Do you remember a time when the Conneautville Fellows Club Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service was not in service to the community? I didn’t think so! I have childhood memories of this organization, so I know they have been around a L-O-N-G time! Recent conversations with individuals currently involved with this group brought to mind the words “history” and “legacy” when I thought about writing this article. Also, it was suggested I contact Allen Clark who has compiled a historical record from documentation found in the Conneautville Courier regarding this long established organization.

The foundation for what we now know as the Conneautville Fellows Club Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Ser-vice was formed almost 155 years ago. And in 1923, the Fellows Club, originally formed as a social club for men, was asked by the Conneautville Borough Council to operate a fire department. In August of that year paperwork was filed to become the “Fellows Club Fire Department” of Conneautville. The Fellows Club Fire Department began their official duties as fire fighters for the Borough 87 years ago and has continued to grow and develop its operations since that time. Although at the time of formation the Fellows Club did not abandon their origins by continuing their participation in county baseball and basketball teams, paying tribute to the arts by participating in theater productions, and most importantly, their benevolent efforts within their community.

In 1923 the fire department was operating with the 1882 Remington Horse Power Fire En-gi ne with a Howe Pump, originally purchased by the Borough in the year it was built. 1923 also brought about the purchase of the first motorized fire engine – a 1920 Reo with a Howe pump. Although trucks have come and gone, equipment has improved and various volunteers have passed through the doors throughout the years, the legacy of this active organization continues.

This past month I spoke with one family who currently has its fourth generation volunteering for this organization – the Chason family. (If there are others who are also proud of this enduring legacy, I would love to hear from you.) Mr. Clark’s historical record indicates in 1944 Lawrence Ha-son played for the group’s baseball team, then later served as one of the committee members founding the charter for Boy Scout Troop #210 in 1950. Next Ray Chason is listed as the second Fire Chief for 1972. (Also, 1972 is the year the Powers Hotel burned in front of the fire station – a strange turn of events, given the six fire companies present and the location of the hotel. The second major fire that year was the Glessman Feed Mill fire. Ray is recorded as the Fire Chief calling in the state Fire Marshal who ruled the feed mill fire as lighting related.) In 1984 Ray’s son, Paul, is listed as a new member, then a Director in 1989, and Fire Chief by 1990. Jr. Fireman, Raymond Chason, has joined the organization and has begun his journey with the Conneautville Fellows Club Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Service in service to his community and in honor of the tradition he has inherited.

For the past four years, Mr. Drew Longo has served as Fire Chief and has been associated with this department for nine years. In answer to why he chose this opportunity, Chief Longo indicated he was looking for something to do to help out the community. He hopes to continue in service into the future. If you are looking for the same, join the 25 – 30 individuals who are running on the units or call Jerry Carless, Conneautville Ambulance Chief or Drew Longo, Fire Chief, if you would like to find out more. A large thank you to Allen Clark for sharing his compilation of history and to the Conneaut Valley Area Historical Society for their dedication to recording what we need to respect about our past.