1999

Four-year-old Abbey Sponseller of Hampton watches a fire truck roll by during the 75th annual Adams County Firemen's Convention parade in Bonneauville. Evening Sun Photo by Josh Ritchie

Firefighters parade in Bonneauville Firefighters and many types of fire equipment toured Bonneauville Saturday afternoon.

Sunday August 08, 1999

They were part of the 77th annual Adams County Firemen's Association Convention, hosted by the Bonneauville Community Fire Co.

The Saturday parade was only part of the weekend's planned festivities which began Friday.

Firefighters from Adams, Franklin and York counties as well as Cumberland County, Maryland and even New York participate in the parade every year, Miller said. The parade also features "a wide selection of fire apparatus that will be on display," he added.

The following awards were presented Saturday evening at the Bonneauville Fire Station following the Adams County Firemen's Association Parade Saturday afternoon:

Adams County engine 1990-present

First place, York Springs

Second place, Littlestown

Out of Adams County engine 1990-present

First place, Hill Crest, New York

Second place, Wellsville

Adams County engine 1980-1989

First place, Abbottstown

Second place, New Oxford

Out of Adams County engine pre-1990

First place, North Codorus Township

Second place, Midway Fire Company #2

Out of Adams County engine pre-1980

First place, Lincoln Fire Company, York County

Adams County Tanker

First place, Littlestown

Second place, Biglerville

Engine Tanker, in or out of Adams County

First place, Silver Springs

Second Hampton

Engine Rescue, in or out of Adams County

First place, York Springs

Second place, Fairfield

Motorized Antique, company or private owned

First place, Dana Zeighenhien

Second place, East Berlin

Best Appearing Fire Company Marching Unit

Brushtown

Best Appearing Fire Company Junior Marching Unit

New Oxford

Best Hand Drawn Unit

New Oxford

Company coming the largest distance

Hill Crest, New York

Best Appearing Fire Company overall, in or out of Adams County, three or more

McSherrystown

Antique Car or Truck, non-department related

Denny Weaver

Best Appearing Rescue, in or out of Adams County

Silver Springs Fire Department

Squad Service, in or out of Adams County

First place, Salvage 46 Clearview #3, Hanover

Second place, Cashtown

Best Appearing Brush or Mini Pumper, in or out of Adams County

First place, Greenmount

Second place, Pleasant Hill

Best Appearing Truck, in or out of Adams County

Gettysburg Fire Department

Best Appearing BLS ambulance in Adams County

First place, New Oxford

Second place, Gettysburg

Best Appearing ALS Unit, in or out of Adams County

First place, Gettysburg

Best Appearing Special Unit, in or out of Adams County

First place, Hampton

Second place, Harney

Best Appearing Marching Unit, not fire company

American Legion Hanover

Best Appearing Majorette Group

Liberty Belles

Judges Award

Silver Springs Fire Department

Harry S. Moul Memorial Trophy for Best Appearing Department in Adams County

New Oxford

Vickie Hertz of Hanover rides a 1940 Chevrolet fire truck with her Dalmatian, "Radar," during Saturday's 77th annual Adams County Firefighters Association parade in Bonneauville. Gettysburg firefighters used the truck from 1940 to 1954. Brushtown firefighters used it from 1954 to 1980. It is now owned by Gary Rickrode of Hanover. (Photo: Darryl Wheeler - Gettysburg Times)

County firefighters display equipment,
choose new officers
By JOHN MESSEDER - Times Staff Writer

Adams County volunteer firefighters celebrated two anniversaries Friday and Saturday. Officially, the celebration was billed as the 77th anniversary of the Adams County Volunteer Firefighters Association. It was hosted by Bonneauville Community Fire Company, itself celebrating its 75th anniversary.

"I thought Bonneauville Fire Department did a tremendous hosting the 77th anniversary (convention)," said Richard Riser, chief of Centennial Fire Department and vice president of the Adams County Volunteer Firefighters Association.

Centennial Fire Department mounted its first marching unit in nearly 40 years, and was one of four in the parade. New Oxford, McSherrystown and Brushtown also mounted marching units.

Brushtown earned a dual distinction: The department's first-ever marching unit was selected for first place among the four units. Chief Vernon Grove had high praise for the members who turned out to support the company.

"I think we figured out we had 42�44 people involved," he said, adding "for a small department like ours, to try to get together a group of people to support us (sometimes is difficult)."

Normally, a fire company's members get together to put out fires and save lives, Grove said. The annual convention is a once-a-year event to show equipment to the community and to socialize and compete with other companies.

The largest single company was New Oxford Fire Department, winner of the Harry L. Moul trophy, with nine units in the parade. In addition to its modern equipment and junior and senior marching units, the company has a ca. 1888 hand-drawn hose cart � the first piece of apparatus the company owned � and a 1939 Ford Darley pumper, the company's third motorized vehicle. Also included in the New Oxford line-up was a trailer with snowmobile and rescue sled. New Oxford Fire Chief Steve Sipe said the sled can be fitted with wheels and pulled behind an all-terrain vehicle for use in summer mountain rescues.

The Moul award, for the most functional and best appearing department, was established four years ago by Kevin Moul, of Abbottstown, in honor of his father. The elder Moul had been a long-time member and chief of Abbottstown Fire Department. He also was active in the county chiefs and firefighters associations, and a strong booster of the annual parade.

"The guys really take a lot of pride trying to keep that trophy," Sipe said, noting that New Oxford has won the traveling trophy three of the four years. "The drought made washing hard. They had to use buckets, and spent a lot of time wiping instead of scrubbing."

During the members-only business meeting Saturday morning, the firefighters association elected a new slate of officers, most of them continuing from 1999. President Les Morton, Fairfield fire chief, said 107 delegates attended, representing the county's 28 fire companies (including Medic 28).

The new officers are: president, Les Morton, Fairfield ; vice president, Richard Riser, Centennial; financial secretary, Pam Mowerer, Brushtown; recording secretary, Pam Reichart, Abbottstown; treasurer, Wayne Ried, Brushtown; and trustees Dan Poist, New Oxford; Rodney Felix, New Oxford; and Thomas Weaver, McSherrystown.

Glenn Herring, of Cashtown, was elected county fire marshal and Gary Poland, of Bonneauville, was elected deputy fire marshall. The association chaplain is Donald Sneeringer, of Conewago.

Morton said the association is preparing to merge with the county fire chiefs association. He said the goal is to present the merger to the membership of both organizations at the 2000 convention.

"The reason we're trying to merge is (to eliminate) duplication of effort," Morton said, adding that many of the same people are active in both organizations.

The merger also will give Adams County firefighters a "bigger voice in Harrisburg," he said.

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