Department Timeline

A century of service

Dates drawn from department papers, newspaper archives, and the recollections of members. Filter by era to follow a single chapter.
  1. 1891
    North Rose Malt House Fire

    An estimated $175,000 loss — roughly $6.5 million today.

  2. 1909
    North Rose Cold Storage founded

    M.C. Hall, John Hill, Frank Hill, Thomas Welch and Addison Weed.

  3. 1911
    Community petition to organize a fire company

    Fire district boundaries established by law that April.

  4. 1912
    Founding of company, election of officers

    Not yet under legal charter.  Named Hook and Ladder and Chemical Co. Officers named but meeting minutes do not align with Lake Shore News Article.

  5. 1915
    Charter granted by New York State

    North Rose Chemical Company — 23 charter members. R. D. Dickinson, 1st Chief.

  6. 1915
    32 Members signed the roll

    One week following the department founding.

  7. 1915 July 8
    Special Meeting

    Call for proposals to build fire house.

  8. 1916
    W.B. Chaddock Elected Chief
  9. 1916
    1'st Fire Station built on Caroline St.
  10. 1917
    Robert Dickinson Elected Chief
  11. 1917
    Conflagration on West Main St.

    Considerable loss to merchants.

  12. 1917
    Hook and Ladder Company organized

    27 men; Patrick was chief, serving concurrently with the original company in May 1917.

  13. 1917/18
    Hook and Ladder Co. merged with original Co.
  14. 1919
    North Rose Advocate discontinued publication
  15. 1919
    Harry Patrick Elected Chief
  16. 1919
    Fifty members on the roll

    Club room on the second floor of the Caroline Avenue building.

  17. 1920
    Firemen's Fair Convention

    Held at Oaks Farm, North Rose.

  18. 1921
    Robert Dickinson Elected Chief
  19. 1922
    General Storage and Ice Co. built (founded)

    Lloyd Marshall, Director. Founders: Lavern Wilson, Edward Hay, Irving Colburn and Orin Skutt.

  20. 1922
    Dr. Frank Roney Elected Chief
  21. 1923
    Salter Hose and Chemical Company organized

    North Rose Chemical Company "disbanded"

  22. 1923
    First fire siren installed

    Atop the cold storage, later moved to the town park so it could be heard.

  23. 1923 August
    General Storage and Ice Co. fire

    Mutual aid required; water supply challenges were acknowledged.

  24. 1924 August
    1924 Larrabee truck celebration

    Public event.

  25. 1924 September
    1924 Larrabee truck demonstration

    Held in Wolcott, NY.

  26. 1931
    North Rose Chemical Co. combines with Salter Hose and Chemical Co.

    There is limited data on this subject.

  27. 1933
    Glenn Mills Sr. elected chief
  28. 1934
    J. Arthur Hill elected 6'th Chief and 4'th longest serving

    Died tragically in a 1941 farm accident, 33 years old.

  29. 1934
    Field Day article — North Rose Fire Dept.

    Noted as the name was Salter Hose and Chemical Co. Limited details on this arrangement.

  30. 1934
    Name change from Salter Hose and Chemical Co. to North Rose Fire Department
  31. 1937
    1937 REO Speedwagon pumper delivery
  32. 1937 June
    Fire District expansion to include segments of Huron
  33. 1938
    Ambulance purchase of Pack-Ett (Pac-Kit)

    Little documentation on this vehicle.

  34. 1938 June
    New truck celebration — 1938 REO Speedwagon

    A. Gray Skutt and Raymond Boughton, chairpersons for acquisition.

  35. 1939
    "Miner-Young Post No. 582 American Legion be dissolved that the property herein conveyed will be deeded back to the North Rose Fire Dept."

    Intent is to raze the old legion hall next to the Fire Station on Clinton Ave. Legion members would continue to meet at the Fire Station. Post retains charter and land still belongs to the Legion to this day (2026).

  36. 1941
    First aid inhalator purchased
  37. 1941 July 15
    Death of Chief John Arthur Hill

    Died tragically in a 1941 farm accident.

  38. 1942
    Fremont Powers elected chief
  39. 1943
    William Baker elected chief
  40. 1945
    Elery Mills elected chief
  41. 1947
    Paul 'Whitey' McOmber elected chief
  42. 1948
    John Jensen elected chief
  43. 1948
    Department honors charter members
  44. 1949
    New truck demonstration at Firemen's Field dedication

    International KB7 pumper.

  45. 1949
    Paul 'Whitey' McOmber elected chief

    Longest serving chief — 17 years.

  46. 1949 August 4
    Firemen's Field dedication of J. Arthur Hill Memorial Park

    Land donated by the Hill Family in honor of J. Arthur Hill.

  47. 1950
    First aid car sold, replaced with van
  48. 1950 January
    NRFD mutual aid to Clyde Cold Storage fire

    $.5M loss — Clyde Cold Storage and GLF Plant.

  49. 1950 January
    Public water system study initiated
  50. 1950 October
    Water system completion
  51. 1951
    Water system NRFD celebration
  52. 1952
    New street signs throughout district

    NRFD raises $700 for purchase. Chairman Bernard Farnsworth, assisted by R. Caves and L. Richardson.

