| History of the Weltonville Fire Company |
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In September of 1955, Collins Sherwood was elected the first president and
Kenneth Mead the first fire chief of the Weltonville Fire Department. A total of 33
men were then charter members. The idea of organizing came after a barn
owned by Clifford Peters was lost in January, 1955. In August of 1956 a total of
12 ladies organized the Ladies Auxiliary with Dorothy Whitaker the first
president. There are still two charter members in the present membership of
25. Weltonville is in the eastern portion of the town of Candor, nine miles north
of Owego and to the west of Newark Valley. The fire district is the Election
District Two of the Town of Candor. Winston Lives took care of the incorporation
in April, 1956 and is now an honorary member. The first alarm was in February
of 1956 and at that time firemen were alerted by telephone. In 1958 a siren was
installed by the Ladies Auxiliary and now firemen rely on an electron alerting
system The first fire truck was a 1952 Ford tank truck which was converted into
a fire truck. Other units have been added with much work being done by
firemen in adding equipment and painting. A Pontiac station wagon was
donated to the company and was converted into a rescue vehicle. In 1966,
women were becoming full fledged members of fire companies and seven
members of the Weltonville Ladies Auxillary were also firewomen. The fire
company took over the schoolhouse in Weltonville and converted it into a fire
house. Much work has been done and an addition was recently added. The
building now has bays for the company's five vehicles and a meeting room. The
membership has grown from 33 to 65. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the
company took possession of a new 1980 1000 gallon a minute pumper which
was delivered in March 1981. The Auxiliary, besides providing the siren, has
bought a new battery for the truck, oxygen tank and protective gear for the men,
and a new garage door for the fire house addition. The Auxiliary continues to
keep things interesting in the fire company. They hold an annual picnic for the
company, march in parades and have their own banner.
Kenneth Mead the first fire chief of the Weltonville Fire Department. A total of 33
men were then charter members. The idea of organizing came after a barn
owned by Clifford Peters was lost in January, 1955. In August of 1956 a total of
12 ladies organized the Ladies Auxiliary with Dorothy Whitaker the first
president. There are still two charter members in the present membership of
25. Weltonville is in the eastern portion of the town of Candor, nine miles north
of Owego and to the west of Newark Valley. The fire district is the Election
District Two of the Town of Candor. Winston Lives took care of the incorporation
in April, 1956 and is now an honorary member. The first alarm was in February
of 1956 and at that time firemen were alerted by telephone. In 1958 a siren was
installed by the Ladies Auxiliary and now firemen rely on an electron alerting
system The first fire truck was a 1952 Ford tank truck which was converted into
a fire truck. Other units have been added with much work being done by
firemen in adding equipment and painting. A Pontiac station wagon was
donated to the company and was converted into a rescue vehicle. In 1966,
women were becoming full fledged members of fire companies and seven
members of the Weltonville Ladies Auxillary were also firewomen. The fire
company took over the schoolhouse in Weltonville and converted it into a fire
house. Much work has been done and an addition was recently added. The
building now has bays for the company's five vehicles and a meeting room. The
membership has grown from 33 to 65. In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the
company took possession of a new 1980 1000 gallon a minute pumper which
was delivered in March 1981. The Auxiliary, besides providing the siren, has
bought a new battery for the truck, oxygen tank and protective gear for the men,
and a new garage door for the fire house addition. The Auxiliary continues to
keep things interesting in the fire company. They hold an annual picnic for the
company, march in parades and have their own banner.
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| This is how we used to call for help. |
