Marion Hose CO No 1

Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

Home of Purple Audio

Attached to - Mauch Chunk Opera House

First fire company in Carbon County PA.

Volunteer department, established 1866.

Present building built 1885.

Jim Thorpe, FKA Mauch Chunk PA.

Hose tower (just to the left of the rear of the church)

on rear of some version of the building, post 1859, pre 1885.

Marion Hose Company, Post 1885, pre 1910.

Showing the Marion with square doors and windows, post 1885, pre 1910.

Marion's Hose Hook & Ladder in a Museum

Marion's American La France on parade coming down the hill in front of the Asa Packer Mansion.

The 1966 100 year anniverary commemorative plate.

Marion Hose Company,

Post 1910 renovation which added 20' to the front of the building, adding the bay window and arched doorways.

Marion's 1925 Mack Truck pumping out a basement after the 1933 flood.

History as of 1966- from the 100 year anniversary program.

Full program (PDF)

The citizens of old Mauch Chunk were well aware of the need for a fire company to protect the lives and property of the community against fire.
On November 4, 1833, an organization known as the Mauch Chunk Fire Company was formed and all meetings were held in a school house. The group was small and the company disbanded in a short time. The last recorded meeting was held in the Town House on April 28, 1834.
In 1853 the citizens of the town once more organized a fire company, which was named the Marion Hose Company No. 1, and the first carriage was presented to John Fatzinger and Jacob Salkhed by the first Marion Hose Co. of Philadelphia and was brought in a canal boat to Mauch Chunk on November 28, 1853. And after a few years the company disbanded and the carriage was turned over to the borough authorities. The citizens then did fire duty without an organization.
With the return of soldiers from the Civil War, the present Marion Hose Company No. 1 was instituted on August 8, 1866 and on June 3, 1867, the company was incorporated by a charter from the County Court.
When the organization of the company took place, the old United States Hose Carriage No. 14, in Philadelphia, was purchased.
The first meeting was held in the Marion Hose House on Race Street, the first officers being A. Vanhorn, President ; A. E. Scheetz, Secretary; G. W. Shriver, Treasurer.
At a meeting held June 6, 1867, it was decided that members make a monthly contribution of 25 cents to help defray expenses of the company and to help pay the note on the hose carriage. Dinners and dances were also held in the Town Hall to raise money for the company.
On January 7, 1869, A. E. Scheetz was elected president. The older members of the company, at the present time, remember Mr. Scheetz who was the last surviving charter member. He liked to recall how the members would have to rub the leather hose with tallow to keep it soft and pliable.
On January 8, 1874, Mr. Richard Collins presented the company with a marble gavel block with the institution and incorporation dates carved into the block. his marble block is still on The President's desk at all meetings.
On June, 7, 1874, Mr. E. R. Sieivers presented the company with a fox head tobacco humidor filled pipes and tobacco.
Both Philadelphia and local company were named in honor of General Marion of the Revolutionary War who was called the "Sly Fox" in defeating the British, there being a species of fox called the Marion Fox.
In 1875, the company purchased a Silsbary steam fire engine which was a big improvement over the old hand pump carriage. This was financed through public donations and notes in the banks, taking years to pay, the steamer having cost $4,000.
In 1883, the company organized its own band for concerts and parades.
In 1885, an appeal was made to the citizens of the town for financial aid to build a new hose house, the condition of the borough treasury made it impossible for council to give any assistance. In answer to the appeal, the following donations were made to the amount of $3,515 and a corner stone was laid in 1885 at the present headquarters.
The donors being: Charles H. Cummings, $1,000; W. R. Butler, $200; ; Mrs. H. E. Packer, $300: A. A. Douglas, $250; Robert Klotz, $150; Mrs. Emeline Polk, $100; Ario Pardee, $50; C. O. Skeer, $250; I. F. Lentz, $250; William Lilly, $100; Harlan Cortright, $10; W. S. Kemens, $250; J. Leisenring, $25; J. H. Wilhelm, $10; Est. Asa Packer, $500; D. G. Bertsch, $20; S. B. Price, $50.
All these good people made it possible for the building which now stands the way it was built as the present headquarters of the Marion Hose Company No. 1 of Jim Thorpe, Pa.
In 1887, the company celebrated its 21st anniversary.
In 1892, the company started the practice of having an annual banquet at the American House of Thanksgiving Eve.
In the minutes of March the 2nd, 1893, a report was recorded of a fire at the Presbyterian Church on February 19th, 1893, and with prompt action saved the church next door to the Marion Hose Company.
Many affairs were held to raise money before the turn of the century. From the minutes of April the 23rd, 1894, a report on a supper, fair, and festival held at the Mansion House for three nights netted the company $725.99.
