IN
CLOSING
As we come to the
close of this history, it will be noted that many buildings have went up
over the past years, notably the past 10 to 15 years saw such buildings as
the new Grove City Joint Consolidated Schools located next to Memorial
Park; new Baptist Church on Cranberry Road; new Luthern Church on Sunset
and Columbia Avenue. New Masonic Hall on West Main Street, new Knights of
Columbus Home on South Center Street Extension; A & P Store; Kroger
Store; new bowling alley on Harrisville Road and many new additional
buildings added to the Pennsylvania George Junior Republic as well as many
new ones at the Grove City College.
On planning stages
or construction are the new C-B Federal Credit Union Building on Lincoln
Avenue; new Episcopal Church on the Slippery Rock Road; new Golden Dawn
Store on West Main Street; new Bashline Hospital on Oak Hill Drive; Hoyt
Memorial Hall at the Grove City College; new buildings at the Senior High
School for expanded education as well as others which are not listed, such
as residences.
What the future
holds for the firemen, remains to be seen. One thing we do know, that with
Interstate Highway 80 to the north and Interstate Highway 79 to the west,
the town will grow rapidly. It may be that more firemen will be added,
more modern fire fighting equipment will have to be purchased, to cope
with the growing times.
The company now has
approximately 25 firemen on their rolls. They have 2 modern pumpers, a
ladder truck, a boat, a foam machine, as well as all necessary equipment
to handle any emergency which should arise at the present time.
The firemen are a
well trained unit. There are numerous firemen who has completed there
training at the State Fire School at Lewistown, others have had training
at the Mercer County Fire School in Sharpsville and all new recruits get
their training locally by men who have had training at the above schools.
After their 6-week schooling in fire fighting technique, they are put on a
6-month probation, at which time they receive actual fire fighting
training. After their time is served they are well qualified firemen.
With the present
radio system, the firemen in Mercer County are a closely knit
organization, always ready to assist one another. Locally each fire
equipment has a unit, by this means they know where the fire trucks are
and the personal on that equipment, as well as giving directions to the
fire, especially if a truck is answering an alarm out of town.
The latest fire
alarm system used by the local firemen is the telephone. As soon as an
alarm is turned into the electric plant, a recorded message is given on
the telephone in each firemen’s home. Aside from that a fire whistle is
blown, this alarm may find firemen outside of his home or if he is
visiting within the borough limits. Each firemen knows by the whistle it
is an out-of-town fire or whether it is in Ward 1, Ward 2, Ward 3 or Ward
4.
The firemen during
Fire Prevention Week dress up in uniform and attend church services. They
alternate among the many churches that may be found in Grove City.
Also it has been
their practice to check on each and every school as to how fast they can
be evacuated during this time.
A committee has
been set up to take care of filling fire extinguishers as well as check
dates when they were filled last, especially at the schools and hospitals.
The firemen, not
content with their knowledge, they continually year after year attend
schools for more up-to-date methods of fire fighting or rescue operation
training. It is also a practice to have local firemen take the trucks out
periodically for extra training. Each month 3 firemen are responsible for
checking the trucks for working conditions and report to fire chief if not
in order.
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