NCRVFC History
Our Company started one momentous Sunday morning in the early part of February 1941, when a fire broke out in the home of Lloyd R. Berkey in New Centerville.
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A few citizens in the town went to work to put the fire out with the aid of water buckets, ladders, and fire axes of Charles L. Cramer's, until our neighbor town of Rockwood sent their firemen to the scene. It was determined by the citizens of New Centerville that a Fire Company had to be formed.
In May 1948 a new Ford truck was purchased. It was driven to Chicago, Illinois by Charles L. Cramer for the W.S. Darley Company to install the fire equipment and a 1,000 gallon water tank. On January 14, 1949, Dale R. Cramer, Robert L. Miller and Jack E. Dull went to Chicago by train to learn the techniques and operations of the fire truck. The men returned home with the Company's first truck on January 16, 1949. The trucks first use was for a fire fought on February 15, 1949, at a cottage owned by Phillip Walters, Somerset, PA.
At a meeting on March 1, 1949, the Fire Company voted to petition the Somerset County Court for a Charter and it incorporated on February 18, 1949. The charter was accepted March 1, 1949 with a total of 76 firemen on the roster. The firemen answered 3 alarms the first year. The original fire fighters totaled 32 men.
The Ladies Auxiliary to the Fire Company was organized in 1949 with 32 members. The Auxiliary represents a very valuable asset to the Fire Company with multiple fund raising events and banquets to benefit the Company. They have assisted in multiple purchases of equipment throughout the history of the Company.
In September 1953, the Farmers' and Threshermen's Jubilee was originated in the field owned by E.R. Mosholder of New Centerville. The Jubilee was held there each year until May 14, 1957 when firemen bought two parcels of land from Jesse and Mary Geary and Jeremiah and Minnie Pletcher in New Centerville Boro. The company later erected a large storage building called the "Museum Hall" at this location in 1958.
In October 1961, a used Cadillac ambulance was purchased by Mr. Charles L. Cramer and donated to the Fire Company. It was reconditioned by the firemen and placed into service December 1961, to give the community an additional ambulance service.
In April 1974 a Junior Fire Department was initiated. This department is made up of members 14 to 18 years of age. Michael Drabish was appointed as the first advisor. The role of the junior firemen is very limited. Chief Cramer gave the Juniors' duties and responsibilities to learn how equipment is operated and the importance of maintaining it. Alan Reese, Jim Saylor and Clark Brocht were sworn in as the first Junior Firemen.
In 1982 New Centerville started the farm rescue team. After two fatal farm accidents, which happened in another part of the Pennsylvania, New Centerville company decided it was time for special training. Along with Berlin, New Centerville is one of only two farm rescue 'teams' in Somerset County. About half of the current active members of the department are trained for farm rescues. The farm rescue trainig started through Penn State University, but was then taken oveer by Alfred State College in New York. New Centerville's department also has certified instructors in rescues and two paramedic instructors. The department has special farm rescue equipment, including a plasma cutter which cuts metal before it heats, repelling gear, various kinds of gas monitors, a heat probe and lighting.
We currently have a Fire Hall which is utilized for meetings and banquets. We also have a Truck Room which houses 9 pieces of emergency equipment.
We cover approximately 109 square miles of rural Somerset County which includes Upper Turkeyfoot Township, Middlecreek Township, Milford Township, Seven Springs Boro, as well as New Centerville Boro. We also provide various mutual aid assist to surrounding fire companies.
