It was quite the busy few days over this past weekend at Mt. Penn. Aside from a few calls here and there, dayroom renovations are complete except for a few small details. Rescue 1 assisted with lighting at Rita’s for a Friday night fundraiser in honor and memory of a well-known local resident who recently passed away too soon. We are able to report that the fundraiser was a smashing success!
Saturday morning, despite the weather, crews from Mt. Penn joined several other fire companies and first responders at the Home Depot Safety Day. This annual event is sponsored by Home Depot and kicks off Fire Safety Week. Kids were able to build and paint a rescue float plane this year as well as get a close up look at emergency vehicles and meet first responders.
A bit later in morning Ladder 1 was detailed to assist Tower 25(Exeter) with a ladder arch at Forest Hills Cemetary for Berks County’s most famous person, “Stone Man Willie” aka James Murphy who was finally laid to rest after 128 years on Penn St. at Auman’s Funeral Home. Mr. Murphy was from New York and had been attending an event in Reading during which he was accused of theft and jailed. He passed away in prison and had been at Auman’s ever since as the embalmer tried a new technique at the time which resulted in his condition.
