O. H. Booth Hose Company
Encyclopedia
The O.H. Booth Hose Company is a former firehouse
along Main Street in Poughkeepsie
, New York
, United States
. It was in use for roughly a century, from the late 1910s to the mid-2000s, when the city's police
and fire department
s consolidated their operations in a new building across the street. A local firefighter
s' group has proposed turning it into a local fire museum.
It is a three-story brick building with three bays
, which could house two fire engines during its active days. The second and third stories have a distinctive arch
ed window, a feature not normally seen in firehouses of the time.
The fire company was established in the mid-19th century, from a predecessor company, the Howard Hose Co. No. 2. Its members were jealous over the new facilities of two rival fire companies, and enough of them resigned that it was disbanded. Oliver H. Booth, the chief
, organized the new company and it was named in his honor.
Around 1908, the company needed a new house on Main Street. Local architect
William Beardsley, who had recently designed the new Dutchess County Court House
, was hired. His building was plainer than other firehouses in the city, but came with an upper story meant to be used as a club. One of his original rendering
s of the building is on the wall. In 1982, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
, one of three firehouses in the city to be so recognized (the other two are the Lady Washington Hose Company
and the Niagara Engine House
).
In 2008 the Exempt Fireman's Association (Exempts), a fraternal local volunteer firefighters' group founded by Booth in 1886, proposed that the building be reused as a firefighting museum and fire safety
education center, due to what its members feel is a lack of awareness of the latter among the city's residents. The city said it was willing to discuss the proposal but only after the fire department had fully vacated the building. According to the head of the city firefighters' union, the building is in serious disrepair and will require substantial renovations. The head of the Exempts says his group has the manpower to do the job and could apply for state and federal grants
.
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
along Main Street in Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was in use for roughly a century, from the late 1910s to the mid-2000s, when the city's police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and fire department
Fire department
A fire department or fire brigade is a public or private organization that provides fire protection for a certain jurisdiction, which typically is a municipality, county, or fire protection district...
s consolidated their operations in a new building across the street. A local firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s' group has proposed turning it into a local fire museum.
It is a three-story brick building with three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
, which could house two fire engines during its active days. The second and third stories have a distinctive arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
ed window, a feature not normally seen in firehouses of the time.
The fire company was established in the mid-19th century, from a predecessor company, the Howard Hose Co. No. 2. Its members were jealous over the new facilities of two rival fire companies, and enough of them resigned that it was disbanded. Oliver H. Booth, the chief
Fire chief
Fire Chief is a top executive rank or commanding officer in a fire department, either elected or appointed...
, organized the new company and it was named in his honor.
Around 1908, the company needed a new house on Main Street. Local architect
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
William Beardsley, who had recently designed the new Dutchess County Court House
Dutchess County Court House
The Dutchess County Courthouse is located at 10 Market Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It is the third county courthouse to stand on that site....
, was hired. His building was plainer than other firehouses in the city, but came with an upper story meant to be used as a club. One of his original rendering
Artistic rendering
Rendering in visual art and technical drawing means the process of creating, shading, and texturing of an image, especially a photorealistic one. It can also be used to describe the quality of execution of that process...
s of the building is on the wall. In 1982, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, one of three firehouses in the city to be so recognized (the other two are the Lady Washington Hose Company
Lady Washington Hose Company
The Lady Washington Hose Company building is located on Academy Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It was once home to one of the city's volunteer companies of the same name but now houses Children's Media Project...
and the Niagara Engine House
Niagara Engine House
The Niagara Engine House is located on North Hamilton Street in downtown Poughkeepsie, New York, United States. It is a brick building constructed in the early 20th century, the only extant fire house of the six engine companies that once protected the city....
).
In 2008 the Exempt Fireman's Association (Exempts), a fraternal local volunteer firefighters' group founded by Booth in 1886, proposed that the building be reused as a firefighting museum and fire safety
Fire safety
Fire safety refers to precautions that are taken to prevent or reduce the likelihood of a fire that may result in death, injury, or property damage, alert those in a structure to the presence of a fire in the event one occurs, better enable those threatened by a fire to survive, or to reduce the...
education center, due to what its members feel is a lack of awareness of the latter among the city's residents. The city said it was willing to discuss the proposal but only after the fire department had fully vacated the building. According to the head of the city firefighters' union, the building is in serious disrepair and will require substantial renovations. The head of the Exempts says his group has the manpower to do the job and could apply for state and federal grants
Grant (money)
Grants are funds disbursed by one party , often a Government Department, Corporation, Foundation or Trust, to a recipient, often a nonprofit entity, educational institution, business or an individual. In order to receive a grant, some form of "Grant Writing" often referred to as either a proposal...
.