Saugerties High sets sights on success
Sam Gallo climbed down from the driver’s seat of a 1956 Union Hose Co. fire truck and declared to his parents, “this is very cool.”
The two-year old son of Chris and Karen Gallo of Saugerties, had spent the morning inspecting the dozens of fire engines that lined Fair Street in Uptown Kingston Saturday for the 13th annual Antique Fire Engine Muster and Show, sponsored by the Volunteer Firemen’s Hall and Museum.
“He loves fire trucks,” explained his mother as the toddler checked out the wheel wells and running board of another fire truck on display.
“It’s a great activity on a hot day and nothing beats a fire truck to keep Sam happy,” she said as the boy moved on to inspect another vehicle.
The Gallos were among the dozens of enthusiasts, both young and young at heart, who wandered among the fire trucks and fire apparatus, sometimes marvelling at idea that fires could have been fought with the equipment of the time.
Donna Ellis, whose 14-yearold daughter, Ellaysia, who had hopped behind the wheel of a vintage Port Ewen fire truck, said she was “amazed,” by the technology — or lack of —of decades past.
The event is a yearly fundraiser for Volunteer Firemen’s Hall and Museum,which is housed in the old Wiltwyck firehouse, at 265 Fair St.
A 50-50 raffle and silent auction of items like a fire truck pedal car as well as baskets filled with merchandise donated by area businesses were held raise funds to bring in funds,and the museum was open throughout the day for tours.
“Every year for the last 13 years we’ve been inviting antique vintage and even active duty fire apparatus and emergency apparatus in general to come and display their vehicles as a day to show off what they have to the community,” said Bill Knowles, vice president of the Volunteer Firemen’s Hall and Museum’s Board of Directors. “They get a chance to see nifty trucks and see a little bit of history,” he said.
In addition to raising funds for the museum, Knowles said the muster can help recruit a new generation to fire fighting.