Port Trevorton Fire Company: It takes a village

By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item

May 21, 2009 07:37 am

— PORT TREVORTON — After 60 years of dedicated service to the community in times of crisis, the Port Trevorton Fire Company will kick back, relax and celebrate its first-ever firemen’s parade on June 4.
Members also will hold their first firemen’s carnival in nearly 30 years.
The celebrations come on the heels of a communitywide effort that made the construction of a new fire station possible last year.
“Ninety-five percent of the labor was donated,” said member Bob Hassinger. Several members put their plumbing and electrical skills to use, and local residents, including people from the Mennonite community, contributed labor and talent.
“Community support really makes it happen,” Fire Chief Doug Lauver said.
Funds for the new building still are being raised through donations, dinners and events such as Oktoberfest last fall and the coming carnival.
“We’ve had very good community support,” Hassinger said. “The people around here are excellent.”
The new fire station is in front of the old one. It has five bays, compared to the previous two — room for each piece of equipment to quickly and easily get in and get out. And it lines Main Street. The old building sits on a hill behind it.
“We don’t have to fight with the ramp in the winter time,” Lauver said.
They also no longer have to waste time taking out one vehicle at a time and strategically parking them all after a call.
“It was dangerous,” said Brenda Hassinger, chairwoman of the fire company for the past two years. “We were running out of space for equipment.” The fire company owns an engine, tanker, rescue, squad and brush truck.
The old building, now being used as a prep room, contains the community hall, where dinners and events are held throughout the year.
The fire company’s recent strides forward are a result of new members having new ideas, said member Bill Weaver. And pointing to two younger members standing by his side, he said, “Twenty years from now, these young bucks will have something.”
In the past, “the older members didn’t want to spend the money,” he said.
In the mid-1980s, the company sold its carnival rides because it needed the money, said life member John Hoover, who is one of four generations of his family who has served with the company.
“Half the company was Hoovers,” joked his son, Justin, a senior at Selinsgrove Area High School and a member of the fire company. John’s brother, Jeff, also is a member.
Their father was a member at the same time as Bill Weaver’s father.
The Weavers boast three generations of service. Bill’s son, A.J., 19, and his sister, Heidie, both run on calls with the company.
“I grew up around it,” A.J. said. “They tell their stories, and you can’t help but listen to it.”
“We all get along. It’s a tight-knit group of people here. It really is,” Brenda Hassinger said. “These guys are great.”
She drives the large rescue truck and loves going on medical calls. “I have my own gear and everything,” she said.
“It’s a brotherhood,” Weaver said, and then looking at Brenda, he smiled and corrected himself: “A siblinghood.”
Howard Lauver, fire company president and head cook, is “the one that makes it all happen,” Weaver said.
The parade will form at 7 p.m. June 4 at the southern end of Port Trevorton at Silver Creek Supply and move north to the end of town. Groups and businesses are encouraged to participate. No pre-registration is necessary. The carnival, to be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. June 3-6, will include nightly entertainment and bingo. Fireworks will be shot off June 5.
An open house is being planned for July 25 at the firehall and will include a chicken barbecue, health screenings and educational programs for children. Information is available by calling Brenda Hassinger at 374-0596.

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The facts
-- The company was established in 1949 after a major fire at a village store drew fire companies from as far away as Dalmatia.
-- It began operating out of an old schoolhouse, which was built in 1882. In 1982, 100 years later, the company tore down the schoolhouse and built a fire station and social hall.
-- The company averages three to five fire calls a year, but responds to far more accidents, as its coverage area stretches 10 miles along busy Routes 11-15.
-- The Firemen’s Park contains more than 10 acres along the Susquehanna River.
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