The back of the Fame is a replication of the Fame fire house on East Market Street in the later 1800's. Pictured here is Fame's 1884 Silsby Hose Carriage.



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A Peek At Fame Through Local Art

By: Clare Lilley

(Taken from the Daily Local News February 22nd, 1985)

Charles Malin and John Higgins of West Chester's Fame Fire Co. were rummaging through a storage closet at the East Rosedale Avenue firehouse one day when they came across a number of interesting artifacts.

Deciding that their findings should be dusted off and displayed, they approached other fire company members. The upshot of their suggestion? They were appointed to a new committee

Two paintings intrigued them the most:

One: a 4 by 6 oil on canvas of the American Flag with eagle which had hung in the old firehouse on E. Market Street and had been displayed on various occasions. The painting is signed by L.D. Schroth and dated 1899.

Two: an oil 36 inches by 44 inches of a little girl with long blonde hair being rescued by a fireman. This one, dated 1914 is also signed by Schroth.

THE FASCINATING thing about this work is that it was painted on the back of a fire company logo which stated "With willing hearts, we hasten to assist." Part of the frame covers the logo.

Malin, Higgins, and their consultants figure fireman and child was painted on the back of an old banner.

Malin discovered the artists full name was Lorenzo D. Schroth; he came to West Chester  in 1893, was a fire company member, and died at age 83 in 1951. At one time it was thought that West Chester artist George Cope had assisted Schroth, but this was refuted around the turn of the century in a Daily Local News article. Schroth, in addition, was known to have a hobby of painting.

Neither painting is in perfect shape. The smaller one (of the fireman) needs restoration; the larger one (of the eagle) shows signs of age and has a damaged gilt frame.

Malin called restoration people, was told to bring the paintings in for an estimate, but figured it would be too time consuming and expensive to crate the large painting. He kept calling.

HE GOT LUCKY. Two men in partnership as "Renaissance Restorations," Paul S. Gratz and Michael Leach of Fairview Village, volunteered to come and take a look. They liked what they saw so much, the volunteered to do they necessary work.

They are taking the fireman painting with them to restore so that both sides can be displayed. The large one, the eagle, will be fixed on the premises. "We will make a latex mold of the pre-existing area (of the broken frame) and reproduce it in plastic," said Gratz. "It's too expensive to move this painting."

In the meantime, Mailn, and Higgins examine wall space in the firehouse for hanging the paintings, and about 70 old photographs.

"We also have fire hats and uniforms which we think should be displayed." Malin said. "We think of these things as having historical significance, as well as our West Chester heritage. We're also wondering where we can display the old fire bell."

One thing that has fired their imaginations is that in three years the fire company celebrates it's 150th anniversary. Tomorrow, the company holds it's annual anniversary celebration.

When the question of restoration expense comes up, Malin says that right now it isn't much. The restorers intend to do the one painting for nothing, and charge for the material costs involved in restoring the gilt gold frame of the large painting.

"If we need money, I think the members will go for it," said Malin. In the meantime, Malin, documentation coordinater at Lenape Forge, and Higgins, an equipment operator for Samuel Rice & Sons are looking for information about the artist. When the time comes, the bell, hats, pictures, and uniforms will be displayed, because they are determined to get them all out of the closet.   

(The eagle painting currently hangs in the meeting room at the West Chester Borough hall, and the fireman painting hangs in our Hall of Fame museum.)




Other interesting Links Regarding Fame’s History:

To read an interesting article on Jefferson Shaner.   Mr. Shaner, a member of the Fame back in the late 1800's, Click Here.