|
|
History |
|
1921 The Wendelville Fire Company (WFC) was founded in 1921 with the original Incorporation papers listing 29 members. The first officers were listed as Albert Zeitz (President), Albert Hemmerling (Vice President), Jacob Babel (Treasurer), William Klingelschmitt (Financial Secretary), Norman Smith (Recording Secretary), Albert Bayer (Chief), Jacob Wagner (Director), Jacob Garff (Director) and Henry Smith (Director). |
|
1922 At a meeting held in August 1922, Albert Leffler promised to provide a plot of land for a fire hall as well as the fire hall itself, including furnishings and lights for meetings. The original fire hall was located on Old Tonawanda Creek Road. Meeting minutes show that the first piece of apparatus was purchased for $2600 with a payment of $1000 on delivery and 3 years to pay the balance. The fire company served the community in all types of emergency situations and also provided a social aspect to the community with many dances, fundraisers and the annual field days. |
|
|
1936 On June 13, 1936, a dedication ceremony was held for the new Wendelville Fire Hall located almost directly across the street from the original hall on Old Tonawanda Creek Road. That hall was sold by the Company in the mid 2000s. |
|
1960 The three-bay truck hall portion of current Hall 1 was built in 1960 at the corner of Campbell Boulevard and Tonawanda Creek Road. |
|
|
1969 After over 40 years of service and pressure from neighboring companies to move into the fire district, a decision was made to expand services and coverage. In the late 1960s, a parcel of property was purchased on Main Rd in order to build a 1-bay substation. Hall 2 was dedicated March 2, 1969. Ambulance service was also started in 1969. |
|
1970s Current Hall 1 at the corner of Campbell Boulevard and Tonawanda Creek Road was expanded in the 1970s to include a large meeting/banquet hall, a members' room and offices. |
|
|
1971 Current Hall 3 was converted from an old school house to a fire hall in 1971 and is located on East Canal Rd. The one-room schoolhouse was originally built in 1862 as part of the Pendleton-Amherst School District. |
|
1985 The existing Hall 2 was demolished and a new Hall 2 was built in its place on the existing property on Main Road with two apparatus bays. |
|
|
1990s In the 1990s, a new fleet of apparatus was purchased, including three engines and an ambulance. |
|
2003 A dedicated boat and trailer were purchased in 2003 to enhance the ice/cold water rescue team's operations as both the Erie Canal and Tonawanda Creek run through the fire district. |
|
|
2022 The existing Hall 2 was demolished and a new Hall 2 was built in its place on the existing property on Main Road with 5,000 square feet and four apparatus bays. The new hall has double the apparatus storage capacity as the old hall, containing the ladder truck, an engine, a multipurpose field/grass truck and an utility terrain vehicle (UTV). |
|
2022 A ladder truck was added to Wendelville's fleet to meet the fire suppression challenges associated with new hotels, new homes with steep roof pitches and homes with metal roofs and/or solar panels. The 2003 E-One 95' Mid Mount Platform truck was put into service in May. |
|
|
Wendelville Volunteer Fire Co.
|
