Milestone Fire Department Celebration Planned For September

New City Fire Engine Co. #1 will celebrate its 125th anniversary and host the Rockland County Volunteer Fireman's Association 101st Annual Convention and Parade on September 6th and 7th. The parade festivities will include an appearance by the world famous Budweiser Clydesdale horses.

The celebration begins on Friday, Sept. 6 with the 101st annual convention at the Rockland County Fire Training Center in Pomona. The convention will honor the hosting New City Fire Engine Co. No.1, which is marking 125 years of continuous all volunteer service to the community, and include presentation of the Rockland County Firefighter of the Year and Joseph K. Wright Memorial Unit Citation awards. 

The firefighters parade steps off in New City on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 2 p.m. with more than 100 fire trucks, 30 fire companies, the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Mounted Unit, the Clarkstown Police Department Honor Guard and a team of Budweiser Clydesdale horses scheduled to march.  New City Fire Chief Kenny Flynn said all county fire companies are marching and will be joined by several from outside Rockland.

It is no surprise that planning for such a major event began years ago. 

“About eight years ago, we began the process of fundraising for the parade,” said Flynn. “For example, we cooked and sold food at several New City street fairs, and sold shirts at our annual open houses to get the ball rolling on the parade.” 

The department’s most recent fundraiser was a Rockland Boulders game in June.

Flynn said one of the 125th anniversary events was the Founders' Hall dedication ceremony in February, which brought descendants of the department’s original charter members to the firehouse to honor their ancestors’ memories and contributions. They signed a plaque, which will be prominently displayed in the Maple Avenue firehouse.

“A great slideshow and history of our department was shown, and a small crystal memento was given to each family in attendance during a luncheon following the slideshow,” explained Flynn. “It was a great day and really tied our present members to the founding members of the fire company back in 1888.”  

Flynn said the volunteers want New City residents and business owners and others to know what they can look forward to and that includes the planned parade route, which will require closing some roads.

The two-hour long parade will follow a route beginning on South Little Tor Road at Deerwood Drive in New City. Parade lineup will take place on neighboring streets and should start around 11 a.m. Marchers will follow South Little Tor Road north to Collyer Ave., turn east to South Main Street and continue north to New Hempstead Road. The parade will end behind the Rockland County office building on New Hempstead Road.

In addition to planned targeted mailings to addresses along the parade route, the fire department is working closely with the Town of Clarkstown and Clarkstown Police Department to limit disruptions. Flynn said the department will post updates on its Facebook page and created an email address for questions.

He hopes people will line the parade route and show their appreciation to the men and women of the Rockland County fire service.

"This is a tremendous day for us,” said Flynn. “125 years is no small feat. We want everyone to come and help us celebrate this milestone.”