Members
LINE OFFICERS
JASON JOHNSON - CHIEF - FF1/VRT/CDLANDY WALKER - 1ST ASST CHIEF/TRNG OFF - FF1/CSRT/CRT/FORESTRY WDMARSHALL MILLER - 2ND ASST CHIEFRANDY YOUNKIN - 3RD ASST CHIEF/PAST CHIEF/FF1/CFSRT/CDL/LIFE MEMED ENGLEKA - TRUCK FRMN/SAFETY OFF/DIR/LIFE MEMNATHAN TRESSLER - 1ST ASST TRUCK FRMN/DIR/CDL BRAD PLETCHER - 2ND ASST TRUCK FRMN/DIR/EMT/FF1/VRT/CDLMARK GILBERT - 3RD ASST TRUCK FRMN/CDLBRANDON RHODAMER - TRNG OFF CHAD BURKET - RESCUE CAPT - VRT/EMTMILES MILLER - RESCUE LIEUT - FF1/CDLERIC ENOS - FIRE POLICE CAPT/DEL CTY FIRETERRY HUSTON - FIRE POLICE LIEUTLARRY SAYLOR - SAFETY OFF/DIR - FF1/CFRST/VRT/CDL/LIFE MEMMARK WALKER - SAFETY OFF/LIFE MEM
ADMINSTRATIVE OFFICERS
KEVIN HAY - PRESIDENT/ASSISTANT CHAPLIN - EMT/CDL CRAIG WALTERMIRE - VICE PRESIDENT - FF1/CRSRT/LIFE MEM NICOLE JOHNSON - SECRETARYCORI SCHMUCKER - ASSISTANT SECRETARY JENNA TRESSLER - TREASURER PEGGY HAY - ASSISTANT TREASURER - EMT/LIFE MEMCLARK BROCHT - CHAPLAIN - LIFE MEMERIC SAYLOR - DIR/LIFE MEMDEAN BRANT - FIRE POLICE/CFRST/CDL/DIR/LIFE MEM
ACTIVE MEMBERS
BRANDON BARRONWILLIAM BEEMANWILLIAM J. BEEMANIAN BENFORDJOHN BIHARI MICHAYLA BURKET - JR FIREFIGHTERMICHAEL BRADLEYJAY CANSON - FIRE POLICERICH CLAY - FIRE POLICE/LIFE MEMMIKE DRABISH - DRIVER/CDL/LIFE MEMEMMA ENGLEKAJR ENOSGARY FIKEHARRY FITZPATRICKBRAD HAY - CDL/LIFE MEMGREGG HENRY - LIFE MEMGRACE HUSTONCODY KIMMEL - JR FIREFIGHTERIRV KIMMEL, JRSETH KIMMEL - JR FIREFIGHTERTELL KINCAIDLAURA KREGERHALEY LEHMANJACOB LINGJUSTIN LOGUE - EMTTHOMAS MEEKLYNN MILLER - LIFE MEMMATTHEW O'BRIENMICHAEL OGLINE - FF-2/CRSRT/VRT/PAST CHIEF/LIFE MEMBRADY PRITTSEMMA JO PLETCHER - JR FIREFIGHTERTANNER RHODAMER BRIAN SANNER - CDL/FF1/CFRSTCARRIE SAYLOR - FF1/CRSRT/VRTCLAIR SAYLOR - EMT/CDL/LIFE MEMCLARENCE SAYLOR - EMA - CDL/PAST CHIEF/LIFE MEMJIM SAYLOR - OFF1/CRSRT/VRT/HAZMAT TECH/PAST CHIEF/LIFE MEMEUGENE SECHLER - CDL/LIFE MEMCALEB SCHMUCKSCOTT SCHMUCKERJORDAN STEVANUSJERRY TRENTJACK TRESSLERJARED WALKER - CDLJUSTIN YOUNKIN - CDL
ACTIVE NON-UNIFORM MEMBERS
RICHARD BEALFRAN BRANCATOJAY FISHER - LIFE MEMJOHN KING SR. - LIFE MEMSTACEY HAYROBERT LOGSDONLYNDA MILLER - EMT/FF1/CFRST/VRTJOHN MILLER - EMTMARJORIE MULL - LIFE MEMJUDY OGLINE - EMT/LIFE MEMROBIN PLOTNER-BYARDJOHN "CHIP" POLLYLARRY REAM - FIRE POLICE/LIFE MEMNANCY SAYLORROGER SAYLOR - LIFE MEM
CFSRT = Confine Space Rescue TeamCDL = Commercial Driver LicenseEMT = Emergency Medical TechnicianFF1 = Fire Fighter OneFF2 = Fire Fighter TwoFR = First ResponderVRT = Vehicle Rescue Technician