IN THE BEGINNING

Members of the community of Mechanicstown signed a charter to create the Mechanicstown Engine and Chemical Company Number One, Inc. on December 15, 1926. The name comes from the area to be covered and the type of fire apparatus that was popular at this time. The chemical engine was a fire apparatus with a fire pump and usually two tanks that were like a large chemical fire extinguisher.

RESOLUTION

On April 1, 1927 the Wallkill town board passed a resolution consenting to the formation of this fire company. On April 9, 1927 a charter was filed with the state department to officially form the company. Members signing the charter were:

Walter McGinty

Thomas Riley

Vincent Cerny

Arthur Keath

Rudlph Luedtke

David Davis

Albertson C. Eckert

Charles Eckert, Jr.

Russell Furman

Charles E. Tuttle

Vincenzo Colello

George Harvey Simpson

James S. Nelson

Fred Keener

Rex A. Thompson

Stanley Nelson Stratton

John P. Cranse

Joseph Muer

Michael A. Colello

STRUGGLES

During 1927 and 1928 members continued to hold fund raising events to purchase land, build a fire station and to obtain fire equipment. From 1929 to 1953 the Great Depression and World War II apparently hindered the efforts to form the company. Stanley Stratton, an original signer of the charter continued to attempt to form the company but with minimal success.

REORGANIZATION IN 1953

Meetings were held at the VFW Post in the summer of 1953 to reorganize and reform the company. The first Civil Officers of Mechanicstown Engine and Chemical Co., No. 1 after reorganization in 1953 were:

Peter J. Pulos, President

Clyde Dolloway, Vice President

Chester Rogers, Recording Secretary

Herman Berghard, Treasurer

Edwin Smith, Financial Secretary

Herbert Jarvis, Chaplain

Everett Garrison, Trustee

Patsy Guzzette, Trustee

Earl Clark, Trustee

BUILDING THE STATION

On May 15, 1954 members purchased two lots from V&H Burghard at Ridgewood Avenue and Victory Street at the cost of $1000.00 to be paid of at $10.00 per month with 5% interest. This is the site of the present station.

Members sold "Bonds" at $5.00 each to raise funds to build a station. On May 23, 1954 a 1929 Sanford, 650 GPM Pump was purchased from Minisink Hose Co., Unionville, for $1000.00. On June 1, 1954 building began on the firehouse and in the fall of 1954 it was completed.

In November 1954 Mechanicstown joined the O.C.V.F.A. In September 1955 a tank truck was purchased from Clarence Elston for $100.00.

In 1958 attempts were made to form a Fire Protection District within the town of Wallkill and maps with boundaries were prepared by Eustance and Horowitz.

MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY

Warren Bullis served as the first Chief in 1957.

There were 95 members of the company in 1957. In 1966 the Fire Police were organized, with Richard Johnson, Captain.

The Ladies Auxillary

In 1954, The Ladies Auxillary was organized with twenty-two
members.

Past Presidents Were:

Jean Garrison

Rose Schoemaker

Katherine Hadden

Mae Baggatta

Edyth Maser

Beatrice Hicks

Gertrude Dexheimer

Elinor Sutton

After A public hearing early in 1964, the Wallkill Town Board voted to establish two new fire districts in the town - One in Mechanicstown and one in Sliver Lake.

Firsts:

• The first Fire to which Mechanicstown Responded was Barman's Barn in 1966.
• Mechanicstown was the first company in the county to establish a Sub-Station, located on Stony Ford Road.
• The first in the county to vote a member into the company regardless of racial background.
• The first to vote a woman as a Line Officer.
• The first to have a woman Fire Commissioner.

Apparatus:

In 1941 the Company owned an Aerial Seagrave 65 Foot Truck; In 1951, they acquired a 1951 Ford Pumper; In 1966 purchased an 850 Gallon Tanker and in 1967 a 750 Gallon Ford Pumper. A John Beam Pumper was purchased in 1975 and a 1500 Gallon Tanker in 1976.

During the Fall of 1993 the Original Fire Station was demolished and on its' site was built the persent Five Bay Modern Firehouse. Much new equipment has been purchased since then.