Department
Village of Montour Falls Fire Department proudly protects 4500 people living in an area of 25 square miles. We operate out of 1 station that protects a primarily residential area. Our department is a public department whose members are on a volunteer status.
In times of emergency we are there. Pillars of strength with the talents of professionals. And with team work that more times than not accomplishes the impossible. We respond with skill, compassion, valor and self-sacrifice. We respond across Schuyler County to misfortune and Tragedy. In times of crisis we answer the call with everything we got. Action is the first word in our vocabulary. Solid commitment and leadership are in our make-up. Today we must draw upon those strengths to forge a bold future for our community.
Our Beginning
Almost a year after the government of the village of Havana (now Montour Falls) became official, the secretary of the village board was authorized to advertise asking people interested in forming a hook and ladder company to sign up. The year was 1837.
Since the effort was successful, the board directed at its May 16 meeting that a set of ladders be purchased. Two were to be 35 feet long, two 25 feet and two 15. All were to have iron hooks at one end. At about the same time, a new ordinance was passed requiring every business and home owner, and those in charge of any building in public use, to keep and maintain at all times a good and sufficient ladder, tall enough to reach the roof, standing against each structure. Failure to comply within 20 days would subject an owner to a $10 fine.
Two fire wardens were appointed annually from 1843, authorized and ordered to examine every inhabited or occupied building, particularly where there was ever a fire used. Stoves and stovepipes were to meet safety specifications. Places where ashes were dumped should be checked as well as making sure the mandated ladders were in place. If the warden discovered a failure, the person(s) in charge had 24 hours to correct the situation or pay a $1 daily fine until in compliance. A year later, this daily fine was increased to $5. Anyone trying to interfere with the wardens could be fined $5, too.
In 185, the village fathers dictated that every home or business place should always have a leather or rubber bucket (in good shape) on hand and accessible. Immediately after an alarm sounded, these buckets were to be taken or sent to the fire scene. Once could be fined 25 cents daily for not having an acceptable bucket and could be fined $3 for failure to get it where needed by the fire laddies.
–written by Barbara Bell
History of the Montour Falls Fire DepartmentAlthough records are very sketchy, there is information enough to safely say that the Village of Havana, N.Y., now known as Montour Falls, had the second fire department, or brigade, in the county as of the year 1853. More recent records indicate that the Protective Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 of Havana, N.Y. was organized on July 1, 1890 and that another company called the Chester Giles Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 was formed Feb. 25, 1892.
These two companies made up the Fire Department of Havana, N.Y. and Montour Falls, N.Y., which were housed in the building now occupied by the Main Street Soda Bar on the north side of Main Street. The equipment consisted of a hand-drawn hose cart and two large tanks mounted on another such hand-drawn cart that enabled the firemen to mix soda and acid together with water to obtain fire-fighting chemical.
In 1920, a Ford Model T truck was obtained for the Hook & Ladder Company to carry their hose and ladders. At this time the engine house was moved across Main Street to the building now occupied by the Mechanics Club Bowling Alleys. Sometime in 1923, not to be out-done by the ‘Hooks’, the Protective purchased themselves a 1923 Chevrolet truck. At last, both companies were now motorized. Incidentally, the 1923 Chevrolet truck is still in possession of Montour Falls and remains in almost the same design as purchased.
1933, the Village of Montour Falls purchased a 500-gallon per minute American LaFrance pumper. To house this new piece of apparatus, the Village constructed a new two bay cinder block building on Lee Street. With the arrival of this new piece, the old Model T was discarded.
Finally in 1935, after much bickering, the two companies joined forces and became one fire fighting unit, known as the Montour Falls Fire Department.
At the request of several fire officers and men of the Department, the Village Board, in 1937, purchased from Ward LaFrance a new 500-gallon per minute Quad Truck. This truck proved to be a very reliable piece of apparatus, as well as a novelty, having a wheelbase of 250 inches, and carrying 240 feet of ground ladders. This was the only ladder truck in Schuyler County from 1937 to 1972 and is still in operation.
In 1939, a Drill Team was formed and a team was put together for the hose contest, thusly, Montour Falls were to attend their first Central New York Firemen’s Association convention at Hancock, N.Y.
1951 was the year the department started talking about a new pumper to replace the 1933 American, and at the same time, discussing an addition to our fire station. By late 1953, the village had a new 750-gallon per minute pumper and the members of the Department added two more bays to their station. This new addition meant that for the first time the department could have their meetings in their own building along with kitchen facilities that had been incorporated.
In 1955, the department purchased a Dodge truck and had Ward LaFrance build a rescue truck. Sometime in 1958, the firemen purchased a 1948 Diamond T tractor with a 4200-gallon trailer, for the purpose of converting it into a tanker. This did not prove too successful because of the local terrain, so the trailer was shortened, thereby carrying only 2800 gallons. In late 1960, while responding to a Mutual Aid call from Odessa, this tanker was involved in an accident totally destroying the tractor. A new Ford tractor was delivered in February 1961.
Our hose team being very young and excellent in competition was furnished with a Chevrolet El Camino in 1967 to replace a worn out 1949 Lincoln.
In 1967, the firemen again added to the station, by building a meeting hall complete with kitchen. This addition was more or less forced upon us with the purchase of a Dodge 4-wheel drive quick attack truck in 1970.
In 1972, with the cooperation of the Village Board, the Department took delivery of a 1250 gallon per minute Ward LaFrance pumper. Again in 1973, the Department purchased a new Chevrolet step van for a rescue truck replacing our 1955 Dodge.
Altogether, we enjoy a very fine, smooth running Department that is well equipped, answering 53 calls per year and averaging 35 men per call.
