"We face the past with pride and the future with courage". This quotation sets the theme of the past account of the Ogontz Fire Company and our hopes for the future.

Prior to 1892, eight years before the government of Cheltenham Township was formed, the area was made up of a few estates, farms and a handful of hamlets. It was not a teeming suburb of Philadelphia, as it is today, and the only fire protection the people had were bucket brigades, made up of neighbors organized on the spot, when a need arose. In early 1892, Frank Engle, owner of the general store in Ogontz and Abram T. Clayton, the village druggist, raised $100 to install a fire hydrant in the center of Ogontz on Old York Road. In October the fire company was founded as a result of the installation.

The members decided to buy their first motor truck. This truck was a used, right-hand drive Simplex chassis upon which was mounted an American-LaFrance Pump. This truck carried two fifty-gallon tanks, 500 feet of hose and two ladders. The active crew then had twenty-three men. In the fall of 1926 the Ogont~ Fire Company placed an American-LaFrance Pumper, costing $6,300, into service. In March 1929, the company replaced the old Simplex with another American-LaFrance truck at a cost of $5,600. This truck served the company for ten years. In 1930 Jack Hulme became president for two years.

On March 1, 1998, Ogontz was dispatched along with LaMott and Elkins Park fire companies to a structure fire in Lynnewood Gardens. First arriving Ogontz Engine 5 encountered heavy smoke with fire showing while the police were saying the occupant was still inside. The firefighters from Ogontz, Elkins Park and LaMott fire companies were commended by Township officials for the successful rescue of the occupant. Company Citations were presented to Deputy Chief Steve Farrington, Captain David Washington, Lieutenant Joseph Dishler and firefighter Jonathan Verlin for their direct involvement with the rescue of the occupant. As the needs of the community increase, so does the need to provide the top quality fire and rescue services for which we are known.

A new rescue truck to be delivered in early 2002.