Thursday, June 30, 2011

6/30/2011 Pre-Ceremony




6/30/2011 Groundbreaking Ceremony


pictures by Ron Cressler



Mickey Nye, Master of Ceremonies





Chief Emeritus Charles Myers, Vigilant Hose Co. No. 1



Tom Moriarty, Shippensburg Area EMS



Hon. Bruce Hockersmith, Shippensburg Mayor










Dr. Jim Freeman, Capital Campaign Co-Chair



Building Committee







pictures by Kathy Clepper



Donation check from Brechbill & Helman employees



Donation check from F&M Trust

Monday, June 27, 2011

6/27/2011 News Chronicle article

Groundbreaking launches Vigilant Hose project Thursday


From staff reports
Published: Monday, June 27, 2011 2:11 PM EDT
Ceremonial ground breaking for a new emergency services station for Vigilant Hose Co. and Shippensburg Area EMS is set for 6 p.m. Thursday.

Vigilant Hose President Danny Byers says contractors were due to move onto the site at Walnut Bottom Road and Orange Street early this week.


Local officials, including Shippensburg Borough Manager Earl Parshall, Mayor Bruce Hockersmith and Magisterial District Judge Harold Bender, will be on hand for the ceremony. Various township and Cumberland County officials have also been invited, along with individuals and businesses that have contributed to the capital campaign to help fund the $6 million project.

The general public is invited to attend the groundbreaking that will include music by deejay Phantom Shadow and light refreshments.

Fire and ambulance officers have targeted a new facility for years and have focused in earnest on plans for the past year.

The fire company’s station in the 100 block of East King Street is stretched to the limit, and the ambulance company has operated from makeshift quarters – a one-time appliance store – in the 200 block of East King Street since the ambulance service split from CV Hose Co. several years ago.

Project spokeswoman Megan Silverstrim says the fire and ambulance companies designed their separate areas, but worked closely together to plan shared areas like the training, conference, study and fitness rooms.

SGS Architects and Engineers of Carlisle designed the 36,645-square-foot two-level facility.

Silverstrim says original estimates called for completion of construction to take 10-12 months after ground is broken.