History of the Malvern Fire Company
The 1930's
The decade of the 1930s saw two
significant events of opposite impact. The first, in 1931, was a tragic fire truck
accident. The second was the 51st Anniversary of the Company in 1939. These
events occurred against the backdrop of many other day-to-day decisions and events.
Three headlines topped the lead story on the
front page of the Daily Local News on March 24, 1931. "5 FIREMAN KILLED
11 HURT WHEN BIG TRUCK CAREENS AND CRASHES AT MAL VERN." "Greatest Tragedy in
Years Takes Heavy Toil of Life When Car Plunges Into Ditch, Crushing Victims to Death;
Father of Youth Falls Dead on Learning of Son's End" and "Physician Arrives at
Scene of Disaster and Renders First Aid. While Passing Motorists Bring Injured to the
Homeopathic Hospital, Here; Sorrow Sweeps Community as Sudden Deaths Strike Deeply in to
Life of Borough"
To this day, this tragedy is discussed
quietly and hesitantly. It was the one time in 100 years of Malvern Fire Company history
when lives were lost in the line of duty. A few quotations from the extensive newspaper
coverage will suffice to describe the tragedy.
"Death rode with a squad of Malvern
volunteer firemen last evening as they rushed to fight a blaze.
"Five of their number had their lives
crushed out and eleven others were injured, two seriously, when their speeding apparatus
overturned while rounding a sharp curve.
"Four of those killed were youths and
the fifth a middle-aged man. All were killed instantly.
"Not content with this terrific toll of
human life, death added to the tragedy by taking the father on one of the accident
victims, whose heart stopped when he learned of his son's terrible fate.
"As a result of the tragedy, Malvern was
plunged into deep mourning today. "Those killed in the accident were:
"William Garrett, aged 20, married, son
of Mrs. Robert Garrett.
'Clifford Kilpatrick. aged 19, single, son of
Mr. and Mrs. David Kilpatrick.
"Clarence Gregg, aged 25, single, son of
Mrs. William Gregg.
"Clarence Matlack, 18, single, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Percy Matlack.
"Charles Henry Munch (Muench) aged 50,
married.
"Less than two hours after his son's
broken and crushed body was brought from the scene of the accident, Percy Matlack, aged
45, dropped dead from a sudden heart attack superinduced by the shock.
"He made the sixth person to die as a
result of the tragedy. The father, notified of his son's death, visited the morgue where
the body lay and then walked to his home. He was stricken a short time later and died
before he could be given medical aid... [Mr. Matlack was under treatment for heart
problems.]
"The accident occurred on what is known
as King Road, about a mile and a half west of Malvern. Persons living near the scene heard
the crash of the heavy apparatus and ran to aid the victims...
"A deplorable circumstance connected
with the accident was that the firemen were on their way to fight a field and brush fire
which was not a particularly dangerous one...
"The fire apparatus, a large
American-LaFrance model weighing several thousand pounds, was badly wrecked in the
accident. Later it was righted and towed back to the village...
"Full realization of the enormity of the
tragedy did not come to Malvern residents until it became their duty to Inform the parents
and relatives of the victims of what had occurred. Parents and wives of those killed were
overcome with the shock of the news...
"County Coroner Herbert C. Ford. of
Coatesville, was notified of the tragedy by telephone and drove immediately lo the scene
and took charge.
"Coroner Ford planned to hold an inquiry
into the probably cause of the accident. He impaneled a jury and will hold an inquest at
the Municipal building in Malvern Next Friday evening at eight o'clock..." (DLN)
The Coatesville Record reported
March 28 "An open verdict was returned by a coroner's jury at Malvern last night
after hearing testimony concerning the overturning of the Malvern Fire Company apparatus
with the death of five men and injury to eleven others.
"'Cause of the accident unknown,
according to the testimony given by witnesses,' the jury's verdict read in part. Then
members of the jury went further and stated 'probably accidental.'
"Approximately 300 people attended the
inquest. So much interest did the hearing arouse that it was necessary to hold it at the
fire company's hall instead of at the council chamber in the municipal building. It was
feared that the floor of the municipal building might give way under the weight of so many
spectators."
The Trustees' minutes showed concerns for
months afterwards about Insurance, compensation, and care for those firemen whose injuries
were extensive.
In 1934, "the annual tri-borough
firemen's memorial service in memory of volunteer firefighters of Malvern, Berwyn and
Paoli who died during the past year was held at 2:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon [February
18] in the First Baptist Church at Malvern. Upwards of two hundred and fifty persons were
in attendance ...There were three deaths in the fire departments of the three towns during
the past twelve months, it was announced. Malvern reported one death, a member of the
ladies' auxiliary. .."(CR)
Malvern Fire Company's 51st Anniversary was
celebrated March 25, 1939. 'More than two hundred persons, members of the Malvern Company,
their families and friends, joined in a celebration Saturday evening at the firehouse,
Malvern, in honor of the fifty-first anniversary of the fire company and the burning of
the mortgage of the firehouse.
"The affair was one of much pleasure and
jubilation, the completion of a long period of efficient service to the community and the
end of an extended effort to clear the home of the fire company of all debt...
"The main speaker of the evening was
Rev. Ethan M. Thomas, chaplain of the Delaware County Firemen's Association. He
congratulated the company upon its 'long period of efficient and humanitarian service, and
gave credit to the Ladies' Auxiliary of the company which has made much of the progress of
the company possible...
'The menu was prepared and served by Chester
Valley Grange and the guests were seated at long tables beautifully decorated with ferns
and potted plants. The flowers were donated by B.J. Passmore{now Gable's} and L. Bisset
[now McDonough's]. The delicious menu included fruit cup, celery, olives, coleslaw, roast
turkey, rolls, butter, cranberry sauce, filling, lima beans, corn, mashed potatoes, ice
cream, home-made cake, coffee, nuts and mints. A beautiful bouquet of lilies and gladioli
were on the speakers' table. A toy fire engine was at 'each place as a souvenir of the
occasion. Mrs. John Kent Kane was chairman of 'arrangements for the banquet. The
invocation was given by Henry C. Hollowell.
"During the evening community singing
was enjoyed, with Norman Heintzelman as leader, and Mrs. Heinzelman at the piano. A number
of songs were composed by Mr. Heintzelman and sung to popular tunes." (DLN)
Later In 1939 the Company fully participated
in the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Borough of Malvern. An August 25 parade
involving many fire companies was held along with a housing of the Company's new squad
wagon.
"The new apparatus in reality is of the
general utility type and most valuable to the volunteer firemen, especially in small
communities. Fred Thomas, Chief of the Malvern Company, points out that it will save the
use of more costly equipment in responding to fires of minor natures, such as field and
woods fires, overheated chimneys, etc. The new apparatus was built to the specifications
of the Malvern Company, who spent close to two years in perfecting and working out designs
to fit their particular needs. Besides being equipped with powerful water pumps, it
carries a complete electric lighting plant, booster tanks, hose for same, high powered
flood lights, numerous small fire fighting gear, besides comfortably seating sixteen men,
in addition to the driver...
"Firemen from Berwyn and Paoli will
officially conduct the housing ceremonies.
Later there will be dancing in the fire hall,
another band concert and another evening of amusements at the Fire Company fair."
(DLN)
Continued
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