On July 30, the Marlboro Fire Department will be hosting a parade to mark their 125th anniversary. The Parade is a rain or shine event and steps off is at 1pm at the High School. It then goes down Plattekill Road and Western Avenue to Route 9W, where it turns north and ends at the field behind Hoffman Equipment, 1440 Route 9W, just south of the CVS plaza.

At the end of the parade the judges will decide what companies will be awarded trophies, with the top and most coveted award being Best Overall.

The fire department’s press release noted that although their inception happened in 1895, the incorporation took place in 1897.

“Very recently, some new historical information has been found confirming the Marlborough Hose Company (the way it was spelled then) was organized two years earlier in May of 1895 at McMullen’s Hotel, now the Raccoon Saloon, by the following individuals: Eldorous Dayton, Edward B. Warren, Frank Snyder, Joe Greaves, Carlton Merritt, Edward Covert, A.B. Fuller, H.M. Kniffin, and several others whose names were not mentioned. It was written that its functions and advantages as a community organization are:

1. “To fight fires in the town of Marlborough and its surrounding territory wherever it is called and protect life and property.”

2. “Its advantages are that it keeps our fire insurance rates at a minimum.”

Since the 100-year Anniversary in 1997, the Marlboro Hose Co. No. 1 has experienced numerous changes and growth in many areas such as: the Annex purchase, personnel, equipment, training, apparatus, and technology. Also, during the last twenty-five years, the Hose Company Presidents, and their perspective committees, have updated the company bylaws several times to keep up with all facets of change regarding the operations of the Hose Company.

In an interview with the Southern Ulster Times, Chief Erick Masten said he is honored to head the department for this important milestone.

“There is a lot of work that goes into it and the guys are really putting forth a lot of effort for all the different tasks that have to happen,” he said. “It’s nice that we’ve been established for 125 years.”

Masten said the Board of Fire Commissioners governs the Marlborough Fire District, “and then within the district there is the Marlboro Hose Company, which is us and is 125 years old. We are older than the fire district,” which was established in 1924.

Masten estimates that presently there are 55 active members in his department. In the near future he is hoping to make some changes that will allow 16 year-olds to train in a junior fire program. Presently, the age requirement starts at 17 years of age.

Masten said the parade is named The Ulster County Volunteer Firemens Association and Marlboro is hosting it because of their 125th anniversary. He said to date there are 36 fire companies that will be participating, mostly from Ulster County but a few from neighboring Orange and Dutchess counties.

“We hope that everybody comes out and supports the fire departments and hopefully we’ll have good weather and it will be a nice day to see everyone,” he said.