The Fire Department

            The first volunteer fire department was organized in 1907 with Ed Overcash as the first fire chief. The first piece of equipment obtained was a hand made rig equipped with buckets for the bucket brigade.

            The First alarm system used was for the Chief to fire a shotgun to call the men to action. Later the church bells were rung. the a fire bell was put up by the side of the fire house. A siren was installed in 1948. In 1953, a larger siren was installed which was a one horse power in 1955.

            The fire department was organized into a corporation in 1954 with Jack Kelly as fire chief with ten charter members. A new fire house was built in 1958 at the bend of State Route 55 town. Robert Smith was elected Fire Chief in 1961 and has now passed away. There have been many changes in the equipment used in the department since the beginning.    

                                                                                                                                                    Today the fire department is lead into action with Chief Greg Bridenbaugh, he has been a member of the fire department for over 30 years. The department has mutual aid with surrounding fire departments. The fire department was able to build another addition to the building on the eastside of the building in 1978. This addition includes a kitchen and update restrooms. The fire department was well known for the lighting of the falls, which started in 1949 with one strain of lights hung by the boy scouts across the gorge. This was taken over by the fire department and was made into a spectacular Christmas lighting display. The fire department only asked for donations through the lighting display, and this help the department get much needed new equipment for the department.