History of CFD
Photo Courtesy of New Jersey Fire Museum
Historical Notes
(See also: History of our equipment)
Synopsis of Clayton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Written by Lorna Flake
May 8, 1886- Rescue Hook & Ladder Company of Clayton Legally Incorporated
May 19, 1886- Helmets cost $27.00 doz. Blue Jackets cost $28.50 doz.
June 26, 1886- Village Authorities donated $8.00 for trumpets.
June 29, 1886- First Excursion- 336 tickets @25 cents-Boat Rent $40.00 Profit $39.75
July 5, 1886- First Drill in Gananoque, Hook & Ladder Co. won $15.00 prize.
March 29, 1887- St. Lawrence Hose Co. No. #2 formed. Minutes ran till Feb. 12, 1895
February 2, 1888- Joined State Firemen’s Assn.
March 2, 1888- Attempted to purchase a Hook & Ladder truck for $400.00. Village Board Refused
May 3, 1888- Purchased 30 Gold Plated Badges $15.55.
August 21& 22, 1890- Attended State Firemen’s Convention in Watertown by train excursion.
Purchased 30 new caps @$12.00 a doz. Total cost $55.10
February 2, 1891- Calumet Engine Company #1 formed. Minutes till 1897.
April 18, 1891- Had trouble collecting Foreign Insurance from local insurance agents.
October 5, 1891- Calumet Engine Co. #1 held first meeting in New Engine House.
April 4, 1892- Engine Co. #1 purchased first Exempt Certificates @50 cents each.
April 6, 1895- Discussion on By-Laws
May 4, 1896- Chief Haap presented badge to Dept. he received for service.
September 2, 1896- Joined Jefferson County Volunteer Firemen’s Assn.
October 5, 1896- Received Bids for janitor to clean Engine Hall.
G.B. Hubbard bid 75 cents a month to clean hall, build fires and light lamps for all meetings.
January 18, 1898- First Annual Ball Tuesday, January 18 -Tickets $1.00 per couple for supper and ball.
May 2, 1898- Committee appointed to arrange for racing team to compete in prize contests at Alexandria Bay, Jefferson County Convention, June 15 & 16.
August 6, 1900- Committee appointed to get a banner
June 15, 1900- First Jefferson County Convention in Clayton.
December3, 1900 -Initiated Ray Pelow into First Degree by introducing him to the “White Feather” in the tower.
October 7, 1901- Pool Table purchased and gymnasium equipment for fire hall.
May 8, 1903- Paraded with Clayton Fire Dept. Band-58 members paraded.
December 5, 1904- Gordon Denny joined Fire Dept.
May 5, 1904 - Responded to fire at T.I. Park. Engine loaded on scow and towed by Steam Islander. Everything loaded in 25 minutes- 30 members went on scow.
February 7, 1910- Mrs. William Smithers and Thomas Collins donated silver trumpet.
February 12, 1917- Wall case for banner ordered built
October 3, 1921- Voted to bond treasurer and Chief of Company to sign checks. All reports are to be in writing and signed by fireman presenting the report.
Feb. 6, 1928- Village Board purchased two new pumpers for Department.
Nov. 2, 1931- Purchased Lincoln Squad Truck for $950.00
August 4, 1936- Chief A.J. Bennett died from injury of accident in answering alarm July 29 at 6:30 at St. Lawrence Chateau.
Dec. 7, 1942- Received tank truck from Town of Clayton.
May 1943- First monthly letters sent to members in Armed Forces. All letters received from
those members in service put in scrap book to be kept safely for future.
September 1944- Blow siren every noon except Sunday.
November 1945- Steamship sunk at Consaul’s dock.
March 4, 1946- Formed First Aid & Salvage Company.
May 1946- Bought Cadillac chassis for $1836.45-committee; Lawrence Pelow, Lee Phillips, Elton Lingenfelter
May 1946- Village Board bought new 5 man cab truck for out of town fires.
May 1946- Bought new typewriter.
May 1947- Charles Heath made new case for axe.
June 1947- Held Northern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Convention.
September 1951-Voted to Incorporate Department.
November 1951- Bought 1948 Chassis for tank wagon.
November 1952- Wedding gift to Dick Locke-only Fire Chief married while in office in history of Dept.
July 1953-Officially Incorporated Department.
August 1953- New Banner with Calumet Castle painted on $170.00.
December 1953- First Annual Xmas Party held December 21st.
