Mexico, NY: Mexico Volunteer Fire Department History

MVFD History

Our Heritage

The Historical Resume of the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. was originally researched for a Historical Honoree Award that was bestowed by the Fireman’s Association of the State of New York for the fire department’s 140th Anniversary in 1992.
On June 2, 1852, the Village of Mexico voted to purchase a hook and ladder truck. That same year, December 10, 1852, 30 men formed Hook & Ladder Company No. 1. A few years later in 1855, a Bucket Brigade organized. Mexico Fire Department currently has two of the original Bucket Brigades’ leather buckets.
On April 7, 1860, 21 men were designated to form Engine Company No. 1. In that same year in July of 1860, the Village purchases a Cowing Model #4 Crane-Neck hand pumper. This was designated Engine #1. On March 28, 1861, the new hand engine was used for first time. MVFD restored this 1860 Cowing hand pumper in 1992 and has it sitting in our fire station today. Also, for the first time, the annual meeting of Protection Engine Company No. 1 for election of officers was advertised in Mexico Independent weekly newspaper. On July 4, 1861, MFD hosted the first parade of the fire department.
In 1885, the Mexico Fire Department reorganized. Then in 1887, voters, by a vote of 135 to 45, authorized the village to purchase a Silsby steam engine. This was designated Engine #2. Here is an excerpt from that era: The village of Mexico has been noted in past years for its many fires. The first importance occurred in 1832 or ’33, when the distillery of Simon Tuller, and the blacksmith shop of Asa Beebe were burned. The others in chronological order were as follows: 1 1844, tannery of Orson Ames; 1850, November, unfinished store of John Fort, store of Albin Lawrence, Methodist church, and barn of Levi Downing; 1852, November 27, Robert Kelley’s brick hotel, two small tenements, and house of Luke D. Smith, formerly belonging to the estate of Luther S. Conklin; 1854, March 25, store of Forsyth & Whitney, clothing store of John Butler, “an old red house” and other small buildings; 1854, August 26, three story store of Peck & Conklin, and stores of Henry Webb and William Rulison; 1857, November 24, blacksmith shop of Charles Johnson, and wagon shop of Haven & Smith; 1860, February 14, Whitney’s brick block; 1861, 1Condensed from a similar list prepared by Starr Clark, and published in the Mexico Independent March10, store of Almeron Thomas; 1862, March 14, Town Hall, store of Stone & Tuller, store and house of Solomon Doolittle, millinery shop of Miss Chubb, shoe shops of M. W. Babcock, and R. Howard, office of Luke D. Smith, etc,; 1864, July 22, Mexico Hotel, Whitney block, Dr. C. D. Snell’s block, post-office, and twelve other buildings, loss about $67,000; 1866, June 29, Empire House and block, and other buildings, loss $24, 000. From the first settlement of the town August, 1867m, a total of seventy-six building had been burned in the village and vicinity, entailing an aggregate loss of about $179, 000. Following this, three stores were destroyed by fire in November, 1868; Homer Ames’s saw mill and cheese box factory in August, 1879; Homer Ames and Henry Cook’s sash and door factory and heading mill in July, 1880; Homer Ames’s planning mill in February, 1881; the Phoenix block, March 14, 1882; L. J. Clark’s foundry in August, 1888; and Almeron Thomas’s old saw mill in May, 1889. During most of these years there was a regularly organized fire department which, in many instances, rendered valuable services. June 2, 1852, the sum of seventy dollars was voted to purchase a hook and ladder truck, and on December 10, thirty firemen were appointed as members of Hook and Ladder Company No. 1. April 7, 1860, twenty-one persons were designated to form Engine Company No. 1. In 1882 the department was reorganized and in 1887 a Silsby steamer and hose cart were procured at a cost of $4,000. During the latter year the last of a series of four reservoirs was completed. The officers of the fire Department at that time were: John M. Wing, chief; Pratt Sweeting, assistant chief; Edward F. Hollister, secretary; Anson J. Hallock, foreman engine company; Thomas Pepper, foreman hook and ladder company.
In 1896, the fire department authorized to select a bell for the Engine Hall belfry. This same bell currently decorates the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department sign in front of the present fire station on Main Street.
In 1928, voters, by a vote of 87 to 60, authorized the village to purchase a modern American LaFrance motor truck pumper. This was designated Engine #3.
In 1939, Mexico Fire Department incorporates, by authority of New York State Laws, forming what is now Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. The town of Mexico voters, by a vote of 25 to 6, also authorized a town Fire Protection District to contract with the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. for fire protection outside the Village of Mexico. Also, the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a GMC squad car with a front end pump and water tank for rural fire fighting. This was designated Squad #1.
