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| OVFC HISTORY |
It was a fire which might have resulted in tragedy that became the
inspiration for change. In February of 1941 Westerlo and Rensselaerville
fire departments responded to a call for help. Fire had broken out in the
middle of the night in a Clarksville area dwelling. The family emerged
unharmed and damage was kept to a minimum, thanks to the departmentsâ
€™ Response. People were impressed by this and just one month later
civic-minded citizens of Clarksville called for a public meeting and the
Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company was formed.
inspiration for change. In February of 1941 Westerlo and Rensselaerville
fire departments responded to a call for help. Fire had broken out in the
middle of the night in a Clarksville area dwelling. The family emerged
unharmed and damage was kept to a minimum, thanks to the departmentsâ
€™ Response. People were impressed by this and just one month later
civic-minded citizens of Clarksville called for a public meeting and the
Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company was formed.
The first order of business was to elect a slate
of officers; for president, Willis Mclntosh; for
vice president, Earl Ingraham; for secretary,
William E. Zeh; for treasurer, C. A. Anderson.
Next came the work of organization.
Committees were appointed to resolve
questions of name, district, equipment and
housing. After months of research and
discussion, it was decided that the fire
protection district would cover the southern half
of the Town of New Scotland, including the
villages of Clarksville, Feura Bush, & Unionville
an area of some 40 square miles.
of officers; for president, Willis Mclntosh; for
vice president, Earl Ingraham; for secretary,
William E. Zeh; for treasurer, C. A. Anderson.
Next came the work of organization.
Committees were appointed to resolve
questions of name, district, equipment and
housing. After months of research and
discussion, it was decided that the fire
protection district would cover the southern half
of the Town of New Scotland, including the
villages of Clarksville, Feura Bush, & Unionville
an area of some 40 square miles.
An ambitious undertaking for the little group of
volunteers who named themselves the
Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
after the creek which runs diagonally through the
district. The company was incorporated, and six
directors were elected to transact business:
Anson Rowe, George Billington, Everett
Ingraham, Edward Johnson, Cary Stott and
William Briner.
volunteers who named themselves the
Onesquethaw Volunteer Fire Company, Inc.
after the creek which runs diagonally through the
district. The company was incorporated, and six
directors were elected to transact business:
Anson Rowe, George Billington, Everett
Ingraham, Edward Johnson, Cary Stott and
William Briner.
Next came the problem of equipment. By 1942 the United States was fully involved in the Second World
War and government priorities superseded community needs. It was not until March 1944. three years
after that initial meeting, that we signed an order for our first pumper with the Sanford Fire Equipment
Company. A vacant garage served as firehouse, and Earl Ingraham was elected Onesquethaw’s first
fire chief.
War and government priorities superseded community needs. It was not until March 1944. three years
after that initial meeting, that we signed an order for our first pumper with the Sanford Fire Equipment
Company. A vacant garage served as firehouse, and Earl Ingraham was elected Onesquethaw’s first
fire chief.
EQUIPMENT AND HOUSING,
One of the Company’s initial acts was to buy the vacant garage and convert it to a firehouse. By 1951
we were able to add to our equipment by purchasing a 1938 Chevrolet pickup, which the men rebuilt into
a small fire truck and stored in Myricks’ garage in Unionville. Our third piece of equipment (1942
Dodge with front-mounted pump) was purchased in 1953 from Elsmere and housed in Rothaupts’
garage in Feura Bush. By 1956 Feura Bush and Unionville had their own firehalls and the following year
the ‘38 Chevy pickup was replaced by a rebuilt 1950 Chevrolet tank truck purchased from Main
Brothers Oil Company.
The OVFC “White fleet� dates to 1961 when funds were allocated for an International truck with
750 gpm pump and a thousand-gallon tank for the Clarksville Station, replacing the original truck.
In 1964 the ‘42 Dodge was replaced by a “white� 1964 International for Feura Bush. In
Unionville in 1966, a Chevrolet pumper/tanker was installed to replace the 1950 Chevrolet.
A 1959 GMC utility truck was purchased from Delmar Fire Department in 1970 and painted white and
modified for our use. A replacement schedule of vehicles was set up and the 1959 GMC was replaced in
1980 by a Chevrolet four wheel drive mini pumper. Two International Harvester-Young pumper tankers,
each with a thousand-gpm pump and tank were acquired in 1985. One of these “twins� replaced
the 1966 Chevrolet in Unionville and the other went to Clarksville as an addition to the fleet.
In 1990 an International Marion pumper/ tanker was purchased and is the first truck in the company to be
equipped with a “deck gun� capable of spraying a thousand gallons per minute. The 1961
International was sold and the 1964 International was moved to Clarksville.
One of the Company’s initial acts was to buy the vacant garage and convert it to a firehouse. By 1951
we were able to add to our equipment by purchasing a 1938 Chevrolet pickup, which the men rebuilt into
a small fire truck and stored in Myricks’ garage in Unionville. Our third piece of equipment (1942
Dodge with front-mounted pump) was purchased in 1953 from Elsmere and housed in Rothaupts’
garage in Feura Bush. By 1956 Feura Bush and Unionville had their own firehalls and the following year
the ‘38 Chevy pickup was replaced by a rebuilt 1950 Chevrolet tank truck purchased from Main
Brothers Oil Company.
