McKinley Heights Memories Part 5

McKinley Heights Memories–Part 1. McKinley Heights Memories–Part 2. McKinley Heights Memories–Part 3. McKinley Heights Memories–Part 4.	McKinley Heights Memories Part 5. 1984 Times Special Edition–By Mary Jane Steffey North of Tibbetts-Wick road was another family farm first settled by Phileari Bianco about 1875. The Bianco family did extensive farming. Two of Phileari’s children, Frank and Carl, stayed on the farm. Frank stayed on in the family homestead and fathered 14 children while Carl moved closer to the corners and fathered 18 children. Both brothers were farmers and hucksters. Both homesteads are still standing in the area known as “Biancoland”. A small part next to Carl’s home was sold to MMBA(McKinley Heights Mutual Benefit Association) to erect its building to house fire equipment. There are streets plotted out in the section named for some of the Bianco children. Many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren are living descendents of the same original settler, attesting to the sturdiness of the Bianco clan. After 1900 there were eight homes built on the farm, and most of the families who originally bought these eight homes are still living there. It is a peaceful section of a prolific business district.

McKinley Fire Department History. Niles Daily Times April 20, 1973. In 1951 25 members of the McKinley Heights Mutual Benefit Association created community interest in the establishment of a McKinley Heights fire station. Fifteen men organized a Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the women formed a Ladies Fire Auxiliary. Together, they earned money by sponsoring soliciting campaigns, homecomings, raffles, card parties, and spaghetti and pancake suppers. They were able to purchase their first fire truck from Monutville, Ohio in 1951 and housed it in the former Sunoco gas station on the corners of Routes 169 and 422. In 1953, the first portion of the fire station was constructed, located at 21 Gardenland Avenue; it was 60x90 with room for four fire trucks. By this time, the company had signed a contract with Weathersfield Township which supplied the fire department with tax funds. More equipment was purchased and in 1971 and 1972 the sixth and seventh bays were completed plus a social room. Today, with the original portion and additions, their address is 2229 Gardenland Avenue. Housed at the station are a total of seven fire trucks, three pumpers, one emergency vehicles equipped with 273 pieces of equipment and a boat used for drowning instances. Chief Wolfe said, because of community interest, the fire company grew in manpower from 15 to 24 men. The volunteers did not receive payment for their work until January 1973. Chief Wolfe noted that someone is always on hand at the station, although all of his men have full-time jobs. Expansion was due to former chiefs: Carl Bianco, Michael Rappach, Al Treharn and present chief, Harry O. Wolfe. New chiefs are promoted through company ranks and the chief appoints new officers. Chief Wolfe’s assistant chief is Harlan Collier; his two captains are Al Treharn and Benny Treharn; and his three lieutenants are Herman Wilkerson, Joe Kijowski and Jimmy Holmes. The men are required to go to school once every three years, the school is approved by the Niles School Board; training is held at the fire station by a county teacher. Studied are first aid, arson investigation, operation of equipment, ventilation of buildings, putting out fires, and working with ladders. Twenty-seven courses are completed and the men are tested and graded by the Ohio State University. This summer, they will attend Officers School at the University of Pennsylvania, Erie Pa. The company is a member of the Trumbull County Firemen’s Association and the Ohio State Firemen’s Association. Chief Wolfe belongs to the Ohio State Firemen’s Association. Chief Wolfe also stated that the best fire prevention for this time of year is not to burn anything outdoors but to have your debris hauled away.


The 1994 M.M.B.A. Volunteer fire department poses in front of house they were called to extinguish the flames.	Niles Daily Times October 31, 1952. The McKinley Heights Fire Department answered their first call Monday night when called on by the Howland fire department to extinguish a field fire at Eckerts Corners. Niles Daily Times June 6, 1953. The M.M.B.A. Volunteer fire department along with Niles, Warren, Girard and Youngstown departments was called at 1:20 am to assist the Niles fire department which was summoned at 12:10 am to extinguish the huge fire resulting from an explosion at the Youngstown Steel Car plant in Niles. McKinley Heights fire department arrived on the fire scene with the following fifteen men shortly after being notified: Earl Ryder, John Bianco, Harry Wolfe, Theodore Ivanchak, Rocco Simini, Carl W. and Robert E. Bianco, Joe Helenberger, George Bianco, Mike Rappach, Wesley Wood, Frank Birskovich, and Chief Evan Treharn. The McKinley Heights fire department also responds to calls in Weathersfield Township. Pictured is the M.M.B.A. equipment crossing the railroad tracks on Belmont Avenue near the old Ohio Edison site.

An early business man and humanitarian who has not been forgotten although he passed away nine years ago, was Andy Ochman. He first fitted out a small trailer as a travelling grocery store, selling groceries house to house in McDonald. When the weather got too bad to climb the hill into McDonald, he rented a corner from Mr. Tibbetts and opened a hamburger stand. After being successful for 2 years, he bought an additional trailer, joined the two trailers together, and using one side as a counter, opened the first curb service, Handy Andy's, in the State of Ohio. After returning from serving his country in World War II, Mr. Ochman bought the corner and built a restaurant which he operated until his death. He donated the land on which the first building of Fairhaven School was built. To read more about the Andy Ochman story, follow this link: https://www.nileshistoricalsociety.org/HandyAndy.htm

Photograph of the former stagecoach house located on Route 422 in McKinley Heights. PO1.1495 For additional information about the Niles Stagecoach House follow this link: https://www.nileshistoricalsociety.org/StageCoachHouse.htm	The most outstanding development of McKinley Heights is the Benefit Association, MMBA, which originated in 1950 from a group of concerned and dedicated men who were a social club meeting in homes and public gathering places. Ted Baker, who died many years ago, was the first president. The safety of the community was the prime motivation, so the club asked for donations from the public and support of fund raising projects to buy a fire truck. After buying the truck, they needed a building to house it. Ground was bought from Carl Bianco, and in 1953, the ground was broken for a two-door fire station. The name McKinley Heights Voluteer Fire Department was added. As the club and community continued to grow, the department continued to expand until today it is one of the largest and best equipped Fire Departments in the State of Ohio per capita. It has ten pieces of the latest equipment, including two ambulances. The station is manned twenty-four hours a day to give efficient and instant help when any emergency arises. A flag that has flown over the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. can be seen waving gloriously twenty-four hours a day. The Ladies Auxiliary was chartered in 1952 to lend assistance to the men. Many club projects, Home Comings, and Social Games help to maintain and expand the club. It also has a very attractive social hall for gatherings and to rent out to the public for weddings, showers, graduations, etc. In 1960, the MMBA bought 15 acres of woods behind the present Fairway Discount Store, and developed it as a family park for the community. The men built two enclosed pavilions, picnic tables, and playground equipment. A new innovation lately has been the recruitment of young men in the neighborhood for an organization of Junior Firemen. This group is helpful in maintenance of the buildings and trucks, and to lend a hand whenever needed. These young men, though not allowed to take over the duties of the trained firemen, are being oriented to the know-how so they can perpetuate the services in the future. The firemen are currently taking advanced training in fire equipment usage. In addition, they are taking an extensive course for Emergency Medical Technicians Trainig with Norma Mrus, R.N. as Director. They receive additional training from visiting doctors. This training is provided by the State Board of Education under the title of Trade, Industrial, and Vocational Services.