| By all accounts it was a cold night back on February 20, 1950, when a fire ripped thought the Ellis School. 10 degrees to be exact. The fire at the auditorium was discovered by a motorman on a Red Arrow Trolley at 2:45 AM. Another passing motorist pulled into the school and started to honk his horn to wake the sleeping students.
No reports of any student being injured; however, several freighters were overcome by the smoke. Fireman Rancel Dickinson, 38, of Broomall Fire Company was burned on the face. Harry Laymen, 38, also of Broomall and Kames Frier, 23, of Paoli Fire Company where both treated with oxygen at the scene.
Firemen from Newtown Square, Broomall, Manoa, Swarthmore, Malvern, Springfield, Berwyn, Paoli and Bryn Mawr assisted in the battling the blaze. The loss of the fire was estimated to be $500,000 (6.5 million in today’s money)
The Moyamensing Junior Fire Company Chester and the Second Alarmers from Philadelphia were called to the scene to provide coffee and food to the frigid firemen.
Embers and sparks from the fire were blowing in the direction of the E. W. Powell Lumber Yard. A fire Truck was placed on standby at the Lumber Yard, and they found the need to wet down the building as a safety measure.
The building was destroyed by the flames but would be rebuilt. It is now the Ballroom at Ellis Preserve, which is now located a few hundred feet from the new, Newtown Square Fire Company.
The Newtown Square Fire Company has been an important member of this community for the last 108 years thanks to many community members who donated both time as a volunteer and with financial support. |
