Post by wardengine on Mar 13, 2012 23:00:46 GMT -5
Historical fire society honors two men
By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE (Staff Writer fandruscavage@republicanherald.com)
Published: March 13, 2012
MAHANOY CITY - The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society honored two men Saturday, one for his service to the society and the other for a quarter century of service as a fire chief in Schuylkill County.
Peter Rinaldi, Lake Wynonah, received the society's Member of the Year award from President Michael Kitsock during the group's annual awards banquet.
Joseph "Blackie" Kufrovich, recently retired as fire chief of the Ryan Township Fire Company, received an award from the state Senate presented by Sen. David G. Argall, R-29.
Rinaldi, who joined the society 18 months ago, is instrumental in restoring the older apparatus acquired by the SHFS and maintaining the fleet, keeping them on the road, Kitsock said.
"Driving the old fire trucks and keeping them running is truly his talent," Kitsock said, adding that Rinaldi puts countless hours in with Kufrovich keeping the vehicles repaired.
Kufrovich accepted the citation from Argall, who thanked the former chief for his 25 years of service, not only to the people of Ryan Township but all of Schuylkill County.
"He's done a good, good job for a long, long time," Argall said.
He also commended the society for preserving the history of the fire service in Schuylkill County.
"This is just a simple thank you for all that you do," the senator said. "You are making sure that all this old stuff doesn't end up in someone's scrap yard."
William Anderson, Philadelphia, a member of the Pen-Jer-Del Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America, also commended the Schuylkill society for its work in preserving the past.
"You have things up here that are no longer around," he said referring to displays at the SHFS museum and headquarters at 105 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah.
"You have done so much to preserve the past."
Before the awards, Kitsock spoke on the history of the fire service in Schuylkill County.
He cited the need for fire companies to deal with large fires that plagued Schuylkill County, fueled in part by the construction of many of the homes built by coal companies to house employees.
"Schuylkill County was built to burn," he said.
In 1883, Kitsock said, more than 100 homes in Shenandoah were destroyed by fire and in 1945, 67 homes and businesses in Mahanoy City were destroyed by fire leveling 2 1/2 blocks.
"Some of the vehicles we have acquired served at these fires and all of them have served their communities well," he said.
Kitsock also spoke on the society's continuing efforts to acquire and restore fire apparatus crucial to the history of the fire service.
"You can't save the world but we sure try," he said.
Lifetime Member gold cards were then presented to four society members. They were Douglas Naftzinger, Dennis Beck, Larry Brown and Rinaldi.
republicanherald.com/news/historical-fire-society-honors-two-men-1.1284865
By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE (Staff Writer fandruscavage@republicanherald.com)
Published: March 13, 2012
MAHANOY CITY - The Schuylkill Historical Fire Society honored two men Saturday, one for his service to the society and the other for a quarter century of service as a fire chief in Schuylkill County.
Peter Rinaldi, Lake Wynonah, received the society's Member of the Year award from President Michael Kitsock during the group's annual awards banquet.
Joseph "Blackie" Kufrovich, recently retired as fire chief of the Ryan Township Fire Company, received an award from the state Senate presented by Sen. David G. Argall, R-29.
Rinaldi, who joined the society 18 months ago, is instrumental in restoring the older apparatus acquired by the SHFS and maintaining the fleet, keeping them on the road, Kitsock said.
"Driving the old fire trucks and keeping them running is truly his talent," Kitsock said, adding that Rinaldi puts countless hours in with Kufrovich keeping the vehicles repaired.
Kufrovich accepted the citation from Argall, who thanked the former chief for his 25 years of service, not only to the people of Ryan Township but all of Schuylkill County.
"He's done a good, good job for a long, long time," Argall said.
He also commended the society for preserving the history of the fire service in Schuylkill County.
"This is just a simple thank you for all that you do," the senator said. "You are making sure that all this old stuff doesn't end up in someone's scrap yard."
William Anderson, Philadelphia, a member of the Pen-Jer-Del Chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America, also commended the Schuylkill society for its work in preserving the past.
"You have things up here that are no longer around," he said referring to displays at the SHFS museum and headquarters at 105 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah.
"You have done so much to preserve the past."
Before the awards, Kitsock spoke on the history of the fire service in Schuylkill County.
He cited the need for fire companies to deal with large fires that plagued Schuylkill County, fueled in part by the construction of many of the homes built by coal companies to house employees.
"Schuylkill County was built to burn," he said.
In 1883, Kitsock said, more than 100 homes in Shenandoah were destroyed by fire and in 1945, 67 homes and businesses in Mahanoy City were destroyed by fire leveling 2 1/2 blocks.
"Some of the vehicles we have acquired served at these fires and all of them have served their communities well," he said.
Kitsock also spoke on the society's continuing efforts to acquire and restore fire apparatus crucial to the history of the fire service.
"You can't save the world but we sure try," he said.
Lifetime Member gold cards were then presented to four society members. They were Douglas Naftzinger, Dennis Beck, Larry Brown and Rinaldi.
republicanherald.com/news/historical-fire-society-honors-two-men-1.1284865