Apparatus Gallery

 
It all began on April 16, 1841, when a major fire swept through several buildings on Main Street (in the vicinity of Lawyers Row) and efforts to contain the blaze were not effective. Two years later, another destructive blaze hit the same area of Main Street. This all occurred before the Village of Goshen was enacted, resulting in no funding of agencies for the citizens protection. On April 18, 1843, the Village of Goshen was officially chartered by the Albany legislature. In the Articles of Incorporation, it was duly noted that firefighting and fire protection were prime factors for establishing the Village of Goshen.

On July 16, 1843, a committee of two Village Trustees was chosen to select 10 individuals for a Hook & Ladder Company. The men were chosen by the Trustees and were appointed to their duties beginning November 1, 1843, to the newly formed Hook & Ladder, Company Number One.

The name was changed the following year to Orange Fire Company Number 1, with the addition of Goshen's first fire engine, the Metamora. The Metamora was black and gold, bought second-hand from the disbanded Forrest Engine Company of New York for $450. It came with two hand-carved Indians and a painting on its backside depicting the last scene of "The Tragedy of Metamora." It was in service until June 6, 1855, when a brass cylinder punctured and it went temporarily out of service. It would come back and be the first engine for the Dikeman Hose Company Number 3. The two carved wooden Indians were salvaged and are mantle ornaments in the current Cataract Engine and Hose Company's station on Main Street.

Goshen needed to replace the Metamora with a new engine, and on November 9, 1855, the Village Board authorized the purchase of a new engine. The new engine was a four-wheeled, hand pulled and pumped machine that could pump a direct stream of water or through an attached hose. The name of the engine was called the "Cataract", which was proclaimed in an arch of brass letters across the top of the truck. Thus, the Orange Fire Company Number 1 adopted the same name as their pumper, and became the Cataract Engine Company Number 1, in 1862. The Cataract would remain in service until 1914, and has since been restored to full operating condition.

The Protection Hose Company was founded in 1858, with young volunteers, but after eight years of service, they found the going rough and disbanded in 1866. However, Village Trustees felt that the young firemen and their services were needed, and asked them to attach themselves to the engine company, which then became the Cataract Engine & Hose Company Number 1.

In 1871, $1000 was appropriated for apparatus and an approval for the formation of the Rescue Hook & Ladder. Eleven years later, the company reorganized to become the Elliott Hose & Ladder Company, in honor of Charles G. Elliott who served nearly 50 years as Chief of the Goshen Fire Department. Then in 1906, the company reorganized again and became the Minisink Hook & Ladder Company. Up until 1977, they shared the Main Street station with the Cataract Engine & Hose Company. Today, their home is in the spacious North Church Street station.
Goshen needed to improve its fire coverage on the other side of the Erie Railroad tracks, and on September 12, 1873, this became a reality with the formation of the Dikeman Hose Company Number 3. Edwin Dikeman started with the Goshen Fire Department in 1852 and served as a Village Trustee for 11 years and served four terms as Village President. It was through his efforts and wills that the company came to fruition, and his supporters thanked him by naming the company in his honor. Their first hose carriage was stored initially at a blacksmith shop on Greenwich Street (eventually renamed Greenwich Avenue). It then moved to the John Donovan building on Greenwich and remained there until 1880. It then transferred to a building on the corner of New Street and Greenwich and stayed there for five years until moving finally to its present location on New Street in a three-story brick building.
The same year the Dikeman Hose Company was founded, 1873, the Goshen Fire Department was formed to oversee all activity of the three fire companies in Goshen. They were, the Cataract Engine & Hose Company Number 1, the Rescue Hook & Ladder Number 1 (renamed the Minisink Hook & Ladder in 1906), and the Dikeman Hose Company Number 3. They also officially elected Charles G. Elliott as fire chief, a post he held informally since 1856.
Today, the Goshen Fire Department continues to mature as it protects a fast growing Goshen. The Cataracts and Dikemans are scheduled to move into two newly constructed firehouses in 2003 to relieve their tight quarters on Main Street and New Street, respectively. They still participate in fire parades, a tradition in Goshen since the 1870s, and parades throughout the Hudson Valley.Apparatus have come and gone, and today the Goshen Fire Department uses some of the best equipment available to fight fires and rescue missions. They are also actively involved with the community by sponsoring pancake breakfasts, pre-Thanksgiving turkey raffles, and fire prevention with the local schools. Goshen firefighters have a proud tradition and strengthen it every passing year with their knowledge and expertise.