Through the years, the Elkins Park Fire Company has maintained a tradition of being the first with the finest and most modern in equipment, a record which is in great part due to the generosity of its contributors. In 1913 the Company obtained the first motorized pumper in Cheltenham Township. An unequaled 1,000 GPM pumper, it was manufactured by the Webb Automobile Company and nicknamed the "Gray Terror" although it was actually a light beige, the color which was to be traditional for the company thereafter. In 1920, a second truck was obtained, a Model T Ford Chemical engine. In 1925, a gift from Mr. P.A.B. Widner helped make possible the purchase of a new 1,300 GPM Ahrens-Fox pumper, which was awarded "Best in the East " at the 1926 Sesquicentennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

On March 9, 1926, the Company's charter was changed to read the "Elkins Park Fire Company". In 1931 the Model T Chemical engine was replaced by a Model A Ford, 350 GPM, with a 250 gallon tank, and the next year the first ladder truck was purchased, another Ahrens - Fox, complete with deluge gun, life net, and other special equipment. The Company went over completely to Ahrens- Fox in 1940 when it replaced the Model A engine with a new 300 gallon tank, 500 GPM booster truck. In 1950, Elkins Park started to move away from Ahrens- Fox with the purchase of a maxim 750 GPM pumper truck. The replacement was made complete in 1954 when an 85' aerial ladder and a 750GPM, 400 gallon tank Booster truck from American-LaFrance were purchased to replace for the Ahrens-Fox ladder and booster truck.

In October 1951, the Company expanded when the lot known as 7820 Montgomery was purchased. Today, the property is used as a member parking lot.

A 100' aerial ladder truck and a 500 gallon tank, 750 GPM booster truck purchased in 1963, as well as the 300 gallon tank, 750 GPM pumper truck obtained in 1965 were all of American-LaFrance manufacture. Each piece of equipment was connected by two -way radio (first installed in 1952) to every other as well as the base station at the firehouse and to radio receiver alarms (first installed in 1954) in each fireman's home. The 1965 pumper truck retained one close link to the past-the bell on the truck was the same one from the hood of the original beige Webb truck-bought in 1913.

On March 7, 1967 it was decided to use Booster 3, Pumper 3, and Ladder 3 in radio communications instead of #351, #352, and #353.

The year 1968 brought with it much progress. In February, the blood bank was started to provide a blood pool with the Red Cross, which is still being used today. In May of that year, an emergency generator was installed in the building as well as a fuel tank and fuel pump outside the firehouse. It was believed that since the Ashbourne and Elkins Park garage closed, installing a private tank and pump could save money.

On September 8, 1969, Chief Hesselbacher had the company switch from single to dual radio frequencies. In October, every member received a home Plectron radio alarm. The members requested that the polling station be removed from the firehouse, which was completed the following year.

In July of 1970, the firebox in front of the firehouse was replaced with a police phone so a fire company response would go through the police headquarters. It was also in July that a vote was taken by the Active Department to allow Women in the firehouse until midnight, except on Tuesdays. A 65-mile radius was set for participation in parades by the Company in 1970.

The period from 1971 to 1973 was marked by some memorable building fires in Melrose Park on Towanda and Woodlawn Avenues. Work was also begun on replacing all three pieces of fire apparatus. In August of 1972, map books were placed on all the trucks. On February 6,1973, the bell from the 1913 Webb pumper was removed from the 1965 American LaFrance pumper and permanently mounted in the engine room. Also in February, Philadelphia Assistant Fire Chief Ralph E. Kress was given recognition for helping to improve relations between paid and volunteer firefighters.

A blaze on New Year's Eve Day started 1974 in a less than auspicious way. The Coventry Dinner Theatre was decimated in the early hours of the day and will long be remembered. Later that month, Elkins Park converted to 4" supply hose on both pumpers. Also at this time a mutual aid system was discussed for the township.

In June of 1974, the Elkins Park Fire Company celebrated the housing of three new American fire trucks. The trucks were all diesel engines, which were a first, and the ladder was manufactured as a rear mount rather than the usual mid-ship mount.

Another notable fire kicked off 1975. The Valley Market Delicatessen (Coventry Market) fire on February 20. Later in the month, the old trophy case was expanded in order to accommodate the growing collection of awards from parades and sporting events. It was during this year that an annual test was begun to retain First Class Fire fighter status with the organization.

During the spring of 1976, the active members of the Elkins Park Fire Company began to refurbish the reproduced antique hose cart for an exhibit for the nation's bicentennial celebration. That hose cart can be seen today in the meeting room of the firehouse. That same year, Dana Oilman and John Marshall began the " Hot line " publication, which was used to keep our citizens, informed about our activities. This newsletter is still used today. It was in the summer that the Active Department recommended to the township Fire Board that all homes have at least one smoke detector. This recommendation became a township ordinance.

