On a bitter winter night in 1914, several young Shenandoah men of the Polish origin, watched with awe and envy as the Shenandoah Fire Companies, one motorized apparatus and the rest horse drawn vehicles, swept up or down main street, in answer to a fire alarm.

    One of the group - no one remembers just who - said,  "gee, fellows, let's be volunteer firemen, let's join a company and help others as these men are doing."

    All agreed it was a good idea, so the proper application forms were submitted to a fire company of the borough.  Although the young men were qualified mentally and physically, hard workers, willing to give their all for the fire company of their choice, they were denied membership.

    Its is hard to realize in this year of 2007.  Especially in Shenandoah with its many ethnic groups all working together, that these young men, who later fought overseas under the flag of their country, were denied membership, simply and purely because they were of Polish extraction. But they were.

    Several days later these individuals with their other friends of Polish origin, were bemoaning their fate in a south main street tavern.  A tavern, incidentally, located in the Polish section of Shenandoah, but owned and operated by a irishman, who was a friend to all men, regardless of mational orgin, religion, class of work or standing in the community.

    After listening to his friends describe the shabby treatment they received for several hours the irishmen said, "well, boys, why don't you stop talking about it and do something -
-form your own fire company.

    The idea caught on like fire and spread thoughtout the polish section of the community.  After several informal meetings were held at St. Stanislaus Parochial School,  The Polish American Fire Company was born and received its charter on May 13, 1915, thanks to the efforts, assistance andguidance or Rev. L.A. Stachowicz who was pastor of St. Stanislaus R.C. Church and Edward J. Burke who was an officer of the Phoenix Fire Co.

    The charter was granted by the Court of Common Pleas for the County of Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, on the 13th day of May 1915.The newly formed fire company continued to meet in St. Stanislaus Parochial School and in December 1915, the members voted to rent of purchase a suitable building, but the action was held in abeyance because of a threatened coal strike.

    On January 26, 1916, the company moved its quarters to the Muldoon property at 10 North West Street, where fire fighting was borrowed from the Phoenix Fire Co., including a hose cart drawn by hand.  The latter part of 1916, the Company again moved its quarters to 229-231 South Main Street (Ceresota Building)  and the company remained there for the next 4 to 5 year, and while there the company purchased a new American LaFrance Fire Engine ( old bertha) with money loaned from the members.

    After many fund raising projects, the company, proud owners of a new fire turck, turned their thoughts and efforts to a permanent building of their own and its was unanimously voted to borrow $50,000 for this purpose. The construction of this building began in 1921 and one year later the company headquarters was moved to the new location 115-117 West Centre Street, where the are at the present time.

    From that time and up to the year 1946 , it was a struggle to raise money to pay the interest and principal on the mortgage; the company was hindered by coal strikes and depressions which followed. It was really an effort and sacrifice on the part of the members during those years.

    The 1st mortgage was held by the Citizen's National Bank of Shenandoah and by 1933 we still owed over $10,000. In March 1933, the Federal Government closed all the banks. Our region was in the midst of a depression and it was very touch to raise money.  But throught the efforts of a member of the company who made several trips to Washington D.C.  we were successful in getting the mortgage reduced to $6,000.
This was then backed by John J. Miller of Shenandoah until it was down to $4,000.  It was then picked up by the Shenandoah Firemen's Relief Association at a reduced rate of interest.  This last mortgage was paid off and in 1946 the firehouse was cleared of all debts.

    After WWII  and after the Vietnam War our membership increased considerably and the fire company really started to move forward.  An active membership sponsored a fund raising project on a large scale to buy new uniforms, which was a success, and new uniforms were purchased in 1948 and in 1977 which we wear and are very proud of.  The company took part in many parades and was considered one of the best fire company marching units in the state.  Many best appearing trophies have been won by the fire company and are on display at the firehouse social room.

    Many fundraising projects followed after this, but the most successful ones were the block parties or bazaars which were held annually, beginning in the early 50's, discontinued by 1960, and restarted in 1976 and are still going strong.  The outside of the original building was remodeled in 1975 and in 1976 a scam project completely remodeled the interior of the building.

    In 1970 a special building fund raffle was started and held annually until 1981.  The money from this and the bazaars were used to finance the new addition to the existing building. The gound breaking was in late April 1979. About 20 members donated their building trade skills to complete the interior of thebuilding saving the company thousands of dollars.  The mortgage was burnt on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1981 at the 20th Annual Dinner Dance.

    In Aug. 1982 vision of a new fire truck came to light when Borough Council agreed to pay $45,000 towards a new Hahn 1000 GPM  pumper.  The Truck was delivered in March 1984. The memorable truck housing was held on Saturday September 15, 1984.  The truck was paid off in March 1994.
Our new Vision  Coming Soon........