The OVFC “White fleet� dates to 1961 when funds were allocated for an International truck with
750 gpm pump and a thousand-gallon tank for the Clarksville Station, replacing the original truck.
In 1964 the ‘42 Dodge was replaced by a “white� 1964 International for Feura Bush. In
Unionville in 1966, a Chevrolet pumper/tanker was installed to replace the 1950 Chevrolet.
A 1959 GMC utility truck was purchased from Delmar Fire Department in 1970 and painted white and
modified for our use. A replacement schedule of vehicles was set up and the 1959 GMC was replaced in
1980 by a Chevrolet four wheel drive mini pumper. Two International Harvester-Young pumper tankers,
each with a thousand-gpm pump and tank were acquired in 1985. One of these “twins� replaced
the 1966 Chevrolet in Unionville and the other went to Clarksville as an addition to the fleet.
In 1990 an International Marion pumper/ tanker was purchased and is the first truck in the company to be
equipped with a “deck gun� capable of spraying a thousand gallons per minute. The 1961
International was sold and the 1964 International was moved to Clarksville.
LADIES AUXILIARY (Unit 4),
Our Ladies Auxiliary was organized in May 1944, just two
months after we signed the contract for our first equipment.
In addition to coffee, comfort and comraderie, the ladies
provide indispensable support in fund-raising and inter-
departmental projects. We joined the Hudson-Mohawk
Volunteer Firemen’s Association in 1944, and that
organization’s convention was held in Clarksville the
following year, a feat made possible in large measure by the
Auxiliary’s efforts.
Our Ladies Auxiliary was organized in May 1944, just two
months after we signed the contract for our first equipment.
In addition to coffee, comfort and comraderie, the ladies
provide indispensable support in fund-raising and inter-
departmental projects. We joined the Hudson-Mohawk
Volunteer Firemen’s Association in 1944, and that
organization’s convention was held in Clarksville the
following year, a feat made possible in large measure by the
Auxiliary’s efforts.
RESCUE SQUAD,
The OVFC Rescue Squad came into being in 1967 with the purchase of a 1960 Pontiac ambulance.
When our new firehouse was built on Plank Road in Clarksville in 1972 (affording a convenient meeting
room as well), the Pontiac was replaced by a 1970 Cadillac. In 1975 an addition was built on the Feura
Bush firehouse to provide storage for the ambulance. In the Fall of 1976 a Chevrolet modular ambulance,
one of the first in the area, was purchased and in 1987 the Chevrolet was replaced with a 1986 Ford
walk-through modular unit, New York State certified. This vehicle provides state-of-the-art life saving
equipment, including an automatic defibrillator. Rescue Squad members are fully trained in the use of the
equipment. Many double as firefighters or are members of Unit #4 (Ladies' Auxiliary).
FIRE POLICE,
The OVFC Fire Police was instituted in the early sixties under the auspices of President Albert (Bud)
Danckert and the late Fire Chief Irvin Buck. It was the first such unit in
Albany County. Our fire police have been quick to spot possible hazards, and are expert in keeping
fire-related accidents to a minimum.
COMMUNICATIONS,
We joined the County radio system in the late fifties, and installed our own inter-departmental system in
the late seventies.
HYDRANTS,
Fire hydrants were installed in Feura Bush in 1986 and in Clarksville in 1990. Prior to the installation, all
water was drafted from ponds, creeks, pools and other at-point sources. Hydrants in these maximum risk
areas have greatly improved our fire fighting capacity.
The OVFC Rescue Squad came into being in 1967 with the purchase of a 1960 Pontiac ambulance.
When our new firehouse was built on Plank Road in Clarksville in 1972 (affording a convenient meeting
room as well), the Pontiac was replaced by a 1970 Cadillac. In 1975 an addition was built on the Feura
Bush firehouse to provide storage for the ambulance. In the Fall of 1976 a Chevrolet modular ambulance,
one of the first in the area, was purchased and in 1987 the Chevrolet was replaced with a 1986 Ford
walk-through modular unit, New York State certified. This vehicle provides state-of-the-art life saving
equipment, including an automatic defibrillator. Rescue Squad members are fully trained in the use of the
equipment. Many double as firefighters or are members of Unit #4 (Ladies' Auxiliary).
FIRE POLICE,
The OVFC Fire Police was instituted in the early sixties under the auspices of President Albert (Bud)
Danckert and the late Fire Chief Irvin Buck. It was the first such unit in
Albany County. Our fire police have been quick to spot possible hazards, and are expert in keeping
fire-related accidents to a minimum.
COMMUNICATIONS,
We joined the County radio system in the late fifties, and installed our own inter-departmental system in
the late seventies.
HYDRANTS,
Fire hydrants were installed in Feura Bush in 1986 and in Clarksville in 1990. Prior to the installation, all
water was drafted from ponds, creeks, pools and other at-point sources. Hydrants in these maximum risk
areas have greatly improved our fire fighting capacity.