One hundred years ago, a group of brave, good-hearted men gathered in a Tamaqua alley and united behind a slogan of “grab it and run.”

In actuality, it was more than a slogan; the Grab It and Run was a piece of firefighting equipment, an early hosecart, and the phrase was their pledge to grab that cart and run fast to answer calls for help from families in the neighborhood.

That noble movement born on Hazle Alley sparked something special, something that lasted not just a week or two, but 100 years of continuous service: East End Fire Co. No. 4.

Meeting minutes and historical accounts describe how residents of the growing East End, with support from Dutch Hill, banded together to protect others.

For their initial meetings, members used Farber’s garage, just west of the corner of Columbia Street and Hazle Alley.

On July 21, 1916, they elected Andrew Krapf as their first president and Raymond Farber as fire chief. Early accounts credit Leonard Wetterau, a town jeweler, with heading up the membership campaign.

On Feb. 15, 1917, East End ordered its first motorized unit, an $1,100 Maxwell Chemical truck. It was a 1912 or 1913 secondhand vehicle. The small, off-white truck was called “the white mouse” and carried two hose reels and chemical equipment, which was in service until 1927.

In 1923, a purchase of land for the company’s first firehouse was made possible through funds raised by block parties, picnics, raffles and other activities.

The firehouse was a wood frame structure built at the corner of East Broad and Columbia streets, the site of today’s headquarters. Members pitched in to dig the basement. The first floor featured a small social room and the second housed an office, engine room and meeting room.

By 1927, East End bought an ultramodern American LaFrance pumper. The fire company’s growth continued and things were looking bright.

Then disaster struck.

Responding to a blaze on the bitter cold morning of Jan. 22, 1940, East End’s truck skidded on ice and flipped while approaching a sharp turn near the entrance to Quakake.

Driver Thomas M. Wills and Cornelius J. Boner were killed. Three others — Patrick J. Boner, William Clausius and Carl Pfeil — were seriously injured. The truck was demolished.

The tragedy sent shock waves through the community. The town was stunned. Yet, somehow, East End brigade members found courage to go on.

Some people are able to reach deep inside and find their greatest strength when chips are down. And that’s what happened at East End.

Despite tears and heartache, the men of the firehouse came roaring back. In fact, their determined comeback was nothing short of incredible.

Within six months, the volunteers replaced the lost truck with a 1,000-gallon-per-minute American LaFrance pumper costing $14,000. The highly equipped unit with a seven-man cab turned heads across the state when put in service in July 1940.

Three months later, the impressive pumper won first prize as best appearing apparatus in the Pennsylvania State Firemen’s Convention in Lewistown. The spectacular truck went on to capture first place 16 times.

In addition to full resumption of firefighting duties, the determined men of the reinvigorated firehouse won the 1940 Tamaqua Fireman’s Softball League and later captured titles in basketball and bowling.

By 1951, company membership ballooned to 250 and a ladies auxiliary of 40 members was formed. Two years later, a $35,000 annex was added to the firehouse, and in 1959 a marching unit was organized with 65 members all in new uniforms.

East End celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1966 with a banquet at Hometown Fire Co., at which time the company burned its mortgage and announced it was free of debt.

Two years later, on Nov. 5, 1968, the company purchased a $36,000 American LaFrance 1,000-gallon-per-minute pumper with diesel-powered engine and closed cab.

The following year, East End’s precision marchers grabbed the title of Finest Appearing Volunteer Firemen’s Marching Unit in the Six-County Fireman’s Convention Parade in Pottsville. The marchers climbed even higher, winning top county honors five years in a row and were declared best in the state after a 1973 parade in Reading.

Other awards, new trucks and newer equipment followed as the company resounded with success in protecting lives and property.

Perhaps no other local, small-town fire company has roared back from heartbreaking tragedy quite like the men and women of East End.

Today, East End Fire Co. stands as a vital, active symbol of community pride and selfless dedication to others, a reputation forged through 100 years of service, sacrifice and accomplishment.