Ashland Fire Department celebrating 100 years

ASHLAND―Four days of celebration, solemnity and camaraderie are underway as the Ashland Fire Department hosts the Greene County Volunteer Firefighters Association Convention this week.

Ashland, in addition to rolling out the red carpet for its compatriots, is marking its centennial, officially formed in 1926.

Firefighters and ladies’ auxiliaries from around the county and beyond are coming together for the 138th annual event that includes a memorial flag raising, honoring the 25th anniversary of those lost on 9/11.

The flag raising takes place on Friday evening, September 11, following the traditional Mardi Gras parade, stepping off at 6 p.m.

Participants in the fun filled march can let their hair down, riding on colorful floats and costumed in whatever suits their festive fancy. This year’s theme is “America 250.”

The revelry will be followed by deep respect.

“Part of the plan, after the Mardi Gras parade, is the official dedication of our new 85-foot flagpole at the town park,” says Ashland firefighter Richard Tompkins, a 55-year member.

“We will have more than 3,000 flags prepositioned near the activity tent,” said Tompkins. “We will raise our 18-by-30-foot flag for the first time in honor of Jeremy Glick.”

Glick, who has family roots in the neighboring town of Jewett, was on board the ill-fated United Airlines Flight 93 on 9/11, twenty-five years ago.

Glick, along with other passengers aware of the attacks at the World Trade Center and later the Pentagon, attempted to regain control of the hijacked plane which tragically crashed in Pennsylvania.

A road is named in tribute to Glick in Jewett and he, along with all those who died, will receive hero remembrances in Ashland on Friday night.

“This is one small way to commemorate what everybody gave for us,” Tompkins said.

Saturday brings the more formal dress parade where companies are judged in marching formation with bragging-rights trophies awarded.

A special place is reserved for an antique firetruck procession, in line after the leading Greene County Sheriff’s Office color guard.

“This is something we’ve always wanted to do,” Tompkins said. “We will have trucks that are 50 years and older, restored and unrestored, operational and nonoperational.”

“We don’t think this has even been done,” Tompkins added, noting that Ashland will roll out two trucks, including a 1956 Chevrolet 10500, outfitted with a 500 GPM American pump and 500 gallon tank.

The delivery price back then, complete with a 2600-foot hose, was just over $11,000―a veritable drop in the bucket in today’s marketplace.

Departments from the mountaintop to the valley and beyond are expected to take part.

“This gives everyone a chance to see these trucks they rarely get to see. People love them when we take them to parades,” Tompkins says.

“All the trucks will be positioned next to each other, in the park, after the parade. I remember, when I first joined the department, seeing all these trucks at mutual aid fires. It will be cool to see them together again,” he said.

The dress parade, which steps off at 2 p.m. and features a United States Marine Corps Band, ends the formal convention but only begins the festivities, setting in motion a rockin’ Saturday night 100th birthday bash.

There will be fireworks, free food, a cornhole tournament, music and dancing.

“Everyone is invited. We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of people there,” says Ashland Fire Chief Jim Garraghan.

Garraghan, while eagerly awaiting the party, sorely remembers the day the Ashland firehouse was destroyed, a decade ago, by a fire in the adjoining municipal building.

“It was definitely a missing piece for the town,” Garraghan says. “A lot of companies stepped up and helped us with equipment to keep going.”

“We pushed through, which is what being a volunteer is all about, people helping out people. It’s a great bunch of guys and gals. Everybody has everybody’s back. It’s what we do,” he said.

A new structure was built, taking over two years to complete.

“We are in a much better place now,” said Tompkins, noting his grandfather was involved in the department in the early years and his father joined as a 16-year-old.

“People depend on us to be there,” Tompkins said. “This is a good group. There is a lot of work to it but they are always there.”