PLAIN TWP. ‒ The Plain Township Fire Department will celebrate 50 years of township fire and emergency medical services on Oct. 11.
To recognize the milestone and Fire Prevention Week, the department will host an event from 2 to 4 p.m. at Clarence L. Snyder Central Fire Station at 1742 Schneider St. NE.
Four volunteer fire departments ‒ Pleasant View, Avondale, Edgefield and Middlebranch ‒ had served township residents independent of each other until 1975 when trustees appointed Clarence Snyder as the fire department coordinator and the first full-time employee in the township fire service.
“That’s when he started the process of combining everybody,” Fire Chief Charles Shalenberger said.
Snyder’s title was formally changed to chief in 1976.
Shalenberger said the area departments were combined to provide better coverage.
Pleasant View and Edgefield had operated as independent fire companies that contracted with the township, according to the book “History of the Plain Township Fire Department,” published by the Plain Township Historical Society.
Middlebranch and Avondale operated as fire departments under control of the township trustees. Pleasant View joined the township fire department in 1976, and Edgefield stated its intent to do likewise in 1978.
On Oct. 11, visitors will be able to tour the Central Fire Station and learn how to use a fire extinguisher, spray a fire hose, view the safety trailer and get close-up looks at firetrucks, EMS vehicles and specialty equipment. Light refreshments will be served.
The Plain Township Historical Society’s 84-page book documenting the evolution of township fire services from 1937 to 2013 is its ninth publication in 10 years. It costs $20 and may be purchased from the historical society or at Plain Township Hall, 2600 Easton St. NE.
Reach Nancy at 330-580-8382 or nancy.molnar@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Plain Township Fire Department to celebrate 50 years with big event
Reporting by Nancy Molnar, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
