The "A Piece Of History Lost To The Ages? Story

Fire Station #3 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

It was an ordinary day.  Driving east on King Street in the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  My mission today it to find Fire Station #3 on East King Street in downtown Lancaster.  Seems there is a fallen firefighter's memorial that sits outside the station that may be discarded when the city replaces the station in the near future.  And, that doesn't sit well with many of the residents of the city as well as the current firefighters of Lancaster.  The City of Lancaster has paid firefighters, much unlike all the surrounding towns and townships which rely on volunteer firefighters.  It has been that way for as long as I have lived in Lancaster and that's been three quarters of a century.  I thought I knew where the station was located and before long I pulled up to the front of the station.  

Statue of a firefighter made using the image of Clyde Snyder.

There in front of the station was the statue of a firefighter on one knee, holding his helmet with his left hand while resting his right hand on his knee.  Closeby was a large bell that held the names of those on the Fire Committee of 1885 along with a plaque that is dedicated to the Lancaster City Firefighters who gave the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in the line of duty.  

The bell reads: Fire Committee 1885; Amos L. Urban, Chairman; George
M. Borger, Wm. T. Eberman, Philip Dinkelberg, F. Lewis Noll, J. Frank
Remley, Clerk; Dr. H. T. Eberman, Chief Engineer; H. B. Bondersmith

The bell was used at the previous Station #3 as the means to signal the city when there was a fire.  On the marble platform under the firefighter is an inscription which reads: DEDICATED SEPT. 13, 2008.  Former firefighter Clyde Snyder, whose likeness was used for the sculpture, is considering finding a new home for the sculpture.  Seems that Snyder, who was a firefighter for the city from 1972 to 2008, raised all the money needed to have the stone base and bronze image made, at a cost of $20,000 and doesn't want to see it lost when a new station is built in the future.  

Plaque with fallen members of the fire
company listed on it.  This plaque will
be replaced with a new one since the
date on one firefighter is wrong. and another
name needs to be added.  Click to enlarge.

The city is upgrading their stations in the city and will replace stations on both East King and West King Streets.  The plan at present is to make a museum in the new station's lobby which can hold the statue, but Mr. Snyder believes it should be outside for all to see who past by the station.  The city has told Mr. Snyder that if he can find a place for the statue, he is welcome to do so.  Personally, I believe it should stay in front of the new station as it does today.  It is a part of their station that should not be lost.  Perhaps that may happen, but for now no one seems to know what will happen.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

PS - Before I posted today's story, I read a news release the said the statue of the firefighter will be moved to Lancaster's Atlantic League Baseball stadium, Clipper Stadium.  It will probably be seen by many more people at that location than at the fire house on E. King Street.  Good news for all.