PROCLAMATION from Fred Camillo, First Selectman
WHEREAS, In April 1890, the community of East Port Chester was no longer a hamlet alongside of Port Chester, New York, but a community of close to 235 homes, stores and shops; and
WHEREAS, As in all towns, there were citizens concerned with the problems that affect all, one of those being fire protection. They realized that self-help or neighbor help was insufficient and reliance on Port Chester was not enough; and
WHEREAS, Following bad fires in Port Chester and the Greenwich Borough, a group of residents joined their interest to give East Port Chester an independent fire protection. On April 27, 1891, after a considerable number of meetings, it was voted that a volunteer fire department should be formed; and
WHEREAS, On December 17, 1891, the Port Chester Journal reported that a young fire company moved equipment into their own station at a converted barn on South Water Street. In 1893 the company purchased the land on Mill Street for $2,500 and the Town of Greenwich built a fire house on it. On February 22, 1894 the company moved into its new firehouse; and
WHEREAS, Having outgrown the old firehouse, a new fire station was built in 1953. The company moved into the most modern headquarters in Town and held its first open house and dedication on Sunday, April 25, 1954; and
WHEREAS, It has been 130 years from that first meeting and the servicing of the Byram community. With the rededication of this newly remodeled firehouse we pay tribute to that first group of residents, who were founding members, and to all members past and present.
NOW, THEREFORE, l, FRED CAMILLO, FIRST SELECTMAN OF THE TOWN OF GREENWICH, do
hereby proclaim Sunday, November 14, 2021 as
Byram Volunteer Firemen's Day
in the Town of Greenwich and urge all residents to join me in celebrating the 130th anniversary of the Byram Volunteer Firemen and in recognizing their contributions to our Town.
