H.O.P.S. Ambulance Assocation History

H.O.P.S. has a rich history in our community. Below is a timeline of some of our memorable history. Countless volunteers have put in thousands of hours at H.O.P.S. to provide exceptional care to our community. From the first call in 1976 to 2025, the crews at H.O.P.S. have responded to over 10,000 calls in our community! Neighbors helping neighbors!

June/July 1975

Raising Community Support

Raymond Allis, Donald Allis, James Crawford and another founding member began calling community members seeing if they would commit to supporting an ambulance in the community. The 4 men would spend Sunday afternoons at the CC Allis mill calling members in the community since CC Allis had several phone lines at the time.

September 11, 1975

Community Meeting

A public meeting was held at the Herrickville Fire Hall at 8:00pm to discuss the possibility of forming an Ambulance Association.

December 18, 1975

First Ambulance Purchased

A 1966 ambulance was purchased from Spitler, Inc in Montoursville, PA for $1,994.45. Pictured is John Taylor with the ambulance

December 21, 1975

First Business Meeting

First official business meeting was held and the H.O.P.S. Ambulance association was formed. First members attending were: John Taylor, Raymond Allis, Floyd Cobb, James Crawford, Donald Allis and Lillie Lutz.

January 8, 1976

First Officers Elected

President – Floyd Cobb
Vice President – Raymond Allis
Secretary – Lillie Lutz
Treasurer – Joyce Taylor
Captain of Drivers – John Taylor

Request for ambulance will be handled through the Towanda Civil Defense and dispatched through Plectron.

January 18, 1976

Training on new Ambulance

The first training was held to train members on the new H.O.P.S. Ambulance, which was purchased. Ambulance to be kept at Herrickville Fire Hall.

February 2, 1976

First Ambulance Call

H.O.P.S. Ambulance responded to their first call, a fire standby.

March 23, 1978

New Garage

Organization agreed to work with the fire company in Herrickville to build a new station and one thrid of the new station will be for H.O.P.S.

September 14, 1978

New Ambulance Purchased

Second ambulance, a 1974 Superior Cadillac Ambulance, was purchased from Spitler in Montoursville for $6,640.00 to replace the current ambulance in use. Pictured (Left to Right) are Bonnie Austin, Jake Cobb, Harry Williams, and David Austin.

1984

3rd Ambulance

A 1979 Ford Medical Ambulance was purchased for $22,300

November 26, 1990

4th Ambulance Arrives

The 4th ambulance in H.O.P.S. history arrives. A 1984 Ford Type 3 ambulance. Purchased from Spitler in Montoursville for approximately $20,000 with trade-in of the old ambulance.
Pictured from Left to Right are Don Allis, Treasurer, Jim Seipler, Vice President, Rich Hunsinger, and President Dan Puterbaugh. Photo credit Nancy Coleman.

1995

5th Ambulance Purchased

A 1991 Ford Ambulance was purchased. Photo from the 1996 Wyalusing Parade.

2001

6th Ambulance Purchased

A 1997 Ford ambulance was purchased for $45,000

November 2001

25th Anniversary Celebration

H.O.P.S. Holds 25th Anniversary Celebration with a banquet at the Herrickville Fire Hall.

June 2007

7th Ambulance Purcahased

First brand new ambulance ever purchased by H.O.P.S. Ambulance Association

August 27, 2009

New Station Ground Breaking

After 3 years of searching H.O.P.S. broke ground on a 1.5 acre lot in Herrickville for the new ambulance station. Land was purchased from Joy Williams.

April 10, 2010

New Station Open House

Community invited for an open house and receive a tour of the new station in Herrickville.

August 2013

4A2 Received from Windham

Windham Ambulance Association donated its ambulance to HOPS and became 4A2. The first time HOPS has had two ambulances in service. Also, for the first time, the designation 4 Ambulance 2 was used by HOPS. It was purchased on September 5, 2008, by Windham Ambulance for $125,000 and is a 2007 Chevy Kodak ambulance. Windham Ambulance closed on April 30, 2013, and the ambulance was donated shortly after. 4A2 was licensed and put into service in November 2013.

2016

9th Ambulance Purchased

The current 4A1 was purchased for $190,000 including our first Power Stretcher. 2nd new ambulance in HOPS history.

August 2025

EMS Support Trailer

Through grants 4 Support 1 was purchased and put into service. This trailer provides additional equipment on large scale emergencies and/or disasters.