Talk used in Dedication

Storm King Engine #2 on Duncan Ave.

 by Colette C. Fulton, Village Historian

JOHN K. OLIVER (1812-1909)

Raised in New York City, John became a volunteer fireman there when in his early twenties. He was with Jackson Hose #24, Guardian #29, Hudson #1, and the Minute Hose Co.#62 which he organized. During his time of service he saved the lives of several men, women and children.

There were very few hydrants in the 1830's and 1840's and the firemen relied on cisterns that were placed in the yards of property owners. John believed he knew the location of every cistern in NYC which was very important information if you wanted to be the first company to respond to a fire. Much competition and jealousy existed between the various fire companies and many wicked fights followed each fire fighting call. Perhaps it was a way to release all the energy they had expended in putting out the fire. Michael Fanning, a fireman at Storm King #2 in the twentieth century (whose picture playing the “bones” is in the Engine House Museum) recalled similar fighting after a fire.

Cornwall-on-Hudson was known as a health haven in the early days. John Oliver brought his wife and seven children here in 1857 for the benefit of her health. He was a builder by trade and built more than 21 houses in Cornwall during his career. It was rather amazing to him that there was no fire company in the village and he spent four years talking about the possibility of organizing one.

Money was given by some of the more affluent gentry, Mssrs. Matthiessen, Solomon, Hart, Champlin and Gillis and other contributors realized the necessary $800 needed to buy an engine. It was purchased from the Brooklyn Fire Dept. and is the one recently acquired from out of state, brought back and restored and on display in the Storm King Engine House. John then proceeded to build the fire house with the help of his son and neither charged for their labor. He absorbed the cost of having a hose cart made by Gilbert Torrey. The apparatus was kept on the first floor and the meeting rooms were above.

The charter is dated March 20, 1870 and the first fire was in the Sagamore House, a nearby hotel between Duncan Ave. and Hudson St. Duncan Ave., once know as Park St., was a busy center. There was the Opera Hall Rink, a place for indoor roller skating and a lecture and entertainment hall and Barton and Spooner’s Souvenir Shop where one could purchase articles made of wood from the mountain. The addition of a fire house was welcomed.

John Oliver became the custodian for the building and continued as such after a new engine house was built in 1903. He was a man who never drank or swore, a promise made to his mother, a hard worker all of his life who was a much loved person known to all as “Uncle John”.

He lived to be 97 years old.

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Cornwall Historical Society Annual Dinner

March 24th, 2007

Mountainville Manor

 

 

Soldiers and Sailors' Monument - 5.31.06	We will never forget!

 

 

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