Salisbury Mills Fire District

SALISBURY MILLS FIRE COMPANY

Company Line Officers
Captain	Joseph Retcho
1st Lieutenant	Tim McCarty
2nd Lieutenant	Jeff Garfinkel
3rd Lieutenant	Phil Billik
Fire Police Captain	Justin Lasaponara
Engineer	Steve Hannigan

Salisbury Mills Ladies Auxiliary Officers
President	Nancy Makofske
Vice President	Sandy VanLeeuwen
Secretary	Lucia Florio
Treasurer	Irene Sauer
Corresponding Sect	Sonia Reimer
Chaplain	Irene Sauer
Historian	Patricia Johnson

Company Civil Officers
President	Paul Wall
Vice President	Bob Johnson
Recording Secretary	Vincent Araneo
Treasurer	Jim DeStaso
Financial Secretary	Jeff Garfinkel

Company Trustees
Mark Johnson	Steve Hannigan
Jim McCann	Ed MacDonald
Mike Schiraldi

Hall Rental -click here for information- coming soon

Mailing Address	Physical Location
P.O. Box 279 Salisbury Mills, NY 12577	2128 ROUTE 94 Salisbury Mills, NY 12577
Business Phone
845-496-3251

SMFC 1924

The need for a fire company in Salisbury Mills arose out of idle talk at a ball game which was being playing here in town in 1922, during which the railway depot caught fire and burned down.

Many discussions followed for days and weeks afterward, and it was finally decided to start proceeding for a fire company.

Through the efforts and hard and diligent work by a few faithful men, the company was formed and was well on the way to reality in 1923. It was called the Salisbury Mills Volunteer Fire Company.

SOME FIRSTS

The first chief of the company was a prominent business man, Mr. John D Garrison, and
the first President was Mr. Peter Longlow.
The first truck or apparatus was a 1923 American la France right hand drive, 500 gpm pumper with an open cab, at a cost of $10,000. Goggles were also purchased to drive the vehicle.
The first drivers were George Weber and George Piper.

Mr. George Weber, who was the ball team manager, now at the age of 82, Shares his stories of how this $10,000 was raised -- $1,000 was raised by selling chances of a heifer, Donated by a friend. It was scrubbed with ivory soap and decorated with a big blue bow and a couple of pretty girls selling chances.

Block dances were the big thing and everybody came. Working together for a worthwhile purpose never failed – Then or now – with this company.

The apparatus was shipped via railroad and unloaded at the Salisbury mills railroad yard and house in the shed of the paper mill which was run by Floyd Frost

The Fire Company was then incorporated in 1924 under the name The Salisbury Mills Fire Company, Inc. This was under the guidance of Mr. Egbert Seaman as Chief.

The old grist mill and Mechanics Hall had been acquired. It was then remodeled into a fire headquarters with a two bay truck house. Also upstairs were apartments in the building were remodeled. The truck house was also used as a meeting room and heated by a good sized pot belly stove.

Mr. William Williams was then elected to the office of President and Theodore Clark, Chief.

Many fires were fought with the 1923 La France and the need of another truck was seen. Officers changed and George Brunage was elected Chief, john Hoffman, and Assistant Chief. A 1934 Sanford pumper was purchased and put into service immediately at a barn fire.

1940's

During the Second World War, the firehouse was remodeled again. An exquisite lounge room was build upstairs, carpet was donated by Charles and Ruth Rosenthal and a shuffle board was donated by Mr. Charles Springer and is still in use today.

The stone along side the firehouse today was delivered from Mountainville on December 31, 1946, by Tottonelli for $75.00. The memorial stone was dedicated in 1947 to those lost in action in World War II.

On November 8, 1948, some thirty women of the Salisbury mills, determined to take a hand in the care of that handsome new club room, with approval of the fire company, organized an AUXILIARY WITH temporary officers.

The first elected officers (November 30, 1948) were,

President – Mrs. George (Dorothy) Brundage (founder)
Vice President – Mrs William (Frances) Caven
Secretary – Mrs. John (Bernice) Fleisher;
Treasurer - Mrs. Harold (Nell) Chamberlin
Historian – Mrs.Walter (Hilderage) Seaman.

1950's

On March 9, 1950 over 100 orange county firemen who had completed the first fireman's training school in orange county were presented diplomas at a dinner and ceremonies held at the Salisbury Mills Firemen's Hall.

In early 1950, the rear foundation of the truck house gave way to an ice jam caused by a quick thaw. damage was extensive and the building had to be remodeled quite thoroughly.

January 26, 1951, John Garrisons store burned out. it was around then, the area began to change and grow quite rapidly. The need for fire protection in the Mountain Lodge Park area was growing.

In order to accomplish this a reorganization meeting was called for by the towns of Blooming Grove, Cornwall and New Windsor to appoint a Board of Commissioners and approve fire district boundaries – maps had been drawn up, lines fixed and all was recorded in Goshen, New York. on August 3, 1951,

The Board of Fire Commissioners approved a request that Mountain Lodge Park be authorized to establish a fire company.

This was accomplished and later they became incorporated under the name of Mountain Lodge Park Fire Company, Incorporated of the Salisbury Mills Fire District under the guidance of Assistant Department Chief, Henry Rolufs, this was approved September 21, 1951.

With two companies in the district, we were then considered a Fire Department, Mile Feller of the Salisbury Mills Fire Company was elected as the First Department Chief.

1951 being a busy year, also saw one of the biggest fires, the Salisbury Mills School on was just about gutted on December 1, 1951.

The firemen's hall was then approved to be used as a school house, by the company, until the school house had been remodeled.

The change of times and resident construction going on, officers changed and Harry Sauer was elected President.

The need for another fire truck was discussed and brought before the Board of Fire Commissioners. A 1952 Mack 500 gpm pumper was then purchased and the 1924 American La France was turned over to the Mountain Lodge Fire Company. It was just after the new Mack arrived that Bill Gauquie’s barn burned.

A 1959 Ford with a 1000 gallon tank and a 750 gpm pump was purchased and the 1934 Sanford was sold to Camp Lenni-Lenape.

1960's

In 1960 it became known through Chief George Brundage that a 1952 GMC panel truck was available for purchase from the salvage yard at Fort Dix, New Jersey. The Commissioners purchased it for $100 on April 7, 1960.

It was decided to drive it up to Salisbury Mills which was quite a harrowing experience. When the police stopped them on the parkway they were told to get off because they couldn’t go fast enough. Then the fun started, finding there way home, but they did finally arrive safely.

The truck was painted red, a siren was mounted, red lights installed, emergency printed on the sides and equipped as such. As of 1974 is was still in use.

1961 James Grant was elected President and he was known as the “Chief” of the company.
1966, fred staples was elected President and he also became known as a great Chief.

1967 an international four-wheel drive front and side suction with a midship was purchased and specifically equipped for fighting brush fires.

This truck was also equipped with a front mounted winch which has come in handy many times.

Many parades were attended and trophies won.

The '70's to present coming soon