Fire District #8: Glenville Hill
From "A Brief History of the Glenville Hill Volunteer Fire Co., Inc." by Doug Smith, Glenville Hill Fire Department Historian, 1983
Before we formed our company, there was no organized fire protection for our area. The Town Road Crew had a few indian tanks and brooms for grass fires. If a building caught fire it was doomed! About 1952 a grass and brush fire started near Route 5 and Johnson Road and burned nearly to Washout and Vernon Road. All this pointed to the fact that we needed Fire Protection.
When the Old District #18 was made part of the centralized Scotia-Glenville Schools, it left the Old School House on Washout Road vacant. The first meeting of neighbors interested in a Fire Department was held on September 29, 1953. From 18 neighbors who attended the 1st meeting, the membership grew by leaps and bounds. Of the original 18 members there are 3 still active: William Topka, Joe Topka and Douglas Smith. It was decided we would need to Incorporate, so we applied for and were issued a Certificate of Incorporation dated December 2, 1953. We also obtained the Old District #18 School House on Washout Road, which was our 1st Fire Station. At first, having no equipment, we were to help each other by bringing pails, shovels and ladders if called. Rea Howard was the 1st President and John Gardner was Vice-President. Bill Topka was elected Secretary and Olin Hinman, Treasurer. Douglas Smith was voted Chief and Wesley Martin, Deputy Chief.
Someone said, "Let's call ourselves 'The Washout Fire Department.' "But several others said "No Way!" to that name. It was suggested and adopted that we call ourselves "The Glenville Hill Volunteer Fire Group." (Later changed to Department.) This is after the geographical designation on the Geological Survey Map, "Glenville Hill."
In January 1954, 21 members passed the first part of the N.Y.S. Fire Training Course. This was taught by George Risedorph. To heat the old school there was a hugh stove in which we would build a wood fire. So before each meeting or drill someone had to start the fire. In the beginning everyone was instructed to bring their own chair. Alex Ketchbaum used to bring his milking stool. Oh, for the good old days!
A 1937 Chevrolet 1 1/2-ton truck was donated by James Boedecker and the Firemen converted it into our 1st Fire Truck. A fund drive was conducted and the proceeds were used to purchase a 175 GPM-GORHM RUPP portable pump, 2 ladders, some hose, etc. A 500-gallon water tank was donated, repaired and put on the truck so by spring we were in business.
Our second truck was a 1936 Mack also converted to a fire truck by the members. On this truck we mounted a 500 GPM-OCD pump, donated by the Schonawee Fire Department and a 750 gallon tank.
In July of 1954, Fire District #8 of Glenville was formed and approved. The first Commissioners were James Gould, Rea Howard, William Topka, Richard Brister, Frank Deltry and Karl Hawkins, Secretary-Treasurer.
Knowing we would have to have a building to house our trucks for the winter, we thought about a Firehouse. Picking the center of our Fire District, the members loaned monies to the company and bought the lot on the corner of Church and Ridge Roads. This was part of the William Crayford Farm of 95 acres. (The complete farm was purchased June 6, 1962 for use as a fire training ground.)
A Bond Issue was approved September 9, 1954 by the new Fire District for a Firehouse. This is the present Firehouse and was built mostly by the firemen and residents of the District. By real freezing weather, the shell was up and the furnace installed so we had a place to keep our fire trucks. A C-3 fire rating was approved by the Board of Fire Underwriters and we were a fully approved Fire Department.
Our present equipment ·consists of a 1966 Ward LaFrance Pumper Tanker, a 1971 Emergency Van and the 1978 Pierce 1 GPM Pumper. In addition to our Firefighters, we have some trained E.M.T.'s (Emergency Medical Technicians) that offer medical help.
In 30 years, we sure have come a long way.
Doug Smith, Historian
Click here to view photos of the Glenville Hill Fire Department from 1955-1965
Notably, Glenville Hill Fire Station is home to the historic Ground Observer Corps' Aircraft Observation Tower. Click here to learn more about this unique piece of Glenville history.