Palmerton
Above 2005 Picture a few of the Life Time Members/Officers of the 2005. Picture left to right Nancy Gruber, Clayton Borger, Jr (Captain), Ernest Guldner (President), Jean Solarczyk (Vice President), Richard Andreas, kneeling: Richard A Rauch, Sr.-Chairman of Board.
-History-
Palmerton Community Ambulance Assn., Inc. is a non-profit volunteer-based organization that has provided quality care since it was founded in December 1945. Palmerton Ambulance sits at the corner of Delaware Avenue & 5th Street the former Sander's car dealership. Building was renovated with new bays and orginial building completely renovated for $500,000.00 financed through Citizens Bank in 1997-98. But orginially was based in the Palmerton Fire Company. The First December 1945 Officers were:
President Frease Ravert
VP Charles George, Jr
Secretary Herb Kudlick
Treasurer Albert C Smale
First Aid Instructor Malcolm (Chum) Meagher
In 1947 a brand new cadilliac was purchased for $6285.00
Some of the First Drivers: Walter Kacicek, Peter Buhay, Scott Snyder, George Samok, Symanovich Brothers, Nick Lucia, Jerry Fortin, Clarence (Reds) Serfass, Jimmy Vorosmarti, Marvin Wagner, John Almasi, Franklin Andreas, Sr.
The 1962 Officers:
President Jerry Fortin
VP Julius Fabian
Secretary Herb Kudlick
Treasurer Franklin Andreas Sr
Florence Andreas did all the washing of ambulance's linens
The late Ronald Andreas's mother was emergency dispatcher from her house where she had to contact people to get ambulance out. Other drivers: Oliver (Jeff) Andreas, Nick & Steve Milkowich, Luther Hoffman, Blaise Scheibenz, Freddie & Arthur Miller, James & Steve Hansut, John Sulick, Steve Gearhart, Paul Shimko, Bill Swanger, Nate Serfass, Norm Ahner, Frank Gulla, Henry Kravetz, Alex Zelinsky, Joe Federanich, Mike Samok, Julius Fabian and son Ronald. Helpers: Norm Bonser, Jan Anewalt, Donald G Andreas, Sr. Back in those days you had to be 25yrs old to drive Fire Truck and 21 to drive the ambulance.Others involved as years went by: Kermit Serfass, Sr; Franklin Andreas, Jr; Nevin Andreas, Carl Andreas, Miles Andreas, Richard Andreas and much later Richard's Grandson TJ Eschbach (President), Jr.; James Bonser. A lot of the later upcoming came from Boy Scouts & Midget Baseball league: George Samok along with Donald Andreas, Sr started the Sparky Firemen that were introduced to the ambulance side: David Lucia, Joe Kerscmar, Dennis Behler, Gary & Kermit Serfass, Jr, Keith & Ronald Cebrosky. The above information was submitted in 1998 by the late Ronald Andreas & Donald G. Serfass, Sr who was so committed to the ambulance and continue to take classes to finally get on board.
In addition to above names PCAA would like to acknowledge the following Life Time Members:
Barry Scherer, Nancy Gruber (secretary), Larry Wolford (President), Ernest Guldner (President), Rev William Mitchell-deceased, Curtis Ashner, Jean Solarczyk (President), Clayton Borger Jr. (V.P, Captain) , Richard A Rauch, Sr. (Chairman, secretary & VP), Lora Naratil (Financial Secretary), Roger Naratil-(President)-deceased, Dorothy (President) & Steve Polakovics-both deceased.
There has been a lot of changes since 1945 especially in better pre-hospital care, better ambulances, up to date equipment, more demands on training, more legal procedures, price increase but the same message is always given :
PCAA CARES FOR OUR COMMUNITY OUR PATIENT
Today's Qualified personnel consists of mixture of volunteers & career paid Emergency Medical Technicians, Certified Emergency Vehicle Operators Course Drivers, First Responders and Van drivers. PCAA has an all-volunteer Board of Directors. There are 4 ambulances and 5 wheelchair/stretcher vans. Presently PCAA is the only non-profit EMS service in Carbon County that provides a wheelchair & ambulette service to residents including Skilled nursing facilities in and out of Carbon County. PCAA covers the following communities: Palmerton & Bowmanstown Boroughs; Lower Towamensing Township and parts of Towamensing, East Penn, Kunkletown & Kresgeville Townships. All of PCAA ambulances are equipped with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Also is epi-pens that are used in the emergency of difficulty in breathing from an allergic reaction from something most commonly bee stings. Staff & equipment have the ability to handle any given emergency situation. Our present vehicles consists of the orginial 1997 Ford Wheelchair Van; a 2007 & 2008 Ford Wheelchair Van: all three are capable of wheelchairs and stretcher depending on your needs. A 1998 [(762) above picture] PL Custom Ford ambulance purchased from Weatherly Ambulance for $20,000.00. A 2001 (763) PL Custom Ford Ambulance purchased from Lake Harmony Ambulance for $50,000.00. A 1998 (764) Ford Van Ambulance purchased from Northern Valley ambulance for $10,000.00. PCAA has acquired 2 additional wheelchair vans and another used EMS ambulance. The webmaster has not been provided with their specifics at this time.
The present PCAA Board of Directors want to say thanks to all the founders, their families for everything they have done by putting this organization in the community; and we will strive to maintain it. There are many other names that have been involved in Palmerton Ambulance-If you want to add your name and years you were involved (or your family member) was please sent in guestbook.
