History
In the early morning hours of October 29th 1886 a fire was discovered at the Patrick Meyer’s Saloon in central New Hartford. The fire began to spread rapidly and rage out of control. The townspeople were summoned and a bucket brigade was started to combat the flames but it was of little use. When the flames were finally extinguished ten buildings were reduced to ashes. Thankfully no lives were lost.
At this time the townspeople knew forming an official fire department was necessary. On January 22nd 1895 the New Hartford Fire Department was organized with a charter membership of thirty-one members. William Platt, a local blacksmith, was voted in as the foreman.
The first piece of equipment owned by the fire department was a hand drawn cart known to the members as the “Old Handrail.” Members would hitch themselves to the cart and drag it to the scene of the fire.
The first fire station that the Department utilized was the old Temperance Hall which was purchased in the early 1920’s. This building was believed to be located just west of the current town hall.
In 1897 the department received a hook and ladder truck. In 1922 the department purchased its first motorized piece of fire apparatus. A red Reo chemical truck capable of holding thirty gallons of chemicals became the town's front line defense against fires.
In August of 1955 a flood devastated the
The Department then purchased the old freight house from the railroad company. The station was located on Greenwoods road directly behind the current firehouse. When the new station was built in 1982 this building was rented to the New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance at a cost of one dollar for a one hundred year lease. The ambulance service continues to operate out of this building to this day.
In 1969 the department built an additional station
at the corner of
© New Hartford Fire Department 2008
