La Mott Fire Company Turns 100!

"Stop, drop and roll" is one of my first memories of the La Mott Fire Company. When I was a Girl Scout Brownie, we were given a demonstration by some of the volunteers which included safety tips like the one mentioned.

Many people have devoted their time to fighting fires in the past. Volunteers have included my younger brother who served at La Mott until he moved out of the area as well as several other people from the neighborhood and nearby Lynnewood Gardens. Many a night he was awakened by his pager going off announcing that the fire company was called into service.

Founded in August 1910, La Mott's Fire Company is one of Cheltenham Township's five volunteer fire companies. It was formed by the sons of the early white settlers and now boasts a multicultural membership. Although many of us grew up with the knowledge of the fire company, the book 'Cheltenham Township' explains a bit more about its history including the equipment that was purchased through the years. The first location was on Willow Avenue and stored a two-wheeled hosecart. It was about the size of a small one-car garage. The first actual firehouse was a stone and mortar building that built in the same block on Willow Avenue in 1914 and used until 1957 when the current building opened on Penrose Avenue.

Congratulations La Mott! Keep up the fine work! And to you the reader...have you checked your smoke detector batteries lately?