Franklin Park Page 4

Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company No. 1
1922 - 1997
75th Anniversary
1950s
Late in 1949, the company purchased property on Rochester Road from Glen Wright for $3,500, and excavation was soon completed for the new Fire Hall. The old property on West Ingomar Road was sold to the VFW for $6,000 -- with the fire company holding the three percent mortgage.
CONVERTED GULF OIL TANKER BOUGHT IN 1952.
In December 1952, the chief reported the need to replace some of the old trucks. The township supervisors agreed and later that month the company purchased an old tanker from the Gulf Oil Company for $825. Two months later the company bought a Dodge four-wheel-drive Power Wagon chassis for $2,381 and had the body, tank and portable pump added for an additional $750. (The old Ford, stripped of equipment, was sold to the highest bidder for $75.)
1953 DODGE
POWER WAGON
PRIDE OF THE COMPANY 1953
In 1957, an important purchase was made -- the first base radio. And the next year, a national Cylinder Gas Resuscitator was bought for $420. In those days there were no ambulances in the district. The township police used their station wagon to carry a stretcher, and many times our unit was called into service to supplement the police unit.

In February 1959, the company put a down payment on a new Mack Truck chassis. The finished truck, with a 2,225 gallon water tank, pump and body, cost a total of $17,297. The old tanker was sold to the Shippingport Volunteer Fire Company for $402.

Finally, the alarm system was completed with the McCandless police control station providing 24-hour phone coverage -- 7 days a week.
1959 MACK TANKER
-2,225 GALLON TANK



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