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In the late
1880's the
North End of
Middletown
was growing
rapidly. The
New York,
Ontario &
Western
Railway's
main
locomotive
and car
shops were
built near
Wisner
Avenue and
the whole
area was
rapidly
being built
up.
In early
August of
1889 a group
of community
minded men
held a
meeting at
the North
End Soap
Factory and
organized
the Ontario
Hose
Company, No.
5. On
October 1,
1889 the
city
accepted the
Ontarios as
the city's
sixth fire
company.
In the days
of
hand-drawn
apparatus
and unpaved
streets,
Wisner
Avenue was a
long and
hard run for
the fire
companies in
the center
of town. The
new company
was a much
needed
addition to
the
department. |
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The first
Foreman of
the Ontarios
was Adam
Heckroth.
The
company's
first
apparatus
was the hose
carriage
formerly
used by the
McQuoid's.
Ontario Hose
Company has
always been
quartered on
upper North
Street near
the corner
of Wisner
Avenue. No
longer
restricted
to the North
End, of
course,
Engine 5's
new KME
apparatus
responds all
over the
city. |