Harris Hill Vol. Fire Co.
History
The mission statement of The Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company is to organze and provide for the protection of life and propety against fire hazards; to acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise, necessary firefighting equipment for the extinguishing of fires; to distribute to residents within the district information leading to the prevention of fires; to acquire by gift, purchase or otherwise land for the construction of a building within the district to be used for the storage of fire fighting equipment and headquarters and club rooms for the members therof.
Certificate of Incorportation January 7th, 1937
Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company was started January 7th 1937m with John H. Farrell acting as President and CHief to fifty brand new firefighters. the bi-monthly meetings were held at various members homes. the school basement, or The Rose Garden on Wehrle Drive. They battled fires with one truck and little equipment, and didn't even have an established district until early 1939. Some of their first equipment include a dozen rubber coats and boots they purchased for $10.50
To raise operating funds, the new Fire Company held "Smoker" parties every few months. The parties resembled a Monte Carlo event. The signing of the Fire Prevention contract with the Town of Clarence in 1941 eased financial worries. The Town of Clarence paid based on the assessed valuation of all homes in the district.
World War II brought many changes to the Fire Company. Black out drills sometimes consisted of simulated bomb hits to which the firemen responded. In 1942 a government-owned Curtiss P40 airplane valued at $60,000.00 went up in flames on Transit Road a half mile north of Sheridan Drive. The gas tank blew, and the airplane was a total loss. The war also necessitated the purchase of war insurance on the fire truck. The truck, which was stored in Metz's Garage, had to be guarded every night by volunteers.
The land for the fire hall was purchased in 1943. The Gamblin Brothers did the initial construction. The Ladies Auxiliary chipped in to furnish the kitchen in the new hall. On March 17th, 1947 the first meeting was held there. Chief Arthur Zimmerman urged the members to learn how to drive the fire truck, and reminded them to wear old clothes for a "wet drill".
The Harris Hill Firemen's Club was established in 1951. It was a restaurant that served dinners at the fire hall Wednesday through Saturday evenings, and featured dancing on Saturday nights. All monies beyond expenses were turned over to the Fire Company. At it's peak, the Firemen's Club had 851 members! The Club was discontinued in 1967 because it couldn't compete with commercial restaurants.
By 1956, the Fire Company had already started showing signs of outgrowing the fire hall. Carl Danitz chaired the committee that added on a new apparatus room, and converted the old one to a banquet hall.
Volunteer Firemen's Sunday, still a strong tradition, was initiated in our area by Harris Hill Fireman Walter Pfeil in 1959. Mr. Pfeil wrote a column for the Clarence Press entitled, "Safety and Fire Facts". He also encouraged the Fire Company to offer a creative writing award to high school students, which was posthumously named after him, and is still awarded today.
Harris Hill Firemen resisted moves toward providing ambulance service. In 1960, the Junior Chamber of Commerce tried to donate an ambulance, but it was refused. During 1965, after Clarence Center Volunteer Fire Co. complained that 75% of the ambulance calls they responded to were in the Harris Hill district, a fee was sent to them to encourage their continued service. In June 1965, Harris Hill adopted a resolution to provide ambulance service.
In 1968, the Fire Company was again outgrowing the fire hall. That year, they held the Installation dinner at the Brookfield Country Club. Nearly 200 people attended a dinner of Prime Rib and Lobster. A building committee was appointed to enlarge the kitchen and storage areas, provide a wider side entrance, and improved restrooms. These changes gave Harris Hill the ability to rent the banquet hall for profit. That first year they rented the banquet hall fourteen times.
On February 2nd 1970, Clayt Ertel Senior introduced the Exempt Firemen's Club as a service organization for the firemen to promote the welfare of the Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company.
In 1971, The Eastern Hills Mall Opened on the western border line of our district which is Transit Rd. The building boasted a total size of 997,945 square feet and 92 total stores with 7 additional anchor stores.
In 1972, the firemen extendedout the back wall of the apparatus room. This addition was ground work for the purchase of the 85 foot snorkel which was ordered in 1973, but took three years to be delivered and put into service.
In 1978, a New York State Human Rights law against sexual discrimination went into effect. It required a constitutional change which allowed patricia Grogan to become Harris Hill's first female member.
In 1987, The fire company purchased its first four wheel drive fire chiefs vehicle to be used in severe weather conditions and provide hassle free travel to emergency scenes during major snow storms.
in 1992 Harris Hill recieved a brand new Simon-Duplex rescue pumper. The engine was unique because it carried a blue reflective safety stripe on both sides. Later that year all Harris Hill apparatus was re-striped to match the new pumper.
The middle to late 1990's saw tremendous growth for the Fire district. The entire western border line of Transit road grew uncontrollably to quickly become the second largest commerical fire district in all of Western New York. Additionally, the fire company saw several new subdivisions created, all which doubled the call volume volume.
In 2000 Harris Hill took delivery of
a new Emergency One Heavy rescue truck.
In 2001, The Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company Explorer Post 114 was started, it consists of a group of 14-18 year old high school students who are interested in helping the community. Today the program is still functional and is a key resource to recruitment of new firefighters.
In May of 2003, the company took delivery of a new 75ft Emergency One 75 Quint, the truck responds first to all residential fires.
During the summer of 2005, Harris Hill moved into their new firestation located in the lot to the east of the old firehall. The New building is leed certified(green energy conservancy) and is state of the art. It contains ample office space for each firematic and administrative officer, as well as rooms for physical fitness and a training classroom. The new firestation is also has a 7 bay apparatus room, allowing each truck to have its own bay.
The Harris Hill Volunteer Fire Company has been through several changes during its history, The diversity of the people (and the times) have made the Fire Company a thriving organization with the brightest of all possible futures. Today the Fire Company is very active in the community, continuing to strive to be the best, and of course always be ready when called upon.