In 1942, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department Inc. purchases a Ford LaFrance 500 gpm pumper for fire fighting. No number was designated for this engine.
In 1951, Parish Oil Company donated a 1945 Ford oil truck to the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. The tank was then refitted and a 250 gpm front end pump was added for use as a tanker for rural fire fighting. This was designated Tanker #1.
In 1957, the Village of Mexico purchased an American LaFrance deluxe 750 gpm pumper (shown on the left). This was designated Engine #4. Also in that same year, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford LaFrance 750 gpm pumper/tanker (shown on the right). This was designated Engine #5.
In 1958, the Mexico Fire Department purchased a Chevrolet pickup to be used as a Squad Truck (shown in background inside the old station). This was designated Squad #2.
In 1963, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford LaFrance 750 gpm pumper/tanker with five man ride cab and was the first five man ride cab in Oswego County. This was designated Engine #6.
In 1967, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford Young 1000 gmp pumper/tanker with five man ride cab (shown on left). This was designated Engine #7. Also in that same year, the Mexico Fire Department purchased a 1967 Chevorlet Pickup Squad Truck (shown on right). This was designated Squad #3.
In 1971, Mexico Vounteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford 1000 gpm pumper/tanker with five man ride cab. This was designated Engine #8.
In 1974, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased the former Grand Union grocery store on Main Street and renovated it for a fire station where we house our equipment today.
In 1975, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a four-wheel drive Dodge Power Wagon as a light rescue truck. This was designated Rescue #1.
In 1976, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford Young 1000 gpm pumper/tanker with five man ride cab. This was designated Engine #9.
In 1982, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased the "Village" pumper and the village of Mexico contracts for fire protection with the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
In 1988, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. purchased a Ford Marion heavy rescue. This was designated Rescue #2.
In the late 80’s, Oswego County asked that we house and man the County’s Mobile Cascade truck which would be called for by any fire department as needed to fill air bottles at the fire scene. This was designated Air #1 by the County of Oswego.
On January 1, 1991, A Fire Protection District was established for the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department and received a contract with the Town of Mexico for fire/emergency services for the entire township including the village of Mexico. Also in that same year, the Mexico Fire Department purchased a 1991 Chevorlet- long bed - crew cab to be used a a Squad Truck. This was designated Squad #4.
In 1991, Oswego County upgraded the Mobile Cascade truck with a new International and an entire new fill compressor and fill station. This was designated Air #2 by the County of Oswego.
On January 17, 1992,a new Simon-Duplex Saulsbury 1500 gpm pumper with a 1250 gallon tank, designed as a supply pumper, was delivered to the Mexico Volunteer Fire Department. This unit was originally ordered 11/29/90. This was designated Engine #10.
In 1993, a new light rescue Chevrolet 3500 Saulsbury was delivered. This is a four door chassis with four wheel drive and a custom body for storage of emergency supplies and equipment as well as a slide in unit with 100 gallon water tank and a 100 gpm pump (shown on left). It has since been modified by Jerome Fire Equipment to be used as a second Light Rescue, Grass Fire Truck and Squad Truck (shown on right). This was designated Rescue #3.
In 1998, a major addition to the Mexico Fire Station on Main Street was completed. This included additional floor area and height to the main floor for truck storage, as well as modern exterior stone walls.
In 1999, a new Freightliner 4 Guys Tanker put in service. This was designated Tanker #2.
In 2001, a new Spartan Gladiator Saulsbury with a 2000 gpm pump and a 1000 gallon tank Rescue Pumper. This was designated Engine #11.
In 2002, Mexico Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. celebrated its 150th Anniversary on Saturday, September 14.
In 2006, the Mexico Fire Department purchased a new Ford - Jerome Fire Equipment light rescue with a slide-in-pump/tank and an on-board gererator. This was designated Rescue #4.
In 2008, the Mexico Fire Department purchased a new KME Quint - KME Chassis with a 500 hp Cummins Engine, 75’ Ladder, 2000 gpm Hale Pump, 500 gal Water Tank, 40 gal Foam Tank, 2.1 Hale Foam-LOFIX System, and 104’ Ground Ladders.. This was designated Quint #1.
Submitted by: Henry Meyer Jr.