The Amenia Historical Society presented Certificates of Appreciation at its annual meeting on Sunday, Oct. 20 to representatives of the Amenia Fire Company and Wassaic Fire Company. Town Historian Betsy Strauss presented the certificates to Robert Boyles, Jr., Captain of the Wassaic Fire Company, at left, and Andy Murphy, Captain of the Amenia Fire Company.
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He said that the historical society has a treasure trove of historical documents and memorabilia collected over the years.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.
Long-term town employees were recognized at the Town Board meeting on Thursday, June 12. Honorees pictured with Town Supervisor Leo Blackman, were Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the Town Garage, center, for her 35 years of service to the town and Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent, for 20 years.
AMENIA — Acknowledging the many years of service accumulated by town employees, the Town Board paused to honor that service at its meeting on Thursday, June 12.
“Thank you for making a difference,” said Town Supervisor Leo Blackman in recognizing Judy Carlson, Office Manager at the town garage, for her 35 years of service.
“Megan’s job is not an easy one,” Blackman said, honoring Megan Chamberlin, current Highway Superintendent who has served the town for 20 years.
Also among those honored was Town Clerk Dawn Marie Klingner for 20 years of service as Court Clerk.
Maureen Moore, Court Clerk, was also honored in absentia for her 20 years of town service.
In anticipation of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution in 2026, new historic markers are appearing at each of the local cemeteries where Revolutionary War veterans are buried. Unveiling the new marker at Amenia Union Cemetery on Saturday, June 21, were left to right, Town Historian Betsy Strauss, Jim Middlebrook representing the regional chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Gail Seymour, President of the Union Cemetery Association.
AMENIA — One by one, new historic markers are appearing at local cemeteries where Revolutionary War dead are buried. On Saturday, June 21, community members gathered to see a new marker unveiled at Amenia Union Cemetery on Leedsville Road.
A tent provided welcome shade for the attendees and refreshments as about 30 residents gathered for the unveiling and to share stories of local history with one another.
As with the first historic market installation at the Old Amenia Burying Ground, held in April, Amenia Union Cemetery graves of Revolutionary War veterans had been marked with American flags in advance.
Jim Middlebrook, representing the Columbia Mid-Hudson chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, attended along with other members of his chapter. Speaking before the unveiling, Middlebrook said that the historic marker project had begun in August 2024, and included a detailed process to certify the names on the graves.
Middlebrook described the work of the William C. Pomeroy Foundation of Syracuse whose mission is to promote “pride of place” by providing grants in support of installing historic markers and plaques nationwide to honor patriots for their service. Active now in seven or eight states, Middlebrook said, the foundation will soon add Connecticut and Massachusetts to the list.
The new Amenia Union marker honors “at least five veterans of the American Revolution interred between 1787 and 1810,” although Town Historian Betsy Strauss lists six veterans buried in the cemetery. The sixth, Gerhard Winegar, whose burial had been in 1781 could not fully satisfy the certification standards.
Strauss provided the following listing of six names:
Col. Colbe Chamberlain, 1739-1796
Capt. William Chamberlain, 1745-1810
Lieut. Samuel Snyder, 1712-1808
Gerhard Winegar, 1750-1781
Ensign Henry Winegar, 1723-1787
Capt. William Young, 1747-1806
Bee Bee the clown, face painters and a community wide scavenger hunt are among the activities planned for the Millerton Street Fair in Downtown Millerton on Saturday, June 28.
MILLERTON — The Millerton News, in partnership with the North East Community Center (NECC) and the Millerton Business Alliance, is hosting its first Street Fair on Saturday in a celebration of the town.
Rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m, the fair will bring together local nonprofits and businesses, with live music, entertainment, kids’ activities, local eats, and family fun in Veterans Park, in front of the Millerton Inn, and beyond.
“The Millerton Street Fair will celebrate everything we love about this community — its spirit, its dedication to service and its creative energy,” said James Clark, publisher and CEO of The Millerton News.
Local nonprofits will showcase their work and impact, including Climate Smart Millerton, Eddie Collins Memorial Park, North East Historical Society, Townscape, Tri-Corner FEED, Village of Millerton, and the Webutuck Elementary School.Participating businesses include Bes, Little Red Bird Studio, NBT, The Elephant’s Tusk, and many more.Local retail and dining establishments will be open with special promotions. NECC’s Farmer’s Market will run during the event.
Among the planned festivities are live music from John Stey and the Resilience Brass Band, performances from Bee Bee the Clown, face painting by students from Webutuck High School, and a community-wide scavenger hunt for kids.Other kids’ activities include egg and spoon races, and a “touch-a-truck” open house at the firehouse.The Irondale Schoolhouse will be hosting a special exhibit, and the North East-Millerton Library will be offering signups for the Summer Reading Program, a science show from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., lawn games, and a cookie cook-off.
For more information, go to millertonnews.com/street-fair.
The Nine Partners Road Quaker Meetinghouse, built in 1780, will be the site of two summer lectures sponsored by the Millbrook Historical Society.
MILLBROOK — Long in the planning, the Millbrook Historical Society has announced that it is sponsoring two lectures in observance of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. Both lectures relating to Quaker history are to be held in the historic Quaker Meeting House on Nine Partners Road.
For the first talk, scheduled for Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m., the historical society has invited Sarah Gronningsater, Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania, to talk on “Quakers, Anti-slavery, and the American Revolution.” The topic will explore the role that New York’s Quakers, especially in the Hudson Valley, played in the rise of the anti-slavery movement that followed the American Revolution.
The second talk, scheduled for Sunday, July 27, at 2 p.m., invites Carl Lounsbury of the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg to speak on the architecture of the Nine Partners Meetinghouse. His talk is titled, “Nine Partners Meetinghouse Plan: A New Form in the Hudson Valley.” Expert in early American architecture, Lounsbury’s talk will compare Nine Partners with other later houses of worship in New York and New England.
Both lecture events will be held at the 1780 brick Nine Partners Quaker Meetinghouse in Millbrook. An earlier meetinghouse on the site had burned. The building has remained largely unchanged since the 18th century.
Given the age of the structure, handicapped access is limited and there are no rest room facilities.
Visitors should enter through the cemetery gate entrance.
The lectures are free and open to all, supported by a grant from the county and offered as part of Dutchess County’s participation in the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration.
