A brief history of our organization.

Founding of Archbald Ambulance

Portions of the history on this page were taken from our 25th anniversary booklet. The original text was compiled by Edward J. Casey, Jr.

Without the foresight of the initial members the history of the entire Lackawanna Valley's EMS system may have been dramatically different. We are proud to have the rich history and the honor of being the first volunteer ambulance squad in the area. It is all owed to those who took the initial steps necessary to protect and care for the members of our community.

So What is This About?

  • July 2, 1957
    • A borough meeting was called to discuss the feasibility of a volunteer Ambulance corps. Temporary executive officers were appointed and an invitation was sent to all borough organizations asking that they send a representative to a secondary meeting.
  • July 16, 1957
    • At the secondary meeting, nine new members were added to the company roll and several committees were formed for funding, finance, purchasing and executive officers.
  • August 14, 1957
    • The first official fund-raising drive was announced. By the end of the event the generous people of Archbald Borough will have raised over $4,000. The Knights of Columbus helped by organizing and hosting a bingo and an ambulance from New Jersey was brought in for publicity.
  • October 16, 1957
    • The members started on a 20 hour training course covering first aid. It was hosted at the American Legion and all members were required to attend.
  • November 7, 1957
    • A Cadillac ambulance, purchased from the Wolfington Body Co. of Philadephia, arrived and became the first vehicle placed in service in our organization.
  • November 20, 1957
    • The first company meeting since the ambulance was put in service was held. Three emergency calls had already been carried out by this time. Ambulance runs were staffed by three crew members on a rotating crew basis. The operator at the Jermyn Telephone Exchange would relay emergency calls to the members on call. For the first 15 years of our organization's existence, we were housed at Ernest Smith's garage.
  • January 17th 1958
    • The third meeting since the unit was placed in service was held on this night. Because we were serving the entire mid-valley area (at this point the farthest call was in Dickson City), 125 calls had already been recorded.
  • 1962
    • In 1962 the original ambulance that served us for our first 8 years was traded in and the funds were put towards the purchase of a green 1956 Superior Cadillac ambulance.
  • 1965
    • A second ambulance, a 1965 Miller-Metear Cadillac Ambulance was purchased at a cost of $9,800. This vehicle would be run on all emergency calls through 1973. The 1956 Cadillac would serve as a second emergency vehicle and did all non-emergent transports.
  • 1970
    • The method of dispatching was moved to the Archbald Borough Building. This had been the way that police and firefighters were dispatched. Utilizing the Telephone Exchange would sometimes delay dispatch time. This was also the year that we laid initial plans for a headquarters of our own.
  • 1972
    • After several construction plans were deemed unfeasible, the School Board donated to our organization the land on Delaware Street that is still the site of our headquarters today. On September 12 ground was broken for construction of our first headquarters.
  • 1973
    • A 1973 International Harvester ambulance was placed in service and was made our primary response vehicle. It would remain in service as an ambulance until 1977 when it was converted into a Rescue Truck. Until this time, a 1968 van ambulance was used as the company rescue vehicle. In 1973 we had 60 members, all of which were required to be trained in Advanced First Aid and CPR. By 1982, 10 of the members would become Emergency Medical Technicians and one would become a Paramedic.
  • 1976
    • Dispatch time was to be improved once again in 1976. A private answering service was hired to handle all medical emergency calls and two way radios were installed in the units. In addition, Jessup Hose Co #1, Blakely Ambulance and the Mid Valley Hospital would all be on the same radio frequency. The crews on call for that night (6 members) would be given radio monitors. This reduced average enroute time to under 4 minutes. 1976 was also the first year the women began to take an active role in the organization. Although women were always welcome to join the organization, none had until this year. Dorothy Jones, one of the three initial members would become the first female Ambulance Captain in the county and is currently serving as our secretary.
  • 1977
    • A new ambulance built on a ford van platform was placed in service. It carried all of the company's rescue and ambulance equipment and had enough room for three patients to be transported simultaneously. The ambulance fit all of the protocols set in place by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. The value of the ambulance and its equipment was well over $40,000. Forr a time this was the best ambulance in Northeastern Pennsylvania. This was also the year that Lackawanna County set up two ALS units. We equipped our vehicles to be compatible with the MICU's. This essentially meant that with the aid of an MICU, Archbald Ambulance could provide ALS services for our patients.
  • 1978
    • In 1978, the first pager dispatching system was purchased by our organization. This improved enroute time to between 2 and 3 minutes. On Easter Monday (March 27th) of this year, the crews were completing a medical call when they were dispatched to a working structure fire. To everyone's shock it was at our own headquarters. An electrical fire destroyed the building but thanks to the bravery of two members, John Astleford and John Schwartztrauber, the remaining two vehicles were driven from the building to safety. The night of the fire, an emergency meeting was called at the borough building and it was decided that Unit 1 would be housed at the borough garage, unit 2 would be used at the Eynon Hose Co #3 and the Rescue at Black Diamond Hose Co #2. After the insurance settlement, plans were set to rebuild on the same location.
  • November 1978
    • In November, the new headquarters was complete. Rotell Brothers construction provided guidance and a donation from the Fairchild Weston Corp. made the construction possible. A great deal of work on construction was completed by the members of the Ambulance.
  • 1979
    • A 1972 Pontiac ambulance was purchased to replace the aged unit 2 (purchased in 1965). This ambulance was purchased used from the Justus Hose Co. In 1979 we were awarded the Certificate of Excellence from the PA Dept. of Health for exceeding federal regulations. The school board donated the land surrounding our building this year as a site for training purposes.
  • 1981
    • The first vehicle rescue class on ambulance property was held this year. In addition, a 50/50 matching grant was awarded to us for the purchase of a new ambulance. The 1972 pontiac was replaced with a 1982 Ford Van Ambulance.
  • 1982
    • The organization celebrated its first 25 years. The community was invited to a CPR demonstration, a First Aid demonstration (the 3 hurry cases) and a Vehicle Extrication demonstration. After the end of 25 years our members have responded to over 10,000 incidents.

Participation

History from 1982-Present

Coming Soon!