|
History Of Poultney Hose Company #1
The Poultney Fire Department, Poultney Hose Company #1, will be proudly celebrating 120 years of service, courage, and commitment
to the Village and Town of Poultney in 2009.
The earliest roots of the Poultney Fire Department predate even the Village of Poultney. In 1878 a committe established the
"Prudential Fire District #1" to provide fire protection to the inhabitants of what would become known as Poultney.
In 1889 "Prudential" trustees recognized the establishment of the "J.W. Deane Hose Company #1", from which
a direct lineage can be traced to the present day Poultney Hose Company. Land was purchased and a brick fire station was
erected on Depot Street. In 1891 "J.W. Deane" was removed from the company's title which subsequently became known
as the "Poultney Hose Company #1".
|
| Poultney Fire Department; Turn Of The Century |
Until 1923, the Hose Company's operations were restricted to the village of Poultney. In this year, the village voted to allow
the Hose Company to fight fires in the outlying town of Poultney providing "expenses were paid". In 1922 the Hose
Company saw it's first and only "Line Of Duty Death" of a firefighter. While battling the "Hudson Valley Creamery"
fire on October 20th (located near the railroad depot at Ideal Way) 24 year old Ralph Loukes lost his life after falling from
a ladder leading to the roof of the blaze. According to records, Loukes succumbed to his injuries the following day.
|
| Poultney Firefighters Late 1930's |
Tragically, on November 1st 1929, the original Poultney Fire House caught fire and burned to the ground essentially loosing
all records and equipment. The station was later rebuilt in 1930 and the companies equipment replaced. According to records
dating February 7, 1931: "Expenses for construction of new fire station $11,413.07; Fire Alarm system $1,800.14; Fire
Engine and Equipment $6,092.79". The early fire alarm system was noted to be located at the "Ripley Lumber Company"
until it was later replaced by a telephone alarm system.
|
| Click to read "Hose House Burns" article |
|
| Poultney Fire Department 1940's |
In 1931, Firehouse Park (located at Depot & Church) was rented from the D&H Railroad for the cost of $1. A new Fire
Engine was purchased in 1953. In 1967 Firehouse Park was purchased for $600. This same year, Green Mountain College donated
$500 to a fire truck fund and the Firehouse was renovated and expanded once again. This addition now serves as the Village
Water Department but once housed the Village Office as well as the Village Police Department. In 1969 the village authorized
the Poultney Hose Company to enter into mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns to provide and augment existing services.
|
| Depot Street Station 1930's |
The 1970's saw the purchase and activation of a radio based alerting and dispatching system. Poultney Hose Company continued
to expand its quality of service by adding numerous "homemade" pieces of Fire Apparatus to its fleet in the late
70's and 1980's. With the growing and changing nature of the fire service, the old firehouse at the intersection of Depot
and Church was eventually outgrown and abandoned making way for the construction of the new station on Beaman Street. Today,
The Poultney Fire Department houses 6 pieces of apparatus in addition to a HAZ-MAT trailer, ATV/Snowmobile Trailer, and a
Rutland County Incident Support unit.
|
| Poultney Fire Department Apparatus Fleet 2008 |
|
