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In 1912, a group of
concerned citizens organized the Improvement League with J. R.
Willard as Chairman. This League of local men assumed the duties of
fire protection to protect the businesses and homes in the hamlet of
Alfred Station with a hand drawn chemical tank as their first piece
of firefighting apparatus. As more Mechanized transportation became
available in the 1920s the chemical tank was mounted on a Model T
Ford. During this time the organization called the Alfred Station
Fire Department was formed. The Rev. Edgar Van Horn was a prominent
leader of the movement to form such a department. In 1933, with
William Davis as President of the department, a Hudson chassis was
converted into a fire truck. The truck was built by Fred Palmer and was housed in
an attached garage behind the existing meeting house.
The department’s activities and enthusiasm fluctuated from this
period throughout World War II, when it was found absolutely necessary
to have a better organization and equipment. In 1946 with Rev.
Albert Rogers as President a war surplus trailer pump was purchased
jointly with the A. E. Crandall Hook & Ladder Company of Alfred. In
addition to the Hudson the department now had the trailer pump and
an old truck formally owned by the Alfred Fire Department. Then in
1947 these three pieces of equipment were traded for a used pumper -
the department’s first pumper truck.
New blood and enthusiasm in the organization, that provided fire
protection in a 1 mile radius of it’s hall, brought many activities
and a new outlook to the fire company and a campaign was started
for a new truck. Many activities to raise money were implemented and
the era of the chicken barbecue and the skill with which the company
staged these events produced a great part of the income needed to
purchase a new truck. In 1953, with Judson Stearns, Sr. as President
the first new and completely equipped yellow fire truck was
purchased.
As time proceeded, sometimes passing the hat among the volunteers at
the meeting to meet the money needed to pay the bills the company
was able to add a 2800-gallon water tanker truck and another 1967
Sea Graves FWD, 750 gallon per minute pumper truck containing 500
gallons of water. The active membership's involvement in the
community's fire protection grew to included fire protection for the
Township of Alfred. Then in 1976 a new 1250-gallon per minute Ward Lafrance pumper containing a 1000-gallon water tank replaced the
1953 pumper.
Contracts to provide fire protection to a portion of the Township
of Hartsville and a portion of the Township of Ward were added to
the already existing Town of Alfred contract for fire protection.
Then the 2800-gallon water tank was transferred to a 1974 Mack
chassis and is still in service. The 1967 pumper was upgraded to a
1000 gallon per minute pumper with 1000 gallons of water and placed
on a 1990 International chassis and is also still in service.
In 1998, with Norm Grosse as President, through a capital fund drive
and a membership involvement the company removed the old three bay
lean-to garage style fire station and constructed a five bay fire
station. As the area grew and needs for fire protection service
increased the
company added a used 1984 GMC light duty rescue truck which is still
in service. Then in 2000, with Norman Jefferds as President the
company replaced the 1976 Ward LaFrance pumper with a new 2000 GMC
4-Guys 1250-gallon per minute pump and a 1000-gallon water tank.
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