Hempfield plans new museum for volunteer fire stations

Hempfield is planning to establish a committee that will be tasked with the creation of a museum for the township’s volunteer fire stations.

Township Supervisor Doug Weimer made the suggestion last week as he and fellow supervisors unanimously approved a declaration of intent with Grapeville for the station to become “nonchartered.”

Weimer said he hopes artifacts and the history of each station can be preserved at the museum.

“I think that’s an important part of the fabric of Hempfield Township,” he said. “A lot of sweat equity went into the establishment of the neighborhood departments, and … we don’t want to lose that history.”

Township officials have been working for years to bring all of Hempfield’s fire stations under one umbrella.

North Hempfield was the first to finish the process in 2021. Township supervisors approved an acquisition agreement with Midway-St. Clair last month. Grapeville became the latest to join the process with Monday’s approval, and officials expect others to follow in the coming months.

As part of the agreements, each station’s finances will be managed and paid by the township, while volunteer firefighters continue to respond to calls.

There are 10 volunteer stations in operation in Hempfield. The 11th, High Park Volunteer Fire Department, closed last year after failing to respond to calls and is proposing a merger with West Point Volunteer Fire Department. Luxor closed in 2021 after merging with Bovard.

All but two of the 10 stations — West Point and Bovard — have expressed some level of interest in becoming nonchartered, officials have said.

Weimer asked firefighters to consider being part of the committee.

“They have a wealth of knowledge to share about the dedication, the sacrifices of the volunteer service,” he said. “We have a long history of 12 volunteer fire stations in the township, and we certainly want to memorialize all of their contributions. We don’t want to miss any of their oral histories, and we don’t want to lose any of the artifacts that they might have.”

One of those artifacts is a 1946 American LaFrance pumper truck in Grapeville’s possession.

“I have spent some time with our friends at Grapeville, and looking at their 1946 American LaFrance pumper, it is quite a marvel in technology and history, and I, too, would like to see that preserved,” said Supervisor Bill Bretz.

He agreed with Weimer that memorializing the history of the fire service in Hempfield is important.

“Those companies that are coming in, we don’t want to lose your history, we don’t want to lose the items that you might have, so please consider volunteering for that,” Weimer said.