lower Southampton Township. This new program all began with a discussion that the members were having one day in the local barber shop. The conversation was based in the belief that there was a need for an ambulance service in the community. Not long after this conversation, at a regular meeting of the fire company, it was decided by the members to purchase a used 1935 Dodge Ambulance. So, in 1942, the members’ dream of an emergency aid program came to fruition and the Company began an ambulance service. As the community continued to grow, more and newer ambulances were added. Along with the strengthening of the ambulance service fleet, a trailer field unit and rescue boats with motors were added to the Company's response capabilities. As the firehouse continued to grow, both in apparatus and in members, business meetings became so involved that in 1955 double officers were elected; some officers were responsible for the fire business, and the others were concerned with the rescue squad operations.
As the workload continued to rapidly grow with both the fire and rescue responsibilities, members began to concentrate strictly on their area of interest so the company decided to split. In 1958, the Trevose Heights Rescue Squad received its charter, and in 1960 moved to its own location. This addressed the need of both parties to adequately maintain their own daily operations and house the necessary equipment. Although the organizations did separate, they pledged to stay fully committed to each other and the community that they served. That promise is still upheld to this very day.
In May of 1964, the Company purchased several undeveloped properties adjoining their parking lot, opposite the firehouse. The small building (a former summer home) that already existed on one lot was used to house a refreshment stand during the Fire Company’s annual carnival and to store the carnival stands (booths) when they were not in use. This building was later torn down to make more parking available for the members of the department.
With continued growth of the Fire Company and the surrounding community, it was decided in 1968 to re-incorporate as Lower Southampton Fire Company #1. This official name change took place publicly on January 16, 1969 and better reflected the scope of the community now being serving. Our forefathers would be proud to know, that if you look, you will still see Trevose Heights on some of the Maltese Emblems. While the name may have changed, members maintained their dedication to ideals of the founding members.
In the late 60’s, financial times were hard. In 1966, an old Chevy van that was used to pull the generator trailer for lighting on the fire ground and a very old (1939) pumper truck, nicknamed ‘the old lady’ were sold to keep the firehouse going. There was no fire tax. The department survived strictly on donations received from various functions including; filling swimming pools, burn-offs on properties, the annual carnival and coin cards that were collected door to door. Some residents gave a quarter, some filled the card, and others gave nothing at all. The meeting/social hall was rented out for functions and there was Bingo Night every Tuesday where sandwiches and coffee were sold.
These activities held the firehouse together and allowed members to raise enough money to purchase the adjoining lot next to Jack Ferhle’s property in 1971. The old house on this lot was quickly rented out to a member and the garage was used to store fire equipment (hoses, nozzles, fittings, etc.) because the firehouse itself was narrow and packed tightly with vehicles with barely any walking room between them and the walls. It was so tightly packed that a hole was actually cut in the wall to accommodate the hitch on one truck.
The Company received its charter on July 31, 1931. The present site of 466 Elmwood Avenue was acquired during that first year of operation (December, 1931). A wooden building was constructed on the site to house the first two fire engines, a Red Chemical Truck and a Dodge Pumper.
The chartering members of the Company were: Walter Beaver, Michael Binsfield, Patrick Corr, Charles Creely, Theodore Creely, Elmer Ervin, Wilson Graves (the first elected chief), Andrew Martin, Peter Martin, and Gordon Shires. These men chose the name "Trevose Heights Fire Company Number 1," for their corporation. The Company was organized with the mission “to purchase, or otherwise acquire, own, support, maintain, and operate fire engines, pumping machines, hook and ladders, hose carriers, and all other appliances necessary or proper to be used in and about the successful protection of buildings and other property from damage or destruction by fire.” More importantly, the Company was formed for the preservation of life in the town of Trevose Heights in Lower Southampton Township, Bucks County.
Several years later, the wooden building housing the fire equipment was torn down and replaced by a cinder block and wood firehouse. As it had always been since the inception of the company, all work was done by the members of the department who not only donated much of the materials used in the construction, but also their time, hard work and dedication. Eventually, a small meeting room and kitchen were added to the building. This was subsequently remodeled into an office and radio room. In 1949, another addition was built which served as a meeting room and a social hall. In 1957, restrooms and a kitchen were added to the ever-popular social hall.
During this beginning period of rapid growth, the Trevose Heights Fire Company No. 1 also started an emergency aid program to serve the residents of Lower Southampton Township. This new program all began with a discussion that the members were having one day in the local barber shop. The conversation was based in the belief that there was a need for an ambulance service in the community. Not long after this conversation, at a regular meeting of the fire company, it was decided by the members to purchase a used 1935 Dodge Ambulance. So, in 1942, the members’ dream of an emergency aid program came to fruition and the Company began an ambulance service. As the community continued to grow, more and newer ambulances were added. Along with the strengthening of the ambulance service fleet, a trailer field unit and rescue boats with motors were added to the Company's response capabilities. As the firehouse continued to grow, both in apparatus and in members, business meetings became so involved that in 1955 double officers were elected; some officers were responsible for the fire business, and the others were concerned with the rescue squad operations.
As the workload continued to rapidly grow with both the fire and rescue responsibilities, members began to concentrate strictly on their area of interest so the company decided to split. In 1958, the Trevose Heights Rescue Squad received its charter, and in 1960 moved to its own location. This addressed the need of both parties to adequately maintain their own daily operations and house the necessary equipment. Although the organizations did separate, they pledged to stay fully committed to each other and the community that they served. That promise is still upheld to this very day.
In May of 1964, the Company purchased several undeveloped properties adjoining their parking lot, opposite the firehouse. The small building (a former summer home) that already existed on one lot was used to house a refreshment stand during the Fire Company’s annual carnival and to store the carnival stands (booths) when they were not in use. This building was later torn down to make more parking available for the members of the department.
With continued growth of the Fire Company and the surrounding community, it was decided in 1968 to re-incorporate as Lower Southampton Fire Company #1. This official name change took place publicly on January 16, 1969 and better reflected the scope of the community now being serving. Our forefathers would be proud to know, that if you look, you will still see Trevose Heights on some of the Maltese Emblems. While the name may have changed, members maintained their dedication to ideals of the founding members.
In the late 60’s, financial times were hard. In 1966, an old Chevy van that was used to pull the generator trailer for lighting on the fire ground and a very old (1939) pumper truck, nicknamed ‘the old lady’ were sold to keep the firehouse going. There was no fire tax. The department survived strictly on donations received from various functions including; filling swimming pools, burn-offs on properties, the annual carnival and coin cards that were collected door to door. Some residents gave a quarter, some filled the card, and others gave nothing at all. The meeting/social hall was rented out for functions and there was Bingo Night every Tuesday where sandwiches and coffee were sold.
These activities held the firehouse together and allowed members to raise enough money to purchase the adjoining lot next to Jack Ferhle’s property in 1971. The old house on this lot was quickly rented out to a member and the garage was used to store fire equipment (hoses, nozzles, fittings, etc.) because the firehouse itself was narrow and packed tightly with vehicles with barely any walking room between them and the walls. It was so tightly packed that a hole was actually cut in the wall to accommodate the hitch on one truck.