Amenia Historical Society honors local fire companies

AMENIA — The commitment of members of the two local fire companies is measured not only in decades but in generations, and that dedication was honored by the Amenia Historical Society at its annual meeting on Sunday, Oct. 20, held at the Town Hall.
Following a presentation and display of historic images and artifacts reflecting the history of the two organizations, representatives of the fire companies of District 1 and District 2 accepted certificates of appreciation given by current society president Carol Lee.

The Amenia Fire Company, District 1, has been serving the community since its founding in 1895. Andy Murphy, Captain of the Amenia Fire Company, chronicled the history as he recalled the earliest apparatus, the company membership, the buildings and some of the historic local fires, along with the celebrations, parades and community fundraising events.

Captain Murphy, a long-term member himself, recounted that his father, James, had served the Amenia Fire Company for 50 years and his mother, Charlotte, was a charter member of the Auxiliary.

He said that the historical society has a treasure trove of historical documents and memorabilia collected over the years. That information was assembled into a book published in 1995 detailing the Fire Company’s history, but not much history has been assembled and recorded since then.

“It all began in 1895,” Murphy said, when there had been a fire in Millerton and a realization dawned that Amenia should have its own fire company.

Early records kept in the old firehouse were destroyed in 1941 by a devastating fire, and today, the only records remaining came from the homes of members and residents who had items that were not kept at the firehouse.

The earliest piece of equipment in Amenia was a length of 1,000 feet of hose donated by the local water company, along with nozzles, to be used in conjunction with the existing hydrants, Murphy said. About 20 people met at Taylor Hall, the old movie theatre in village center, to form Amenia Hose Company No. 1.

Later they would meet at a local clothing store near the post office. By 1898, they had acquired a two-wheel hose cart. By 1899, they had their first firehouse and a fire wagon to go with the hose cart. The company then moved to its present site on Mechanic Street.

The relationship between the town and the fire company began around 1900, Murphy explained, whereby the town would own the firehouse building and the fire company would pay rent to the town. A “new” firehouse was built on the site in 1948 and still stands today.

Ambulance service had its beginnings in 1950 with the purchase of the first vehicle to be named “Lulubell.” Formation of a Women’s Auxiliary came along in 1953.

Barn fires were the most usual types of fire calls, Murphy said.

But especially dangerous and disastrous were the 1974 fires that destroyed the movie theater and the Delavergne Farms Hotel in the town center, Murphy noted.

“We are pretty well-equipped today,” Murphy said, “but most of our trucks are going out driver-only.”

“People are not volunteering,” Murphy explained, adding that the company has only three or four young people.

“Back in the 1970s, people could not wait to join the fire company,” Murphy recalled.

Reviewing the chronology of the Wassaic Fire Company, former Chief Bob Bergfels indicated that the fire company was organized in 1931, building its first firehouse in 1937, with the present firehouse coming along in 1966. The Ladies’ Auxiliary began its service in 1955, and the Rescue Squad in 1977.

Seeking to clarify a point of confusion for residents, Murphy explained the difference between the two Fire Districts and the two Fire Companies. Fire Districts, he said, are governed by five local commissioners who sit on a Fire District Board. They develop the annual budget and function as the entity in charge of the equipment purchase and repair. The Fire District is in charge, Murphy said.

The Fire Company, he explained, is a separate organization headed by the Fire Chief. The Fire Company goes to the fires. Proceeds from the regularly scheduled pancake breakfasts go to the Fire Company to cover operational expenses.