Back in 2013 York Township Fire Department celebrated it's 100th Anniversary of fire protection to York Township and surrounding areas.

100th Anniversary video

York Township Fire Department's 100th Anniversary ardical in the Maryland Dispatch 

Goodwill Fire Co. #1 York Township Station 19 - York County

York Township is located in the central portion of York County, about 4 miles southeast of York City. Prior to 1913, the Spry area of York Township depended on neighbor helping neighbor using bucket brigades in the event of a fire. There are very few records prior to 1913, so it is hard to confirm if the area suffered any major fire incidents. On February 10, 1912, a  group of citizens from the area of the township, held a meeting at the Old School House to discuss organizing a fire company. Results of the meeting saw a President, Secretary and Treasurer elected who were told to move forward with getting more members and drawing up a constitution and by-laws for the new fire company. At the second meeting on February 17, 1913, held at the Band Hall, the new fire company's name, Goodwill Fire Company of Spry along with the by-laws and constitution were adopted. There were 56 Charter members and by March of 1913, the company voted to by a used rebuilt Howe pumper and 300 feet of hose. The pumper could be either hand or horse drawn. At another meeting at the end of March of 1913, a committee was appointed to locate a piece of property that a firehouse could be built on. It was also decided that a company Charter be applied for. The fire company responded to its first alarm on April 26, 1913 and on September 13< 1913 M.J. Deardorf was elected Foreman and "We Strive to Save" was adopted as the company's motto. After 100 years, it is stills the company's motto today. The company purchased a piece of land in March of 1914 and buit an 18'x30' brick building with one bay. The firehouse, with the help of many of the members, was completed in July of 1914. It housed the Howe pumper for 13 years until 1927 when the company built a new firehouse, located on South Queen Street. There is very little historical information available about the first firehouse and where it was actually located. It is believed that it stood on the same site that the 1927 firehouse was built on. The company’s second firehouse, built in 1927, was a two story brick building with the apparatus bay on the first floor and a company meeting room on the second floor. In 1930, the Howe pumper was mounted on a 1929 Chevy truck chassis. It was the only pumper the company had until 1943. During the war years, from 1940 to 1945, it was almost impossible to get a new piece of equipment, so in 1943 the company purchased a used 1916 American LaFrance and placed it in service replacing the 1927 Chevy/Howe pumper. After World War II, in 1947, a new Diamond T/Oren pumper was purchased and is still in the company’s possession today. Five years later a new 1952 Oren open cab pumper was purchased giving the company two pumpers. This would be the last pumper purchased by the company for the next twenty years. In 1951 the company did purchase a used 1946 Dodge Service Truck that was in service for several years. The Goodwill Fire Company celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary in 1963. The company purchased a piece of land in 1967, a short distance south of the 1927 station on South Queen Street. A building committee was appointed in 1970 and ground breaking for the new station took place on April 18, 1971. The new station would be one story with three bays and would also house the Police Department and Township offices. The new station was dedicated on March 20, 1972. During the 1970’s the company also purchased three pieces of equipment. The first was a new 1972 Ford/American pumper. Due the the ever increasing number of vehicle rescue incidents, the company felt that it needed a specialized rescue unit. So, in 1974 a used 1962 Ford/Pittman rescue unit was placed in service. It should be noted that this was the first piece of equipment that was lettered York Township Fire Department. It was designated Rescue 19. The company also placed its first Chief’s car in service in 1974. It was a former Township police vehicle that was refurbished by the members. Three years later, a new 1977 International/Pierce with a 50’ Snorkel pumper was purchased. The company also purchased its first rescue tool, a Lukas Rescue Tool that was carried on Rescue 19. The 1980’s brought about some more changes including the purchase of a new 1982 Ford/Pierce Attack Pumper and a new 1987 Auto Car/SPI Rescue. The body of the rescue was built by Steeldraulics and the boom was taken from the old rescue and installed on the new unit. A lot of the work that was done to get this unit in service was done by the members of the department. The boom was outfitted so it could be used as a light tower or  tower. A new Chevy 2500/4x4 Brush Unit was placed in service in 1989. This unit was custom made by the members of the department. The 1990’s saw several major changes, including the purchase of a new pumper, a new tower ladder, a new rescue/engine and the renovation of the station. The first unit purchased was a new Simon Duplex/E-One Pumper in 1990. It was followed with the purchase of a new ​1994 Spartan/Skywolf Tower Ladder along with the addition of the 4th bay to house the Tower Ladder. The last unit was a new E-One Cyclone II Pumper/Rescue, designated Rescue 19, that replaced the 1987 Auto Car/SPI Rescue. With the turn of the Century, the department continued it’s aggressive modernization of it’s apparatus fleet. A 2003 Chevy Silverado pick-up was placed in service as a QRS/Service vehicle, designated Service 19. In 2004 a new Pierce Dash Pumper was placed in service featuring a CAFS System. Engine 19-1 is in service today. In 2010 the 1994 Skywolf Tower Ladder was replaced with a used 2003 Seagrave 95’ Aerialscope, purchased from the Elizabethtown VFC. It is still in service today. A used 2005 Chevy Tahoe was also placed in service in 2010 and is the Duty Officer vehicle today. In 2013, the company was in the need of a second engine and purchased a used 1994 Seagrave Pumper from the Glen Rock Fire Company. Engine 19-2 is in service today. The fire department celebrated its 100th Anniversary during 2013. To commerate the anniversary, the department along with the Red Lion Fire Company hosted the 101st Annual York County Firefighters Convention in August. In addition the department held its 100th Anniversary Banquet on November 2, 2013. In 2012, a committee was formed to look into replacing the E-One Rescue/Engine with a Heavy Duty Rescue Squad. After nearly two years of planning the new Rescue Squad became a reality when a new KME Heavy Rescue Squad was delivered in December of 2013. Today, the York Township Fire Department (YTFD) operates out of a five bay station with two engines, a tower ladder, a heavy duty rescue squad, a brush unit, a QRS/Service unit and a Command vehicle. The area covered by the department is approximately 19 square miles and is mostly suburban with a mix of retail and commercial areas. The department is under the command of Chief Nathan Tracey and on the Administrative side, President Wendy Tracey. The department’s membership is about 300, with 40 riding members. There is one part-time career driver who works Monday thru Friday during the daytime hours. The area covered by the department has several schools, churches, a tire recycling plant, several medical and nursing home facilities, a lot of retail and commercial buildings and 5 miles of busy I-83. The department responded to over 780 incidents in 2013. EMS incidents are handled by the York Regional EMS Service that house MICU 19 at Station 19. It is staffed with a Paramedic and EMT 24/7. The department’s annual operational funding comes from some Township monies, hall rental fees, an annual chicken BBQ and several other fund rising events throughout the year. It was 100 years ago, that 56 men had a vision to organize a fire company in the York Township Area. That vision, 100 years later, is still going strong in 2014. The YTFD is a well organized department that exemplifies the tradition and volunteer spirit of the fire service today. Well trained members using state-of-the-art equipment are providing the citizens of York Township and surrounding areas a fire/rescue service that is second to none. 
-Publishers Note:
A special thanks to Chief Tracy and Honorary Member Mervin Kashner for their time and assistance in compiling this article. As always our thanks to Howard Meile, III for his excellent photos of the YTFD’s past and present equipment.

Goodwill Fire Company # 1 of York Township Celebrating 100 years of service, 1913-2013. The banquet was held at the Horticultural Hall at the York Fairgrounds on the 2nd of November 2013.