LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Maho-
pac Volunteer Fire Department

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 100th
Anniversary of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department which was cele-
brated on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at the Putnam County Golf Course in
Mahopac, New York, and to honor all of its past and present members, for
providing 100 years of exemplary fire protection; and
WHEREAS, Volunteer fire departments are an integral part of community
protection in localities across this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, For the past 100 years, the courageous and dedicated fire-
fighters of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department have valiantly volun-
teered their time to respond to various fire emergencies, all while
earning the praise and respect of the community in which they serve; and
WHEREAS, The Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department was established in the
fall of 1914, after numerous fires caused great concern among the resi-
dents of the community; 40 brave men gathered at the Old Town Hall and
under the leadership of George "Shorty" Long and Jerome Peck a new
volunteer fire department was created; and
WHEREAS, In January 1915, the department leased the second floor of
the railroad station and converted a donated Ford automobile into a
fire-fighting vehicle; they were then able to purchase a Mack chemical
fire engine, and in 1918, they purchased the old schoolhouse on Croton
Falls Road; and
WHEREAS, In 1921, the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department acquired an
advanced Stewart Buffalo pumper, a GMC Buffalo pumper, and an American
LaFrance fire engine; members began to render emergency medical assist-
ance with the help of a donated Buick ambulance; and
WHEREAS, The Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department continued to grow and
expand services, during the Great Depression, due in great parts to the
selfless efforts and donations of summer vacationers and the citizens of
Mahopac; they were remarkably able to donate a fire engine to the new
volunteer fire department in neighboring Mahopac Falls; and
WHEREAS, During World War II, the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department's
members bravely served their country as members of the United States
Armed Forces; after the war, a new four bay colonial style firehouse was
built on Croton Falls Road which has served the Department to the pres-
ent day; and
WHEREAS, As Mahopac changed from a tourist area to a bedroom communi-
ty, the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department continued to provide excellent
service, fighting blazes which destroyed all the old hotels in the area;
and
WHEREAS, The 1960s will always be remembered for the great heroics of
the volunteers' life saving actions and for the recognition attained by
the Department winning several NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Vamps's awards; and
WHEREAS, The Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department built its first
substation on Crane Road during the 1970s and added a second substation
in 1991; today, it continues to update its skills and expertise, while
replacing older apparatus with new modern firefighting rigs; and
WHEREAS, A new state-of-the-art firehouse was completed in 2007, and
dedicated to all members, past, present and future who have devoted
their lives to protect the residents of Mahopac, New York, over the past
100 years; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
all of those trained and devoted individuals who serve and protect their
communities through volunteer fire departments across this great Empire
State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Mahopac Volunteer Fire
Department; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department.