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The original members of Box 21 Associates could only hardly have suspected what their little club would become in the years that followed when they posed, in 1935, for the camera of a Dayton Daily Newspaper photographer.
The name for the group had been suggested by then Dayton Fire Chief Frank B. Ramby, after the fire alarm box which had been used to report more serious fires than any other in Dayton. That box had stood at the corner of Third and Wayne Avenue in the eastern part of the city, and the use if its name was especially appropriate in that the Box 21 members had stated that their purpose in forming the club was to be of assistance to the firefighters of Dayton at serious fires. These eight young men were, as young men are often known to be, fire buffs. They had frequently appeared, during their free time, at Dayton Firehouse 13 on the city’s west side and had offered their assistance. Not only did they help in the cleaning and maintenance of the equipment at the station, but they also showed up at fire scenes to fetch tools, relieve the firemen on hoselines, and bring hot or cold drinks that they made in the firehouse kitchen. At their first major fire in 1937, the Box 21 men struck an agreement with the proprietor of a nearby restaurant to refresh the firemen and present Box 21 with the bill. It was a daring move for an organization whose treasury had not had a chance to develop, but the men passed a hat among themselves at their next meeting and borrowed the balance to pay the one hundred forty dollar bill.
We of Box 21 Rescue Squad wish to recognize the eight founders for their foresight, determination and dedication of "helping those that help others."
The History of Box 21 does show a dedication to the idea of "helping those that help others" while at the same time, always looking for new ways to assist this community. Although the original service of fire department assistance is still maintained, the squads efforts are aimed towards aiding those who are helping others, providing a specialized adjunct to existing services and providing service where an unfilled need exists. The aspect of Box 21’s independence from governmental connection has made it possible for the rescue squad to bring relief and aid to areas which might otherwise have been beyond reach. Service Since 1935
Records of those early times are few and many of the original members are no longer about to recount their experiences. The reprint of the Dayton Daily News article which appears on the left, testifies to the fact that the spirit of Box 21’s helpfulness extended beyond the excitement of large fires and the polishing of fire engines. The article, which appeared in the Sunday paper on October 6, 1935, explained that Box 21 Club had begun a solicitation campaign to raise $2500 (a fantastic sum in mid-depression) with which to purchased two-way radios for Dayton fire chiefs’ cars. The article continued to state that this was an innovation which would put the Dayton Fire Department among the first in the nation to be so equipped.
With what they had, their hands, their willing spirits, a picnic basket with 24 tin cups, a mild jug, and a blue enameled coffee pot, the Box 21 men continued and expanded their assistance to those who were helping others in times of disaster. They learned first aid and were able to attend firemen injured at fire scenes. The borrowed a boat for water rescues and drowning recoveries, purchasing a boat when finances permitted. Their number expanded as necessary, first to a limit of 21, then 35, and then to 40. It became known to fire and police agencies and the public, that Box 21 was a group of capable men, trained and willing to assist in emergency situations. Support for the activities of the organization grew, and with it grew the demand for Box 21’s services. A 1945 newspaper article, which recounted the group’s adventures during its first ten years, listed as among the equipment of Box 21: a boat, grappling hooks, life preservers, generators and floodlights, and inhalator, blankets, heating pads, first aid kits, and splints. The Club was also credited with giving assistance at numerous major fires in Dayton as well as similar events in Piqua, Jamestown, Troy, Arcanum, (all in Ohio), Richmond, Indiana, and a flood in Cincinnati. In early 1948, Box 21 members dedicated new meeting rooms located at Wayne and Arbor Avenues, a change from their previous meeting place in Red Cross facilities at 28 W. Monument Ave., and presented for inspection to their guest, Dayton Fire Chief Joseph Kirby, their first club owned vehicle, a tear-drop shaped trailer which had storage space for emergency gear and complete kitchen facilities. The following year, the first motorized piece of Box 21 equipment was introduced, a ten year old LaSalle hears, converted as a rescue unit. This unit, like the milk truck turned canteen which replaced the trailer in 1950, was donated to the club.
Increased calls for service during the 1950’s prompted the purchase of a new canteen truck and two new heavy-duty rescue trucks. All members were equipped with oxygen-inhalators, and two-way radios were installed in members cars. During this period, Box 21 developed its close relation with the office of the Montgomery County Sheriff which have been maintained since. The squad moved its meeting rooms and equipment into the present headquarters on Island Park in 1958. The members continued to keep themselves abreast of the latest in first aid and rescue techniques, and they added such items of equipment to their inventory of lifesaving gear that would permit their skills to be effectively used. The squadmen often were able to assist others similarly concerned groups in providing emergency service in their own localities by helping to train personnel or aiding in the organization of a rescue service.
By 1960 Box 21 had an established reputation in the field of emergency service, and the squad celebrated its silver anniversary with a display of its equipment and skills, along with those of the other area emergency services, at a "Safety Sunday" open house on Island Park.
The following decade saw notable changes in squad activity and service. Again through the generosity of a donor, in 1961, Box 21 added a new piece of equipment: an ambulance. The ten year old vehicle was originally intended solely for member protection, but the need for a free ambulance for indigent persons was present, and Box 21 took up that cause. In the mid 1960’s the ambulance was replaced as was one of the rescue trucks, both the used pieces of equipment being passed on to other growing area rescue squads. 1966 marked the beginning of Box 21’s alliance with Children’s Medical Center (then Barney Children’s Hospital) to provide ambulance service. New and advance training in the first aid and police service was required, and the Box 21 men met the challenge. A modern "kitchen on wheels" canteen unit was put into service in 1968 and in the following year the squad’s ambulance was replaced with one which incorporated features especially designed for the work with Children’s Medical Center, Notable calls of the 1960’s took Box 21 squadmen to a bridge collapse in Galapolis, Ohio and an explosion in Richmond, Indiana, and won the squad an international award for a water rescue in West Carrollton, Ohio.

