Boyertown
Pennsylvania
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Friendship Hook & Ladder Fire Company #1
The purposes for which this Company is organized are, for the maintenance of a home for the housing of fire engines and other fire fighting and life saving apparatus. To assist our fellow citizens, save lives and preserve their properties at times of fire and disaster. And to conduct a club for the sole purpose of providing social diversions, entertainment and refreshment for members only, without profit, incidental or otherwise and thereby possess and enjoy all the rights and benefits and privileges guaranteed under the Act of Assembly and its supplements as a non profit corporation.
The Friendship Hook & Ladder Co. #1, Inc. is a non-profit all volunteer fire company located in Boyertown Borough, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Along with the Keystone Steam Engine Company #1, Inc. of Boyertown we are the primary fire protection for Boyertown Borough and portions of Colebrookdale and Douglass Berks Townships. Our primary response area encompasses 12 square miles with a population of 7400 residents. We are supported by donations from the municipalities and residents we serve and different fund raising events held throughout each year. We operate out of one station with four pieces of apparatus manned by over 40 volunteer men and women firefighters. We have a weekly training session every Monday evening at 7:00pm and our Company Meeting is held the first Thursday of each month at 8:00pm. We also operate a members only social club and have a dining room open to the public for Friday evening dinners and Sunday morning breakfast each week.
The Beginnings
The first meeting of the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company of Boyertown, for the purpose of organizing, was held on May 8, 1882, with six men in attendance. The meeting was held in a hall known as Boyer’s Hall, which is now a part of the upper floors of the D. B. Boyer building at Philadelphia and Reading Avenues.George Endy was elected as the first president and chief, and Frank Deysher as the first secretary of the company. The motto, “We seek to rescue and to save,” was adopted and the company still uses the motto today.On July 7, 1882 a release was signed for the Pennsylvania Railroad to ship the first piece of equipment free of charge. The first equipment consisted of a hand drawn hose cart.
The Friendship Hook & Ladder Co. #1, Inc. is a non-profit all volunteer fire company located in Boyertown Borough, Berks County, Pennsylvania. Along with the Keystone Steam Engine Company #1, Inc. of Boyertown we are the primary fire protection for Boyertown Borough and portions of Colebrookdale and Douglass Berks Townships. Our primary response area encompasses 12 square miles with a population of 7400 residents. We are supported by donations from the municipalities and residents we serve and different fund raising events held throughout each year. We operate out of one station with four pieces of apparatus manned by over 40 volunteer men and women firefighters. We have a weekly training session every Monday evening at 7:00pm and our Company Meeting is held the first Thursday of each month at 8:00pm. We also operate a members only social club and have a dining room open to the public for Friday evening dinners and Sunday morning breakfast each week.
The Beginnings
The first meeting of the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company of Boyertown, for the purpose of organizing, was held on May 8, 1882, with six men in attendance. The meeting was held in a hall known as Boyer’s Hall, which is now a part of the upper floors of the D. B. Boyer building at Philadelphia and Reading Avenues.George Endy was elected as the first president and chief, and Frank Deysher as the first secretary of the company. The motto, “We seek to rescue and to save,” was adopted and the company still uses the motto today.On July 7, 1882 a release was signed for the Pennsylvania Railroad to ship the first piece of equipment free of charge. The first equipment consisted of a hand drawn hose cart.