Senate Resolution No. 228

BY: Senator LITTLE

COMMEMORATING the 70th Anniversary of the North
Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company on August 18, 2018

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 70th
Anniversary of the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company and to honor
its past and present firefighting members for 70 years of fire
protection to the citizens of North Queensbury, New York, and its
surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at an Open
House on Saturday, August 18, 2018, where residents are invited to
participate in a myriad of events held throughout the day including
demonstrations, entertainment, food and family fun; and

WHEREAS, The first meeting to organize the North Queensbury
Volunteer Fire Company was held in the old District No. 5 schoolhouse on
upper Ridge Road on September 24, 1948, and was attended by 18 men; over
the next 30 days, 21 more members signed on and a 5,000 square foot
landsite was donated by Robert LaPan; and

WHEREAS, At its next meeting on October 24, 1948, the following men
were elected to office: Ralph Been, President; Leander Dickinson, Vice
President; Henry Osterhoudt, Secretary; Alger Mason, Treasurer; Robert
LaPan, Chief; William Brenm, Assistant Chief; and Fred Vaughn, Vernon
West, William Henderson, Arthur Freelove, Dean Howland, and Douglas
Webster, Directors; furthermore, Dr. Francis Lukes, Owen Kane, Granville
Beals and George Seeley were elected honorary members; and

WHEREAS, At this time, a building committee was appointed and plans
were made to acquire a 1916 American LaFrance fire engine; a week later,
ground was broken for a 30 X 35 cement block building firehouse from
plans drawn by J. Arthur Norton; and

WHEREAS, The fire company was barely formed when it received its
first alarm, a brush fire on Assembly Point; that same night, a second
call was answered; the fledgling firefighters also learned and honed
their skills by attending regular drills which were in conformance with
state law; and

WHEREAS, The firehouse was nearly completed by April 22, 1949, and
the first meeting was held in the new firehouse; within the next decade
or so, many pieces of equipment were purchased including a Dodge power
wagon equipped with a 500 gallon per minute pump, and a Ford 600 gallon
per minute pumper; and

WHEREAS, In 1949, a rescue squad was formed as part of the North
Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company, and Ralph Hill Sr. served as the
first Captain; the first ambulance was acquired in 1959 and replaced two
years later; today, the Rescue Squad is a separate but associated
organization; however, they frequently work in tandem with the Fire
Company; and

WHEREAS, In the late 1980s, organizations such as OSHA began
tightening regulations and making new rulings which seriously affected
the way things were done; mandatory equipment, schooling, training and
methods were being revised and becoming more complicated; paper work,
reports and record keeping became a major operation; computers were
coming into usage and were becoming necessity rather than a convenience;
and rules were set up on what a firefighter must wear when fighting
fires and emergencies; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, it became obvious that the present
firehouse was not only inadequate but did not meet OSHA and other
mandates; after plans were finalized in August of 1993, construction
began and work progressed during the winter with completion in early
1994; and

WHEREAS, Since that time new trucks and equipment have been added,
and the members have gone through courses in various types of rescue
operations and have proven to be proficient in all procedures involved;
and

WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality of our State; during the past 70
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the North Queensbury
Volunteer Fire Company have valiantly responded to all types of fire
emergencies and have won the praise and respect of the community which
they serve; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company in public service and fire
protection is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year,
for 70 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left
their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the North Queensbury Volunteer
Fire Company are prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the
lives of others and to protect homes and property from the destruction
caused by fire; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated
by individual firefighters, the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company
reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 70
years; 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
proudly commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the North Queensbury
Volunteer Fire Company on August 18, 2018; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the North Queensbury Volunteer Fire Company.