In the minutes Of July the 2nd, 1903, it was reported a Hook and Ladder truck, costing $1,413, and a Hose Wagon, costing $563, had been received and accepted. These apparatus were financed by donations.
On January 4, 1906, Asa P. Blakslee, was honored by the company at their regular meeting for having been elected President of the company for 25 consecutive years. He was presented with a silver mounted ivory gavel by the members.
In September, 1906, the company took action to have the building enlarged, purchase a new steamer, and make plans to raise necessary funds. President Asa P. Blakslee informed the company that Mrs. Mary Packer Cummings would donate $4,500 to pay for a new steamer.
The new LaFrance steam fire engine arrived on March 26, 1907.
In December, 1907, once again Mrs. Mary Packer Cummings, always a staunch supporter of the company, presented President Blakslee with a check for $1,000 for the Building Improvement Fund.
On June 19, 1908, the company was host to the Four - County Firemen's Convention with W. E. Bleckley, a member of the company serving as President. A parade was held on June 20th, with 29 companies, 20 bands, and 9 drum corps in line.
It was the custom for years, that every June the company , led by the Mauch Chunk Bank, would parade to the Packer home to be reviewed by Mrs. Cummings, followed by a band concert.
In the year 1910, she provided the company with 92 uniforms.
The year April, 1914, the company suffered a great loss upon the death of Asa P. Blakslee.
In November, D. G. Pearsall, in the behalf of the Blakslee Family, presented to the company a large framed photogragh of Mr. Blakslee.
On June 19, 1915, the company was presented with a large coal loving cup at the Lansford Four County Parade for being the best drilled and appearing organization. This was one of the many trophies won by the company.
The 50th Anniversary of the company was celebrated on November 13, 1916, with a parade led by the Mauch Chunk Band and a dinner at the American Hotel.
In February, 1918, the company turned over the second floor of the hose house to the Carbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross for the duration of the war for county inspection of surgical dressings, and for the making of bandages.
On June 5, 1919, the Red Cross vacated the second floor.
In 1923, the company began working toward buying motorized apparatus by running home talent shows in the Opera House. Two shows brought in $946.
In October, 1924, an indoor block party, fair,festival and suppers were held for three nights in the old Market House, which was the first floor of the Opera House, before the Capitol Theater was constructed. The first floor of the hose company was also used. This affair brought in $2,313.08 for motorization.
In July, 1925, the new Mack Pumper was received, the cost being $8,200. The amount of $6,156 was on hand and was paid on the pumper and a bank loan was made for the difference. This brought an end to horse drawn apparatus.
In 1926 Mr. Scheetz, the first secretary of the company and last local surviving charter member, passed away and the charter was draped in black for a month.
In 1933 the company was notified by the executors of the estate of the late Mrs. Remmel that she had provided in her will for $5,000 to be paid to the company.
Mrs. Remmel, for many years, had worked for the company running card parties, serving as the Chairman of the women running suppers and other affairs, and was a staunch supporter of the company.
The 75th Anniversary of the company was held on December 16, 1941, with George P. Hull as General Chairman. The members and guests enjoyed an excellent floor show and refreshments in the company rooms.
On November 11, 1942, a flag raising ceremony and dedication of a service flag was held. The flag was raised on the new pole by four of the oldest members: R. S. Ruddle, George W. Hull, A. W. Scheetz, and C. E. Bleckley. The service flag contained stars representing Fred DeBellis, Haworth Hoffmeier, William Hiller, Robert Lockwood, William Stoll, George Weiksner, who were in the armed services.
On February 5, 1947, a Veterans' Welcome Home Celebration was held with a banquet and entertainment in Lutheran Hall in Upper Mauch Chunk which proved to be grand success with 123 persons present.
In 1953, the Mack pumper was retired, and a new Ford LaFrance took its place.
Much could have been recorded in this history concerning fires in the early days when calls for help were received from communities as far as Slatington, when the steamer and hose wagon, together with the firemen, were transported on flat cars by the Central and Lehigh Valley Railroads.
The Marions have always taken a keen interest in community projects, assisting the NIckel-A-Week program; Y. M. C. A., Little League, Olympian basketball team and the Pizza Day for the Community Nurse, and Christmas Parties and Easter Egg Hunts for the children.
In rounding out 100 years of continuous service to the community the Marion Hose Co. desires to express their appreciation for the support they have received from the citizens down through the years, and hope to continue being of service for years to come.
This History of the Marion Hose Co. No. 1, was taken as it was recorded from the old minutes of the early meetings.
All the minute books are intact, and are kept in the vault of the Mauch Chunk Trust Company.