December1953- Purchased 2000 Watt generator and equipment for portable lighting $870.00
January 4, 1954- Village purchased GMC fire truck.
August 2, 1954- Purchased 6 doz. fireman sweaters.
November 1, 1954- PA System purchased.
June 1955- Held Northern NY Convention.
February 6, 1956- Purchased New Ambulance-Clayton 1st in Jefferson County to give ambulance service- Ford Station Wagon.
September 1959- Jefferson County Convention in Clayton.
March 3, 1960- Voted to put in dial telephone alarm system.
Sept. 20, 1960- Purchased new tank truck.
Dec. 5, 1960- J.P. Lewis donated Fire Boat “Last Chance”. Pump for boat $500.00
January 4, 1965- Purchased new ambulance-Chevy Station Wagon.
January 1965- Ordered double breasted new uniforms for entire dept.
April 5, 1965- First meeting in New Municipal Bldg. - Chief Ted Thomas.
November 22, 1967- Set up Memorial Fund for donations to ambulance.
May 6, 1968- Purchased Emergency Van from Schell-Dominy Chevrolet.
May 6, 1968- Purchased outboard motor & Boat & Trailer.
October 1969- Purchased New ambulance.
December 1970- Purchased Riverqueen Fire Boat with pilot house powered by twin 290 HP Chryslers just rebuilt. Invoice value $13,500 trade-in-allowance $4,500 difference paid $9,000.00.
January 1971- Purchased New Poker table.
February 1971- Stopped hauling water and withdrew from United Fund.
February 1971- Racing Team formed and squad truck repaired.
June 1971- Hosted Northern NY Vol. Firemen’s’ Convention
October 10, 1971- First Annual Visitation to Churches in a body in full uniform.
November 1971-Purchase of Service Award pins.
December 1971-Requested citation of Valor from Village Police, Constables Assn. for James Narrows for saving life of Richard Brown in river.
March 1972 - Snowmobile trailer donated by Clayton Snowmobile Club.
August 1972- Water Ball Court completed and water ball teams formed.
October 1972- New Ambulance bought for $11,000.00.
January 2023- The Town of Clayton Fire Department was formed, combining assets and volunteers from the Clayton and Depauville Fire Departments into a single department.
(See also: History of our equipment)
Synopsis of Clayton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Written by Lorna Flake
May 8, 1886- Rescue Hook & Ladder Company of Clayton Legally Incorporated
May 19, 1886- Helmets cost $27.00 doz. Blue Jackets cost $28.50 doz.
June 26, 1886- Village Authorities donated $8.00 for trumpets.
June 29, 1886- First Excursion- 336 tickets @25 cents-Boat Rent $40.00 Profit $39.75
July 5, 1886- First Drill in Gananoque, Hook & Ladder Co. won $15.00 prize.
March 29, 1887- St. Lawrence Hose Co. No. #2 formed. Minutes ran till Feb. 12, 1895
February 2, 1888- Joined State Firemen’s Assn.
March 2, 1888- Attempted to purchase a Hook & Ladder truck for $400.00. Village Board Refused
May 3, 1888- Purchased 30 Gold Plated Badges $15.55.
August 21& 22, 1890- Attended State Firemen’s Convention in Watertown by train excursion.
Purchased 30 new caps @$12.00 a doz. Total cost $55.10
February 2, 1891- Calumet Engine Company #1 formed. Minutes till 1897.
April 18, 1891- Had trouble collecting Foreign Insurance from local insurance agents.
October 5, 1891- Calumet Engine Co. #1 held first meeting in New Engine House.
April 4, 1892- Engine Co. #1 purchased first Exempt Certificates @50 cents each.
April 6, 1895- Discussion on By-Laws
May 4, 1896- Chief Haap presented badge to Dept. he received for service.
September 2, 1896- Joined Jefferson County Volunteer Firemen’s Assn.
October 5, 1896- Received Bids for janitor to clean Engine Hall.
G.B. Hubbard bid 75 cents a month to clean hall, build fires and light lamps for all meetings.
January 18, 1898- First Annual Ball Tuesday, January 18 -Tickets $1.00 per couple for supper and ball.
May 2, 1898- Committee appointed to arrange for racing team to compete in prize contests at Alexandria Bay, Jefferson County Convention, June 15 & 16.
August 6, 1900- Committee appointed to get a banner
June 15, 1900- First Jefferson County Convention in Clayton.
