The History of the Sutersville Volunteer Fire Company cannot be fully appreciated without first considering the history of the community which it protects.The original owner of the land known as Sutersville was a man named David Franks. Mr. Franks was and Indian Trader and on April 1, 1769 made an application for land now comprising Sutersville and Gratztown. He was interested in this land because of his trade with the Indians that inhabited this area.

From Mr. Franks This land went to another trader by the name of George Plumbstead. Mr. Plumbsteads’s widow Anna Helena Plumbstead , conveyed 301 acres of what now includes Sutersville, to Michael and Adam Fritchman on February 18, 1807. In 1849 Mr. Eli C. Suter Moved to the area from Millville (Dick’s Station) He operated a ferry across the Youghiogheny River until the bridge was built in 1896.

The Borough of Suterville (not Sutersville) was once part of Sewickley Township; also part of North Huntington Township before Sewickley Township left it in 1835.The Sutersville Volunteer Fire Company was organized in 1925 by the business and community leaders that comprised The Sutersville Board of Trade (which was organized on December 11, 1908)

A meeting called by one of the communities more active citizens Mr. John F. Messner, was held on June 20, 1925 in Kelley’s Hall where the company was organized. The following is a list of the men of Sutersville who attended the meeting and became the 25 charter members of the Sutersville VFC:
Rev. F.H. Angel
John Kertis
 John D. Messner Jr.
George Chambers
Joseph Kertis
John F. Messner
Thomas Chambers
 M.E. Kertis
E.F. Morrell
A.E. Franklin Dr.
 J.B. Laughrey
William Murray
Wm. E Franklin Burgess,
 George Lyall
Dr.C.F. Peairs
Joseph G. Jones
A.W. McGrew
Dr. W.F. Peairs
Arda Kelly
 T.S. McMahon
John Pritchard
Holmes Kelly
Dave Messner
Wm. Pritchard
A.G. Smith
 

At this meeting the Sutersville VFC held its first election of officers the results of the election were as follows:
Mr Arda Kelly President
Mr. T.S. McMahon Secretary
Mr. Wm E Franklin Treasurer
Joseph G. Jones Fire Chief
Dr. J.B. Laughrey Assistant Chief

The first Street Fair sponsored by the newly organized fire company was held on July 14, 1925. This event took place on Second Avenue from the old drug store to the end of the street. Before the fire company could be effective, it needed a fire engine. On August 14, 1925 the SVFC used some of the precedes from the fair to purchase a used 1922 R.E.O .fire engine from the West Newton VFC for $1000.00 (This truck was originally bought by West Newton on February 22, 1922 for $3300.00)This engine was housed in Messner’s garage until the Fire Company acquired the second Avenue Station.

The Fire Company continued to make excellent strides in the latter half of 1925, 1926, and 1927. In 1928 several notable changes took place in the Fire Company. The Company’s first new fire engine was purchased, a 1928 Peter Pirsch this engine had a 750 GPM pump and was silver in color. This engine was housed in the Second Avenue Fire Station Where it remained until it was replaced. The company was also incorporated during this year. The company’s first Fire Chief Joseph G. Jones moved to New Jersey on October 7, 1928 and was replaced by Dr. JB Laughrey.

In 1929 the stock market crashed, banks were closing and money was tight. The Fire Company owed money on the building and the new engine. Money could not be borrowed at that time to pay off the debt.
By 1930 the Fire Company needed help, this help came from Dr. JB Laughrey with a loan of $ 3800.00 which saved the building and the Engine for the community.

In 1932 John D. Messner succeeded Dr. JB Laughrey as Fire Chief. For unknown reasons Messner was also succeeded that year by Thomas Chambers as Fire Chief. Chambers held the Office till 1962. No Fire company records are known to exist from the mid 1930’s to the early 1940’s. If these records do exist, they may be in the possession of a descendant of a member from that era.
During the early 1940’s the membership of the Fire Company declined as the Second World War drained the community of its manpower. After the war, the membership once again grew to record numbers (118 members during the 1950’s) In 1951 the Fire Company purchased a new fire engine a Ford-Howe which was capable of pumping 500 gallons of water per minute (this engine is still owned by the SVFD) In 1952 the Fire Company Moved into its newly built quarters on Second Avenue where it remained for over 30 years. Also during the 1950’s the Borough had municipal water mains installed witch enabled the Fire Company to get water from Hydrants as opposed to the river or other static sources.

In the 1960’s another change came to the Fire Company, Thomas Chambers was replaced after 30 years of service as Fire Chief in 1962 by Alvin Ghion. During his 10 year period in office as Fire Chief Alvin Ghion initiated the first formal Incident documentation records. Prior to this point no records of incidents were kept. This record keeping process has continued to this day.In 1972 the Fire Company was again in need of a new fire engine to replace the aging 1951 pumper. This new engine was a 1972 Ward LaFrance Pumper on a Ford chassis it was capable of pumping 1000 gallons of water per minute and carried 750 gallons of water This engine cost $28,000 and was picked up at the factory in New York and driven back to town by Alvin Ghion, Rupert Baughman, and Louis Villatti.

In 1973 Louis Villatti became Fire Chief Followed in 1974 by Rupert Baughman who held the position until 1979. In 1980 Edward Ryckman (a retired New York City firefighter) became Fire Chief. James Ferree was elected to the position in 1981 followed by Gilbert Bergman in 1982. Also in 1982 the Fire Company began work on its current Fire Station in the old elementary school building. Construction was completed in 1984 and the Fire Company moved into its present quarters. During this period in 1983, J William Ringbloom was elected as Fire Chief and held the position until 1990. The Fire Company elected Mark Ghion as Fire Chief in 1991 and he has served in that position to the present day.

During the 1980’s and 1990’s The Fire Company made many upgrades on its equipment and operations. With the purchase of large diameter supply hose, new breathing apparatus and various vehicles. In 1998 after many years of debate it was decided that the Fire Company again needed to replace its fire engine. In October 1998 the Fire Company received a brand new pumper, a Ferrara/HME for $180,000. This pumper has many advantages over its predecessors. The body is all aluminum, and can carry 6 fully equipped firefighters in the enclosed cab. It has a 1250 gallon per minute pump, and a 750 polypropylene tank. This truck also carries firefighting foam to extinguish flammable liquid fires.

After the turn of the Century and following the terrorist attacks on Sept 11,2001  Federal grant funding became more readily available to our company which enabled us to upgrade our equipment and to the most modern level in our organizations history.

New equipment provided by these grants; including new Protective clothing, Breathing apparatus, hose, Hydraulic Rescue tools, thermal Imaging Camera,Rescue Boat and a host of other items allowed us to focus our efforts on training rather than worriy about how we would fund these necessary equipment upgrades.

With the burden of equipmet acquisition temporarily  lifted The SVFC concentrated on updating or skills and training levels.

With an increase in call volume it became evident that our resources were being used at a level never before seen  in our companys history. This increase caused our fire apparatus to be called out of its primary service area on a regular basis.  To offset these effects and to make our organization more versitile and effective the decision was made to purchase and new Rescue Truck.

Plans for this new truck began in 2005 and continued into late 2006 when truck manufacturers were contacted and specifications written. In early 2007 a decision was made to purchase the Rescue Truck. This truck was custom built to our specifications and was delivered in November 2007 at a cost of $290,000.

Over the years the Sutersville VFC has and will continue to assist our friends, neighbors, and loved ones in the Borough of Sutersville and surrounding communities in times of emergency. This organization was formed out of necessity and will continue to function as an organization of neighbors helping neighbors.