George P. Hull, President
Marion Hose Co. No. 1
Jim Thorpe, Pa.

Marion's 1953 Ford downtown Jim Thorpe in 1968.

RECENT HISTORY, Articles from the Morning Call & Times News.

Mauch Chunk Historical Society Considers Fire House For Museum
August 18, 1992|by SUSAN TODD, The Morning Call
Consider it history repeating itself.
Members of the Mauch Chunk Historical Society are pursuing Jim Thorpe officials about the possibility of using the second floor of the Marion Hose Company on W. Broadway as a history museum. Again.
"What we'd like to do is sit down and open a dialogue in regard to the utilization of this building," Ben Walbert, the historical society's president told officials last week.
About five years ago, the society made a similar request, which never went very far; the building was considered unsafe to use because it didn't comply with state building codes.
The fire company, one officer said yesterday, could not afford to make the necessary repairs.
The idea also got mired down by questions surrounding the ownership of the building, which remain unanswered, as the borough solicitor pointed out during Thursday night's council meeting.
Walbert said the society has collected artifacts, photos and paintings which its members would like to put on exhibit, to educate visitors and enlighten local youngsters.
"We have a building that is not exactly conducive to displaying these," Walbert said, referring to the Mauch Chunk Opera House which stands next to the Marion.
The society runs the Opera House and uses it as a meeting place and a showcase for cultural events.
In the past decade, Jim Thorpe -- with its collection of shops, Victorian buildings, and its colorful history -- has received growing recognition as a weekend tourist spot.
"A museum," Robert Pompa, a historical society member said, "would establish the historical significance of Mauch Chunk (the former name of Jim Thorpe) for future generations. We could explain Mauch Chunk as the birth place of coal mining, the industrial revolution ... "
The Marion Hose Company, a 106-year-old firehouse, has remained standing although the fire company has dwindled considerably in size during the past 25 years. Part of the building is occupied by the police department.
"We're not looking for a handout," Walbert said. "The building has its problems. What we'd like to do is sit down and open a dialogue."
Borough Council President Michael Sofranko, anticipating the request, told Walbert a committee had been named to speak with the society.
Council members Carol Witt, Joseph Krebs and Jack Miller were named to the committee. They are scheduled to meet with the historical society at 7 p.m. Aug. 24.
In October, Billy Diehm, the Marion Hose Company's president, told Borough Council that officers wanted to disband the fire company, put its firehouse up for sale and create a standing fund the borough could use to buy firefighting equipment for the town's three other fire companies.
Diehm said yesterday that officers from the fire company will attend next week's meeting.
"We still want to sell it. We're waiting it out," he said.

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Thorpe To Sell Marion Hose Co.
July 15, 1993|by TRACY JORDAN, The Morning Call

Jim Thorpe's historic Marion Hose Company will be sold to the highest bidder under a plan to save the money and eventually consolidate the borough's four fire companies.
In a special meeting last night, council voted 5 to 1 to close the Marion on Broadway and sell the building and equipment. Equipment owned by the Mauch Chunk Firemen's Relief Association will not be sold.
The police department, located on the first floor, will move a few blocks away to the Phoenix Hose Company.
Councilman Joseph Krebs voted against the plan because he would rather close the Phoenix to spare the expense of moving the police department twice. Councilman John Bartelt was absent.
Eventually, Krebs and other council members hope a new centralized fire and police station can be built with money from the sale of the Marion. There also have been proposals to sell the Phoenix and Diligent Fire Engine House in the Heights, and leave the Fairview Hose Company to serve the borough's East Side.
Councilwoman Carol Witt, who chairs the building committee, said she doesn't know the Marion's market value, but she will present an appraisal at the August council meeting.
A consolidation committee formed to study different plans to save the borough money on insurance and maintenance costs came up with eight proposals.
Closing Marion met with the least opposition. Of the 30 firefighters in attendance, no one disagreed with the plan.
Councilman Ronald Sheehan expanded on the committee's recommendation and presented a three-phase plan to be completed in 1996. The plan includes selling the Phoenix by 1995 and relocating the police department to the Fairview Hose Company.
However, only the first phase of his plan was adopted. By June 1994, the Marion building will be sold and about $5,000 of the proceeds will be used to move police to the Phoenix.
The remaining proceeds and other assets will be placed in a trust account, which will be used solely for the fire department. A board of trustees consisting of one council member, a citizen at-large and Fire Chief Patrick McGinley will be established. Any citizen interested in serving should contact the borough.
The trustees will review investments of money and purchase requests and will offer recommendations to council, which has the final authority.

