Fire Company
Updated 10/28/2023
Below you will find material pertaining to the history of the Auburn Fire Company. This paragraph addresses two highly important issues. Donations and volunteers. Donations and other forms of income are extremely important for purchasing or maintaining equipment, building maintenance, general expenses and other costs. The other issue is volunteers...Volunteers are always needed and welcome.
Responsibilities can range from responding to and fighting fires or simply helping with fund raisers, general duties, etc. There is a large variety of duties to choose from. Most importantly, if you are uncertain on whether or not you want to volunteer or give a donation, keep one thing in mind. These hardworking individuals make many sacrifices to voluntarily respond to emergencies. The life or property that they could save might be yours. Please donate or volunteer to this beneficial organization. The Auburn Area Historical Society greatly appreciates the Auburn Fire Company and all of its members. |
NOTE: If you have any historic information and/or pictures that are relevant to this webpage topic, please share it with us by submitting the material using the "Visitors Input" button below. Thank you!
The Auburn Fire Company History
The brick structure pictured on the right was built in 1921 to house the fire apparatus for the Auburn Fire Company. However, the Auburn Fire Company had its “roots” in the community even earlier. On May 17, 1896, resident George Lavan organized a group of volunteers from the immediate area to combat fire in and around Auburn. As a result of their vigilance in detecting and battling blazes, the group was commonly referred to as the “Vigilants”. These men could be seen hurriedly moving their hand-drawn cart through the streets in times of fire emergencies. In the early 1900s, John Howard Fahl was one of the original organizers of the Auburn Hose Company and helped serve as its treasurer. World War I took a terrible toll on the members of the fire company. All of the original members of the fire company were lost during this conflict. In 1922, the fire company was reorganized by numerous locals to include Charles Bensinger, Fred Borkey, H.R. Carl, C. Diefenderfer, Guy H. Diefenderfer, John Howard Fahl, Harry Hummel, John Hummel, Eugene Huntzinger, J.M. Patchet, J.R. Morrison, John Ramer, M.C. Ramer, Victor Ramer, Erwin Schwenk and Charles Sterner. The Auburn Fire Company’s emergency response became a little easier and a lot faster when they purchased their first motorized fire truck in May of 1923. Over ninety years later, the Auburn Fire Company still faithfully provides quick response in times of emergency. In addition to attending their special fund-raising events to include, but not necessarily be limited to, auctions, bingo, food sales and raffles, a person can also support the fire company by becoming a fire-fighter, becoming an Auburn Fire Company member, or simply by donating money or auction merchandise to their worthwhile cause. Their contact information is: Auburn Fire Company, P.O. Box 137, Auburn, PA 17922; or call 570-754-4567; or email them at [email protected]; or visit them in person at the station house located at 131 S. Front Street, Auburn, Schuylkill County, PA. NOTE: The compilation of a list of past and present Auburn Fire Company members is being initiated; however, due to the length of time over which the AFC has existed and the high quantity of individuals who have served as members, the list below is only a partial listing that is currentl being updated. If you know of anyone who had served a role on the Auburn Fire Company that is not yet listed below, please provide that person's full name (including maiden name if applicable and known, or prior marriage names) by submitting it via the "Visitors Input" button located at the top of this page in order that we might pay tribute to all of those individuals who served in this important function. Auburn Fire Company members: Bensinger, Charles Binner, Howard J. Boltz, Edwin H. Boltz, Florence A. Long Borkey, Fred Carl, H.R. Diefenderfer, Guy Herbert Sr. Donton, Lester W. Fahl, John Howard Faust, Robert Francis Geesaman, Chester "Al" Allen Hummel, Harry Hummel, John Huntzinger, Eugene Lavan, George Long Boltz, Florence A. Morrison, John R. Patchet, John Milton Peiffer, James "Jimmy" L. Phillips, Francis Cleveland Ramer, John Ramer, Mason Clayton Ramer, Victor Renninger, Richard "Dick" F. Sathe, Roger M. Schrader, Darlene M. Schwenk, Austin Schwenk, Diane L. Wike Skinner Schwenk, Erwin Schwenk, Thomas Herman Skinner Schwenk, Diane L. Wike Sterner, Charles Wike Skinner Schwenk, Diane L. Yost, Roy "Barney" Clinton |
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