History

With Gratitude, the history of the department was researched and archived largely by the late Mary Jane Stahley, whose lifelong dedication to the Bemus Point community will be forever treasured. We are grateful for her contribution to our future, by preserving our past.

Locations

March 11, 1911 - The first meeting of the Village Board of Bemus Point, NY was held in an upstairs room of Seymour Hall. On March 4, 1913, the village voted to provide fire protection to its residents. In 1914, the village appropriated $25 to the Methodist Church on Maple Street, for the purchase of a bell for fire alarm use. An electric siren was first purchased in 1921, a double head 3 HP, 220 volt Sterling Fire Siren.

February 27, 1920 - The Village Board granted a petition to organize a fire company for the protection of lives and property in the village. A.C. Russ was nominated to be the first Fire Chief. The other officers were: Clarence Hansen, 1st Asst, Clark Lord, 2nd Asst, A.G Barrett and L.G. Skillman, wardens.

July 17, 1920 - Agreement made with Columbian Inn, Inc. to lease a portion of the Fowler Block (#4 Main St.) to house fire apparatus nearby the village hotels. The building was used for the fire department and a meeting place for the Village Board.

“The floor of the building was several feet above the street, so a very steep concrete ramp was built in front of the village portion of the building to get the fire engine in and out of the building. In those days, there were no starters, so the Ford fire truck had to be cranked by hand. The truck was very hard to start, so it would be pushed to the door, put it in gear and let it go down the steep ramp, which generally started the truck off at great speed” - Victor Norton

In 1922 voters approved the purchase of land on Alburtus Avenue to start construction of a combined fire and village hall, The siren was installed in a structure on the second floor.

The 1922 building was expanded in 1954 with a new 33x40 foot structure built on property acquired from Arthur Murdock. The new building was connected to the old village hall. Today, the original structure houses the Bemus Point ambulance, and provides space for the Bemus Point Historical Society.

In 1948 the department acquired the former Clarence Hansen Garage at 13 Main Street, razed it, and constructed their club rooms. Most of the work was done by the firemen. The Auxiliary raised money to buy drapes and other furnishings. This building was used extensively until such fraternal activities lost popularity. Many benefits were held there, dinners, dance programs, clinics, and it was used by the Catholic Church after they suffered a fire in their church. The Lutheran congregation used it after they organized and were waiting for their church to be built. The fire company ran regular bingo games for many years after being legalized by NY State in 1958. In 1967 the fire department sold the building to the Bemus Point Library, at a reduced cost, as a contribution to the library, which remains there today.

The 1954 brick-faced concrete block building was further expanded in 1991 to include the new village hall, and is the present location of the Bemus Point Volunteer Fire Department.

The siren on the 1954 expansion building was replaced in 1991. In 2018 the lighting in the hall was converted to energy-saving LED, and the training room was renovated, increasing the seating for meetings and training.

The Fire Company produces an annual newsletter to the community, called The Patron. An archive of historical copies can be viewed from the image link below:

Apparatus

Boats