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Thorpe To Sell Marion Hose Building
December 09, 1993|by TRACY JORDAN, The Morning Call

A restaurant, a bar, a museum, a playground, a novelty store or a banquet room.
If the highest bidder on the Marion Hose Company tonight has the same entrepreneurial ideas as folks in town, Jim Thorpe's firefighters might be customers the next time they pull into Carbon County's oldest fire station.
Jim Thorpe Council will open bids tonight on the Marion Hose Company building. Firefighters and borough officials decided to sell the property to consolidate the borough's fire department from four to three firehouses. The borough expects to save money on maintenance and utility bills under its plan.
"Whoever buys it, I hope they do something positive with it," council President Michael Sofranko said. "I'd hate to see the building torn down. I'd like to see the Mauch Chunk Opera House or Historical Society take it over."
People questioned about the potential uses of the Marion Hose Company had the same hope as Sofranko -- that the building be used to benefit the community.
Laura Thomas also would like to see a historical society buy the building for museum space. Thomas is second vice president of the soon-to-open Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, a nonprofit museum not far from the firehouse.
Borough secretary Louise McClafferty suggested a museum where small children would be encouraged to touch the exibits.
"Something for the kids," McClafferty said. "There's a lot of people moving into the area with young children who would enjoy it."
She said she's seen similar museums in other areas of the state and the hands-on approach seems to be popular.
Elaine Sturm, owner of Chatelaine Handcrafted Jewelry store, can envision the Marion being converted to a restaurant with a firefighting theme.
General alarm chicken fingers, firefighter french fries or a hook-and-ladder hoagie might be some of the menu items.
"It would be excellent for a restaurant," Sturm said. "We were in Saratoga and they have a little old firehouse that was converted to a restaurant, and it had so much charm."
Four neighborhood children, Joseph Church, 6, his 8-year-old brother Calvin, Jimmy Kutchera, 7, and Michael McGinley, 8, suggested it be turned into a playground or a park.
"Or like a big playhouse where we can slide down the pole and everything," McGinley said.
Midge Mulligan, owner of the gem shop, would have other plans.
"If I bought it, it would have to be kept for the town for parties, receptions, baptisms --for celebrations," she said.
"I think it should be a bar," said Renee McCarthy of Penn Forest Township.
"I would use it for some kind of a place for the people to go after shows at the Opera House," Vince Degiosio said. "A little ballroom maybe."
Degiosio lives at 13-1/2 West Broadway, across from the Marion.
The fire station adjoins the Mauch Chunk Opera House, which is owned by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society. It's on West Broadway and houses the police station and one engine. With the sale of the Marion, the borough will be left with the Fairview, Diligent and Phoenix hose companies. The police department will move two blocks up the street into the Phoenix. Fairview is on the east side of town and Diligent is in the Heights section.
Over the years, the Marion Hose Company has become less active. It's tap room on the second floor closed about 10 years ago and the membership has dwindled to a handful of volunteers.
But Police Chief Thomas Mase and the department were comfortable in the Marion. He and his men built the office they occupy.
"It's useful for what's in here now," Mase said. "I don't know what anyone would use it for otherwise."
Before the 150-year-old red brick building is sold, it will be stripped of police and fire equipment and any memorabilia.
Assistant Fire Chief William Diehm, who first proposed selling the Marion in 1991, said the company has the minute books from 1843 and other historical artifacts.
The centerpiece of a recent banquet feting former Fire Chief Bruce Shanfelt was a horn presented to the Marion in 1851.
"It was the horn people would blow to alert people there was a fire," firefighter Calvin Ulshafer Jr. said. "Basically it's used in parade and for formations or if there's a death in the department."
Tonight's winning bidder won't get any of the memorabilia, but Ulshafer said he hopes the firehouse is turned into a museum to honor firefighters.
The minimum bid council will accept on the hose company is its appraised value -- $90,000.
"The taxpayers deserve that we ask as least the appraised price," Sofranko said. "Otherwise, what was the sense of paying for an appraisal if you weren't going to listen?"

