The Boalsburg Fire Company is a company that serves Harris and College Townships with volunteers from the community. Boalsburg Fire Company members are able to provide information on fire safety procedures and the installation and purchase of fire safety equipment. The Fire Hall also serves as a community hall available for parties and other social events.

The following is a Historical Account of the History of The Boalsburg Fire Company. This account has been prepared by Tom Irvin Gill and was told at the mortgage-burning celebration of the Company and Community on October 24, 1961.

'In communities everywhere, the need for protection of homes and other property against fire has brought out the best efforts of local citizens in cooperating to help each other. Sometimes this is a simple matter of neighbors aiding neighbors, without benefit of any organization. As communities grow, usually there is more organization, and more equipment for its members to use. It is said that at the turn of the century, some sixty years ago, Boalsburg residents depended on a 'Bucket Brigade', forerunner of the present Fire Company. Records of the Company do not go back quite that far. But the earliest minutes we have, for a meeting on January 21, 1913, show that this meeting was called to reorganize the Company, so it must have existed prior to that time. In 1913 W.H. Stuart was President of the company. His successors in that office have included Walter Ludwig, Grant Charles, Fred Lonberger, Harold Klinger, John Houser, John Smith, George Neff, Sam Stover, LeRoy Corl, Hugh Ralston, Emerson Rhodes, Fred Dale, Fred Kline, and Frank Kaprocki.

At that meeting in 1913, all citizens and larger boys were elected to membership in the company. At or before that time, Colonel Theodore Boal had donated a hose cart, the Company's first piece of equipment. He also provided a ware room as a place for keeping the cart. The Company had not much money in those days, but it did not miss a chance to pick up a little. Minutes of the March 1913 meeting note that the fire company sold some rubbish to Mr. Houtz for a $1.00.

In the same year, showing the tradition of neighborly assistance, it is recorded the messages of appreciation were sent from Boalsburg to citizens of State College, Lemont, Oak Hall and Linden Hall, for helping fight the fire in Mrs. Fishers home.
In 1915 the position of Fire Chief was created, and P.S. Ishler was appointed to the office. Chiefs since then have been Walker Shutt, O.F. Smith, E.C. Riley, Wayne Kellar, Robert Hess, John Shuey, Harold Wagner, William Tennis, John Williams, Maynard Williams, Montgomery Hubler and Gordon Williams.

Back about 1913, the Company owned a lot which apparently had been used for parking its limited equipment. Since it had been granted the use of the Boal building for this purpose, the lot was no longer needed. In 1916 it was sold for $135.00, and the money was applied on the purchase of twelve hydrants. The hydrants cost more than this, but a donation was received from the Civic Club of Boalsburg, and additional funds were raised from a festival sponsored by the Fire Company on Decoration Day.
With its hose cart, and strategically placed hydrants, the community evidently felt well protected. When fires occurred, the citizens and larger boys must have coped with them satisfactorily. In any event, the Company showed no further organizational activity from 1916 to 1925.

In 1925, again we have minutes of a meeting called to reorganize the Company. The main result of this, from a fire-fighting stand point, was the purchase of some chemical extinguishers. Then it appears there were no more meetings again or at least any regular minutes kept, until 1935.

On October 25, 1935, the company once more reorganized. This time, instead of assuming that every man and boy would be a member, it enlisted volunteers by name 27 of them. At that time, Fred Lonberger was elected President of the company, and Wayne Kellar as Fire Chi

The following year a siren was purchased, and installed atop of the Odd Fellows Building. Before that, the bell of the Reformed Church had served to give fire alarms.
Also in 1936, the Company affiliated with the State Firemen's Association.
The Fire Company has represented, perhaps more than any other body, the voluntary cooperative spirit of this community. Naturally, therefore, it has given its support to the work of other local organizations, and has enjoyed their support and esteem in turn. A fine example of this was in 1937 when the Boalsburg Banjo Band was discontinued. Its members unanimously voted to apply their treasury funds, as they said, to benefit the community by turning them over to the Fire Company. This amounted to 33.43 a very useful donation at that time.

The Company didn't throw away any of the money, either. At a meeting shortly afterwards there was a motion that we pay Ream and Klinger .50 cents each for their services at the last festival, but the motion did not carry.

1937 was a notable year in many ways. The Company purchased the Old Blue Pumper, for $300.00, raised by donations of the citizens. It received a charter as a non-profit corporation, The Boalsburg Fire Company, Inc. It also received official recognition and support from the Supervisors of Harris Township, who provided compensation insurance for the firemen as well as insurance on the Company's truck.

