While we were accustomed to handling flooding on a regular basis in our area, nothing prepared us for the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan in mid-September 2004. At its peak, Pittsburgh International Airport recorded the highest 24-hour rainfall for Pittsburgh, 5.95 inches of rain. This amount of rain and gusty winds caused devastating damage, unlike anything we had experienced in decades. The flooding to the towns of Millvale, Etna, and Sharpsburg, along with the Rt. 8 corridor in Shaler Township, was especially destructive. After the storm had passed and the cleanup had begun in earnest, President George W. Bush made an unexpected appearance in Pittsburgh to view the damage. President Bush landed Marine 1 and his entourage in the Pony Field of Bauerstown Baseball Field and proceeded to give a very heartwarming speech in front of the Millvale Volunteer Fire Department, before returning to Cherry City. To show his support of the volunteer fire service, President Bush willingly met with many of our members who were there to ensure his safe landing and departure, and had his picture taken with them. This is a day, for those in attendance, and not just the firemen or police officers on scene, many will never forget.
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As the next century began, we continued to make improvements to our buildings and property. In December 2005 and July 2006, we purchased the properties directly behind our Main Hall and apparatus garage, 306 and 310 Parker St, for possible expansion if the need should arise. Both homes were demolished, and the lots were eventually paved. We also had a new barrier wall installed next to these properties, as the foundation and wall of our original station at 300 Parker St, which was torn down in 1975, was no longer stable. For the first time since their installation after WWII, the (2) fire sirens attached to the roof of our station, and used for decades to alert fireman to respond, were permanently turned off in December 2005 (the third siren attached to Friday St School had already been removed).
Many organizations and individuals have been extremely generous to Cherry City VFC over the course of our existence, and the one that stands out amongst them all is our Ladies Auxiliary. Begun in 1943 by a group of firemen wives, they have worked side-by-side with our members to provide anything we ask of them. To say they have donated literally tens of thousands of dollars in monetary donations, probably is not enough. Going back decades through our records, they have purchased all of the radio equipment for each new fire truck. We have also been very fortunate to have been the recipient of donations from the Shaler-Etna Rotary, the Fugh Foundation, the St Margaret Foundation (two additional AED’s donated in 2007 – one was installed on Rescue 1 and the other in our Main Hall), Concordia Lutheran Ministries, and countless individuals who recognize our cause and want to make a difference. In 2010, State Senator Jane Orie and State Representative Dom Costa turned over $22,000, secured in grant monies, for the replacement of our (3) 46-year-old wooden garage doors. In 2011, Shaler Township provided a loan in the amount of $45,000 to purchase a new facility generator, replacing an outdated 47-year-old unit.
Cherry City has long been known for having all kinds of fundraisers, such as ham dinners and dances in the early days, Bingo’s every Thursday evening beginning in the late 1950’s, hundreds of weddings receptions over the years, the 200 Club started in the 1970’s and lasting until 2013, and the four-day event known as Street Fair (which celebrated its 80th event in 2019). Our Bingo finally eliminated the cardboard cards we had used for decades and went to an all-paper Bingo in December 2004. As with society changing its stance on smoking, Cherry City became a smoke-free facility in late 2008. To better advertise and gain additional revenue, Cherry City became the first fire station in the area to have an LED (light-emitting diode) sign (promoting our events) installed in August 2007, replacing the previous hand-changed sign we used for nearly 30 years. Finally, in 2015 after literally decades of debate, the Bingo committee finally agreed to purchase (2) retractable screens to display the bingo numbers called. These screens have now been used for other fundraisers and rentals.
After serving nearly 20 years of front-line service, our 1990 American LaFrance ladder truck was needing to be replaced. In September of 2008, a new Smeal 75’ ladder was placed into service. This truck has a 1500 gpm pump, 400 gallons of water, and an ergonomic hose bed that extends and retracts out of the rear, making it extremely easy to reload fire hose. This truck cost $692,566.85, without any equipment on it. In October, the truck extinguished its first fire; a car fire on Oakwood Square.
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With much emotion and sadness, Engine 1, the 1970 Mack pumper, was finally retired after 42 years of service, the longest serving piece of apparatus in Cherry City’s history, and possibly Shaler Township. Out with the old and in with the new, a truck committee was formed in May 2015 to develop specifications for a new Rescue truck, in addition to our current Rescue 1. In August of the following year, a 2016 Ford F550 Rescue truck was formally placed into service. It was known as Rescue 2. In April of 2020, Rescue 1 was sold to the Stewart County Fire Dept in Tennessee, and Rescue 2 assumed the name “Rescue 1”.
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For the last 100 years, the members of Cherry City Volunteer Fire Company Inc. have dedicated hundreds of thousands of hours to the people we serve; training, fighting fires and making rescues, fundraising, and being the nucleus of our small community. With well over 700 past and present members, we are very proud of our heritage and what we have stood for; pride, courage, honor, and dedication. From that very first meeting in 1919 till today, we have always stood behind our company motto: “Always Ready, Always Willing.” We look forward to our future, always building on our past.
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