Area fire companies team up to extinguish blaze in Millerton

MILERTON — A fire broke out early morning Tuesday, Jan. 2, at 27 Barton St., a three-story Victorian built in the 19th century.

Owners Ray and Grace Nelson, and one tenant with his parakeet, escaped unharmed. The first fireman from Millerton arrived on the scene at 6:57 a.m. within 2 minutes of receiving the call from the Dutchess County 911 dispatchers.

Area fire companies from Lakeville, Sharon, Copake, Ancram, Hillsdale, Amenia, Wassaic, Pine Plains, Millbrook, and Dover joined the effort to extinguish the fire, which was contained within an hour, preventing its spread to nearby homes. The Falls Village firefighters were on standby at the Millerton Fire House to answer other calls. The Dutchess County Sheriff, New York State Police and EMS vehicles were on the scene to assist.

On Monday, Jan. 8, Grace Nelson issued a statement thanking the Millerton Fire Company: “Ray and I are so grateful to God that nobody got hurt. We are also extremely grateful to the Millerton Fire Department for their swift, appropriate work and coordination,” with all the responding fire departments.

Ed Downey, who lives on nearby Simmons Street and is the historian for the Town of North East, estimated that the house was built sometime between 1858 and 1887 when Millerton boomed as a railroad town. “I feel badly for Ray and Grace who have worked so hard on restoring that house,” said Downey. Known as the “Beehive” the 4,700-square-foot house was picked up and moved west in the early 1920s to allow for the extension of Dutchess Avenue and the creation of Highland Drive.

It was reported that over 10,000 gallons of water from a nearby hydrant were pumped into the home, causing considerable water damage on all the floors. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Department.