Middletown Fire Department

Middletown Fire Department

Since its organization in the fifties the fire department of Middletown, N. Y., has always borne a high reputation. Before that year the city had fire protection, but no well trained organization. As far back as 1821, when it was a mere village of considerably less than 1,000 inhabitants, it had purchased a hand engine of the old familiar type of the day, which did duty till 1845, when the rapid growth of the town called for better protection. A public subscription was inaugurated and the sum of $700 was raised, for which a more powerful and more modern machine was purchased from New York City, which was then abandoning its old hand engines in favor of steamers. By this time there had been organized the Protection Company, which went out of existence in 1870, and the Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company, Eagle Engine Company and Phoenix Engine Company. These still occupy the houses built for them in 1859. In that year was organized the Washington Independent Bucket Company, the offspring of some friction in the department. The equipment of this company was peculiar—a circular truck, with a bucket for every member. The first assistant chief of the department was a noted painter of the time, and on each bucket of this company was painted the owner’s portrait. The village trustees never recognized the company, which, after a short but lively time, passed out of existence.

The present volunteer department, under the command of Chief Charles Higham (whose assistants are Leon Simpson and E. H. Schoonmaker), is made up of the best class of citizens and consists of seven companies, as follows: Excelsior Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, Monhagen Hose Company No. 1, Eagle Chemical Engine and Hose Company No. 2, McQuoid Engine Co. No. 3, Phoenix Engine No. 4, Ontario Hose No. 5, Wallkill Engine No. 6.