History of the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation

In the summer of 1948, several people living in the Town of Volney decided that it was time there was an organization founded that would be responsible for the protection of the homes and businesses from that dreaded danger of fire. On July 20, 1948, the Volney Town Board held a special meeting at which time there was a resolution submitted which was as follows: "We the undersigned, constituting a majority of the Town Board of the Town of Volney, Oswego County, New York, do hereby consent to the formation of the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation, and do hereby approve the foregoing certificate of incorporation and consent that the same be filed". The supervisor was Irving Taylor, Justices Asa K. Hill, Elmer E. Taylor, Howard J.Ives, and Erwin Rockwood. On the 29th of October, 1948, another special Town Board meeting was held for the purpose of discussing fire protection for the Volney Fire Protection District, comprising of all of the Town of Volney lying outside of the Minetto Fire Protection District. After the consideration and discussion, a motion was made by Justice Erwin Rockwood and seconded by Justice Howard Ives, authorizing the town clerk to advertise for a public hearing for the purpose of considering and making a contract with the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation for fire protection. Term of the contract to be five years at a cost to the town of $2,700 per year.On November 16, 1948 the public hearing was held and there was no one that appeared to object to the fire contract so the county attorney was ordered to prepare a contract between the Town of Volney and the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation. This being a separate corporation, the Volney Town Board has no control over the fire department.When the original contract was signed between the town and the fire corporation, there was also a separate contract with the Minetto Fire Department and the town needed a separate contract with that department for the protection for the residents of the Seneca Hill area. Minetto was also paid each year for fire protection.

As the new Volney Fire Protection District was formed, the following officers were elected: Harry Lathrop, president and Joseph Vant, vice-president. Joe Vant also served as fire chief at the outset. The Ladies Auxiliary was organized on September 30, 1948 and the first officers of that organization were: V.M. Fitzgerald, president, Lena Ives, vice-president, Lillian Tilden, secretary, and Grace McEwen, treasurer. The worked along side the men to assure continued success of the organizations.At first they worked out of the garage at the town hall. The auxiliary was instrumental in having a kitchen built on the South side of the building. They held suppers, dances and other activities to help supplement the income of the fire department. The old town hall had served as a meeting place for the firemen for many years until they built until they built their own fire house East of County Route 6 on the North side of State Route 3. March 27, 1966 was a joyous occasion for the local fire department as they gathered for the mortgage burning on their new fire house. In the early days they would often throw their brooms, etc. in the back of a pick up truck and go to grass fires to help put them out. Over the years they added newer and better equipment for their use in fighting fires. They are in the mutual aid network whereby they will go to nearby towns to assist in any way they can in the event of fire or other disaster, such as automobile accidents. In the summer of 2001, the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation moved into their newly renovated, state-of-the-art quarters on the same location. The first equipment purchased by the department included a fire truck, boots and hose approximately costing $15,000. In 1975, a second fire house was added to the corporation's property when they opened Station 2in the Seneca Hill area on the March Road. This eliminated the need for a fire contract with Minetto Fire Department for fire protection in that area. The cost of fire trucks now approach or exceed $400,000 and it is no wonder why the town contract is now over $200,000 per year. Today, the Volney Volunteer Fire Corporation has two fire stations housing 4 pumper-tankers, 3 rescue vehicles, a boat and a utility truck. Station 1 on State Route 3 is the main station and has offices and a 250 seat hall for meetings, banquets, special functions and weekly bingo games. The property also is the site of the annual firemen's field days which is anticipated each year by residents in the surrounding areas.