Llanerch Fire Company – 107 West Chester Pike
Built c. 1918
List of Fire Chiefs (incomplete)
| Name | Years of Term |
|---|---|
| George H. Fetters | 1913–? |
| E. Oscar Lobb | 1917–? |
| William Thompson | c. 1924 |
| Charles H. Thompson. Sr. "Chips" | c. 1955 |
| Harry Sauder | fl. 1962–1970 |
| David R. McKinney | fl. 1989–1993 |
| Bill Baker | at least 2000–present? |
History
The history of Llanerch Fire Company goes back to 1913, when the organization of the company commenced. George H. Fetters became its first fire chief. In 1915, a carnival was held to raise money for the construction of a proper fire department base, which, at the time, was a stable with a horse carriage. Over $2,300 were raised. Later in the year, a total of $12,000 were collected, although by 1916, more money was needed in order to secure its construction.
Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, September 15th, 1915, page 14
In 1917, elections were held for the third full year of the company, and the following positions were secured:
Hugh Hayes Aikens of 25 Park Road as president
William R. Cooke of 115 East Park Road as vice president
Thomas Baker Young of 318 Davis Road as secretary
Henry Volkmar Gummere of 20 Tenby Road as treasurer
Charles D. Burns, Wilfred Lawrence Coates (of 318 Bewley Road), Dr. Jessie Edward Dunwoody (of 15 East Park Road), Edward Swenk, Daniel Hagy (of 314 Darby Road), E. Oscar Lobb, Charles Williams Michener (of 104 East Township Line Road), Samuel H. Moore, William Percival Johnson (of 111 East Park Road), C.J. Layfield, F.W. Rodgers, W.F. Thompson, Charles H. Miller, William J. Wilds, Frank Cornman Peterman (of 9 Tenby Road), and G.M. Welsh as directors
E. Oscar Lobb as chief
Charles H. Miller and Walter Woelful as assistant chiefs
In 1919, the Fire Company set up a new way to raise funds. Each resident in the neighborhood was asked to contribute one quarter of a percentage of their estate's value annually towards donations to keep the fire company going. Its building was probably constructed around 1918, and was casually mentioned in newspaper articles as early as 1920. Despite this, it has undergone several remodellings. One can see what the original design looked like here.
Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, April 15th, 1919, page 2
That same year, some new positions were announced, incling those of:
Earl Clifton Wiley of 24 East Park Road as treasurer
Victor Allen Hengst of 103 Llandaff Road as secretary
H.S. Cable as assistant treasurer
and a continuation of roles for Aikens, Cooke, Moore, Johnson, Rodgers, and Thompson.
By 1924, William Thompson was chief. In 1941, known positions in the company for a committee for replacing the "chemical apparatus" were as follows:
Joseph W. Trickett as president
Henry Cowan as chairman
M.L. Blackburn as vice-chairman
Joseph Johnson Esrey of 4 East Park Road committee member
Hugh Hayes Aikens of 25 Park Road as committee member
A. Howard Jones as committe member
Roy Blackburn (potentially the M.L. Blackburn included in the appointation?) was an important man in the founding of the fire department, and was credited as such by the community. In 1969, he shot himself and committed suicide.
Delaware County Daily Times, March 22nd, 1969, page 1
In 1953, a group of 23 Unitarians began meeting for service in the Llanerch Fire building. They would become the Unitarian Church of Delaware County, now located in Media, Pennsylvania.
Charles H. Thompson was chief of the company in 1955, and was injured in a fire.
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 17th, 1955, page 22
Harry Sauder (of 5 Llandaff Road) was chief in 1962. It's unclear when exactly he began his term, but he served for many decades as chief and even longer as a member. He died in 2024.
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 11th, 2024, page B5
In 1963, in honor of the company's 50th anniversary, what was described as the "largest parade ever held in Havertown" was held.
Philadelphia Inquirer, September 21st, 1963, page 1
One enjoyable pasttime of the Fire Company was their annual "donkey softball" game, in which firemen would have to ride on donkeys during the contest. As you can tell from the photograph below, they were quite popular in the community and incredibly hectic.
Philadelphia Inquirer, August 13th, 1964, page 20 & August 16th, 1964, page 17 (click to enlarge right photo)
From 1965 to 1970, William H. McCarty, Sr. was assistant chief. An accident occured in 1966 where a couple's car was smashed by one of the company's firetrucks that rolled down a hill following its response to a fire. No critical injuries were reported.
Delaware County Daily Times, May 31st, 1966, page 12
The Llanerch Fire Company, even in the 21st century, is well-known for its annual Fourth of July parade. The tradition extends back to at least 1968.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 4th, 1968, page 59
In 1982, William Vance was the assistant chief of the company. Below is a photograph of Lieutenant Steve Agostini during a practice drill.
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 15th, 1982, page 20 (click to enlarge)
In 1986, Dave McKinney was assistant chief, and was chief by 1989. In 1993, Joseph G. Baker (of 110 Llandaff Road, was elected president. In 1998, Mike Gove was captain. By 2000, Bill Baker was chief.
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