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Even though the skies were threatening rain, it didn't deter many of the people in the small community of Eldred Township from coming out and sharing in the celebration of their volunteer fire company's 75th anniversary.
It was reminiscent of an old-time country fair with crafts and games for the younger generation including a mini train featuring cars made out of barrels for rides around the fire company's grounds located in the heart of the Village of Warrensville.
The festivities kicked off with a parade down the main street of the village-Warrensville Road- with Eldred Township's own fire trucks joined by those from Loyalsock Township, Woodward Township and Montoursville's Willing Hand Hose to support this milestone for their fellow fire fighters. And, of course, there was the obligatory firehouse dog, in this case a costume worn for the occasion.
Founded in 1951, just a little less than 100 years after the township was formed, the volunteer fire company has served Eldred Township and neighboring communities, offering aid when needed.
In this small community of just under 1,900 everyone knows each other and as one of their recent signs stated, they're a family serving their community.
As with other volunteer companies, Eldred Township has seen a decline in membership over the years with about 30 people in the company at the present time, according to Fire Chief Charles Whitford.
Standing outside the fire hall is the original fire truck used in 1951. Unfortunately it's been in storage for the last few years and doesn't run, but it serves as a reminder of how firefighting has changed since the company began.
It's also a concrete symbol of what was being celebrated, which Whitford thinks is important so they don't forget about the past.
"Those who came before us, that established what was here, what is here and what it's become," he said.
The truck also served as the backdrop when State Rep. Joe Hamm read a proclamation honoring the anniversary of the company's founding.
"We are blessed in this county to have many great volunteer fire companies who answer the call, no matter what time of day it is, morning, night, when they're in bed, they're getting out of bed to come and help their fellow neighbors," Hamm said.
"The Eldred Township Volunteer Fire Company stands as a tribute to skilled leaders and members who have carried it to its present heights....its members are bound by the common goals of being well prepared to preserve the lives and property of area resident and have safeguarded the well-being of their fellow citizens," Hamm read.
In the audience was Lyn Bennett, who joined the fire department when he was 18 years old.
"If you figure all the years I have, I've got around 70," Bennett said. Although he is now retired,
Bennett is the second longest member in the company. The longest member, also retired, is Dick Cavanaugh.
"I was just a little squirt and we lived on the back street three houses from the fire hall and we would work with dad and mom right up through until we got to 18," he explained.
Bennet remembers when the old fire hall was located near the Grange in the center of Warrensville. He remembers the ice cream festivals where they would make 100 gallons of ice cream.
"We made it all by hand with a five-gallon (ice cream) freezer," he said.
"It isn't here any more," he added.
The fire company, like the area churches, were once part of the social fabric of the community, hosting events like the ice cream festivals or banquets and square dancing. But now, Bennett said, that isn't the case any more.
"There's so much stuff going on. A lot of young people just don't have the time," he said.
Whitford also touched on the camaraderie that develops among the members who have come together to help their neighbors.
"It's for the community. It's a social activity...a lot of friends come out of it-lifetime friends through being involved," Whitford said.
He also noted that they're always looking for people to join.
"You don't have to come and fight fires. We need people to maintain our building and do what we call administrative work-take care of our books and help plan with events like this," he said.
During the celebration, Bennett's son Steven was awarded a quilt from the Quilts of Valor Foundation for his service in the Army.