Embattled fire company’s Horror Hall will go on as planned

Oct. 2--PLYMOUTH TWP. -- Horror Hall, the popular haunted house run by Plymouth Township Fire and Rescue, has a new marketing slogan this year: #SaveTilbury169.

The hashtag is a reference to the department's Tilbury Station on East Poplar Street in West Nanticoke, which abuts the haunted house located in the former Harter High School.

Despite the fact the fire department was decertified by township officials and banned from answering calls in its own town, members of the fire company say there was no way they would discontinue Horror Hall.

Horror Hall will open for business every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through Halloween, township fire Chief Barry Lore said.

"People are thrilled we are open," Lore said.

There really was no choice, he said.

The haunted house attracts thousands of people from all over the state every season and is responsible for 80 percent of the fire company's revenue, the chief said.

"The reality is this is what sustains the fire company. It really does. This is our primary fundraiser," Lore said. "It's more than just fighting fires in a volunteer fire company. We have to raise funds."

The township's three supervisors in August voted to decertify the department, citing its large debt and response times. They then announced emergency crews from bordering towns -- Nanticoke City, Plymouth, Larksville and Lake Silkworth -- would now answer calls in Plymouth Twp.

Lore said many people in the area misunderstood the ramifications of the supervisors' actions and thought the fire department was abolished.

"We are still a chartered and licensed fire company in the state of Pennsylvania, but we can't fight fires in our town," Lore said. "Realistically we can still fight fires in others places when needed."

The department is considering buying its own workman's compensation insurance since that township-paid bill was stopped when the fire company was decertified. That would allow them to work in other towns when requested, the chief said.

Lore said the department, though not currently active, still needs to raise money through Horror Hall to pay back loans used for building upgrades and apparatus purchases.

The department is current on all its bills, he said. He noted the department did ask supervisors for $35,000 a year in assistance prior to the decertification. Lore predicts the township will pay more than that to the four neighboring towns.

Lore said the department needs to make sure it holds on to all its vehicles and equipment in case things change and the department is resurrected.

"We need to be able to provide protection if something changes in this town," Lore said.

Lore and fellow firefighter Merritt Nash have launched write-in campaigns for November's election against two incumbent supervisors. They vow to bring back the fire department if elected.

Judging by the opening weekend of Horror Hall this past Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it appears people are rallying behind the fire company, Lore said.

"People want their hometown fire company," Lore said. "Our numbers this year so far are better than last year."

Contact the writer:

[email protected]

570-821-2055, cvbobkal

IF YOU GO:

Horror Hall is open every weekend in October until Halloween. Hours are 6 p.m. until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays; 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sundays. Cost is $15.

Horror Hall is located in the former Harter High School at 11-19 E. Poplar St., West Nanticoke.

___

(c)2019 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.)

Visit The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at citizensvoice.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.