ANSONIA – To commemorate the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Ansonia Area Emergency Service (AAES), a gathering was held recently at the facility at 2215 Elroy-Ansonia Road West.
The event featured an open house, a facility tour, an opportunity to meet the squad personnel, get an up-close look at the fleet of ambulances, a visit from CareFlight and the offering of interactive exhibits and displays showcasing the AAES’s evolution over the past 50 years.
Also available was a Kid’s Safety Corner, offering educational activities designed to teach children about safety in a fun and engaging way.
Those in attendance also had the opportunity to sign up for door prizes donated by local businesses.
Tammy Royster, vice president, took blood pressure, pulse rate and oxygen tests to those who wanted them.
A self-loading cot system was one of the items demonstrated at the open house as visitors gathered around one of the ambulances.
“This special event is not only a celebration but also a heartfelt thank-you to the community that has supported us throughout the years,” said Chief Crystal Horne. “We look forward to reminiscing about our shared history and looking ahead to the future of emergency services in our area. Your support and participation make our community stronger.”
Like so many other rescue squads in Ohio, Ansonia had its beginnings in the 1970s.
Training started in 1974 and the squad itself began operations in 1976.
The original service members were: Ken, Larry, Paul and Rick Alexander; John Coppess; Athern Cunningham; Mike Dohme; James and Nancy Dunwoody; Gale Kenworthy; Jay Kimmel; John Middleton; David Morrow; Roger Oliver; Mary and Tedd Pratt; Connie Rismiller; G.B. Rodeheffer; Leona Sheets; Betty Thobe; and (honorary) W.O. “Welcome” Burns.
The squad’s regions are composed of not only Ansonia, but of Rossburg, North Star, New Weston and Allen, Richland, Washington and York townships.
The original squad house was located in downtown Ansonia before it relocated to its present site in 1999.
In a previous interview, it was noted that the facility is a family-friendly, family-oriented facility.
“Rescue workers spend all of their time here when not out on a call as they work 12-hour shifts,” said that interviewee.
“It is complete with living quarters, a cleaning room, shower room and restroom.
Those who came to the open house had the opportunity to check out the building, which offers all the comforts of home, making it a family-friendly, family-oriented squad house.
Several people who have been involved in the rescue work on the squad were in attendance.
“As I am not good with dates, I was one of the founding fathers of the Ansonia Rescue,” said Mike Dohmse, now residing in Greenville. ” I was there until the early ’80s as work started to demand more of my time. I forgot until I saw the article that Ansonia was the first class that took the Wayne Hospital training course back in the day. We saw many different things running rescue, but I learned a lot from all those experiences. I was hoping to see some other founders, but glad I stopped in and talked to the current members. Best of luck to the entire crew in the future.”
Rick Alexander also came to the celebration. As noted before he was also one of the founding members, with his father, Paul, and brothers Larry and Ken.
“We had to have advanced first-aid training,” he recalled. “They originally had a siren downtown to let people know what was going on. That was back in the day.”
Bill Barga was also in attendance. He said he had driven the ambulance at one time and has been on the governing board from time to time throughout its history.
