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History

The History of the Ramey Fire Co. begins in the Spring of 1910, when townspeople saw the necessity for an organized fire-fighting force. At this time the newly-formed Ramey Water Co. first laid out its mains in town and borough council purchased 20 hydrants and procurred a horse-drawn steam LaFrance fire engine from the Hope Fire CO. of Philipsburg. Added to this was a hand-drawn hose cart and a supply of 2 1/2-inch hose.

Frank Kramp served as the company's first president, Lloyd McCully, as secretary and Albert Nordberg, as chief. Trustees were Solomon McCully, Edward Mullen, and G. A. Harris.

The Ramey company was officially incorporated February 20, 1911, with a total of 35 charter members.

Apparently as a measure to keep firemen from being on the jump when not needed, borough council passed an ordinance in 1911 declaring that the town hall's bells should not be used except for the purpose of ringing for a fire alarm for firemen's meetings, or for drills. Council also officially gave over to the company the steam fire engine and the hose cart as well as secured a 50-foot extension ladder and three pike poles. Later that year, the borough granted a lease on the town hall to the company for its use to store equipment and for the use as a site for fund-raising purposes.

In year 1911, a busy one as well as an important one, also saw the formation of the running team to compete in the hose cart races which were extremely popluar at all conventions and parades in those days. In those races, each team competed against time to run a measured distance with the cart, lay out hose, attach nozzle and get water on a target in the shortest time possible, much like the pumping contests seen at firemen's conventions today. In 1912 the Ramey team won second prize at the firemen's convention held at nearby Houtzdale.

Year 1913 was not an especially eventful year in Ramey Fire Co. history, but it did provide one instance of extending a helping hand by rail. More precisely, that was the year that Osceola Mills was struck by a disasterous fire, and Ramey sent down it's steamer and some hose on a railroad flatcar to help the neighboring town.

The next year, the company bought a hand-drawn 45-gallon soda-acid American LaFrance chemical engine, the latest type, a piece of equipment much used in small fire departments of that day. It is still in the company's possession, as is the old hose cart, although the steam engine was sold in 1938.

Nothing especially eventful happened, at least as far as the fire company is concerned, until 1922. That was the year the first piece of motorized equipment was purchased, it being a Child's pumper, ladder, hose, and chemical combination engine on a Reo Speedwagon chassis. It had a 350-gallon per minute rotary gear pump and is still in active service for all local alarms of serious nature.

In that same year, an electrically-powered Klaxon horn was added to the fire alarm system. The horn was blown for out-of-town alarms and both the horn and the bell for local fires.

From 1922 through 1941 the Ramey Company tried to maintain its equipment and services at a high level and at the same time lay away funds for a larger piece of equipment. At the out-break of World War II, bond drives were sponsored by the company, and in 1942, the firemen sponsored the erection of a 65-foot community flag pole, with the official flag-raising ceremony on Sept. 13, with several prominent speakers present.

Another patriotic gesture was made by the fire company in 1944 when it, together with borough council, sponsored the erection of the first permanent honor roll in that section. It was a bronze honor roll set in native pebbled stone, surmounted by a large American eagle. The honor roll was dedicated to Ramey residents serving in the Armed Forces in World War II, in which five local men-including one member of the fire company-were killed in action.

In 1945, despite the difficulty in obtaining fire equipment because of the war, hte company was successful in purchasing a new 509-gallon per minute Darley pumper, hose and booster. Another high point of that year was the home talent minstrel show which was directed by L. E. Buranovsky and which raised $1,300 toward the purchase of the new truck. The minstrel, incidentally, was also presented at the request of the Clearfield Fire Department at its annual banquet.

Much needed equipment was purchased in the next few years. This included boots, helmets, and coats at first. Then in 1947 a new and larger fire siren of five horsepower. In 1950 parade uniforms were bought and after this the company started another sustained drive to obtain more funds for the newest pumper which arrived late last month.