HISTORY OF CHESTERTOWN FIRE COMPANY

Dr. Howard B. Swan saw the need for a fire company and spent days, weeks and months selling the town on the formation of their own fire company. In June 1932, after another serious fire, about 100 people finally met at the Odd. Fellows Hall to discuss Swan’s proposal.

A petition was presented on December 29, 1932 for a meeting in January, 1933. The petition called for a meeting in the “parlors” at the Rising House for the purpose of determining if the establishment of a fire District was in the best interest of the inhabitants of the territory embraced with the proposed Fire District, and at that, would hear any and all persons for or against the establishment of the proposed Fire District.

Scott R. Pritchard
Charles S. Kenwell
Alien L. Meade
Committee

September 21, 1933, at the Rising House the following Commissioners were appointed by the Town Board:

Dr. Howard B. Swan
William Murphy
Walter W. Janser
Treasure of the District -Ralph Barkley

The Fire District shall be known as the “Chestertown Fire District”

Walter H. Wertime was selected to act as attorney and C.J. (Neill) O’Connell was appointed Chief.

A meeting of the taxpayers was held Oct. 19, 1933 at the Odd. Fellows Hall for spending $9500 for apparatus and equipment.

At that time, there were 56 charter members.