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From the Beginning
October 1946: In order for Whitehall Borough to be founded it was decided that a new fire protection agency would be needed. Through a petition, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas granted the incorporation of the Whitehall Fire Company on October 14, 1946. The purpose of the fire company was the "protection of the lives and property of persons residing in and adjacent to ... certain portions of Baldwin Township."
November 1946: A volunteer committee set out to staff and fund the newly founded fire company. Within the first week there was a temporary President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Also, fund raising became the most important topic of conversation.
February 1947: The fire company progressed from temporary officers to permanent officers holding new elections for office positions. At the February 10th general meeting the company's assets we discussed which included $2000 and a Mercury Sedan as well as the first draft of the By-Laws being presented. By the end of the meeting, thirteen members were nominated for a the Board of Directors of the company. By the 17th, the meeting was being held at Baldwin High School and the elections for Board of Directors was being held.
May 1947: After over a month, the new Board of Directors still could not find any fire apparatus to purchase. It was not until mid May they found a pumper for sale at the Borough of Ingram. With an accepted bid of $3250 the Whitehall Fire Company were now the proud owners of a 1930 Seagrave 500gpm pumper.
June 1947: The first official monthly meeting of the Whitehall Fire Company was held on June 23, the third Monday of the month. This is still done to this day. At this meeting Line Officers were elected with ten other residents expressing interest to become active firefighters. On the 23rd the Company took delivery of the Seagrave pumper and was stored on Chief Sayre's property on McAnulty Road.
Fall/ Winter 1947: The Company's focus turned to fund raising. Ideas were thrown around to have dances, raffles, carnivals, and asking all families of the new borough for a $5 donation. In December work was done to establish an operating agreement with Brentwood Borough and the Brentwood Fire Company. The Brentwood Police would take emergency calls for the Whitehall Fire Company. The process for these calls would entail Brentwood Police calling Chief Sayre's business. From there Mrs. Sayre would activate by switch, the siren located near Whitehall Elementary School while calling the houses of firefighters located on Baptist Road and Greenlee Road for their wives to activate siren near their homes. When responding to calls, Brentwood Fire was to answer the calls with Whitehall as well as provide training to the new Whitehall firefighters.
1948: During June's meeting held at South Hills Sportsmen's Association, Chief Chester Sayre directed the "the practice of having drill" would be on Thursday night, except the week of the monthly meeting. During the July and August meeting hosted in the Company's temporary quarters of Chief Sayre's garage. It was reported by Councilman Zord that the Borough was planning on purchasing property along Route 51. November would mark the fire time a monthly meeting was held in the "new Borough Building". During this meeting, it was recorded that the by-laws underwent some modifications for the first time. Two milestones would also be recorded: The order was placed for the Mack Quad fire truck and ground was broke for the new fire house along Route 51.
1949: In February the Company recognized Leo M. Goodwin and George A. Beck as honorary members. These two individuals would go on to provide instrumental training to the members, sending them to a more professional service standard. March's meeting minutes denote the meeting having been hosted in "the new fire hall" This was an accomplishment as the Company was moved out of Chief Sayre's garage. April's meeting minutes made mention of the Borough's generosity to donate gas and oil to the Company as a way to indirectly support the growing organization. The annual fund drive was discussed and reported only 30% of residents had made a return for just over $2,000. Luckily, by Octobers meeting this number would have over doubled to $4,585 which beat the prior year. Because of the success of the fund drive. The Company stopped their newspaper drive at the end of the year.
1950: January brought the Company into its 4th year. During the monthly meeting, the Company authorized the purchase of a new 1,000 gallon Mack Pumper. The delivery of the new piece was expected to be mid-1950. Subsequently, the Seagrave that had served up to this point, was put up for sale with an asking price of $2,000. The new Mack would be purchased with the money from the successful fund drive campaigns. March's meeting brought a twist having been held at Pleasant Hills Borough Building as a joint meeting with Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company. Called to by then President Leo Meyers of the Pleasant Hills VFC, the goal was to create a well working relationship between the two organizations. A special meeting held just two days later would show the creation of the Whitehall Fire Company Relief Association to serve as a provider of life insurance for the membership. Over the many decades, the laws regarding the Relief Association have changed and now focus more on the purchase of equipment for firefighters. April's minutes show the Seagrave having been purchased by Fairview Fire Company for $1000 as the only bid to be placed. An activity report was also recorded and delivered by Chief Sayre. Chief Sayre reported the Company responded to 2 house fires, 5 grass fires, and 2 grass fires in Pleasant Hills.