–Fireman’s Association of the State of New York, Schuyler County Convention, year unknown
In times of emergency we are there. Pillars of strength with the talents of professionals. And with team work that more times than not accomplishes the impossible. We respond with skill, compassion, valor and self-sacrifice. We respond across Schuyler County to misfortune and Tragedy. In times of crisis we answer the call with everything we got. Action is the first word in our vocabulary. Solid commitment and leadership are in our make-up. Today we must draw upon those strengths to forge a bold future for our community.
Our Beginning
Almost a year after the government of the village of Havana (now Montour Falls) became official, the secretary of the village board was authorized to advertise asking people interested in forming a hook and ladder company to sign up. The year was 1837.
Since the effort was successful, the board directed at its May 16 meeting that a set of ladders be purchased. Two were to be 35 feet long, two 25 feet and two 15. All were to have iron hooks at one end. At about the same time, a new ordinance was passed requiring every business and home owner, and those in charge of any building in public use, to keep and maintain at all times a good and sufficient ladder, tall enough to reach the roof, standing against each structure. Failure to comply within 20 days would subject an owner to a $10 fine.
Two fire wardens were appointed annually from 1843, authorized and ordered to examine every inhabited or occupied building, particularly where there was ever a fire used. Stoves and stovepipes were to meet safety specifications. Places where ashes were dumped should be checked as well as making sure the mandated ladders were in place. If the warden discovered a failure, the person(s) in charge had 24 hours to correct the situation or pay a $1 daily fine until in compliance. A year later, this daily fine was increased to $5. Anyone trying to interfere with the wardens could be fined $5, too.
In 185, the village fathers dictated that every home or business place should always have a leather or rubber bucket (in good shape) on hand and accessible. Immediately after an alarm sounded, these buckets were to be taken or sent to the fire scene. Once could be fined 25 cents daily for not having an acceptable bucket and could be fined $3 for failure to get it where needed by the fire laddies.
–written by Barbara Bell
History of the Montour Falls Fire DepartmentAlthough records are very sketchy, there is information enough to safely say that the Village of Havana, N.Y., now known as Montour Falls, had the second fire department, or brigade, in the county as of the year 1853. More recent records indicate that the Protective Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 of Havana, N.Y. was organized on July 1, 1890 and that another company called the Chester Giles Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 was formed Feb. 25, 1892.
These two companies made up the Fire Department of Havana, N.Y. and Montour Falls, N.Y., which were housed in the building now occupied by the Main Street Soda Bar on the north side of Main Street. The equipment consisted of a hand-drawn hose cart and two large tanks mounted on another such hand-drawn cart that enabled the firemen to mix soda and acid together with water to obtain fire-fighting chemical.
In 1920, a Ford Model T truck was obtained for the Hook & Ladder Company to carry their hose and ladders. At this time the engine house was moved across Main Street to the building now occupied by the Mechanics Club Bowling Alleys. Sometime in 1923, not to be out-done by the ‘Hooks’, the Protective purchased themselves a 1923 Chevrolet truck. At last, both companies were now motorized. Incidentally, the 1923 Chevrolet truck is still in possession of Montour Falls and remains in almost the same design as purchased.
1933, the Village of Montour Falls purchased a 500-gallon per minute American LaFrance pumper. To house this new piece of apparatus, the Village constructed a new two bay cinder block building on Lee Street. With the arrival of this new piece, the old Model T was discarded.
Finally in 1935, after much bickering, the two companies joined forces and became one fire fighting unit, known as the Montour Falls Fire Department.
At the request of several fire officers and men of the Department, the Village Board, in 1937, purchased from Ward LaFrance a new 500-gallon per minute Quad Truck. This truck proved to be a very reliable piece of apparatus, as well as a novelty, having a wheelbase of 250 inches, and carrying 240 feet of ground ladders. This was the only ladder truck in Schuyler County from 1937 to 1972 and is still in operation.
In 1939, a Drill Team was formed and a team was put together for the hose contest, thusly, Montour Falls were to attend their first Central New York Firemen’s Association convention at Hancock, N.Y.
1951 was the year the department started talking about a new pumper to replace the 1933 American, and at the same time, discussing an addition to our fire station. By late 1953, the village had a new 750-gallon per minute pumper and the members of the Department added two more bays to their station. This new addition meant that for the first time the department could have their meetings in their own building along with kitchen facilities that had been incorporated.
In 1955, the department purchased a Dodge truck and had Ward LaFrance build a rescue truck. Sometime in 1958, the firemen purchased a 1948 Diamond T tractor with a 4200-gallon trailer, for the purpose of converting it into a tanker. This did not prove too successful because of the local terrain, so the trailer was shortened, thereby carrying only 2800 gallons. In late 1960, while responding to a Mutual Aid call from Odessa, this tanker was involved in an accident totally destroying the tractor. A new Ford tractor was delivered in February 1961.
Our hose team being very young and excellent in competition was furnished with a Chevrolet El Camino in 1967 to replace a worn out 1949 Lincoln.
In 1967, the firemen again added to the station, by building a meeting hall complete with kitchen. This addition was more or less forced upon us with the purchase of a Dodge 4-wheel drive quick attack truck in 1970.
In 1972, with the cooperation of the Village Board, the Department took delivery of a 1250 gallon per minute Ward LaFrance pumper. Again in 1973, the Department purchased a new Chevrolet step van for a rescue truck replacing our 1955 Dodge.
Altogether, we enjoy a very fine, smooth running Department that is well equipped, answering 53 calls per year and averaging 35 men per call.
–Fireman’s Association of the State of New York, Schuyler County Convention, year unknown