Lawnton Fire Company History
Whether it’s a holiday or regular day, a frigid winter night or a sweltering summer day, a house on fire or a person injured in a car accident, Lawnton Fire Company is there to serve its community.
Lawnton Fire Company was founded in 1925; a year in which President Calvin Coolidge ruled the nation and Governor Gifford Pinchot ruled the state. World War I was over and the Depression hadn’t happened yet.
On February 25, 1925, 18 men met at the home of John Metzler and founded the Lawnton Fire Company to protect Lawnton, which had a population of fewer than 500 people.
One of the early priorities of the company was to establish where “water plugs” (hydrants) should be placed. A Water Plug Committee worked with Swatara Township officials to have hydrants placed in Lawnton.
Throughout the first year, the company met in members’ homes and got organized. On January 7, 1926, F.R. Eshenour offered the second floor of his garage for the Lawnton Fire Company to use for meetings. The company accepted.
The company bought 700 feet of fire hose on January 14, 1926 and put it into storage.
Like many volunteer fire companies of those days, Lawnton Fire Company started with a used piece of fire apparatus. After months of deliberation, the company on June 3, 1926 voted to buy a 1917 Ford Model T pumper from American La France Fire Engine Company in Elmira, N.Y., for $750.
Lawnton Fire Company made a $375 down payment and agreed to pay off the piece within a year of purchase.
By the end of 1926, the fire company agreed to purchase two lots on South 46th Street, abutting Eshenour’s Garage. From Mr. and Mrs. Frank Henning Sr. for $500. Member William M. young lent the fire company $400 toward the purchase.
Then bad luck struck. On a cold morning of February 10, 1933, a rapid-spreading fire destroyed the Eshenour garage, which served as the first Lawnton firehouse.
Published reports at that time reported that Eshenour was the first to see smoke pouring from the windows of the garage. He dashed out of his home to a fire alarm box at the firehouse.
“His hands numb with cold, he broke the glass and pulled the alarm which ordinarily would have started a siren on top of the firehouse screaming,” according to published reports. “But no answering wail rewarded his efforts. The flames had already reached the controls and the alarm was out of order.”
Undaunted, Eshenour ran home and called the Harrisburg Fire Department and his wife called Paxtang and Rutherford Fire Companies to come and assist.
Eshenour then “broke open the doors and, sidestepping the flames which filled the interior, jumped into the driver’s seat and tried to start the motor of the fire engine. But the motor was too cold.”
The engine would not turn over despite the fact that falling embers from the ceiling above had already set fire to the hose in the truck behind him and the flames were scorching his cap. In his dash from the building, Eshenour’s hands were blistered.
The newspaper story of the fire noted that the blaze spread so fast “that the company’s apparatus, a costly combination chemical and pumping engine, was ruined before fireman from Lawnton and neighboring towns could drag it from the burning structure. Gasoline in the engine’s tank exploded during the blaze. The loss was estimated at $8,000.”
In 1933, the foundation was dug for the long awaited firehouse at 52 S. 46th Street. Work on the firehouse began in the summer of 1933 with the firehouse ready for occupancy at the end of 1934.
Even before Lawnton had its firehouse, the company was serving its citizens. The first example was a fire at Bonnymeads Farms on March 7, 1928, where Jackson Herr Boyd sent the fire company $50 in appreciation for Lawnton’s “interest and efforts” in fighting the fire. The citizens appreciated their fire company. “The community is fortunate in having the unselfish services of volunteer firemen in your company, Boyd wrote in the letter that accompanied the check.
On March 24, 1931, Lawnton firefighters fought a blaze attributed to a possible short circuit at C.C. Cranford’s in the 4800 block of Derry Street. Eleven members of the family escaped from their house in their nightclothes. The 2-½-story building sustained $15,000 loss.
The 1940’s through the 1980’s were years of steady growth for the Lawnton Fire Company. Lawnton firefighters did their patriotic duty, serving in the Second World War as well as the Korean War. Back at home, the company’s calls increased steadily as the population of Swatara Township grew.
Like most growing fire companies, Lawnton needed money to buy apparatus and equipment to serve its citizens. The company held regular fundraisers including baked bean suppers, oyster pie suppers, ox roasts, card parties, festivals, dances and pig chases.
Today, the Lawnton Fire Company raises money through the fund drive, donations and numerous other fundraisers as they come up.
Lawnton Fire Company throughout its history has strived to keep improving. Lawnton bought a 1934 Chevrolet chassis for $395 and updated its Ford Model T.
In 1935, Lawnton Fire Company won the “Best Appearing and Best Equipped Chemical Fire Truck” in the Dauphin County Volunteer Firemen’s Association in Hummelstown.
Later, Lawnton bought a 1947 Federal pumper, which lasted until the company bought a new 1961 GMC 750 gallons per minute pumper.
Sixteen years later, Lawnton bought a second piece of apparatus, a new 1977 Ford F350 rescue unit, to meet the rescue needs of the northern side of Swatara Township. Four years later, Lawnton bought a new 1981 CF Mack 1,250 gallons per minute pumper to replace its 1961 fire engine.
On New Year’s Eve, 1975, an explosion and subsequent fire destroyed the Town and Country Department Store at the East Park Center in Lawnton. Two women died and one firefighter was injured.
On Christmas Eve, 1987, a fire of electrical origin damaged the 7-11 convenience store in the 4800-block of Derry Street. The store was completely destroyed.
In 1985, Lawnton bought at 1972 CF Mack 1,000 gallons per minute pumper from the Progress Fire Company. Lawnton converted it to an engine/rescue truck. Five years later, Lawnton sold it and replaced it with a 1990 Mack E-One Heavy Rescue, which is currently in service as Rescue 44 today.
In 2002, Lawnton then purchased a Jeep Wrangler 4 door Cherokee; a vehicle purchased from the state auction to use as a utility vehicle and to assist EMS with class 1 calls in the Lawnton area.
Lawnton Fire Company’s next vehicle, which was purchased by the Swatara Township Board of Commissioners through the fire tax money and fire apparatus replacement fund, is a 2000 Pierce Lance 105’ Aerial Ladder with a 500 gallon water tank and 1500 gallon per minute pump in place. The vehicle carries 9 firefighters and is designated as Engine 44. The 1981 CF Mack Pumper was sold to the Muir Fire Company located in Porter Township in Schuylkill County and was designated as Engine 650.
Later in 2004, Lawnton Fire Company sold the Jeep to the Reliance Hose Company No. 1 of Rutherford Heights and bought a used 2002 Ford F250 crew cab pick up truck from the Colonial Park Fire Company, and this vehicle is still in service today as Squad 44 and performs the same functions as the previous vehicle.
In addition to improving its firefighting apparatus, Lawnton Fire Company has worked at improving its firefighting skills since the early 1960’s. Firefighters trained on a weekly basis and practiced everything from hose advancement to the use of self-contained breathing apparatus.
Today, Lawnton firefighters still are training weekly at their station. Many Lawnton firefighters also take several classes each year at the John P. Shoemaker Public Safety Center located at Harrisburg Area Community College. Many of the members have obtained careers fire-fighting positions with several fire departments in the area and surrounding states.
Today, concerned citizens still volunteer their time and talents to help their neighbors in need. These concerned citizens, the Lawnton firefighters, will be there for all the tomorrows to help their community.