1953: 5 Years after its creation. The Company voted to purchase their first uniforms at April's monthly meeting. At June's monthly meeting, minutes show the final payments were made on both the Mack trucks.
November 1946: A volunteer committee set out to staff and fund the newly founded fire company. Within the first week there was a temporary President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Also, fund raising became the most important topic of conversation.
February 1947: The fire company progressed from temporary officers to permanent officers holding new elections for office positions. At the February 10th general meeting the company's assets we discussed which included $2000 and a Mercury Sedan as well as the first draft of the By-Laws being presented. By the end of the meeting, thirteen members were nominated for a the Board of Directors of the company. By the 17th, the meeting was being held at Baldwin High School and the elections for Board of Directors was being held.
May 1947: After over a month, the new Board of Directors still could not find any fire apparatus to purchase. It was not until mid May they found a pumper for sale at the Borough of Ingram. With an accepted bid of $3250 the Whitehall Fire Company were now the proud owners of a 1930 Seagrave 500gpm pumper.
June 1947: The first official monthly meeting of the Whitehall Fire Company was held on June 23, the third Monday of the month. This is still done to this day. At this meeting Line Officers were elected with ten other residents expressing interest to become active firefighters. On the 23rd the Company took delivery of the Seagrave pumper and was stored on Chief Sayre's property on McAnulty Road.
Fall/ Winter 1947: The Company's focus turned to fund raising. Ideas were thrown around to have dances, raffles, carnivals, and asking all families of the new borough for a $5 donation. In December work was done to establish an operating agreement with Brentwood Borough and the Brentwood Fire Company. The Brentwood Police would take emergency calls for the Whitehall Fire Company. The process for these calls would entail Brentwood Police calling Chief Sayre's business. From there Mrs. Sayre would activate by switch, the siren located near Whitehall Elementary School while calling the houses of firefighters located on Baptist Road and Greenlee Road for their wives to activate siren near their homes. When responding to calls, Brentwood Fire was to answer the calls with Whitehall as well as provide training to the new Whitehall firefighters.
1948: During June's meeting held at South Hills Sportsmen's Association, Chief Chester Sayre directed the "the practice of having drill" would be on Thursday night, except the week of the monthly meeting. During the July and August meeting hosted in the Company's temporary quarters of Chief Sayre's garage. It was reported by Councilman Zord that the Borough was planning on purchasing property along Route 51. November would mark the fire time a monthly meeting was held in the "new Borough Building". During this meeting, it was recorded that the by-laws underwent some modifications for the first time. Two milestones would also be recorded: The order was placed for the Mack Quad fire truck and ground was broke for the new fire house along Route 51.
1949: In February the Company recognized Leo M. Goodwin and George A. Beck as honorary members. These two individuals would go on to provide instrumental training to the members, sending them to a more professional service standard. March's meeting minutes denote the meeting having been hosted in "the new fire hall" This was an accomplishment as the Company was moved out of Chief Sayre's garage. April's meeting minutes made mention of the Borough's generosity to donate gas and oil to the Company as a way to indirectly support the growing organization. The annual fund drive was discussed and reported only 30% of residents had made a return for just over $2,000. Luckily, by Octobers meeting this number would have over doubled to $4,585 which beat the prior year. Because of the success of the fund drive. The Company stopped their newspaper drive at the end of the year.
1950: January brought the Company into its 4th year. During the monthly meeting, the Company authorized the purchase of a new 1,000 gallon Mack Pumper. The delivery of the new piece was expected to be mid-1950. Subsequently, the Seagrave that had served up to this point, was put up for sale with an asking price of $2,000. The new Mack would be purchased with the money from the successful fund drive campaigns. March's meeting brought a twist having been held at Pleasant Hills Borough Building as a joint meeting with Pleasant Hills Volunteer Fire Company. Called to by then President Leo Meyers of the Pleasant Hills VFC, the goal was to create a well working relationship between the two organizations. A special meeting held just two days later would show the creation of the Whitehall Fire Company Relief Association to serve as a provider of life insurance for the membership. Over the many decades, the laws regarding the Relief Association have changed and now focus more on the purchase of equipment for firefighters. April's minutes show the Seagrave having been purchased by Fairview Fire Company for $1000 as the only bid to be placed. An activity report was also recorded and delivered by Chief Sayre. Chief Sayre reported the Company responded to 2 house fires, 5 grass fires, and 2 grass fires in Pleasant Hills.
1953: 5 Years after its creation. The Company voted to purchase their first uniforms at April's monthly meeting. At June's monthly meeting, minutes show the final payments were made on both the Mack trucks.