Bendersville Community Fire Department

History: The Bendersville Fire Company dates back to July 8th 1914, but it wasn't always called the Bendersville Fire Company that many of us today know it to be. It started out as the Union Fire Company formed for public services such as Engine, Hose, and Hook and Ladder within the brough of Bendersville. The Union Fire Company was in full function untill January 28th 1919, when the citizens of Bendersville Brough held a meeting at the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall for the purpose of organizing a fire company and thus the present day fire company foundation was laid. The very First president of the company was a man named W.C.Yeatts. Dues were set at 50 cents and the name "Union Fire Company" was kept. On Febuary 12th 1919, a formal constitution and by-laws were adopted. The first apparatus was a hand-drawn hose cart. On April 2nd 1919, we recived our very first fire bell, which was donated by Mrs. E.W.Sowers.
In 1921 the deparment bouth a 45 gallon chemical wagon from the Buffalo Chemical Co. for $480.00. 1922, was when the first known fire officers were recorded;
Fire Chief- W. L. Baumgardner
Assistant Chief - H. W. Knouse
Assistant Chief- H. W. Hoffman
Fire Police- Chas Lerew
Nozzlemen- H. G. Orner, A. B. Reed, J. E. Routsong, R. Rice
Reelmen- Chas Stover, D. C. Taylor, I. C. Bucher
Breakers- A. E. Sheely, H. F. Quigle, John Black
Coulpers- M. J. Heller, F. M. Beamer, Llyod Orner
Plugmen- E. W. Sowers, R. D. Peters

On November 17, 1931 the company bought a 500 GPM centrifugal Seagrave. The 1931 seagrave ran it's first call to John Blacks house for a chimney fire. During the year 1932, The Union Fire Company changed there name to the Bendersville Community Fire Company and the Ladies Auxilary was officially organized.
On March 11, 1936 the company decided to purchase the Furit Growers Hall. The hall was pruchased on April 2, 1936 for $400.00. Over the next few years the company pruchased a total of $1265.00 of land. The company decided to build a ballfield on land purchased. In 1946 the ballfield was named the Apple Bowl. The Apple Bowl was constructed as a memorial to all the veterns whom fought in the war during 1946. Among the ballfield they also built tennis courts, horse shoe courts, swings, and slides.
On November 7, 1951 they purchased land which is where the current fire station sits today. It was completed in the late 1952. They then purchased a 1954 seagrave which was known as engine 7-2. It was retired in 1988, due to the purchase of the 1969 seagrave. In 1956 an old fuel oil truck was purchased and refurbished into a tanker truck.
The year 1970, was a very busy year for the department. We hosted the Adams County Volunteer Firemen's Assoc. Convention in 1970 and 1977. A 1971 chevrolet 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive brush truck was bought. The sizeable donation by the Bear Mountian Snowmobile Club was used to pruchase a snowmobile rescue sled, which is still in use today. In 1977 a chevorlet-Hamerly pumper tanker was purchased and was used as an engine untill 1983 when it was recognized as tanker 7. Also a 1963 chevrolet panel truck was donated by H. C. Guldens, but was later sold, due to its usefullness was no longer needed.
On September 3, 1980, the Bendersville Junior Fire Company was formed. Elected officers were: President - David Taylor, Treasurer- Leon Stoner, Secretary - Mike Shreve, Captain- Michael Bretzman.
On May 10, 1983 The WAR WAGON was bought for $30,000.00. The WAR WAGON was a 1969 Seagrave and recently retired in 1999. In 1985, many changes were done to the community hall. The bandstand was removed and a new one relocated with a roof and a concrete floor, lights were installed on the carnival grounds and part of the ballfield for better lighting, and barbecue pit was built. Also the Quick Response team was formed utilizing the 1971 Brush Truck as a response vehicle, due to safety issues. The company bought a 1989 Chevrolet Suburban to help neighboring companies with man power, and additional EMS assistant.
In 1992 we purchased a brand new Seagrave engine that replaced the old one. In 1999 we put a 1982, rebuilt in 1998, Hahn. We bought a 1968 Army truck and was put in service in 1997 as a brush truck. It is now out of the area. We recently baught a 2009 E-ONE Engine Rescue which has replaced the 1982 Hahn as engine 7-1. Bendersville Fire Co. has now also bought a 1992 Ford Super Duty Mini Pumper which will replace the (Mighty Mini) 1970 Chevy as Mini Pumper 7. The Mighty Mini will still be in service as Brush 7. In addition to the Mini pumper we have recieved a 6x6 from the U.S Tobacco Co. It will be called Utility 7.