Our History
The first fire company of Oakmont was formed in 1907, largely through the efforts of O. S. Grubbs. At the time, Mr Grubbs was working at the Tibby Company in Sharpsburg, which had a fire company thst drew his attention. He talked to several citizens of Oakmont and they finally decided to approach the borough council. Two councilmen in particular. Mr Morris and A.S. Warner were enthused. The men were told to go ahead and council would help as much as possible, besides furnishing the firemen with a hall for a meeting.
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The original sponsors inserted an ad in the community weekly paper, which at the time was the Verona Leader, inviting civic-minded men to join. This brought out quite a number of interested men. The Organization meeting was called and the late Thomas Hunter was appointed Chief.
It was agreed upon at the meeting that the borough should furnish all equipment. The equipment consisted of three two-wheeled carts with hose. One was kept on top of the hill, one at Fifth Street, in a building rented from Mr Grubbs and the third at Third Street.
The alarm was a large steel tire from a Pennsylvania Railroad engine. The Alarm was sounded by striking the steel tire with a sledge hammer. It was placed at the police station on Fifth Street. This setup continued with whatever men were willing to fight fires until the year 1921.
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On January 5, 1921 the present company was organized as the Oakmont Volunteer Fire Department No 1. At this meeting there were 26 men present. The following men were enrolled as members: Hunter Biggerstaff, Charles Buttgereit, Jule Buttgereit, Harry Carlberg, Llyod Cook, Norris Cook, James Curti, Anthony Favo, Fred Favo, Tom Gray, Ed Helwig, H. E. Hullsman, W.S. Hulton, Tomas Hunter, Henry Kennedy, Ernest Loeffler, Ed Moore, Clarence Massey, Lawrence Massey, Gus Overbeck, Alex Palmer, Richard McPherson, Robert Shroud, Clarence V. Tiers, W.H. Holmes and Thomas Wisdom. Also three more men were elected into the company in 1921. They were Charles Helwig, Oliver Nicholas and Paul NIcholas.
At the first meeting the company elected Thomas A. Hunter Chief with the power to select his assistant and the truck drivers. The truck was to be delivered at a later date. Henry Kennedy was elected Captain and Gus Overbeck Secretary.
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At the first meeting the company elected Thomas A. Hunter Chief with the power to select his assistant and the truck drivers. The truck was to be delivered at a later date. Henry Kennedy was elected Captain and Gus Overbeck Secretary.