LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the New City Fire Engine Company No. 1
upon the occasion of celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the opening of
its firehouse

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commend the New City Fire
Engine Company No. 1 upon the occasion of celebrating the 125th Anniver-
sary of the opening of its firehouse at the New City Fire House on May
27, 2013, in New City, New York, and to honor its past and present fire-
fighting members for many years of fire protection to the citizens of
New City, New York, and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, On the evening of December 7, 1887, 13 New City citizens met
in Horn's Hotel, across Main Street from the RC Courthouse, with the
purpose of founding a volunteer fire company to protect the people of
the hamlet of New City; they were mostly businessmen, tradesmen (shoe-
makers and cigar makers), local laborers and men who farmed the land
around New City; a year later in 1888, a charter was granted by the
State of New York to the New City Fire Engine Company No. 1, the offi-
cial name to this day; and
WHEREAS, The founders quickly purchased their first fire engine on
January 4, 1888; they purchased a lot from George Buchenau where Maple
Avenue ended (at that time) at Demarest Avenue in New City and
constructed a firehouse; and
WHEREAS, The New City firehouse and fire company became the social
centers of New City and remained so for nearly 75 years; in those years,
nearly every family included either or both firemen and later ladies
auxiliary members; penny and ice cream socials, and picnics were held,
as well as an annual ball; and
WHEREAS, By the 1950s things began to change dramatically in New City
and all the areas surrounding New York City, as the post World War II
generation moved to the suburbs; the members of the fire company, sens-
ing the changes in their community, erected a new fire station on Maple
Avenue in 1952 (after Maple Avenue was completed to Congers Road); and
WHEREAS, The Company now had several fire apparatus to reserve and
needed additional space; a second building with a couple of additions
served the New City community until a new modern third firehouse was
constructed in the late 1990s; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the New City Fire Engine Company No. 1 upon the occasion of
celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the opening of its firehouse; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New City Fire Engine Company No. 1.