The History of the Mahaffey Community Ambulance Service

In the late 1930s Tom McCracken started an ambulance service in Mahaffey. He used a seven passanger station wagon to transport the patients and a wicker basket was used as the litter (bed). Later Mr. McCracken purchased a herse which was used as the ambulance and also for his funeral service. After Mr. McCracken was unable to run these sevices, his son Tim took over. In 1972 the herse was destroyed in an accident and Tim decided to get out of the ambulance business.

On January 17, 1972, a town meeting was called to discuss the future of an ambulance service in Mahaffey. It was decided that Mahaffey definately needed an ambulance, being 17 miles from the nearest one. A group was elected to investigate costs and training. Since the ambulance service was to serve the entire area, not just the borough of Mahaffey, the group decided to name the service the Mahaffey Community Ambulance Service. It is still called that today.

In February, Norman Pfund of Lower Burrell attended the meeting to discuss the costs of ambulances and equipment. A new ambulance costed between $14,000 and $15,000 and a used on could be purchased for $6,000. Also Tim McCracken donated his equipment from the first service. It was decided to sell memberships for $15 per year for a family and $10 for an individual. The memberships entitled the person to 4 trips to one of the 4 area hospitals.

On March 6th the comittee decided to buy a 1970 Pontiac from Pfund sales at the cost of $6,000. Also at this meeting the first board of Directors was elected. It consisted of 5 voting members and a non-voting president. The officers are listed in the following table:

On March 7th Mr. Pfund received $4,000 down and the board agreed to pay him the remainder as they could.

On March 16th the service transported their first patient, Ruby Pennington, to the Clearfield Hospital making them an official ambulance service.

They were busy getting training in medical areas such as C.P.R. all through the summer. In November it was announced that Clearfield County had run its first class for ambulance attendants. It was an 81 hour course certifying the class members as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). Mahaffey had six people in that class. Those 6 were Jane Elling, Peg Lee, Irvin McGarvey, Clair Stiffler, Bonnie Hoover, and Bob Bishop (who is still active with Mahaffey Ambulance.)

On February 13, 1975 the ambulance service was able to purchase their first new ambulance. It was a 1975 Chevrolet can style. It was purchased from Pfund sales for $11,711 cash. By this time the ambulance had made enough runs (trips) to be financially independant. On September 30, 1977 the 1975 ambulance was traded in for a 1977 modular style.

In January 1980 the service was awarded Voluntary Ambulance Service Certification (V.A.S.C) Award from the State of Pennsylvania. This certified that they had a well equipped ambulance staffed with trained personnel.

In 1984 they purchased another new ambulance. This time it was a Ford Braun that was bought for $55,000.

To write the history of this ambulance service and to not mention Vivian (Bonnie) Hoover would be impossible. Bonnie was very instrumental in the organization of the service and served as president for 14 years. She also served as an E.M.T. and was the primary dispatcher from the beginning until her illness hositalized her shortly before her death at the age of 70.

In 1986 Bonnie Hoover became ill and died. Her death saddened many, for she was the fire that sparked the Mahaffey Community Ambulance Service from its birth until her death. When she became ill it became apparent that a new dispatch system was in need. Up until this time the Service had been independant from the county dispatch center, and Bonnie was the primary dispatcher for the ambulance service. On April 1, 1987 they recieved a new telephone number and became a part of the Clearfield County Communications System.

In 1990, a new ambulance was purchased, this one was a 1990 Ford Medtec, also bought from Pfund Superior Sales. This rig is still in use today as the second ambulance for the station (29-52).

Later, in July of 1995 Clearfield County switched to 9-1-1 as apposed to the the 7-digit number (236-0111) which it had used for several years in the past. They also installed a second number for non-emergency calls (1-800-689-3535).

In May of 1996 a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the beginnings of a new two-bay building to be built across Route 36 from Raineys General Store and B&B Service. The building was ready to be moved into in December of that year. Up until that year, they used a one-bay building next to the fire hall. With the new building came the ability to have two rigs. So on September 16, 1998, another new ambulance was purchased, this one is a 1998 Ford Life Line. This one was also bought from Pfund Superior Sales for an excess of $85,000. The picture below is one of the new ambulance (29-51) with some of the crew members.

The operating costs have continued to climb but so have memberships and the number of ambulance trips per year but the community has continued to support for the service and in turn the service has continued to provide the community with trained personnel and up-to-date equipment.

The New Ambulance building includes a meeting room, kitchen area, and a washer and dryer.

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