  53. 1958 April
    Methodist Church fire
  54. 1958 December
    1958 International pumper delivery to replace 1937 REO

    V-190 International body / Young pumper.

  55. 1958 December
    Fire siren begins to blow daily at noon
  56. 1958 December
    NR Fire District annual property damage report for 1958

    $34,700.73.

  57. 1958 November
    Incorporation of Fire Department discussion

    Lawyer George Thomas made several application attempts; rejected by NYS. Granted in 1960.

  58. 1959
    Diver certification

    Fred Jenks and Lloyd Richardson.

  59. 1960
    Hill Family land donation — property where the Huron Street station stands

    In memory of J. Arthur Hill following the death of his mother Flora, Dec. 1959. Presented by sisters Lillian, Virginia and Alyce.

  60. 1961
    District approves new Fire House Construction

    $35K Bond approved Vote 65 to 21.

  61. 1961
    1961 Rescue Boyertown body on Ford chassis
  62. 1961 DEC
    Building Proposal to Community, District Annual Elections

    Proposition #1 $35,000 to cover cost of construction.

  63. 1962
    2'nd Fire Station Built

    Location: Huron St.

  64. 1965
    Ford Econoline Ambulance Delivery

    Ford Econoline Ambulance.

  65. 1965
    Gerald 'Gerry' Guthrie elected chief
  66. 1967 May
    New Street Signs throughout district
  67. 1969
    Ford Econoline Ambulance Delivery
  68. 1969
    International Pumper Delivery
  69. ~1970
    Fire phone installations

    Party lines in Chiefs and First Aid Captain's Residence, North Rose Diner, Knotty Pine Restaurant.

  70. 1971
    Edwin 'Jack' Marshall Elected Chief
  71. 1972
    Ladies Auxiliary Formed
  72. 1973
    Richard 'Dick' Guthrie Elected Chief
  73. 1973
    Central Dispatch Initiated, replaced Fire Phone

    Calls directly to Fire Dispatch in Lyons, NY.

  74. ~1973
    Snow Emergency Vehicle/Sled donated

    Donated by Galvin Brothers, "Drawn by snowmobiles"

  75. 1974
    International Tanker Delivery
  76. 1975
    Duck Purchase (DUKW) Military Amphibious unit

    D: Designed in 1942, U: Utility (amphibious), K: All-wheel drive, W: Dual-tandem rear axles.

  77. 1975
    Robert 'House' Householder Elected Chief
  78. 1976
    Russell 'Pete' Welkley II Elected Chief
  79. 1978
    Ambulance Purchase
  80. 1980
    Charles 'Charlie' Tompkins Elected Chief
  81. 1980
    NRFD Certification for Ambulance Service

    Requirement for an EMT on every call.

  82. Circa 1980
    Rescue M18 Red Step Van Delivery
  83. 1983
    Ford / Sanford Body Pumper Delivery
  84. 1983JULY25
    Sodus Cold Storage Explosion / Fire

    12:15 p.m. Monday afternoon.

  85. 1984
    Boat purchase

    Acquired from Sodus Point Fire Dept.

  86. 1985
    Robert 'Bobby' Guthrie Elected Chief

    Robert 'Bobby' Guthrie.

  87. ~1985
    Fire Phone Service Discontinued

    All emergency calls to now routed to central dispatch in Lyons.

  88. ~1986
    Fly Car, ALS unit in service

    Advance life Saving EMS Service.

  89. 1987
    Flag Pole Donation by Ladies Auxiliary

    Becky Guthrie, Fred Jenks and U.S. Congressman Frank Horton in attendance.

  90. 1988
    Chevrolet Type II C-3500 Ambulance Delivery
  91. 1989
    LARC Purchase Military Amphibious Unit

    Lighter, Amphibious, Resupply, Cargo.

  92. 1989
    Richard Wigfield Elected Chief
  93. 1990
    Freightliner Rescue Delivery
  94. 1991
    Mark Carney Elected Chief
  95. 1993
    Robert 'Bobby' Terhune Elected Chief
  96. 1995
    Douglas Smith Elected Chief
  97. 1996
    Gordon 'Gert' Smith Elected Chief
  98. 1997
    Emergency E911 Communications

    Implemented across Wayne County.

  99. 1997
    Peterbilt Pumper Delivered
  100. 1998
    Wayne County Firemen's Convention

    North Rose/Rose Sponsors.

  101. 1998
    Richard Wigfield Elected Chief
  102. 1999
    Ambulance Delivery

    Transitioned to County EMS.

  103. 2000
    Dennis Wigfield Elected Chief
  104. 2001
    Donald Watson Elected Chief
  105. 2003
    Rudi Linek Elected Chief
  106. 2004
    Tanker Firefighter F270 Delivery
  107. 2005
    Boston Whaler Boat purchase
  108. 2006
    David Guthrie Elected Chief
  109. 2008
    Dennis Wigfield Elected Chief
  110. 2009
    International pumper Delivery
  111. 2010
    Rescue Pumper Purchase
  112. 2015 May
    100 year celebration
  113. 2016
    Huron Station #2 added to District
  114. 2016
    Sean Guthrie Elected Chief
  115. 2019
    Seth Hysak Elected Chief
  116. 2021
    Jack Fitzpatrick Elected Chief
  117. 2022
    Rescue M-11 Delivery