The Beginning History of the Wurtsboro Fire District.
The origin of the Wurtsboro Fire District actually begins on October 20, 1898, when a group of residents formed the Wurtsboro Hose Company. Shortly thereafter, the Wurtsboro Hook and Ladder Company came into being, and the two companies merged to become the Wurtsboro Fire Department with Dr. Charles Piper as its first chief. This was the first existence of organized fire protection for the Wurtsboro community. In December of 1900, a spirited drive to finance the erection of a firehouse, meeting rooms, and community village hall was initiated by the membership of the fire department. Hard work and enthusiasm were at their peak, and by February of 1909 the new fireman’s hall was dedicated by former Governor of the State of New York, Benjamin B. O’Dell Jr. The building was erected on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. Frank McCune, who were the original owners of the Dorrance House (formerly the Wurtsboro Hotel and now Pasta D’Oro). It is worth mentioning that the original fire department had the building built, furnished, and placed in service for $7,500. All monies for this project were raised by the membership. This was certainly a great accomplishment in those days.
Unfortunately, firemanic interest seemed to dwindle with the advent of World War I. In 1922, the hall was sadly in need of repair and was deeded to the village. Its name was changed to the Frank McCune Jr. Memorial Hall in memory of the McCune son who died while in the military service of our country. It is sad to relate that for the next dozen years from 1918 to 1930, there is little activity to mention about meetings, drills, and an occasional fire.
In October of 1930 a small group of former Wurtsboro Fire Department members met to reorganize under the old charter. With meetings on October 15 and October 22, plans materialized for the rebirth of the Wurtsboro Fire Company #1 with fifty active chartered members. This was the beginning of the Wurtsboro Fire Company #1. Chief Adam Startup was elected as the first chief of the department. This reorganization immediately produced many needed improvements and efficiencies within the new fire company and department. For all the years since this reorganization, even fire calls and emergencies beyond the corporate limits of the Village of Wurtsboro, were answered at the direction of the village board. Other than a few brief months in 1935, none of those calls or emergencies were ever refused. To reimburse the village for this service, set and specific dollar amounts were paid by the Town of Mamakating for each type of fire call, false alarm, booster loads of water that were used, and hours of pumping that were needed. Some years saw many fire calls, and others had few fire calls. As a village owned and operated fire department, the chief, or the officer-in-charge of the department, answered only to the village board. The village board controlled the funding from the village tax base, which allowed the fire department to purchase fire apparatus, equipment, and sustain operations on a daily basis. This was especially difficult during the meager financial years of the depression. It was impossible to plan for improvements or the replacement of equipment and apparatus.