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UPLAND FIRE COMPANY

The Upland Fire Company No. 1 was organized January 26, 1926. At this time the population of Upland was 2,500 with 500 homes. On the evening of January 26, 1926, 34 men met at the Upland Borough Hall to form a volunteer fire company. The first president was Charles McAteer and the first chief was Bert L. Greenwood. The newborn organization knew what had to be done and little time was wasted in appointing an 11 man building committee. The committee was to look for suitable land for an engine house.

During the first year a charter was applied for, constitution written and a by-laws committee was appointed. Dues were set at 15 cents a month for active members with an initiation fee of $2.00. Contributing members were a $1.00 a year. By the end of the first year the company had $1,528.37 in the treasury and earlier in 1927 the charter was approved by the State of Pennsylvania. The ink was hardly dry on the charter when Upland Fire Company received an invitation to parade at the Delaware County Fireman’s Association Convention on June 11, 1927. The Fire Company was to obtain the "Upland Dilly", a man drawn fire cart for display in the parade. The 1790 antique Hand Pump had been purchased in England in the mid 1800’s by a member of the Crozer family brought back to Upland and used to fight fires at the Crozer Mills along the Chester creek. The Hand Pumper was a fitting symbol for the Borough’s first official fire company. Sometime after the 1927 convention parade the "Dilly" was donated to the Upland Fire Company but was never used for active service on a fire.

With the charter granted, the building drive gained momentum. On April 12, 1928 a committee was appointed to secure a fire apparatus. Nearly a year later, they located a horse drawn chemical wagon that was put up for sale by the Philadelphia Fire Department. The membership voted to buy this apparatus. In July of 1929 a 22 foot by 40 foot, 2 Story brick building was started at a price of $17,000. By August of 1929 the cornerstone was in place. During the same month the fire company acquired it’s first motor driven apparatus. A 1924 model Reo truck was purchased from Philadelphia Suburban Gas & Electric Company. The new firehouse was completed on November 1, 1929 and dedicated on November 6, 1929.

The First Fire: The Reo truck was sent out to be painted red. The truck sat in the firehouse for more than 2 months without a call. Than on February 13, 1930, the alarm sounded and Upland Fire Company was scrambling to its first fire, a field.

A Special meeting was called in July of 1934 to consider raising money to buy a new fire truck or to repair the Reo. Enough money was raised and collected to make a down payment on a new International Harvester Pumper, Which was delivered in January 1935.

The fire company got its first siren from Parkside Fire Company in 1936; it was in need of repairs. It was fixed and mounting on the firehouse roof during the summer of 1938.

The Mortgage Burning Ceremony was held June 13,1951. The following September the company voted to buy a new fire apparatus, an Oren Pumper 500 GPM with a 300 Gallon tank. This Truck was delivered in June 1952 and cost $13,000.00. In 1960 they bought a new Seagrave 750 GPM with a 400 Gallon Tank at a cost of $16,800.00 to replace the International. Upland now had two modern and efficient fire engines with the 1790 Mason Hand Pump, "The Dilly", remaining in the Shadows. With the growth of the company and adding more equipment the company purchased a 1966 ford van. With times changing the need for a new pumper to meet the insurance Under Writers specification, the company bought a 1970 Hahn, 1,000 GPM enclosed cab to replace the Oren. The Hahn cost was $37,000.00.

On September 13,1971, Upland Borough was hit by a flood from the Chester Creek and the firehouse which was located on the banks of the creek was under water. The building suffered major structural damage, forcing the company to keep the trucks on the vacant lot across the street from the firehouse. The building was repaired enough to make it safe to resume fire operations. After several meetings with the Borough Council, Plans were made to build a new firehouse. Construction was started in 1975 at 6^th and Wake Road and Completed in 1976. The old Firehouse was sold to a vending Machine Company.

In 1981 the company bought a new Chevy van to replace the Ford van. This truck was dedicated to George Rielly on the day it was housed. In August of 1983 the company bought a Mack 1250 GPM Custom Pumper at a cost of $100,000.00. When it was housed, a plaque was put on the truck in honor of Harold "Sonny" Johnson who was made Honorary Chief Engineer. The Mack Replaced the Seagrave. The members chose not to sell the Seagrave and kept it as a back-up engine.

In 1985, the Chief’s award was dedicated in memory of past chief Vincent "Moose" McLaughlin, who past away from cancer. The company needed more room so in 1987 the members started construction on an extra bay to house the ’60 Seagrave. This new addition was dedicated to John "Jack" Stinson for his outstanding dedication to the fire company. One year later, the members decided to turn the new addition into a fire museum. This museum would be the resting place for the "Dilly", the ’60 Seagrave and our old fire fighting equipment.

With times changing it was necessary for the company to purchase a new fire truck. In July of 1992, they received their new 1992 Seagrave custom 1250 GPM pumper after a year of hard work by the truck committee with Chief Engineer Steve Johnson as Chairman. On May 1,1993, the new Seagrave pumper was housed and dedicated in honor of Steve Johnson.

With the fire service changing and more demands placed on the volunteer firefighter, the members decided to replace out ’81 Chevy Utility Van. The truck committee needed to accomplish 3 tasks. (1) Remove the firefighters riding on the rear of our ’83 Mack. (2) Capable of hauling our utility trailer. (3) Small enough to fit inside Crozer Chester Medical Center’s parking garage. In June of 1998 the ’81 Chevy Van was sold and an order was placed for a 1999 Ford F-350 crew cab quick attack mini pump, known as TAC 57. TAC 57 is able to seat 5 firefighters inside with seatbelts. It is equipped with a 250 GPM pump, 200 Gallon tank, and 2,500-Watt portable generator and carries 600 feet of hose and miscellaneous equipment. The total cost of this truck was $57,000.00. At this point Upland Fire Company is "ALWAYS READY" to handle the fire emergency needs of Upland Borough.

As Upland Fire Company moved into the 21st century little changed. Equipment was updated and in great shape, the membership was holding and the bills were getting paid. LIFE was GOOD. Then on Tuesday September 11,2001 at 8:45am the United States and the world was devastated. The worst attack in the history of the world caused an astonishing swath of death and destruction in three parts. Two hijacked jetliners were deliberately crashed into both World Trade Centers in New York, another jet crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia and a fourth jet crashed in Summerset, PA. In all, 226 Passengers along with the crews on the four jetliners were killed along with over 2500 civilians on the ground and 343 firefighters.

"Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families of all the firefighters, police, and of course the victims of the World Trade Centers and the Pentagon."

After the loss of so many firefighters in New York the government and the people looked at firefighters in a different way. We the firefighters of the United States were the front line of defense for terrorist attacks. Monies were set aside for the fire service to update old equipment and to purchase new equipment to handle terrorists.

In 2003 Upland Fire Company decided it was time to replace the 83 Mack. A truck committee was formed to meet with the borough to purchase a new pumper. Then on April____2004 an order was placed to purchase a new Seagrave "Attacker" pumper. This new Seagrave is equipped with 750 gals. Of water a 1250 gpm pump and seating for 6 firefighters in an enclosed cab. On july 23,2004 the Mack was sold to Debusk Fire Dept. on Greenville, Tenn. For $40,000. The 83 Mack ran its last call on July ____2004 on a working apartment fire in Brookhaven and was driven by Sonny Johnson.