It’s been more than 225 years since the first 19 firefighters were appointed to protect the city in the state’s first organized fire department.
Among them were local merchants, lawyers and other community members who wanted to keep their city safe.
Today, the Hudson Fire Department is the oldest active volunteer fire department in the state. In that time, the city has become the address of the state Fireman’s Home, a retirement destination for career firefighters, and the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York Museum of Firefighting at 117 Harry Howard Ave.
On Wednesday, the city led by Mayor Rick Rector, honored the fire department for more than two centuries of service to the city with a special proclamation read aloud on the steps of City Hall.
“On this day 225 years ago, the first fire company in Hudson was constituted by an act of the Common Council which appointed 19 firemen to superintend the fire engine number one,” Rector read from the proclamation.