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A Hog Is Born
(The
Story of a Mascot)
It started in the late 1960’s with a training
program prize, and has developed into a “pig for every occasion”.
This is how a single remark has led to a forty year tradition for
the Rescue Hose Company, No. 1.
In about 1968, an invitation to a Powhatan Brass
nozzle seminar in Ransom, of RHC members. The manufacturer promised a
Turbo Flow Automatic Super Fog nozzle to the agency that sent the
most personnel to the two-day training. On Day 1, Rescue Hose
Company set the bar with two dozen attendees. An attempt to
outnumber the Greencastle Volunteers on day two- mounted by the
crew from
The equipment stayed in the fire station unused, as none of the apparatus had pre-connected lines larger than a one inch reel mounted booster line- too small for the
nozzle. Late one evening, a plan to add hand line piping to the
1956 International pumper was hatched. Although meeting resistance
from other members, work went on late into the night to complete
the task- finishing the load off with the Powhatan Super Fog
nozzle.
As happens, the crew soon had a chance to demonstrate the effectiveness of their modification during a fire at Sellers Stables on out the blaze with a single pass. This caused Chief John T. Conrad to remark “WOW- you guys were rooting around like a bunch of fog hogs in there”.. and the name stuck.
A farm set provided the first pigs. A group of firefighters divided up the animals and carried them in their turnout gear. What started as a trinket from a toy became a highly sought after item. There was even talk of a “Little Oink” campaign- something that would allow a newer
member to train and work toward becoming a full-fledged Hog.
The first apparatus with the larger factory plumbed pre-connects was a 1970 International, and it quickly started being called “The Hog”. A late night addition to its front axle informed everyone of that fact. Having a core group of responders, the close knit group became even tighter. Their goal-
apparatus responding on any call within three minutes, including
the seventeen seconds for the apparatus bay door to make its way
to the top of the track.
The Next Step Other stations had “zap stickers”- a mascot or logo that was placed on apparatus from another department if they arrived second due to an incident in their area. Development of a Hog sticker for that purpose began and by the mid/late 1970’s, the RHC Hog was born. Through the artistic talent of
Michael Minotti, from Fog Hog to Boss Hog- there is now a pig logo
for almost every Rescue Hose Company service. You’ll see them on
helmets, apparatus, cars and t-shirts. Engine, Rescue, Water
Supply, Emergency Medical Services, Bingo,
Here, apparatus is still lovingly called Hogs and Pigs- the latest being a 2010 Pierce heavy-duty Rescue Squad, nicknamed “The Big Pig”.
So when you hear someone use the term Hog, don’t assume it’s a bad thing. A forty-plus year tradition continues in
a south central
Original Hogs: Roger Bitner Gary Hawbaker Dick Mellott Don Sheffler “Little Oink” Mike Mowen
carrying the piggie pride forward on Squad 3....
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