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Society's Bid For Marion Hose Tabled
December 10, 1993|by CHRISTINA M. PARKER, Special to The Morning Call

Jim Thorpe Council last night tabled action on the sole bid for the Marion Hose Company building. The bid, from the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, was for $90,001 --exactly one dollar more than the appraised value of the 150-year-old building.
Council had set the appraisal price as the minimum bidding amount.
A brief letter and a check for $9,000, a 10 percent bid bond, accompanied the bid. The letter was signed by Benjamin Walbert of the Historical Society.
The Mauch Chunk Opera House, owned by the Historical Society, is attached to the Marion building.
"It's kind of a natural expansion for us," Walbert said in a telephone interview after the meeting. "We've been talking for a number of years about attempting to acquire the building."
He said the building offers a lot of possibilities. "It could provide us with additional space for behind-the-stage type facilities, dressing rooms et cetera for theatrical productions; also maybe to display some of the artifacts we have," he said.
"Also, there's a lovely room on the second floor with a kitchen, which could be used for public society-related functions," he said.
Walbert said the bidding period was short -- only one month -- so the society did not have a lot of time to develop detailed plans.
Council President Michael J. Sofranko said earlier he hoped the Historical Society would bid on the building. Council will reconsider the bid at its Jan. 10 meeting.

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Jim Thorpe To Sell Marion Hose To Society
January 14, 1994|by TRACY JORDAN, The Morning Call

The police department gets to stay but the fire department will have to move out of the Marion Hose Company to make room for the Mauch Chunk Historical Society.
Jim Thorpe Council last night agreed to sell the 150-year-old hose house to the society for $90,001 -- one dollar more than the appraised value.
The society has agreed to negotiate a long-term lease with the borough so the police department can remain on the first floor.Council expects to close on the sale within 60 days. The society owns the Mauch Chunk Opera House, which is attached to the hose company. The society plans to expand the theater for dressing rooms or other behind-the-scenes activities.
It submitted the only bid for the building in December.
Council and fire officials agreed to sell the building to consolidate the department's four companies to three to save money on building maintenance and utilities.
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Marion Hose Gets Historical Grant
July 26, 1994|The Morning Call

A Jim Thorpe group has been awarded $12,000 in a Keystone Historic Preservation Grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
The Mauch Chunk Historical Society received the grant for the Marion Hose Company Building in Jim Thorpe

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Mauch Chunk Historical Group Marks 25th Year, Looks Ahead Society Plans A Museum And Archive In The Former Marion Hose Company, Next To Mauch Chunk Opera House.
January 29, 1996|by CHRISTINA M. PARKER (A free-lance story for The Morning Call).

The Mauch Chunk Historical Society celebrated its 25th anniversary Saturday by announcing the opening in May of a museum and archive in the former Marion Hose Company in Jim Thorpe.
"The millennium will bring a performing arts center, combined with a museum, archival space and historic research center. That will be our contribution to the generations that follow. The dreams of 25 years ago are progressing and being realized," said Historical Society President Kevin Chain.
The performing arts center will be in the Mauch Chunk Opera House, adjacent to the Marion Hose building, he said.
Construction of the museum, which will be on the first floor of the former Marion Hose Company at 16 W. Broadway, will begin in about two weeks, Chain said.
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To fund the work, the society raised $17,000 to match combined grants of $5,000 from state Rep. Keith McCall, D-122nd District, and $12,000 from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
About 60 people attended the 25th birthday bash.
The evening's highlights included a talk by Joseph Horoschak, one of the society's dozen founders.
Horoschak, one of the four surviving founders, spoke of the society's beginnings, tracing its growth from kitchen-table fund-raising meetings. Society member Bruce Conrad talked about joining 23 years ago. He reminisced about early members, including Secretary Lorraine Steigerwalt, who wrote "incredibly literate minutes."
Conrad said the society bought the Opera House about 1977. "We spent the first few years with a cranky coal furnace and a leaky roof," he said of the building where pocketbooks had been made. "I can remember nursing the furnace through the night, shoveling in coal every 20 minutes."
Conrad said the old factory was surrounded by a cyclone fence. "It looked like a concentration camp," he said.
One hot day, he was hard at work tearing down the fence with a hammer and chisel. He took a break, and looked up from his cold drink to see two members, "ladies in their 80s, one holding a chisel and the other slinging a sledgehammer -- they were spelling me (during) the break," he said.
Another highlight was the presentation of four Restoration and Preservation awards. One went to Carbon County President Judge John Lavelle for the 1993 restoration of Courtroom 1. It took months of 100 painstaking laborers to return the 100-year-old courtroom to its elegant beauty.
Other awards were given to the Jake Llewellyn family for their work on property at 95 W. Broadway; Darryl and Marianne Monteleone at 97 W. Broadway and the Althouse family at 99 W. Broadway.
In addition, Poinsettia awards "for service above and beyond the call of duty" were given to members Bea Chain, Sandy Reese, Maria Feliz and Barbara McLean.
A Theatre award went to Innisfree Productions, which produced the play, "Spirit of Molly Maguires."
Also, 1996 officers are Chain, president; John Herbster, 1st vice president; McLean, 2nd vice president; Jean Bingham, treasurer; and David Price, secretary.

