The Beginning of the Olive Fire Department
Organizational Meeting
For 124 years, from 1823 when the Town of Olive was chartered until 1947- with the exception of a loyal but limited fire brigade in Shokan- any organized and equipped fire protection was imported from the Town of Woodstock and other surrounding towns where trained volunteer departments existed. When fire broke out the obvious delay in response time coupled with fireman working in unfamiliar territory only produced marginal results. Fire losses in the mid 1940's at the North residence on Weber Lane in Olivebridge and a spectacular blaze at the Reformed Church in Krumville were particularly frustrating.
-Peter Nissen
Olivebridge Fire Department
West Shokan Fire Department
Among those most exasperated by the fire losses in the Town of Olive was Albert Fox Jr., a young Olivebridge dairy farmer who was particularly driven to improve the fire suppression effort in the Town. As recorded minutes state and local lore embellishes, a meeting was called for the cold wintry night of January 30, 1947, for 19 interested townfolk to discuss organizing a fire district. Of the 19 individuals invited, the record shows that "only 27" actually attended. Other early meetings on March 12th and 14th provided the name and framework of the Department and established the first Board of Directors of seven individuals who included Percy Cook, Harlowe McLean, William Osterhoudt, Lester Barringer, Charles McLendon, Simeon Trowbridge, and Albert S. Fox Jr. It was also resolved to locate the firehouse in the hamlet of Olivebridge.
-Peter Nissen
Roll Call Book
Shokan Fire Department
Boiceville Fire Department