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100th
Anniversary Celebration |
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100th
Anniversary Celebration |
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On May 12, 2001, the West Reading Fire Department celebrated its 100th Anniversary. The celebration included the housing ceremony for its two newest pieces of apparatus, the 1998 Squad and the 2000 Engine. A static judging of apparatus was held at the Scottish Rite Cethedral parking lot on 7th Avenue, and from there the apparatus moved up to Franklin Street, where the firefighters parked and joined in the festivities!
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During the beginning stages of the event, fire apparatus received a "static" judging (no parade), and were parked in the 300 block of Franklin Street. Here, Fire Police Lieutenant Rick Wilkes keeps the street closed for use by the fire trucks. His wife Marcy, also an active member, keeps him company. |
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Our Engine and Squad were housed on this day. Here, prior to the housing ceremony, the two trucks are all "dolled up" with flowers, a West Reading tradition when housing new apparatus. |
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The "stick" (left) was raised to its full height of 100 feet, from which Old Glory was flown above the festivities (right). |
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Apparatus from some of the companies in attendance:
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Engine from Alsace Manor |
Tanker from Cedar Top |
Squad/Foam Unit from Cedar Top |
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Car from Greenfields |
Engine from Greenfields |
Squad from Greenfields |
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Engine from Lower Alsace |
Brush Unit from Lower Heidelberg |
Tanker from Lower Heidelberg |
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Engine from Lincoln Park |
Air & Light Unit from Pottstown |
Engine from Pottstown |
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Engine from Pottsville |
Engine from Reiffton |
Brush Jeep from Reiffton |
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Squad from Stonersville towing ATV |
ATV Brush/Rescue from Stonersville |
Tanker from Stonersville |
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Ambulance from Western Berks EMS |
Rescue from West Lawn |
Car from Wyomissing |
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Engine from Wyomissing |
Fire Commissioner's Vehicle from Wyomissing |
Truck from Wyomissing |
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Rescue Engine from Shillington |
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The old and the new: On the outside, our station was festively decorated for the event with this banner from the 1976 housing of our former Engine... |
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...and this banner which was created especially for this event, to commemorate our 100th anniversary and the housing of our new Engine and Squad. |
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Our station was decorated on the inside as well. Here, the bulletin board in our engine room was adorned with photos of our previous apparatus through history, as well as commemorative buttons and ribbons from previous events. |
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The work bench in the back of our engine room was covered with photos of our past membership and apparatus, as well as our original charter and other important memorabilia. |
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This authentic former uniform of the West Reading Fire Company was brough out of "mothballs" and worn by former Fire Chief Ed Fabriziani during the housing of the new Engine. |
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A special "100th Birthday" cake was even created for the occasion! |
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Left: Then-Fire Chief Sherry Fabriziani and then-Fire Company
President Mark Burkholder were two of the speakers at the housing ceremony. |
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MANY more photos yet to come!! Come back again soon and see some of them!!
