South Fayette hosts event to commemorate township’s fire departments
Bob Rank, second from the right in this photo from 1972, was one of the founders of the Oak Ridge Fire Department.
From left to right, Bob Rank, Keith Delaney, Phil Makowski and Steve Lower discussed the history of fire departments in South Fayette Township.
As part of its 175th Anniversary Historical Series, South Fayette recently hosted an event to commemorate the fire departments in the township.
“Most people in South Fayette don’t realize we have four fire departments that are all within our township,” said Andrea Iglar, community development director. “They all have colorful histories and all serve our communities.”
The July 11 event at the South Fayette Senior Center featured four speakers, one from each fire department. The speakers were Keith Delaney from Sturgeon, Steve Lower from South Fayette/Cuddy, Phil Makowski from Fairview and Bob Rank from Oak Ridge.
They showed photos, brought old equipment, such as helmets or jackets, gave the history about their respectively fire departments and answered questions.
Rank, 87, has been a part of fire departments in the township for more than 70 years.
His family helped organize the Sturgeon Fire Department in 1947, and then he was one of the founders of the Oak Ridge Fire Department in 1956, where he has spent the last 61 years as a member. He still organizes the department’s fund drive as he’s done for the last 40-45 years, he said.
Rank said he was glad the township held the event and that the fire departments could come together.
“It was sentimental,” he said.
The event also celebrated two other anniversaries: South Fayette/Cuddy Fire Department’s 80th anniversary and Sturgeon Fire Department’s 70th anniversary.
“We really wanted to highlight and recognize them and preserve everything they’ve seen and done through the years,” Iglar said. “We really wanted to be able to bring them in and recognize them, thank them and have an opportunity to tell their stories and be heard and appreciated for everything they’ve done.”
Iglar said remembering that almost all of the firefighters in the township are volunteers is important.
“I stress that they’re volunteers,” she said. “They serve not only through the fire departments, but through township events and they’re really involved in the community.”
The fire department event is the third the township has held to commemorate its anniversary. The first was a birthday bash on March 16 – exactly 175 years after the township was chartered.
In June, the township hosted a historical series event for Boys Home, a shelter and school near Oakdale from 1904-1972.
The historical series will wrap up in August with an event about the history of the Little Green Machine Marching Band and Majorettes.
Presenting these events along with the township is the Historical Society of South Fayette Township. Iglar said the township is also selling chocolate bars and bricks for the park being built on Seminary Avenue to raise money for the historical society.
“Hopefully it will give them a nice boost,” Iglar said. “Every chance we get with everything we’re doing this year we’re highlighting our pride that we’ve achieved the milestone of 175 years and have really been supporting the efforts to preserve our history as we move forward.”