Paul H. Lowman Jr., 95, is the last remaining charter member of the corps.
Paul H. Lowman Jr., who celebrated his 95th birthday in August, is the sole charter member from the original group of 145 that started the Blairstown Ambulance Corps in 1952.
In 1948, American Legion Givens Belet Post #258 members Paul Lowman, who was serving as Commander, Harold E. Sandberg, Lenarth T. Sandberg and Martin Semken Sr. saw the need to have an ambulance corps to service Blairstown.
Paul Lowman, 95 a Blairstown Ambulance Corp charter member. (Special to lehighvalleylive.com) Legion Post #258 did not have the resources to start an ambulance corps on its own. At the time, these four community-minded men were also members of the Blairstown Hose Company #1 (BHC#1).
The men approached BHC#1 with the need for an ambulance corps and it was soon determined that the BHC#1 volunteers could not dedicate the additional time that would be needed to properly support an ambulance corps. It was decided a separate organization would need to be formed. By 1949, the four men had recruited 11 Blairstown citizens that were willing to serve on an ambulance corps.
After many years of preparation the first call was answered on June 30th, 1952 and the devoted service of the Blairstown Ambulance Corps was officially started.
The fifteen charter members included: Joseph A. Badeau, Kenneth P. Bertholf, James E. Cramer, John B. Fodera, Mervin Heagy, John L. Konkle, Paul H. Lowman, Jr., Harold E. Sandberg, Lenarth T. Sandberg, John Scaglia, Martin H. Semken Sr., Victor D. Stoffels, Lloyd Stout, Thomas Thomas, C. Almer West.
From 1958, front, from left: Bobby Sandberg, Lyman Rhodes, Sal Simonetti, Paul Lowman, Thomas Cook, Teddy Roth and James Cramer. Back: John L. Konkle, C. Almer West, Lenarth T. Sandberg, Harold E. Sandberg, Bob Smith, Harold T. "Pop" Sandberg and Victor D. Stoffels. (Special to lehighvalleylive.com) The original 10 trustees included: Lewis Beatty, Fred Buehler, John I. Hagens, Walter Hill, Prall Kinney, Merrill Landes, Archie Roth, Frederick Roy, Martin H. Semken Sr., Donald Terhune.
Lowman was born in Menlo Park, N.J. His father was caretaker for the former Edison Estate. It is said that Thomas Edison himself once brought an ice cream to young Paul on his birthday.
In 1924 the family moved to Metuchen and at age 12, Lowman went to Blairstown to work during the summers at Camp Sakawawin at Cedar Lake. He was assistant director of the camp when he met Elinor Beegle. They married in 1940 and raised their children, Paul III and Diana.
Lowman served in the U.S. Army during WWII. For over 25 years, he and his late wife Elinor were owners of Smith Hardware on Main Street.
In addition to his many civic posts, Lowman was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Blairstown, serving as sexton from 1940-1950. He is now enjoying his retirement in Florida.