PORT JERVIS FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

Port Jervis Volunteer Fire Department:

        The first settlers came to the Port Jervis area in 1692. As the community grew with the advents of the Erie Railroad and the Delaware and Hudson Canal, the need for fire protection on the banks of the Neversink and Delaware Rivers increased. The first fire company in Port Jervis was given legal status in 1847 by a certificate granted from the supervisor and appointment by the town board of N. B. Mondon as a fireman. In 1850, the company was known as Port Jervis Fire Company No.1.  It was privately owned and would remain so for many years.  In 1850, the first Volunteer Fireman's Parade was also held in Port Jervis, a tradition we have continued to carry on annually for 157 years.

        The first vehicle was a wooden-decked, hand operated unit known as a "goose neck" because of its unusual appearance. It required twelve men to force the handles on either side up and down in order to pump. Whether or not it was better than the bucket brigade was probably a subject of discussion in fire circles at the time.

        On February 27, 1857, the first company was reorganized and renamed H.H. Farnum Co., with A.B. Gooddale as foreman. On July 14, 1873, the name was again changed to Abbot Steam Fire Engine Co.  

Meanwhile, the village was deciding on another fire company, and in May 1870, 68 members signed up and chose the name Neversink Hose Company No.1, with S. D. Boyce as foreman.   In 1876, the privately owned Abbot Steam Fire Engine Company was legally disbanded and its house on Orange Street and equipment was given over to the village company, Neversink Hose Company No.1, where they Port Jervis Fire Department Museum is now located.

        The other companies within the department were also organized in this 20 year period, about one hundred and fifty years ago. In June 1855, the Maghogomock Hook and Ladder Company was founded. They received their first truck in 1858. Over more than 150 years, the Company has operated two horse-drawn trucks, two motor-powered ladder trucks, and two aerial ladders.

        On February 12, 1857, Delaware Engine Company No.2 had its origin. One year later, Jacob Brant of this Company was elected the first Chief Engineer. Among their vehicles was "The Claremont", a winner at the Boston State Fair. Local residents were surprised, it was reported, by The Claremont's "bright yellow running gear, wide gold stripes, polished steel springs and heavily silvered body”. The company claimed another first in Port Jervis and in the county when it accepted delivery of a new white cab-forward diesel engine in 1967.

        March 1, 1857 saw the formation of Fowler Engine Company No. 3. Serving as an engine company for 93 years, in 1954 Fowler accepted delivery of a rescue and salvage truck and changed its name to Fowler Rescue and Salvage Company No. 3. The company is now housed with its new white truck in a brick building next to the Municipal Building on Hammond Street in Port Jervis.   It shares quarters with Delaware Engine Company No. 2, with its brother white engine. In 1961, a diving squad was officially formed and made a part of Rescue 3.  The diving squad is now called the “Water Operations Team” and has taken possession of a new boat in 2006 to replace the “Chipper H” which was retired.

        In October of 1877, Port Jervis Hose Company No. 4 was founded. Upon the death of Howard Wheat, the chief of Port Jervis Fire Department for twenty-five years and a member of Hose Company No. 4, the name was changed to Howard Wheat Engine Company No. 4.  Among its many interesting vehicles, perhaps the most noteworthy was the one received in 1976 by the company. It was a Lime Green/Yellow, American LaFrance with a “Squrt” which is an articulating boom, the first in the county of this type articulating boom.  That vehicle has been replaced by an American LaFrance engine that also has a “SQURT”.

          On December 9, 1873, Excelsior Engine Company No. 1 was founded. For many years, it operated with a hand-drawn rig, but in 1917 accepted delivery of its first mechanized unit, a motorized hose and chemical truck with a Hann chassis. In 1937, the Company was reorganized under the name Excelsior Engine Company No. 5.  It is housed on West Main Street, where it shares a building with the Fire Police squad.

        In December of 1890, the youngest of the department’s companies came into existence with the formation of Tri-States Hose Company No.6. This company is located in and has protected the Tri-States area of Port Jervis since its inception.

In 1917, the Fire Police was organized. This unit is comprised of members from each of the other companies and serves the department well with their equipment van.  Its function is to protect the firefighters and residents from danger during a fire department call.  They assist with traffic control, crowd control, and other duties during calls as well as assist the local Police Department when needed.  In addition, they will provide services to local community groups as requested.

                      =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =    =

The year 2006 was a year of much action within the fire department, including responses to five major house fires, flooding in the Tri-States and Acre areas and 430 alarms overall.  Membership was 365.  It was the year that Excelsior Engine Company #5 got the new Seagrave 2000 Galen Pumper and the citizens of the community voted approval for Delaware Engine Co. #2 to acquire a KME 2000-gallon a minute pumper.  This apparatus, expected to be delivered in this Centennial Year, will feature an enclosed top-mounted pump operator’s area to keep the driver out of the elements while pumping hour-after-hour at major incidents.   The Port Jervis Fireman’s Museum, which Chief Joseph Kowal and other volunteers have been diligently with since 1996, will be completed and opened early in 2007.  This museum, located in Port Jervis’ historic first firehouse, is a state-of-the-art training facility for use by the members of the fire, police, public works other city offices and departments.  Working with the Emergency Management office, updated equipment was purchased which brought our department up to today’s high modern standard.

Chief Kowal concluded his 2006 yearly report of activities with the optimistic pledge to Mayor Lopriore and council members, “We are looking forward to 2007 with pride as we have proven that the City of Port Jervis has the best volunteer Fire Department in the State of New York.”  

 Firematically, Joseph J. Kowal, Sr. Chief