Amenia Historical Society

Please help the Amenia Historical Society raise money to restore a 1936 Sanford Fire Truck made in Syracuse, New York. The Sanford played an important role in firefighting in Amenia.

AMENIA’S SANFORD FIRE ENGINE

"The Amenia Fire Company was organized in 1895, and soon after its birth funds were raised to purchase apparatus to fight fires in the village. The first piece was a “Jumper” two wheeled hose cart, and following that was a horse-drawn wagon, complete with ladders, buckets and hose needed to extinguish fires. As the time went on the company desperately needed a motorized engine. The first engine was a 1924 Reo. Between the Reo and the ladder wagon they helped protect the town for 12 years until the Sanford came to town. It arrived in February, 1936 and was officially placed out of service in 1972. One of the notable fires it fought was the Amenia Firehouse Fire in 1941. It was pulled out while the fire roared by a member of the fire company. Its ladder was on fire when it came out, and the driver went directly to the creek and started pumping water on the building. The Sanford was a workhorse for the next 18 years and it was joined by a new engine in 1955. The Sanford responded to countless fires in town: a large amount of barn fires, house fires, businesses and many grass fires. The engine remained at the firehouse after it was put out of service with the hopes of a total restoration, and a fund drive was held in the early ’90s for that purpose, but it never was completed. Gary Stossel now has the truck and has put hundreds of hours into it with the hopes of restoring it. Tires are needed for the truck as they are the original ones. Hopefully money can be raised to help get Amenia’s historic truck on the road to restoration." -- Captain Andy Murphy, Amenia Fire Company

The Sanford is currently being restored by Gary Stossel and is close to returning to good running condition, but the restorer has run out of money. The money raised in this campaign will be spent on parts and materials. The labor will be donated by volunteers. We are asking for your help to finish the job. The truck needs new tires, oak running boards installed and a new electrical system, whose wires have already been donated. The chrome grill has deteriorated and should be electroplated.