The first years of the 1970’s brought perhaps the most changes and additions to Box 21 in the shortest period of time. In 1971, the Club added its second ambulance, the area’s first modular type ambulance and in 1974 a Horton modular unit is the third ambulance for the Squad. All members qualified as Emergency Medical Technicians, and a few members became certified paramedics. In 1972, the squad was among the first in Ohio to be equipped with the Hurst "Jaws of Life" hydraulic rescue tool. One of the first two-way ambulance-to-hospital radio links in the country was installed in a Box 21 ambulance, and cardiac telemetry units were added. A large safety and command boat was added to the organization’s fleet of boats. A squad became involved with the Hydrobowl Races. The men who race boats have stated that no where else in the country do they get as good rescue service as in Dayton. In 1976 Box 21 began working with the Health District to respond to HAZMAT emergencies and this service continued for about three years until the Health District lost funding for it. 1978 saw the Club install a new alerting system with pages being provided to each member. A new 1968 Dodge Power Wagon is obtained from the Dayton Airport in 1979 to replace the aging 1964 rescue truck. This unit is converted and placed in service by the end of the year.

The new decade beings with the replacement of the original modular ambulance (203) with a 1980 Wheeled Coach ambulance. An incident at the new low-head dam near the Salem Ave. bridge involving four victims causes the membership to seek funding to purchase a ResQdek. This piece of equipment is built specifically for use at these types of dams, to effect rescues with a minimum of risk to the rescuers. Funding is found with help of the United Way and ResQdek is delivered.

The biggest change for Box 21 is its cessation of being the primary ambulance service for Children’s Medical Center. The forecast of 2000 runs per year in 1983 caused Box 21 to reevaluate this service by an all volunteer squad. CMC purchased two squads in 1982 to serve as their primary response and Box 21 assumed a backup role. A Kurbmaster truck formally used to deliver potato chips is purchased in 1983 to be converted into a combination Air-wagon and Water Rescue Truck. This truck was placed in service during 1984 and is completely equipped for use by the Dive Rescue Team of Box 21. Since it carries a four-bottle cascade system for breathing air, it has already seen service at large fires to supplement the air available to the local fire agencies. During the same year a Horton MR/10 Miniambulance is purchased for use at the many public events for which Box 21 Furnishes the EMS standby.
A donation in early 1984 allowed Box 21 to purchase a Mako 5000 P.S.I. air compressor for filling the cascade system in the dive rescue truck, with clean, safe breathing air. Late during this year Box 21 disposed of its aluminum boats (some as old as 30 years) and replaced them with two Achilles inflatable boats.