Senate Resolution No. 2100

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Durhamville Fire Department to be celebrated on
April 7, 2024

WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Durhamville Fire Department
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 Durhamville Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past century; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Durhamville Fire Department and to honor its past and
present firefighting members for 100 years of fire protection to the
citizens of Durhamville, New York and its surrounding communities; and

WHEREAS, Heeding the call after a local church fire, the Durhamville
Fire Department was founded on April 7, 1924; it was started by its
founders in a small one-room structure that still stands today, which is
located across the street from the Durhamville Post Office; and

WHEREAS, Growing from humble beginnings of 30 members, the
Durhamville Fire Department has since grown and in the late 1940s to
early 1950s, a new building was built on Church Street that has received
several additions over the years; and

WHEREAS, The Durhamville Fire Department gradually built their
collection of equipment, their first fire truck body was made by J.J.
Fleih of Syracuse and their first fire truck chassis was a Reo Chassis
purchased from Foster Motor Sales of Oneida; in 1898, Frank Reynolds and
Herman Keller started a movement for a fire company, however, it failed
to develop past the purchase of a hand pumper and that was the first
piece of equipment used in the newly founded department; and

WHEREAS, Those in attendance for the first meeting were: Supervisor
A.H. Mayer, Chairman; Prof. E.W. Claus, Temporary Secretary; Frank H.
Ernenwein, Fire Chief; Daniel J. Covell, Oneida Insurance Man; and J.H.
Russell, Foamite-Childs Organization Utica; at the end of this initial
gathering, Herman F. Keller was elected Fire Chief; A.H. Mayer was
elected President; Fred Geisenhoff was elected Vice President; Herman F.
Keller was elected Treasurer; and lastly, Stephen Ennis was elected
Secretary; and

WHEREAS, The current leaders of the Durhamville Fire Department are:
Fire Chief, Eric Wilcox; Assistant Chief, Keith Brandis; President, Eric
Wilcox; Vice President, C. Tim James; Board of Fire Commissioners
Chairman, Robert Laurin; Board Secretary, Lori Stoffle; 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 100th Anniversary of the Durhamville Fire
Department to be celebrated on April 7, 2024; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Durhamville Fire Department Fire Chief and President
Eric Wilcox.