Company History :

In 1949, Clyde Kochel of the Friendship Fire Company #1 of Morgantown, PA approached George Flemming of Geigertown concerning starting a fire company in Geigertown due to the number of calls that the town was having. The community placed the fire company idea to a vote. Many people voted against the Fire Company, but it was voted in favor for by one vote.

Friendship Fire Company #1, Morgantown gave the newly formed Fire Company their first apparatus with the understanding they would use the Friendship Fire Company #1 name. Friendship Fire Company #1, Geigertown was formed.

The newely formed company held their meetings in the local Community "Grange" Hall. The first truck was housed in George McGinley's barn, which was located across from the post office. In 1949 they purchased land from Jim Zerr for a cost of $500.00. This is the present land where the Fire Company currently is situated. Additional land was purchased from Charlie Schweitzer for $3,000.00; this is now the baseball field. The charter members of the Fire Company had to sign their properties as collateral to Elverson National Bank to secure the loan to purchase the land.

The Fire Chief was Robert Pearson. Unfortunately, there were no fire trucks to place on the road. The second Fire Chief with Fire Trucks was John Fleming.

The first call was the wagon shed at St Pauls Methodist Church. At this time the Fire Company did not have a Charter. Chief McFarland of Morgantown responded and told the company to bring their fire truck without the Charter being complete.

In 1951 the Charter was finally completed. The membership dues were $1.00 a member. They had 25 members to the company. Today, seven of these members are still with us. They are: John Clingaman, George Fleming, John Fleming, Robert Geiger, Grant Moyer and Heber "Jake" McGowan - all still in the Geigertown area. George Metzler is a resident of Florida now.

The first building was started in 1952 with Leon Moyer as the Chairman of the Building Committee. When they were digging the footers, someone didn't want the building to be built. They sabotaged the area by flooding it with water from a hose.

No one filed for a state permit to build the building and a work stoppage occured after someone reported them not having a permit. The second building was dedicated in 1953. This is the date marker on our current building. A few years later members voted down a social hall addition. A garage was also added to the building. The back section was built by Mel Bernstel.

The firefighters had no formal training in the beginning. Chief McFarland of Morgantown provided what training they needed. Many of the firefighters were GI's or Navy guys. They used rotted hose that threw out water.