A Brief History
The McVeytown Volunteer Fire Company was Organized February 24,1923. The first meeting was held in the Barber Shop of H.E. Rodkey. At this time the firefighting apparatus consisted of one 45 gallon chemical tank mounted on a two wheeled cart which was hand drawn to the fire by the firemen.
Previous to this piece of apparatus, McVeytown's property was protected by a water line and plugs at convenient intervals installed by the town council. Water pressure for this line was furnished by the Glass Sand Company, operating at that time in McVeytown. This line was in use between the years 1906 - 1912.
By the time the year 1925 rolled around the firemen were really getting tired of pulling a two horse rig to a fire . A meeting was held on July 18, 1925 and arrangements were made to buy a motorized outfit. this outfit consisted of three 35 gallon tanks mounted on a Model-T Chassis which was purchased from Oberchain Boyer Firefighting Apparatus Company, Logansport Indiana, at a cost of $2350.00 and it was paid off in less than three years. The money was raised by holding festivals, shooting matches and by public subscriptions.
This apparatus was used until 1934 when a new Chevrolet Chassis was purchased and the tanks were mounted on the new chassis. With the help of the Ladies Auxiliary, donations and festivals the new truck was paid off in less than one year.
All these years the fire company had no regular meeting place. the meetings were being held in Stine Bros. Garage, School House, and Swigerts Insurance Office.
The one great desire of all the members was to have a building of their own in which to hold meetings and and store the equipment. After being offered different buildings in town the Company finally, in December 1939 bought a lot from Ed Peterson and erected a building.
This building was one story, of cement block, built by Beavertown Block Company and at last the dream of the Company, with the help and co-operation of the community came true.
After outgrowing that building, a 4,400 square ft. steel building was built in 1971, on the opposite side of the road. It was and is still currently used to house equipment, hold meetings, fundraisers, and much more. Emergency calls were dispatched from a small office in the firehouse untill December 30, 1991 when Mifflin County went to a county wide 911 telephone number and a central communications center.
Previous to this piece of apparatus, McVeytown's property was protected by a water line and plugs at convenient intervals installed by the town council. Water pressure for this line was furnished by the Glass Sand Company, operating at that time in McVeytown. This line was in use between the years 1906 - 1912.
By the time the year 1925 rolled around the firemen were really getting tired of pulling a two horse rig to a fire . A meeting was held on July 18, 1925 and arrangements were made to buy a motorized outfit. this outfit consisted of three 35 gallon tanks mounted on a Model-T Chassis which was purchased from Oberchain Boyer Firefighting Apparatus Company, Logansport Indiana, at a cost of $2350.00 and it was paid off in less than three years. The money was raised by holding festivals, shooting matches and by public subscriptions.
This apparatus was used until 1934 when a new Chevrolet Chassis was purchased and the tanks were mounted on the new chassis. With the help of the Ladies Auxiliary, donations and festivals the new truck was paid off in less than one year.
All these years the fire company had no regular meeting place. the meetings were being held in Stine Bros. Garage, School House, and Swigerts Insurance Office.
The one great desire of all the members was to have a building of their own in which to hold meetings and and store the equipment. After being offered different buildings in town the Company finally, in December 1939 bought a lot from Ed Peterson and erected a building.
This building was one story, of cement block, built by Beavertown Block Company and at last the dream of the Company, with the help and co-operation of the community came true.
After outgrowing that building, a 4,400 square ft. steel building was built in 1971, on the opposite side of the road. It was and is still currently used to house equipment, hold meetings, fundraisers, and much more. Emergency calls were dispatched from a small office in the firehouse untill December 30, 1991 when Mifflin County went to a county wide 911 telephone number and a central communications center.