The Chatham Rescue Squad, Inc. was first formed in the late 1920's to early
1930's (research found two newspaper articles, one claiming 1927 the other stating 1931), by the members of the Chatham Fire
Department. Old timer's in and around the squad have told people that the first ambulance was actually a hearse, generously
loaned by a local undertaker to serve this double duty to people not needing its usual services.
The first actual ambulance was a 1931 Model A, donated by Otis Meyers, a local Ford Dealer. Mr. Meyers
was serving as Mayor of the Village of Chatham at the time. The Model A was nicknamed "The Little Red Wagon". According to
1931 records, Chatham Rescue Squad responded to 25 ambulance calls during that year.
By 1939, the squad was in need of a new ambulance and the first official squad Fund Drive was organized
to purchase it. This annual Fund Drive continues today, to help defray ever-increasing costs of providing coverage.
In 1961 the squad purchased an old Railway express panel truck for $50.00. The truck was to be set
up and used as a coffee wagon. Meeting minutes revealed that this was used for many years at various area functions, and was
a primary fund-raiser for the squad.
In June of 1968 the squad became incorporated as a Not-For-Profit organization. This move followed
talks throughtout that decade as to the necessity of making this move.
In the January 1969 meeting minutes there is a note stating "use of helicopter for ambulance services
starting this weekend to see if it is a feesible service". At the time there was much discussion on how this would work and
the pro's and con's of the service. Quite a few years passed before the worth of this service was proven.
By the 1970's it was becoming more difficult for the volunteer firemen to make their time available
to cover the increasing load of ambulance calls, and the training needed for doing it. Minutes of the January 1975 meeting
report the first non-firemen being voted into membership in Chatham Rescue Squad Inc. Barbara Peduzzi, who continues to be
an active member today, was the first woman to be voted into the squad.
By 1979, members were discussing the feasibility of moving to seperate quarters from the Fire Department
to allow both organizations more room to grow towards their seperate services to the community. Near the end of 1985, the
minutes report a motion to purchase an old seven bay garage on Moore Avenue in the Village of Chatham. That motion carried
and in early 1986 the renovation plans for our current building were underway. Members and volunteers from the community did
much of the renovation work and Chatham Rescue Squad, Inc. officially moved to the Moore Avenue location and celebrated with
an open house in October 1986.
Today the squad is still located in that same building on Moore Avenue. To supplement the volunteers
who still put in many hours handling calls and administrative duties, our service includes a staff Paramedic and EMT 24 hours
per day, 7 days per week. The combination of career staff and volunteers assure prompt quality care to all the people in our
ambulance district.
