LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Otter-
kill Engine Company No. 1, Campbell Hall Fire Department to be cele-
brated on November 1, 2014

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th Anni-
versary of the Otterkill Engine Company No. 1, Campbell Hall Fire
Department and to honor its past and present firefighting members for
100 years of fire protection to the citizens of the Town of Hamptonburgh
and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 100 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Otterkill Engine Company No.
1 have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and have won
the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, The Otterkill Engine Company was organized November 4, 1914;
according to the original minutes, approximately 60 men, residents of
the village of Campbell Hall, gathered in the Town Hall at Campbell Hall
for the purpose of organizing a fire company; and
WHEREAS, John L. Stillman was chosen chairman of the meeting and Elmer
F. Markey served as Clerk; no record of whom these men were, but the
election of a few of them as officers establishes their identity; these
members were: Edward B. Kuhl-President, Carl P. Cross-Vice President;
Elmer F. Markey-Secretary; Albert R. Gurnee-Treasurer; Cornelius Martin-
son-Chief; Elliott Mc Clung-Foreman; John A. Bedell-First Assistant
Foreman; Lester Tremper-Second Assistant Foreman; George B. Alexander-
Trustee; George W. Crist-Trustee; William Gurnee-Trustee; Charles O.
Campp-Fire Police; and Cornelius Weaver-Fire Police; and
WHEREAS, Albert R. Gurnee, affectionately known as "Pop", who was
instrumental in organizing the company and through whose untiring
efforts were greatly appreciated as well as his monetary gift along with
other townsfolk's donations which helped to purchase the department's
original fire apparatus; and
WHEREAS, A motor driven apparatus was delivered in 1916 by the Ameri-
can-LaFrance Company; this equipment consisted of two chemical tanks
mounted upon a Ford Model-T chassis and is still in the possession of
the company; and
WHEREAS, In 1931, the Fire District purchased what is known as a
"Triple-Combination", comprising a motor driven pump of high capacity
and a hose body and ladder rack; this was a Sanford pumper; at that
time, the Ford chemical truck was retired and while it has since become
obsolete it is occasionally driven in parades; and
WHEREAS, In 1954, the Sanford pumper was traded in for a Ford-LaFrance
which is still used today; six years later, the District purchased a
Ford H. & H. tank truck with a capacity of 1500 gallons; and
WHEREAS, The Ford apparatus and the original firehouse together with
all of the other equipment of the company were acquired by the newly
established fires district in 1918, and Charles H. Cornell, Sanford P.
Watkins and Harold Benedict were elected Fire Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, It was through the efforts of Harold Benedict who was treas-
urer of the company from 1916-1920, that the Fire District of the Town
of Hamptonburgh was established and the department organized under
Supervisor Henry V. Clark; and
WHEREAS, Out of 56 charter members, 11 were in the Armed services
during World War I and 43 active members served in World War II; other
active members have served in Korea as well as Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Otterkill Engine Company No. 1 in public service and fire protection

is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 100
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 Otterkill Engine Company No. 1
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 Otterkill Engine Company No. 1 reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 100 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 100th Anniversary of the Otterkill Engine Compa-
ny No. 1, Campbell Hall Fire Department to be celebrated at its Annual
Banquet on Saturday, November 1, 2014; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Otterkill Engine Company No. 1.