Mountain View
Volunteer Fire Co.
History

Our Beginnings:

In 1942 our community organized a Civilian Defense Unit similar to others formed in Rensselaer County the City of Troy. About 23 of our community joined the Civilian Defense Unit. At this time the city of Troy afforded us fire protection. We felt that our growing community needed a Fire Company. and on July 31, 1944 a public meeting was called and the proposition was approved. 36 men signed the papers and on August 3, 1944 our Charter was granted with 36 members. Our charter was recognized by the The Secretary of the State of New York as "Mountain View Volunteer Fire Company Inc."

      On February 2, 1945 a building committee was appointed. The By-Laws and other legal matters were promoted by the Former Chief Joseph Hetko of the Maplewood Fire Dept. In the same month, the Women's Auxiliary was formed with Ruth Prefontaine as President. On March 7 1945, the Community League and the Civil Defense Unit turned their funds over to the Fire Company. In August 1945, the Stockholders of the Mountain View Republican Club sold their property to the Company for One Dollar which included the land upon which the fire house now stands.
      A pledge Committee was appointed to obtain voluntary pledges from the residents for a new building. A sum of Three Thousand, one hundred nineteen dollars was raised by contributions from the committee. Dances, game parties and other activities were conducted at the Clubhouse, School House and the Sacred Heart Hall to raise funds for the building. In 1946, the well was drilled, a survey of the lots was made, and five adjoining lots were purchased.
      A fire pumper was bought from the government for Eighteen Hundred Dollars and was repainted by Dan Riley. On March 11, 1946, plans for the present building were approved and the committee instructed to go ahead with the building project. The building was started in Oct. 1946. The main siren was bought from the Government for Sixty Dollars. The members installed the ceilings in the Firehouse. They also painted the interior and exterior of the building. Chief Riley supervised the wiring of the building and was assisted by members. The Women's Auxiliary equipped the kitchen and bought chairs for the meeting room. Fifteen Thousand Dollars was borrowed for the building project, payable in fifteen years. The building was dedicated on June 8, 1947 by Chief Carl Smith and Honorary Chief John Amstuz as the speakers.
      In 1948 a Drum and Bugle Corps was organized to stimulate youth activities. Instruments were purchased and instructors hired to train the young people. Dan Riley had worked very hard to try to make the Corps a success. The Corps were later disbanded in 1951 due to lack of interest.

	Our first company officers were: President, Cecil Kline; vice president, Clifford Cooper; secretary, James Walch; treasurer, Jacob Warken; sergent at Arms, Edward Welch; directors, Athur Newlund, T. Edward Burnap, Russel Lawless, Hugh Jaques; chief, Willarm Simpson; assistant chief, Arthur E. Riley; captain, August Hillebrant; 1at lieutenant, Edward Doney; 2nd lietenant, Andrew Sturgeon.