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Thorpe Looks For New Offices * Borough Is Trying To Figure Out How To Finance $400,000 Job.
July 05, 1996|by TRACY JORDAN, The Morning Call

Jim Thorpe Council wants to alleviate crowded and poor working conditions for police officers and office staff, but it has to figure out how to finance the $400,000 project proposed by its building committee.
The borough rents space in the former Marion Hose Co. from the Mauch Chunk Historical Society for its police department, and its offices are in a small building in Memorial Park.
Councilman Ben Walbert, who chairs the building committee, has suggested a new Borough Hall with a meeting room and police station be built behind the office in the park.
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Council considered moving the police department to the Phoenix Hose Co., but there wasn't enough space. It also investigated renting other properties, but Walbert said it makes more sense to build.
The historical society raised the rent for the police department from $325 a month to $425 a month as of July 1.
"Over a 20-year period, if we stay at the Marion or move somewhere else, we might be paying $800 a month rent with inflation," Walbert said. "So over the life of renting the police station, we're probably going to lay out $600 a month on average. That $600 a month could be used toward paying off a mortgage."
Also, Borough Hall, which was once the house of the park's caretaker, always needs maintenance work and doesn't meet building codes, Walbert said.
"It's antiquated and, as the years go by, it's going to cost us more and more in terms of maintenance," Walbert said. "Our financing needs are not going to be that great, considering we already pay rent for the police department and we're going to continue to have to maintain the Borough Hall."
Council has to build the hall without raising taxes, since the borough already is at its limit.
Walbert said Councilman Bruce Shanfelt suggested council try to solicit local contractors to volunteer their services to reduce costs.
Walbert said a public meeting room should be included in the new building for council and zoning meetings, which are usually held in Memorial Hall.
"It's a lovely facility, but it's really unnecessary to have our meetings in a 10,000-square-foot room when we have a total of 30 people in the room," Walbert said. "And the room has to be heated up in the winter and in the summer we have to air-condition it."
Walbert has proposed a single 36,000-square-foot building for the borough's offices, police department and 50-seat meeting room with three heating zones for energy efficiency.
Although Walbert is an architect, he said it would be a conflict for him to bid on the project. However, he said he would advise council and oversee the project as chairman of the building committee.
He estimates it will cost $360,000 to construct the building, $15,000 to furnish it and $25,000 to pay the architect and engineer.
If council can obtain financing, Walbert said construction could begin within six months.

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JT Marion Hose Co. building considered as business site
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
By HEATHER BACSICK TN Correspondent tneditor@tnonline.com

