Maghogomock Hook & Ladder Company No. 1

Company Name:  Maghogomock Hook & Ladder Company No. 1

Address:  Orange Street, Port Jervis, NY 12771

Phone number:  845 858-4077

Officers: Captain Joseph J. Kowal, Jr., First Lieutenant David J. Claisse, Second Lieutenant Victor J. Claisse, President Robert Worden, Sr., Vice President Joseph J. Kowal, Jr., Secretary Daniel Lewis, Treasurer Rocco Giovanniello, Chief Driver, Drivers, Fire Police, Alternates to the Department, any others?

Members as of August - 2008:  Dove Bailey, Joseph Card, David Case, Sr., David J. Claisse, Victor J. Claisse, Jr., Victor J. Claisse, Sr., Richard Coffill, Kevin Cunningham, Chris DeVries, Stanley Drapala, Arthur Elston, Sr., Richard Finan, Rocco Giovanniello, Richard Greer, Robert Hicks, Jr., Eugene Hughes, Chad W. Kidney, Christopher W. Kidney, Wayne Kidney, John Kowal, Joseph J. Kowal, Jr., Joseph J. Kowal, Sr., Daniel Lewis, Gary Lopriore, Peter Maillet, Scott J. Morris, Darryl Ozello, Craig Perry, Robert Pierson, Donald Reiff, James Ruark, Steven Turner, Victor Valentin, Ronald Van Auken, Chris Van Houten, Donald Westfall, Frances Westfall, John Westfall, Wayne Wood, Albert Woolsey, Anthony J. Woolsey, Justin Worden, Robert Worden, Jr., Robert Worden, Sr., and William Worden.

Vehicle information: TRUCK 827:  1989 Pierce, 300 GPM pump, 200 Gal. tank, 105’ aerial ladder

Specialized Units/Equipment:

Company’s History

Maghogomock Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 was informally organized with 40 members in June of 1855, with Charles W. Douglas as Foreman.  This was two years before the Fire Department of Port Jervis was officially formed. It was not until October 15, 1858, however, that The Maghogomocks was official listed as a company, which is also the year their first truck was received.  

Their 1858 apparatus was built in Port Jervis, with conflicting reports attributing its manufacturer as either Hiller & Schofield Wagonmakers or Macomber & Holt Wagonmakers. Its cost was $225.00; $25.00 (11.11%) over the approved taxpayer price.

Through the solicitation of Charles Cooper and James Taynton, the Erie Railway Company granted permission soon after the company’s formation to erect a house for the accommodation of property of the new organization in the rear of a building on Pike Street. The building also housed the apparatus of Fowler Engine Company No. 3.

Original members of the Maghogomocks were Charles W. Douglas, Foreman; James Taynton, Assistant Foreman; G. W. Potter, Secretary; W. H. Mason, Treasurer; F. Marvin, Solomon Van Etten, F. Champion, C. A. McNish, H. White, T. J. Grey, A. T. Wood, Enos Dodge, C. W. Davis, B. Scriber, Samuel Wood, F. F. Ribber, J. McNaught, J.D. Carpenter, C. D. Cooper, M. Porrit, S. L. Hoit, O. Farnum, Seth Clark, B. Quick, Thomas Gross, C. M. Lawrence, V. Bell, N. Taft, W. H. Stewart, J. H. Parker and Austin Benson. Others who subsequently joined were J.T. Brown, Jacob Brant, James Creegan, J. St. John, Lewis Oakley, John Strater, P. E. Farnum, Z. G. Coykendall, S. S. Starr, Benjamin Caskey, Henry Holt, Charles St. John, O. P. Gilson, Charles Cunningham, John Reeder, Oscar Johnson and S. O. Dimmick, Jr.

Reorganizations within the company are reported to have taken place at various times between 1872 and July 28, 1873.

In June 1919, a fine 75 horsepower motor hook and ladder truck was secured for the company.

On January 7, 1887 apparatus did not reach an alarm on Pennsylvania Ave because of snow; on November 1, 1904 a truck did not respond to an alarm on Ball Street due to no horses; and in November and December of 1804 members were fined 15 cents for not responding to a telephone pole alarm in the 3rd district and a clothes closet fire on New Street. At the time, firemen (there were no firewomen) were fined for not answering alarms without good cause; 15 cents for a working fire and 25 cents for a working fire when ladders were raised.

In 1927, a ladies auxiliary was formed with 36 members and remained in operation until about 1960 when it was disbanded.

In 1932, Maghogomock Fife, Drum & Bugle Corp was formed and performed together for 25 years, during which time they became champions of Orange, Rockland, Dutchess and Putnam Counties in 1936 and Pennsylvania State Champion in 1937. The group last performed in August of 1957 at the Port Jervis Golden Jubilee Parade.

On July 4, 1951, the company dedicated a marble bench at the Gold Star Mothers Memorial in Orange Square to honor the members of the company who lost their lives in World War II.

The company is currently located at 25 Orange Street, where it shares a building with its longtime neighbor Neversink Engine Co. No. 1. The two companies have shared dual bay buildings on Orange Street since 1884, when they first occupied the now historic double-bay firehouse that currently serves as a state-of-the-art Port Jervis Fire Museum and Training Facility.

 

That building, which re-opened last year, has been dedicated to longtime Hooks member and current PJFD Chief Joseph J. Kowal who for more than a decade led restoration efforts to save it.

Hooks has had three members of its ranks serve as Fire Chief. The first was Chief Engineer Leopold Furth from 1870-1873. Second was Roscoe Case from 1958-1959, and third is current Chief Joseph J. Kowal, Sr., who served first as chief from 1998-1999 and again from 2006 to present.

As of 2008, the company has had two horse-drawn trucks, two motor-powered ladder trucks and two aerial ladders.

History compiled from various sources by Stan & Sharon Siegel – August- 2008