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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, July 24, 2019
IN THIS ISSUE
Calendar..........................................10
Craig McKinney................................ 9
Classifieds......................................22
Crossword...................................... 24
Highland..........................................19
Letters to the Editor........................ 9
Marlborough....................................18
Obituaries......................................30
Opinion.............................................8
Police Blotter...................................4
School News....................................16
Service Directory........................... 27
Sports............................................ 32
PUBLIC AGENDA
THURSDAY, JULY 25
WHAT: Lloyd Planning Board
WHEN: 7 p.m.
WHERE: Lloyd Town Hall
12 Church St., Highland
WHAT: Plattekill Zoning Board
WHEN: 8 p.m.
WHERE: Plattekill Town Hall
1915 Rte. 44/55, Modena
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The Southern Ulster Times (USPS 022-586) is a weekly
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NY 12550, with offices at 300 Stony Brook Court,
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Hamlet welcomes the Ulster County Fire Parade
Continued from page 1
will be awarded and hamburgers, hot
dogs and refreshments will be served
free of charge. A spectacular fireworks
display will top off the evening.
Chief Peter Miller said all of the
planning is done, “and we’re in good
shape and right now the weather looks
good.” He said it is “kind of scary” that he
has been involved in the fire service for
more than a third of Highland’s 125 years.
Miller apologized ahead of time for
any traffic inconveniences on the day
of the parade, “but we appreciate the
support we get from the community and
we look forward to continuing to serve.”
Highland Hose Company historian
Michael Gaffney provided highlights of
the history of the company. He was the
first cadet member to join as a junior in
High School in November 2000 and now
serves as an Assistant Chief.
Gaffney noted that after a tragic fire
in March of 1891 claimed the life of a
seven year old boy and destroyed eight
buildings, a water company was formed
in 1893 that took on the construction of a
reservoir and a pipeline system that led to
the establishment of the Highland Hose
Company in 1894. Initially, there were 25
men in the company under the leadership
of foreman John J. Clearwater. Their
first fire truck was a two-wheeled push
cart that carried 200 feet of canvas hose
and carried a 30 gallon chemical tank
on it. Over the years the Department
has continued to retire and acquire
equipment; a ladder truck in 2010, a new
2,500 gallon pumper/tanker in 2015, and
this year they will add a 100 ft Tower
Ladder.
The Highland Company’s first
firehouse opened on Easter Day 1925 on
Main Street, where they remained for
the next 67 years. In 1979 the department
expanded from a hydrant and protection
district into the Highland Fire district
and in 1982, Station #2 was opened at 570
New Paltz Road. In 1989 they purchased
their first Heavy Rescue truck, a walk in
E-One. It was in use for 18 years and saw
its last run in January 2007 to assist in an
entrapment incident on Jansen Road.
The company held a Grand Opening
of their new, and present, headquarters
on Milton Avenue on May 3, 1992 at the
former Grand Union grocery site.
Gaffney listed a few of the most
notable “Big Ones” the department has
dealt with over the years: a June 25, 1938
fire at the Highland High School [now
the Middle School] that caused $40,000 in
damages; on October 30, 1943 a tanker car
caught fire after a derailment at Pratt’s
Map shows the official parade route.
Lumber; a January 28, 1948 fire at the
Seaman’s Electrical Shop in the business
district that was stopped, in part,
because of the availability of nearby fire
hydrants; the infamous May 4, 1974 fire
on the Railroad Bridge that resulted in
the discontinuation of rail service across
the Hudson River. It took on a new life
in 2009 when it was transformed into the
Walkway Over The Hudson State Park.
John Gallagher, who is the Vice
Chairman of the Planning Committee,
said they began working on the event six
years ago.
“It’s been pretty hectic making sure
that we have the right players for all the
committees that had to be filled and are
out there doing their jobs,” he said. “It
looks like Saturday is going to be a very
successful day for us.”
Gallagher thanked the Lloyd Police
Department, especially Sgt. Phil Roloson,
for their help in the planning stages and
for their anticipated assistance on the day
of the parade. He also acknowledged the
Town Board for allowing a parade of this
size to take place in town, “for without
their assistance this never would have
happened.”
Gallagher hopes the public, “joins us
in celebrating our 125th year...We tried to
promote this as much as we can and now
it’s up to the citizens of Highland to come
on out and watch a good parade and enjoy
some food and some fireworks. It will be a
great community event.”
James Balint is the Chairman of the
parade and said this anniversary means
a lot to him.
“I got into the fire service in 1978
based on getting my father into the fire
service way back in the 1970s where
several houses in our neighborhood had
burnt down and there were no fire houses
close by,” he said.
Balint said the camaraderie of
the firefighters and the service to the
community is as important to him today
as when he joined in the late 1970s.