In 1946 there was a fatal house fire on Hibernia Road, across the street from the Helen Aldrich Park, in which a man by the name of Vincent Van Buskirk lost his life. The Pleasant Valley Fire Department responded to this fire and because of the distance of five miles for the fire company to come, the speed of the fire apparatus, together with the advance the fire had before the alarm was reported, the house was destroyed, and a man died.

A number of residents led by Harold Roe and Frank Bock felt that if there was a fire station in the hamlet of Salt Point, which would provide primary fire protection to the Salt Point residents and also assist the Pleasant Valley Fire Company, this would greatly reduce the loss of life and property in the community as a whole.

Mr. Roe and Mr. Bock first approached the then Fire Chief George Cady Sr. and Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners Clayton Haight. With the tentative approval of the Chairman of the Board, and the Fire Chief, the men approached the town officials. The Town Supervisor Cecil Sherow, and the Town Highway Superintendent Vince Gleason gave their approval to use the former P&E railroad station on Cottage Street in Salt Point, which had been purchased by the town when the railroad ceased running. The station had been used as a polling place, and sort of a Town Hall Annex for the people from the area.

Once all the needed petitions were obtained, the Salt Point Fire Company was formed. As quoted in the minutes of the first meeting, June 16th, 1947: “a number of the residents of Salt Point met in the old railroad station for the purpose of organizing a fire company. The meeting was called to order by Frank Bock. Cecil Sherow was appointed chairman.

“Those enrolled as members are: Herbert Bircher , John Gardner , Meredith Dela Vergne, Richard Holst, Thomas G. Hahn, Joe Galvin, David S. Ring, C.G. Vandewater, William Birdsall, Bert Nauta, John Ferry, George Cahill, Harry M. Braddock, Paul Dela Vergne, E. J. Ostrander, Harold Roe, Ralph Terhune, Harry Beckmann, Frank B. Nelson, Sr., James Moran, Ray Lansing, Frank H. Bock, August Toepfer, and James Femenella.”

The officers who were elected are as follows: President C. G. Vandewater, Vice President Paul Dela Vergne, Secretary Harry M. Braddock, Treasurer Meredith Dela Vergne, three-year trustee Joe Galvin, two-year trustee David Ring and one-year trustee Harry Beckmann.

The line officers were as follows: Captain Harold Roe, 1st Lieutenant Frank Bock and 2nd Lieutenant George Cahill.

As the cold weather approached Harold Rowe would come down to the railroad station several hours prior to meetings and stoke a pot belly stove, the only   heat source at the time.  Members would sit huddled as close to the stove as possible during the   meetings, however it is said that the floors were still very cold. Once a fire truck was added, the   members would maintain a kerosene heater in the engine bay to keep the water in the truck from   freezing.  The first fire truck was a Ford truck chassis obtained from the Town Highway Garage.  A   Willy’s   motor powered a surplus Civil Defense traffic centrifugal pump for firefighting, utilizing a fuel   oil tank   to hold the water. The vehicle carried wooden extension ladder on a ladder rack over the   center of the vehicle, with all the necessary firefighting tools able to be obtained and safely carried.   This   vehicle was the primary response apparatus until 1950 when the Commissioners purchased a   used   fire truck from the Cold Spring Fire Company in Putnam County which was more efficient.

 The apparatus was a 1939 Mack Jr. fire truck, which had a 500 gallon per minute, two-stage pump,   and a 500-gallon water tank.

 The Salt Point members and equipment remained in the railroad station until 1955, when the   Pleasant  Valley Fire District erected a one-story block building, with two engine bays in the front and   a meeting room, kitchen, bathroom and utility room with heat and hot water in the rear. This new structure was truly a very welcome upgrade from the temporary quarters of the railroad station where the Salt Point Fire Company got their start.

The first fire siren used was an old siren obtained from Pleasant Valley which was moved to Salt Point and was mounted on a windmill tower donated by Fred Aldolphson and his mother. The signal switch was installed at Edgar Ostrander’s store. Later a small siren was donated by the Hillside Fire Company and it was mounted besides the other siren.

On April 20^th, 1948, the Salt Point Fire Company the company answered his first call, which was a grass fire on Hibernia Rd.

On September 30^th, 1948 the company received its charter. In June of 1949, the members purchased their first uniforms from the Niagara fire Company of Poughkeepsie N.Y.

 In the early 1970s the need to expand a fire station was  apparent. In 1972 a 3-bay edition was added to the   original block building, making way for an additional piece   of fire apparatus and more space for meetings and social   functions for the members and the community. The apparatus bay doors in the original block building   were closed off once the addition was complete

 Sometime after getting settled in the enlarged social side of the fire station, the members   jackhammered and removed the concrete apparatus bay floor area. A new floor was then lowered   and poured so the meeting room area was all at one level throughout the original building.

 As the needs of the fire district continued to grow, so did the need for space. In 1987 a second edition   was added to the station, adding two additional apparatus bays, bringing the total to five   apparatus bays.

 In February 1953 Edwin Downs began giving first aid classes to the company members. As the   interest in emergency first aid grew, the company requested the Board of Fire Commissioners   consider placing a second ambulance in the fire district.

 In 1975 a Rescue Squad was formed and  a   Cadillac ambulance which had been housed   in Pleasant Valley was replaced with the   larger vehicle. The Cadillac was then given to Salt Point Fire Company to begin emergency transport in care. The Cadillac proved this worth and the members convinced the commissioners of the dedication and desire to provide this service which still continues to this day.

A group that is also an essential part of the Salt Point Fire Company is the Auxiliary.  This group was formed in September 1970, originally made up of wives of the fireman. The women formed this group to support the efforts of the firefighters by providing refreshments to members at the scene of emergencies. The women would hold fundraisers and raffles to fund their purchase of supplies needed to provide their service.

Over the years this group has expanded their efforts holding Christmas parties for firefighters and their children, Easter egg hunts for the children of the community, a Halloween parade and a party for the community children to name a few of the group's efforts. Recently the group who was known as the Ladies Auxiliary decided to change their name to Salt Point Fire Company Auxiliary to allow male participants.

The firefighters nowadays who are both male and female spend many hours completing essential training.  The firefighters attend many New York State courses held at both the Duchess County Fire Academy and surrounding fire stations as well as our own.

The building, equipment, turnout gear may have changed since the “humble beginnings” back in 1947.  The one thing that hasn’t changed is the dedication and pride of the Salt Point Fire Company.  Following in the footsteps of the original 24 members, the Salt Point Fire Company stands ready to protect and serve when needed.

On June 2, 2017 on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Salt Point Fire Company, a brand new engine was christened.  Designated as 56-24 it remembers the 24 founding members whose names are forever with us and will watch over us as we respond.