Manville Volunteer Fire Company #1
One day in June 1915, at Greasheimer’s Hotel, ten men decided to form a nucleus of the Manville Fire Department.On June 25th, 1915, the Manville Fire Department was incorporated with the following charter members: William Greasheimer, Peter J. Shaw, George F. Cassidy, and Fred Alling. At this time Frank Ryan was elected as president, and Edward Shanahan as the f
irst Fire Chief. On October 23rd, 1915, the land used to build the first firehouse, was leased from the federal Creosoting Company for $1.00 a year. Actual construction was begun shortly and building was completed in 1916. The newly organized fire department had the men, the headquarters, several hundred feet of gardenhose and a few water buckets to begin a long history of fire service to the community. The membership, at this time, granted permission to the Sacred heart Roman Catholic Church to use its headquarters for services. This was a truly humble beginning for two firefighting organizations. On November 20, 1920, a contract was signed with the Buffalo Chemical Fire Extinguishing Company for a chemical car equipped with three 35-gallon tanks and mounted on a ford Model T. Chassis. The cost of this equipment was $2,650.00. In this year the fire department elected its second fire chief, peter J. Whalen, who held office until1935. On May 20th, 1921, a committee was appointed to approach the Johns Manville Corporation toarrange some type of fire alarm system. On December 29th,1922 Andrew Hambar became the first Foreman of the Department. On January 7th, 1923 a 1907 Model American La Havre pumper with those carts, and approximately 500 feet of 1 ½” hose was purchased at a cost of &750.00. By July 16th, 1924 the first repairs were necessary on the department’s equipment. It was also noted at this meeting that a committee was appointed to take care of the necessary arrangements for the purchase of the lots for the home of the present No.1 Fire House. The Fire Department in its effort to try and raise funds for equipment, held its first dance February 7th, 1925, and made a net profit of $.4.46. Father Francis Kasprowicz was made an honorary member at the March 7th, 1926 meeting and was elected the first priest to be Chaplain of the Department. In 1928, the department applied for membership into the Somerset County Fireman’s Association. Manville became a Borough in 1929 and on October 8th, of that year the municipality accepted control of the Fire Department. In 1931, the antiquated equipment was replaced with a modern 500 gallon American la France pumper. On May 19th, 1933 the Manville Fire Department was reorganized as the Manville Volunteer Fire Company No.1. The year 1950 proved to be an important year for Co. #1, for in October of this year, they moved to their new headquarters located on South 3rd Ave and the 1950 American LaFrance Engine was delivered.
