The Harrisburg Fire

Huldah Witteman Rader liked to tell a story that occurred in 1911 about her father, Henry Witteman. He owned the first auto in Grove City. There was a big fire in Harrisburg and Henry was asked to tie the Grove City fire wagon to his vehicle and haul it to Harrisburg. The firewagon was built to be pulled by “man-power”. It was mainly a hand pump unit with hose intended for small fires. The wagon swayed back and forth behind the car and arrived too late to assist in fighting the fire.