History of the Granville Fire Company

Organized 1943         Incorporated 1944

The following is the history of the Granville Fire Company.  This information is compiled through news articles, scrap books, photo albums, and accounts from older members of the community.

The Beginning:

The Granville Fire Company was organized during the time when the threat of war coming to our own country was very great.  The year was 1943.

The past records of the Company that far back are not complete, but it was through the efforts of the older men of the community who were not subject to military duty that the company was founded.

Through information recieved from the Civil Defense it was learned that a piece of fire fighting equipment could be gotten for the Community of Granville.  A meeting of all interested persons was held at the Granville School House to organize a fire company and Mr. Lee Fisher was chosen as the first President.  Under guidance of the President and his committees the fire equipment was obtained.

This equipment consisted of a skid mounted pumper, a small amount of hose and a couple of nozzles.  The pump was powered by a Chrysler Marine engine with a capacity of 500 gallons per minutes.  This was a good pump but as we all know a fire pump is of no value unless we can get it to the scene of a fire or to source water from which to pump.  Then came the task of securing some type of vehicle on which to mount the pump.

Carl Temple, better know as "Smokey" operated a general store and a garage in Fairview.  A committee from the fire company contacted him to see if he had any old trucks, or cars that could be converted to a fire truck.  Smokey donated a 1936 Packard car to the Fire Company.  This car was taken to the power house of the Malta Home where the body was removed and pump mounted on.  Mr Clarence Bigelow along with other members of the company had the job of building the fire truck.

A New Home:

Currently:

Granville Fire Company is one of three fire companies in Granville Township.  The population of Granville Township was 4,638 at the 2020 census. 

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 40.9 square miles, of which, 40.2 square miles of it is land and 0.7 square miles of it (1.81%) is water.

We operate a diverse fleet of four apparatus to effectively respond to a variety of emergencies across our coverage area:

• Engine – For primary fire suppression and initial response

• Tanker – For rural water supply operations

• Utility – For support and transportation

• Brush – For wildland and brush fire incidents

Our dedicated team includes 30 active Firefighters, supported by a strong network of Administrative and Social members who help keep our organization running smoothly.

Granville Township is also served by two neighboring departments—West Granville Fire Company in Strodes Mills and Junction Fire Company near Lewistown. Our collective efforts ensure comprehensive coverage for a community that spans mountainous terrain, riverfront areas, and a range of residential and commercial properties.

We are always welcoming new volunteers. If you’re interested in making a difference in your community, stop by the firehouse or reach out to learn how you can get involved.