The Jim Thorpe Planning Commission voted to recommend the use of the Marion Hose Company building on West Broadway as a personal business. The recommendation will be brought up to borough council for a final decision.
Andrew Roberts plans to purchase Marion Hose in hopes of housing his business, Purple Audio LLC. at the property located at 16 W. Broadway.
The building is currently owned by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society and is in the process of being sold.
Roberts plans to purchase the building if the Jim Thorpe Planning Commission and borough council approve the use for his business.
Currently the building houses an art gallery on the first floor and Roberts plans to use the second floor for his business.
On the second floor, Purple Audio would be doing light and mechanical assembly. Soldering will also be done. Roberts stated that the soldering would be free of lead, heavy metals, and chemicals.
Jerry Hoare, Bill Solomon, and Louis Hall, members of the planning commission, met with Roberts and visited his business at its current location in Weissport.
"We went to see his place in Weissport to see what kind of operation he has and try to answer some questions that might come up. We also went to see what he would be moving into Marion," stated Hoare.
"We saw the whole operation and setup. I see no problem. He has one person working for him. Parking will be no issue," said Solomon.
"I didn't see anything wrong with it. Noise is not an issue. There is only one issue and it's really not because it's typical of a business in the area. He (Roberts) anticipates deliveries of normal Fed Ex and UPS but every couple of months an 18-wheel tractor trailer will be needed," said Hoare.
The planning commission felt that the use of tractor trailers on Broadway is an issue that might need to be addressed in the future. The members did not feel that the tractor trailers needed for Purple Audio would have any bigger impact than the current tractor trailers used for other business. The board will talk with the police department about traffic suggestions on Broadway.
"I can talk to the police department about it to see if there are any suggestions. I don't see that being a holdup on our recommendation to council to approve this," stated planning commission member and borough council President, John McGuire.
The final decision about the use of the Marion Hose Company building for Purple Audio LLC will be decided at the next borough council meeting.

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Mauch Chunk Historical Society burns opera house mortgage
Thursday, July 21, 2011
By AL ZAGOFSKY TN Correspondent azagofsk@ptd.net

No, the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe wasn't on fire. The flames outside its West Broadway entrance were a celebration, as its 35-year-old mortgage was lit on fire, its ashes crumbled to the bottom of a brass spittoon, as society members applauded.
Mauch Chunk Historical Society President Steve Hlavka, and former president and current historian Jack Sterling, burned the mortgage at a ceremony in front of the opera house on Sunday, July 17 at 3 p.m.
The MCHS had two mortgages of approximately $50,000 each on two adjacent buildings the opera house and the Marion Hose Company.
"Within the last couple of months, we sold the Marion Hose Company building to Andrew Roberts, who has an audio business that will work very well with our concerts," Sterling said.
The proceeds of the sale were used to retire both mortgages, held since 1974 with the Jim Thorpe National Bank.
"It's a new start," Hlavka said. "It gets these mortgages off our back and gives us a chance to do what we were supposed to do, be a historical society. We have never really been a true historical society."
"We got sidetracked with community theater," noted Sterling. "Although, there's usually people with historical interests on the board."
Besides selling the Marion Hose Company and burning the mortgages for it and the opera house, the MCHS is negotiating a long-term lease on the opera house to the Jtams Production company.
"As the treasurer for a number of years, we recognized that the mortgage was a huge financial burden on the historical society," said Bob Shuler. "We tried to sell the Marion previously, and more recently, we leased it with the hopes of a sale. Now it's been sold. The historical society is out of debt."
The Addison Hutton-designed Mauch Chunk Opera House began life in 1881 as an open-air farmer's market on the first floor and on the evening of Feb. 4, 1882 inaugurated its second story concert hall.
The opera house became a stop on the Vaudeville Circuit, featuring performers like Al Jolson and John Philip Sousa.
From 1927 to 1959, the building was operated by the Comerford amusement chain, who during the next three decades ran it as the Capitol Theater movie house. In 1960, the building was purchased by the Berkeley Bags Company and used as a warehouse.
In 1974, the Mauch Chunk Opera House was taken over by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society.
"We took out the mortgage at that time," Sterling said.
After years of neglect, the MCHS undertook a major restoration project installing a new sound booth, updating and replacing the electrical system, lighting, seating, carpeting, roof, and most recently, an exterior paint job.
"We had the building for about 30 years but the board didn't know what to do with it for years until Jtams Productions Dan Hugos, Vince DeGiosio, and Christie McGorry DeGiosio came forward," Sterling said. "They had the idea of fixing it up and putting on concerts. Having greater use of the building helped get us back on our feet."
Today, the opera house is recognized as an excellent venue for live music entertainment and the performing arts. The Mauch Chunk Historical Opera House is operated by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, a volunteer nonprofit organization.

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Historic Maps of the Marion Hose Co.

1930 Sanborn Insurance Map

The building was purchased June 10, 2011. Interior demolition and construction began immediately. Pictures here.

Demolition was complete at the end of August, removing 90,000 lbs in eight 20 yard dumpsters.

The second floor will be used to house Purple Audio, a manufacturer of professional audio products.

The first floor will be used for a recording studio, utilizing the adjacent Mauch Chunk Opera House for recording live shows and

studio recording.