Pictured is the No. 1 Lake Huntington Fire Company finishing up after a house fire. Pictured, top right, is a hose cart, possibly the one currently displayed at the Cochecton Depot, donated by the late Solomon Katzoff. The company consisted of two trucks, (Model T Fords), one chemical truck and two pumpers. A big iron hoop and hammer signaled a fire alarm. Occasionally a man would suffer a broken wrist from the recoil of the crank-start trucks. 

A new member’s special initiation was to sit on a wooden bench—that happened to be electrified. One fire call remembered was for a Jewish camp. The rabbi’s beard had caught on fire!

June 12, 1938 was the first Firemen’s Field Day Parade, starting at Wollen’s General Store and ending at the Lorraine Hotel. Festivities continued into the evening at the Paradise Hotel and Rose’s Pizzeria on 114 and Route 52. Thirty fire companies participated in the parade. Over 1,000 people came out for the day and the town was packed. 

The Cochecton Preservation Society meets the first Tuesday of the month March through October, 7 p.m. at the Erie Depot, 8537 Rte. 97, Cochecton. Visit cochectonpreservationsociety.com, email cps12726@gmail.com or call 845/932-8104.urs by appointment.