December3, 1900 -Initiated Ray Pelow into First Degree by introducing him to the “White Feather” in the tower.
October 7, 1901- Pool Table purchased and gymnasium equipment for fire hall.
May 8, 1903- Paraded with Clayton Fire Dept. Band-58 members paraded.
December 5, 1904- Gordon Denny joined Fire Dept.
May 5, 1904 - Responded to fire at T.I. Park. Engine loaded on scow and towed by Steam Islander. Everything loaded in 25 minutes- 30 members went on scow.
February 7, 1910- Mrs. William Smithers and Thomas Collins donated silver trumpet.
February 12, 1917- Wall case for banner ordered built
October 3, 1921- Voted to bond treasurer and Chief of Company to sign checks. All reports are to be in writing and signed by fireman presenting the report.
Feb. 6, 1928- Village Board purchased two new pumpers for Department.
Nov. 2, 1931- Purchased Lincoln Squad Truck for $950.00
August 4, 1936- Chief A.J. Bennett died from injury of accident in answering alarm July 29 at 6:30 at St. Lawrence Chateau.
Dec. 7, 1942- Received tank truck from Town of Clayton.
May 1943- First monthly letters sent to members in Armed Forces. All letters received from
those members in service put in scrap book to be kept safely for future.
September 1944- Blow siren every noon except Sunday.
November 1945- Steamship sunk at Consaul’s dock.
March 4, 1946- Formed First Aid & Salvage Company.
May 1946- Bought Cadillac chassis for $1836.45-committee; Lawrence Pelow, Lee Phillips, Elton Lingenfelter
May 1946- Village Board bought new 5 man cab truck for out of town fires.
May 1946- Bought new typewriter.
May 1947- Charles Heath made new case for axe.
June 1947- Held Northern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Convention.
September 1951-Voted to Incorporate Department.
November 1951- Bought 1948 Chassis for tank wagon.
November 1952- Wedding gift to Dick Locke-only Fire Chief married while in office in history of Dept.
July 1953-Officially Incorporated Department.
August 1953- New Banner with Calumet Castle painted on $170.00.
December 1953- First Annual Xmas Party held December 21st.
December1953- Purchased 2000 Watt generator and equipment for portable lighting $870.00
January 4, 1954- Village purchased GMC fire truck.
August 2, 1954- Purchased 6 doz. fireman sweaters.
November 1, 1954- PA System purchased.
June 1955- Held Northern NY Convention.
February 6, 1956- Purchased New Ambulance-Clayton 1st in Jefferson County to give ambulance service- Ford Station Wagon.
September 1959- Jefferson County Convention in Clayton.
March 3, 1960- Voted to put in dial telephone alarm system.
Sept. 20, 1960- Purchased new tank truck.
Dec. 5, 1960- J.P. Lewis donated Fire Boat “Last Chance”. Pump for boat $500.00
January 4, 1965- Purchased new ambulance-Chevy Station Wagon.
January 1965- Ordered double breasted new uniforms for entire dept.
April 5, 1965- First meeting in New Municipal Bldg. - Chief Ted Thomas.
November 22, 1967- Set up Memorial Fund for donations to ambulance.
May 6, 1968- Purchased Emergency Van from Schell-Dominy Chevrolet.
May 6, 1968- Purchased outboard motor & Boat & Trailer.
October 1969- Purchased New ambulance.
December 1970- Purchased Riverqueen Fire Boat with pilot house powered by twin 290 HP Chryslers just rebuilt. Invoice value $13,500 trade-in-allowance $4,500 difference paid $9,000.00.
January 1971- Purchased New Poker table.
February 1971- Stopped hauling water and withdrew from United Fund.
February 1971- Racing Team formed and squad truck repaired.
June 1971- Hosted Northern NY Vol. Firemen’s’ Convention
October 10, 1971- First Annual Visitation to Churches in a body in full uniform.
November 1971-Purchase of Service Award pins.
December 1971-Requested citation of Valor from Village Police, Constables Assn. for James Narrows for saving life of Richard Brown in river.
March 1972 - Snowmobile trailer donated by Clayton Snowmobile Club.
August 1972- Water Ball Court completed and water ball teams formed.
October 1972- New Ambulance bought for $11,000.00.
January 2023- The Town of Clayton Fire Department was formed, combining assets and volunteers from the Clayton and Depauville Fire Departments into a single department.