I did this column back in the 1980's, recalling the legendary "Big John" Lenhardt and the Lenhardt boys, all of whom became legends in their own right. Colonial was located on Liberty Street at the corner of Newkirk Avenue back then, and I can remember the thrill we Kuser School kids had when the familiar Colonial siren blew and we flocked over to the second floor windows to watch the beautiful Diamond T and Peter Pirsch fire trucks head out to fight another fire. I also remember the plaintive sound of the fire whistle on a dark winter night during World War II, when the siren sounded for an air raid drill. Colonial is now in very sumptuous quarters on Kuser Road, right next to one of Hamilton Township's ultimate fire fighters: "Big John" Lenhardt. John would be proud.
Hi Tom,
ReplyDeleteMy Mother was the first dispatcher for Colonial Fire and my Father helped build the original building. We lived right behind it on Newkirk. You would remember me as Lorraine Feehan. They built their home in 1922. I love your blog.
Lorraine Feehan May