Saturday Evening Post

"Answering the Alarm"
Saturday Evening Post - 14 May 1949

Saturday Evening Post coverOn the 14th of May 1949 approximately 4.5 million copies of the Saturday Evening Post appeared throughout America with the colored pictorial front cover honoring the typical American volunteer fire organization responding to a fire alarm.

The cover painting was made by Mr. Stephen Dohanos. He was a staff cover artist for the Saturday Evening Post who created several covers for the Post over the years.

The scene portrayed the Center Square intersection at Skippack Pike and DeKalb Pike (Routes 73 & 202) with the Centre Square Fire Company and its members going into action. Fire trucks are pulling out of the fire station on the corner (prior to 1954 the fire station was located at the southeast corner of this intersection) and firemen are running to the station and to the trucks. In front of the station can be seen the fire alarm gong. This gong, used for sending out the alarm for firemen, is located in front of our main station at 1298 Skippack Pike. In addition to the fire trucks and firemen responding, in the background is Reed's Department Store which is still standing today.

The fireman dashing across the front cover in coat-covered striped pajamas was the company secretary, John A Henryson, Jr., preceded by Phil G. Boyd, 3rd, the company treasurer. Other officers and members of the company were : Louis F. Rossiter, Whitpain Township Police, directing traffic; Charles F. Kershner, driver of Truck No. 1; Kenneth Berkheimer seated next to him; George J. Methlie, Sr., on the far side of the truck; on the back of the truck is Elmer Cole's body with George H. Geere's head superimposed upon it by the artist. On the right hand side of the truck is Charles F. Murphy. William Reed, Sr. is shown rushing from his department store still wearing his apron. The lady peering from Reed's Department Store window with one of her sons is Mrs. John A. Henryson, Jr.