Transcription
Walton Engine & Hose Company
1893-1983
A Short History
The village of Chester was incorporated on July 23, 1892, and the same year plans were started for a village water system. Upon completion of the water works on October 17, 1893, the Walton Hose Company was organized On November 9, 1893.
There were many disastrous fires, especially one in 1851 that destroyed seventeen or eighteen buildings in the lower village, and another fire in 1877 that was proven to be arson. The arsonist was brought to trial and, because of his popularity, was exonerated of all charges.
There was another fire that probably was the first mutual aid between Goshen and Chester. The telegraph, railroad and firemen all participated in the episode. The towerman at Chester telegraphed the towerman at Goshen that Chester needed help. The Goshen towerman alerted the firemen who rushed their hand pumper to the railroad station where there were one or two engines in the yard at all times. The firemen lifted their pumper onto a flat car, came to Chester, unloaded and set up to pump water. There was no time given but it was said that it was done in a remarkably short time.
The rapid growth of the village and the disastrous fires indicated the urgent need for a water supply and a fire company to protect lives and property.
The first line and civil officers who were in command of the Walton Hose
Company were:
R.P. Conklin Chief
J.R. Proctor 1st Assistant Chief
T.A. Miller 2nd Assistant Chief.
S. Roberts 3rd Assistant Chief
G.F. Banker 4th Assistant Chief"
G.R. Vail Secretary
J.E. Noonan Assistant Secretary
C.W. Kerner President
F. Vollmer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Vice President
G.M. Roe Treasurer
Trustees were Denny, Durland and Lawrence. The Chaplain was Rev. J.
Burrows.
There were forty active charter members and today there are ninety active members.
On March 1, 1894 the Village Board appropriated $1,000.00 for suitable fire apparatus. The referendum passed by forty approving and two dissenting. With this authority the village purchased one thousand feet of two and one-half inch hose with nozzles. At this time it was stored in three strategic places: in West Chester at W.A. Lawrence's, in Greycourt and in the lower village. The hose reels came later.
On July 19, 1894, Walton Hose Company approved the fire alarm signals. One toll of the church bells for Greycourt, two tolls for the Depot, three tolls for uptown, and four tolls for' West Chester. It was determined that a hose reel would be stationed near the aid Greycourt school (No.1), another above the home of Joseph Boardon on Railroad Avenue (No.2), another near the home of Joseph Durland (No.3), another near the home of W.A. Lawrence at West Chester, but this was not done until the fourth arrived in 1898.
Each hose reel carried three hundred feet of two-and-one-half inch hose with a nozzle.
As far as is known, Walton Hose Company never had a manpower pumper but depended entirely on hydrant pressure. They had a limited supply of buckets. No pike poles, axes or boots were mentioned.
The fire equipment that is housed in Walton Engine and Hose Company No.1, Inc. fire station is a 1976 International utility truck that carries 1,000 feet of 3-inch, 250 feet of 2 ½ inch, 500 feet of 1 ½ inch hose, has a 300 gallon booster tank, a 750 G.P.M. front mounted American pump, jaws of life, port-o-power, portable pump, and generator. The utility truck replaced a 1947 Chevy utility truck. A new 1983, 1750 G.P.M. American laFrance pumper with a Detroit 6V92TA engine and an automatic transmission, a 1250 gallon booster tank, carries 2,000 feet of 3-inch, 250 feet of 2½ inch, 700 feet of 1¾ inch hose, and a K12 saw. This pumper replaced a 1947 American LaFrance pumper and a 1956 Ford pumper with an American LaFrance body. A 1952 Dodge 4 x 4 brush truck carries 200 feet of 1½ inch stream hose and 100 gallon booster tank with a front mounted winch. A 1971 American laFrance 85 foot aerial ladder with a Detroit 671 engine, a 1250 G.P.M. pump, a 300 gallon booster tank, two mattydale cross lays with 200 feet of 1 ½ inch, 100 feet of 3 inch feeder line for the aerial, 600 feet of 3 inch hose. There is also a 5,500 gallon tanker.
On November 5,1955 Walton Engine and Hose Company No.1, Inc. joined with the newly formed Sugar Loaf Engine Company No.2, to make the Chester Fire Department. On October 1, 1973 Trout Brook Engine and Hose Company No.3 joined the Chester Fire Department. Charles (Pete) Otterstedt was the last chief of the Walton Engine and Hose Company and the first chief of the Chester Fire Department.
In 1968, Walton Engine and Hose Company celebrated their 75th anniversary with a parade on June 8th. It was assumed that the weather would be cooler than later in the summer. It turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year. Band members, firemen and Ambulance Corps members suffered greatly from the heat. Some were transported to Arden Hill hospital to be treated for heat prostration.
In September 1973, the Walton Engine and Hose Company No.1, Inc. hosted the first Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association convention and parade ever held in Chester. George Hulse, Walton Engine and Hose Company member was County President.
In September 1981, the Walton Engine and Hose Company helped the Chester Fire Department host the second Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association convention and parade in honor of Harold Reilly, county president, and a member of Walton Engine and Hose~Company. This was the largest paraqe the Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association ever held, and still is to the present time.
Present members of Walton Engine and Hose Company who are holding other offices outside the company are:
Alfred Nucifofa who serves as Deputy Coordinator of District 9; George Hulse, First Vice President of the Orange County Fire Chiefs Association, and is also a member of the advisory board; Jack Memmelaar, who serves as a director of the Fire Chiefs Association of Orange County, and is also a member of the advisory board.