Pound Ridge Fire Department History

Excerpts obtained from Fire House Dedication January 21, 1950

In the early thirties the need of a fire company was often discussed wherever the townsfolk of Pound Ridge gathered. It was in August of 1933 a committee composed of Vernon Bailey, Robert Bender, and Mott Pettit of the Trinity Pass Association called an organizational meeting at the Town Hall. Mr. Bailey served as chairman, thirty-two men were present who signified their willingness to become firemen and on that day the 25th of August the Pound Ridge Volunteer Fire Department was born.

Progress was comparatively rapid after the third meeting the association members stepped aside. After a rising vote of thanks Mr. Bailey and the others, including Hiram Halle, who matched dollar for dollar up to the first thousand in the fund raising were given honorary gold badges. The infant company continued to grow and within two months the balance in the apparatus fund was $1022.00, entirely from voluntary contributions. This no doubt represented a lot of doorbell ringing, as a thousand dollars back in ’33 was not easy to come buy.

During November 1933 the first truck was contracted for and delivered in March of the following year. Also a siren, later destroyed by fire, and replaced by a newer model, was housed in a tower atop Schelling’s garage.

In the fall of 1936 a tragic event occurred which now, in retrospect, can be reviewed in a humorous light: THE FIRE HOUSE BURNED DOWN! The lone engine was stored in a lean-to adjoining Schelling’s garage. The fire broke out in the central part of the building where town trucks were housed and spread rapidly. The siren on the roof wailed in the down –pour of rain until the roof collapsed and it was shorted out.

Immediately following Pearl Harbor the department was virtually depleted of its membership. Those who didn’t go in to the armed forces moved to other areas for war jobs. It is to the everlasting credit of those who remained that they kept the organization from collapse.

In the late ‘40s Horace Dann of Springdale generously donated the two building lots to the Company for the site of the Firehouse. A car raffle, numerous square dances and finally a carnival in 1949 raised additional funds. In Spring of the last year the Company voted to give to the town two building lots, two fire engines and equipment, property valued in excess of $10,000. The condition was that the taxpayers build a new fire station. A bond issue was floated and in May 1949 ground was broken. On Hallo’ween the Ladies Auxiliary unofficially opened the building with a grand party for the kiddies. On November 14th, 1949 the firemen held their first meeting in their new home. Carnival money was used to purchase furnishings for the clubroom; members built cabinets for the kitchen, waxed the floors and generally tidied up after the contractors.

Today we, present firefighters, are proud of our home, and as its custodians continue to pledge to maintain not only the building and apparatus but ourselves as well up to the high standard that the taxpayers of this community are justified in expecting.