In the fall of the following year the five township fire companies held the first thrill show at the fire training area for the general public. It was also during 1977 that the members of Elkins Park fielded a team in the township slow pitch softball league.

On September 20, 1978, President Robert Cunningham of the Board of Directors, along with his committee, formed the highest award available from the Elkins Park Fire Company. The " Richard I. Hesselbacher " award given to the person who has served the Fire Company with exceptional distinction over the years. It was during this same year that a new radio base station was installed in the engine room. During a storm in the fall, the house siren on the roof was damaged by a lightening bolt and later repaired. Due to inclement weather, the Active Department decided that the annual banquet would be better held in the spring; and it has been that way ever since. In August, Township Ordinance 1448 was established to provide legal services for and to satisfy the liability of volunteer fire companies, members, and directors in certain circumstances.

It was on April 21, 1979 that a fire heavily damaged the Melrose Park train station. In August, the Directors of all five companies agreed to purchase 1", 1-1/2, 2-1/2, and 4" NST hose line. This was an effort to make the companies more compatible on the fireground. Later in that month the company installed a high-pressure bank system for use in filling the breathing apparatus.

The next year, a part of our local history was lost permanently. On February 18, the Philadelphia Leigh Fuel Company Coal Yard at 7804 Montgomery Avenue burned to the ground in an evening inferno. Our trucks and crew only needed to go out the bay doors to get to work.

Charles Obrecht was given the Richard I. Hesselbacher award for his outstanding efforts in April 1982. Later that year, the investigation began into purchasing two new trucks as well as a building addition to house the ladder tower. The Company also accepted its first junior firefighter that year.

Local resident and star entertainer Bill Cosby donated an industrial gas range to our kitchen on September 19, 1983. The William Cox Contractors were awarded a contract worth $116,450 for an addition to house our ladder tower. Also that year, Nomex hoods became a standard part of our fireman's gear. A contract was given to Pierce Apparatus Company in November for two new trucks at $308,502. The membership decided to bolster its physical fitness by purchasing a Soloflex workout station. The state made a special firefighter's license plate available to volunteer firefighters, which is still available today.

As Kerosene became a more popular fuel for home heating, accidents associated with its use began to concern the fire service. Bud Carlson, a member of Elkins Park, Urged State Representative Charles Nahill to look into a way to prevent gasoline/kerosene delivered mishaps, preventing homeowners from putting gasoline into kerosene heaters. Later in 1984, bunker pants become part of the standard equipment. In November 1984, the Melrose Park train station was decimated by a blaze that left it in a state of disrepair for quite some time.

It wasn't until 1986 that the old American pumpers were sold to the Guttenberg and Freedom Fire Companies. Following the sale of the pumpers, a grand ceremony was held on September 20 to house the two new Pierce pumpers and to dedicate the new building addition that would house the ladder tower. The flagpole and bell were remounted outside of the firehouse where they now stand. Before the addition was completed, a new cascade system was installed

A long standing fire service tradition fell to the wayside during the summer of 1987. Due to safety concerns and insurance pressures, firefighters were no longer allowed to ride the back step of any fire apparatus.

In July of 1988, the kerosene project that Bud Carlson proposed to Representative Nahill and worked on paid a divided. Senate Bill #738 was submitted to prevent gasoline from being delivered to a kerosene fuel pump. Also that year our original 1940 Ahrens-Fox pumper was found in the abandoned Twin Oaks Firehouse. Attempts to recover the truck were unsuccessful.

On June 6, 1989 the Fire Company arrived in the 21S' Century. On that day, a computer was put into operation at a cost of $6, 120. Business records, the fund drive, training and almost every aspect of the Fire Company can be serviced with the aid of the computer. A system was designed that year for all members to have I.D. tags on their turnout gear to tract those who enter a burning building. Another tradition ended that year when the "houseman" position was eliminated and the firehouse apartment was to be rented.

On March 20, 1989 all of the township fire companies were thrust into the news spotlight. That evening, the Yorktown Inn Shopping Center was reduced to smoldering rubble. The Yorktown fire pressed all five companies, as well as companies from neighborhood districts, into service well into the next day. In the fall, the firehouse siren cycle was reduced form four to one complete cycle due to pressure from the community.

In the early 1990's, the handling of the fire calls for the whole township was dramatically changed by means of having a new dispatch procedure, the enhancement of 911 in Montgomery County.

Although the separate fire companies retained a strong sense of individual identity, they act in unity in the sharing of manpower and equipment on fire scenes. On January 11, 1994 all of the township fire companies were thrust into the spotlight. That morning the Beth Jacob Building, known to many as the Old Cheltenham High School, was reduced to smoldering rubble. The High School fire pressed all 5-township companies as well companies from Abington Township and Jenkintown Borough.

In the end of 1994, a committee was formed to start proceedings to purchase new pumpers. The new equipment was added in 1997.