Lock Haven’s Hand-in-Hand Hose Company shutting down, consolidating uptown

LOCK HAVEN, PA – With little previous public announcement, the City of Lock Haven is moving ahead with plans to close the Hand-in-Hand Hose Company on N. Henderson Street, part of that company’s merger with the Hope-Hose Fire Company on E. Church Street. The consolidated operation will be named East Side Fire & Rescue, to be housed at the present Hope-Hose site.

In response to an inquiry from therecord-online, City Manager Greg Wilson said the Hand-in-Hand company has put its building, which the company owns, on the market. According to the city manager, funds from the sale will go into the “perpetuation” of the East Side company. A reference relating to the consolidation is on the agenda for Monday night’s City Council meeting. Council is to consider a needed ordinance change to account for two, rather than three, fire companies within the city. The Citizens Hose Company on Bellefonte Avenue is not affected by the consolidation.

Meanwhile the Hand-in-Hand property has been listed for sale, the asking price $874,900. The two-story building dates to 1894 and had seen construction of a one-story addition in recent years.

As for the impending end of the institution in Lock Haven’s First Ward, the company posted on its Facebook page, “We are in the process of a merger with the Hopes and we are moving up there so we are selling our building/property.”

In a related move on Monday’s council agenda, there is notification to Clinton County and the Keystone Central School District of the closure of the First Ward polling site inside the fire hall.