The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society in Shenandoah hosted a centennial celebration on Saturday, June 7, 2025, marking the 100th anniversary of its prized 1925 Ahrens-Fox piston pumper fire engine.
The event, held at the Society’s museum on North Jardin Street in Shenandoah, began at 1:00 p.m. with an Antique Fire Truck Parade featuring a collection of fire apparatus dating back to 1975 or earlier.
Retired Ashland Fire Chief Phil Groody served as emcee and welcomed attendees with a message that highlighted the significance of the occasion. “Today folks, you are experiencing history — you’re making history. How many people celebrate the birthday of a fire truck? But when a fire truck survives 100 years, I guess it’s worth a little something,” Groody said.
Groody praised the ingenuity of the Ahrens-Fox creators and marveled at how far firefighting equipment has advanced in a century.
Kurt Tatich, President of the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society, addressed the crowd next.
“We’d like to thank the Shamokin Sump-Pumpers for preserving this piece over the years and keeping it in excellent condition,” Tatich said. He also recognized past president and museum curator Mike Kitsock for his work in acquiring and restoring the vehicle, as well as the members who helped clean and repaint it.
The program also featured remarks from Girardville Fire Chief Frank Zangari, who reflected on the organization’s impact.
“This isn’t just about a fire truck or a building. This organization took something old and turned it into a gold mine — not only for Schuylkill County, but for Pennsylvania,” Zangari said. “To the youth: stay involved. Keeping our history alive is the most special part of the fire service.”
The centerpiece of the day was a historical presentation by Kitsock, who detailed the long and winding journey of the 1925 Ahrens-Fox.
Originally purchased in 1925 by Citizens Hose Company No. 5 of Lock Haven for over $12,000, the truck served in active duty until 1948 before being transferred to Nittany Valley Fire Company, and later sold as a parts truck in Lewistown. There, it sat idle until a group of firefighters from Shamokin’s Rescue Fire Company — calling themselves the “Sump-Pumpers” — purchased it in the 1960s for $300 and restored it.
“You don’t go to AAA to get parts for this,” Kitsock joked. “They found parts in old machine shops, made others themselves, and got the truck running and even pumping again — likely after 50 years of dormancy.”
In honor of their decades of service and preservation efforts, the Society recognized John Row and Charles Gadon — original members of the Sump-Pumpers — with special awards.
The celebration concluded with a birthday cake and a group singing of “Happy Birthday” to the fire engine, followed by Kitsock’s reflection on the vehicle’s historic role.
“This firetruck was the state-of-the-art in its day. Back then, firefighters stood on the tailboard, rode in open cabs, and relied on ingenuity,” he said. “We honor that legacy here.
