I recently came across this building in Archville, NY. It’s an odd-looking building. What’s that tower like structure sticking out on top? At first glance it looks like someone’s garage, but as you look closely you see the words “Archville Fire Department”
Well, I say I came across it, but I was actually looking for it. I volunteer at the Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough Historical Society (BMSHS) and I’m preparing a piece on the history of the Archville and Scarborough Fire Departments. The text has been entirely prepared by a long-time member of the various (and sometimes confusing) Briarcliff Manor Fire Departments, and I was looking for some photographs to illustrate it. This is, indeed the original Archville Fire Station.
The website of the Archville Fire Department has this to say about its history:
The volunteer Archville Fire Department serves the hamlet and surrounding area, from the Hudson River to Pocantico Lake and from the edge of Briarcliff Manor to the edge of Sleepy Hollow.
Archville was named after an arched bridge over what is now U.S. Route 9. It carried the Old Croton Aqueduct over the highway. In 1924, the bridge was deemed to be a traffic hazard and it was demolished. In November 1998, long after the aqueduct was shut down, the bridge was replaced as a crossing for aqueduct walkers, bikers, and equestrians over the particularly dangerous section of the highway.
The Archville Fire Company was chartered in 1909. Its initial equipment consisted of thirty 3½ gallon galvanized buckets, and later a 50-gallon horse-drawn pumper purchased from the Valhalla Fire Department.
Archville Fire Department has three chief’s cars, two fire engines, and a horse drawn hand pumper from 1890, which serves as a department antique
Engine 236 / 2010
Engine 235 / 1992
Chief’s car 2631
1st Asst Chief’s car 2632
2nd Asst Chief’s car 2633Hubert W. Mannerly was the first chief when the company chartered in 1909. Its first headquarters was a shed on the corner of Union Street and Albany Post Road (current Route 9).
The old Fire Station above is tucked away down a side street. You could easily miss it if you weren’t looking for it.
The new Fire Station (see below) is quite visible from a major road (Route 9). It’s right next to the Guadalajara Restaurant.
When the piece for the BMSHS is finished I’ll update this post with a link to it.
Taken with a Sony RX10 IV.