To the Editor:

On Dec. 30, 2016, a piece of me was taken away; the Macungie Fire Company closed its doors forever. It saddens me because I grew up there, had my first real kiss from my first real girlfriend. But the dedication people had was unbelievable.

The kitchen was run by Manager Joan Wink, Betty Muth, my grandmother Linnie Helfrich and later Elaine Schmoyer. These women worked hard picking chicken pieces to make the popular chicken pies, shelling and cleaning clams for clam potpie, peeling potatoes for the weekly filling and making homemade hot bacon dressing.

On Saturdays from open till close, the dining room was packed, people waiting in line and then walking in and grabbing a table before it was cleaned off. Sundays after church till 2 p.m. it was busy, then a break till 4 p.m. and people filled tables again.

The waitresses were Dorothea Gilbert - 50 years service and Janet Bush - 30 plus years and many others such as Diane Radcliffe and sister Brenda Deysher.

The bar was run by Bernard Bauer who was well liked by patrons and kids loved him. Unfortunately one night I was 10 or 11, we stopped in to eat and he complained to my parents he didn’t feel well. That was the last time we saw him; he passed away that night.

Sal “Doc” Panto took over a tough task to replace Bernard. The Macungie faithful had its ways but he eventually won them over. He worked 20 years before retiring. After that many had taken the job.

The bar had a cast of “Cheer’s” like characters - the stools they sat in, certain amount of head on beer, etc. They were Terry Miller, Tom Fizer, Louie Hunsicker, Earl Stauffer, Willie Deysher and George Berosh. We looked forward to their business.

The fire company would hold a clam night from winter to spring. My dad, Bob Gilbert would steam the clams; it was always busy. They also held a mackeral, ham, eggs breakfast and I worked with my best friend Tony Berosh.

We kept things fun.

The auxiliary held bingo and a hoagie sale. They weren’t fancy but they were good.

The bar had a dart league, 24 shooters, shuffleboard league which was popular.

I started as a bus boy, worked through the kitchen to bartender and enjoyed it all. My grandmother, mom, dad and sister worked there as well and I believe myself and mom took it hardest.

We spent years and many hours there. It’s hard to believe that busy dining room was now empty.

The Macungie Fire Company is gone now except for all the fond memories.

Troy Gilbert

Macungie