Resulting service to the community was as excellent as one would expect. In August, Chief Robert Hess reported according to the minutes, a small fire at the Boal Mansion which was taken care of splendidly by the Co.

Not all fires in the area were small. In 1939 the W.H. Miller barn was lost, representing three thousand two hundred pre-war dollars. The fire had too much start for the Company to save the barn. The firemen could only protect nearby buildings and for doing this they enjoyed food and coffee sent out by the Civic Club in typical community fashion. On other occasions, the Girl Scouts have provided refreshment for the volunteers serving on fire duty.

Another serious fire, in 1938, was at the College in the Chemistry Annex. Boalsburg firemen responded to a call for assistance: at the Company's next meeting letters of appreciation were read from the College and from the Alpha Fire Company. Our minutes relate that the Co. decided to make no charges, but were open for donations if any were forthcoming. There did come forth from Penn State $ 25.00.

No donation was received, and presumably none was expected, from the Alpha Fire Company. But interestingly, at about the same time, the following item is found in the minutes: Watkins for Alpha Fire Company made a lengthy talk about assessment for fire protection, and the $250 which the State College Borough Council is trying to extract from Harris Township for this protection. The whole discussion got neither here nor there.
Still in 1938, the Relief Association was organized to make available disability and death benefits provided by the State, for the members of this Company.

In the same year, the Company lost and outstanding friend and benefactor, when Colonel Theodore Boal passed away. The minutes, recording arrangements for a floral wreath in this memory, refer to Colonel Boal as founder of the original Fire Company in Boalsburg.
The passage of three years under review has brought us to the verge of World War II, which cast its shadow on every person and group in our nation. Minutes of the Fire Company reflect this. Between 1942 and 1944 we find references to blackout regulations: use of the fire siren as a blackout signal: halting of Route 322 traffic during blackouts: methods of fighting incendiary bombs, which happily the Company was not required doing in actuality. And there is record of a party, planned in honor of members leaving for military service.

During the war, though not directly related to it, there was acquisition by the Fire Company of important real estate.

Boal Hall was generously donated to the Company by the Boal Estate. The adjoining, old grade school building and ground had been purchased by the Company. That building then was sold and removed; the former vocational building (Boal Hall) was remodeled for the use of the Company. This room in which we are meeting was the former Boal Hall.

In 1945 the Company was considering purchase of its first brand-new truck. This was scheduled for discussion on August 21. However, the minute entry for that date is short and eloquent: ‘Due to announcement of victory over Japan, the regular meeting of the Boalsburg Fire Company was cancelled.’

The new truck was ordered soon after that a Dodge chassis, to be factory fitted with necessary pumping equipment. It cost over $5,000.00. Community donations, with funds accumulated from festivals and other activities covered the price.

The membership, the facilities, and the activities of the Company have continued to expand. In 1948 the Centre County Volunteer Firemen’s Association met here. In 1950 the membership limitation was removed. It had been 65 then 70. Presently on the rolls are 105 members, and the total has been as high as 125.

As a local point of the community life, the Boalsburg Fire Company never has limited its interests solely to the necessary protection against fire, but also has promoted local welfare in many other ways. Scout troops have been sponsored by the Company. Various organizations and activities, especially for young people, have been aided by use of the Fire Hall. The annual Easter Egg Hunt, held at the 28th Division Shrine, has become a community tradition. The ladies of the Fire Company Auxiliary have played a large part, not only in social events but also by contributing much time and effort, and even financial support.

The biggest undertaking, and the biggest obligation, assumed by the Company in its history, was the new building, an expansion and addition to Boal Hall started in 1949 and first occupied in January, 1950. It was and is a fine piece of property, as any one can see. This building represented a construction value of $35,000 twelve years ago, and would cost more than that today. Yet it cost the Company only $20,000 in direct outlay. This great saving was the result of donations by Township residents, of both equipment and labor. Mr. Claude Aikens donated the furnace and stoker; Mr. Howard Swank gave tile for the restrooms; and men of the Company gave hundreds of hours of labor, to reduce what otherwise would have been paid to the contractor.

To finance the payment which was necessary, mortgage bonds were sold; $15,000 and a note were given for $5,000 worth. In 1959, there was a partial refinancing. But the total debit has been paid off; $1,000 to $2,000 per year, in a program of constant reduction.'