History

Ogden Engine was the last company of the Dobbs Ferry Fire Department to organize. With the Village expanding eastward and the population growing a need arose for additional fire protection in the Village. On January 6, 1898, a letter was read from the Secretary of the Fire Department to the Village Board advising them that as a result of a meeting of the Fire Department, approval was given to create a new company. A group of citizens came forward wanting to form a hose company to be known as the Ogden Hose Co. On March 30, 1898, an organizing meeting was held, and the company name of Ogden Hose Company # 3 was formed.

On April 17, 1898, the Village Board confirmed that Ogden was now part of the Fire Department. Ogden was now a company but lacked an apparatus and a firehouse. In May of that year the company agreed to lease a building located on Ogden Place East at a cost of $120.00 a year to be paid in quarterly installments. A hand drawn horse jumper, used as the apparatus of choice in the area was assigned to the company and Ogden Hose Co. began responding to calls in the Village.

As time progressed, Ogden became an integral part of the department. At the August 11, 1906 meeting it was decided not to renew the lease of its quarters and a committee was formed to work with the Village to find new accommodations for the company. Additionally in 1906 in anticipation of the arrival of a new apparatus the company changed their name to the Ogden Engine Company #1. In December they placed into service their new horse drawn chemical engine.

In 1910 after two years of committee meetings and two successful Village referendums a lot on Ashford Ave opposite Ogden Place West was secured by the Village construction was begun on a new firehouse. The first meeting in the new firehouse on Ashford Ave was held on October 10, 1910 - the site of today's firehouse.

Keeping pace with ever increasing technology, on February 1916 Ogden accepted their first modernized apparatus made by American LaFrance Fire Apparatus. The Engine had been in the firehouse on a trial basis and everyone in the company was pleased with its operation.

The "Roaring Twenties" arrived, and the needs of the company began to enlarge. As the company and its equipment increased, they outgrew their firehouse. On October 2, 1922, a contractor began adding a second floor to the building. This much needed space became a focal point for the company for years to come. At the end of the 1920 the company received their newest piece of apparatus, another American LaFrance engine that would serve the Village for over 30 years.

In the 1950's the village experienced a construction boom particularly in the east end of the village that increased the population dramatically. In 1956 to meet the needs and demands of this increased population, a new American LaFrance Engine was purchased. The apparatus was an open cab with a modern two stage centrifugal pump with a 1250 gallon per minute pumping capacity and responded under the vehicle designation of Engine 50. This rig remained in service for 30 years, 18 years as Ogden's front-line apparatus. The pumping capacity of Engine 50 was legendary, winning numerous pumping competitions at fire department competitions.

In the 1960's the needs of the company expanded, and more room was needed. In August 1960 with funding from the Village Board the company supplied the labor for a new kitchen and backroom. On December 1, 1964 Ogden Engine and the Fire Department suffered a tragic event with the first and only line of duty death experienced by the Fire Department. James Beattie, a 17-month veteran of the company collapsed while on scene of a call on Bramley Lane. In 1991 Ogden dedicated a plaque in the memory of Joseph Beattie that hangs in the firehouse today as a memory for all.

In 1973 Ogden celebrated their 75th anniversary at the time the Village was celebrating their centennial. In honor of these milestones, members of Ogden worked to restore their original hand drawn hose jumper. They converted the second floor of the firehouse into a museum and opened it up to the public. The original hose jumper is proudly displayed in the museum.

In 1974 Ogden received a new Mack Pumper. This 1500 gallon per minute pumper served the company for 21 years as their front-line apparatus and another 5 years as the department spare apparatus.

In 1988 the department received a Utility Apparatus to carry the Hurst tool "jaws of life" and other specialized rescue tools. This piece of apparatus is housed in the Ogden firehouse and is maintained by members of the company.

In 1990 Ogden Engine was the first company in the department to elect a female to their ranks. Nancy Lindsay is a third generation Ogden firefighter. In 1995 Ogden received their most advanced piece of apparatus. This apparatus in use today is a Pierce pumper with a ten-man air-conditioned cab.

The tragedy of September 11th, 2001 impacted Ogden Engine and the department in a very personal manner. In 2000 Douglass Miller a young father of three small daughters and an active member of the company moved out of the village. He was a member of the Fire Department of New York assigned to the elite Rescue Company # 5 and was killed when the towers collapsed.

Since its inception more than 100 years ago the members of Ogden have served the residents of the village twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. The members come from all different walks of life and backgrounds, but all have one thing in common, to be there for the residents of the village no matter what the emergency.