On January 29, 1863, a group of dedicated men who felt a responsibility for the welfare of their community and for the safety of their lives and property held a meeting at the store of John E. Kipp.
On February 21, 1863, a charter was issued to the company by the Town of Clarkstown to be called Empire Hook & Ladder Company No. 1.
The year 1909 was especially gratifying to us because the slogan "GOOSETOWN AGAINST THE WORLD" came into being.
Nyack Fire Department had accepted an invitation from the Hudson-Fulton Committee to parade with them. We, the members of Empire, started immediately to solicit donations of food and money. We hired the 13th Reg, Drum & Bugle Corps of Brooklyn and invited six companies to parade with us as guests, They all accepted and would have their own music. We collected $841 and without any warning, the Hudson-Fulton Committee demanded our money, to which we immediately refused. The chief at the time sold us out and refused us the privilege of parading. Lots were drawn by the rest of the department, and Jackson Hose Company No. 3, drawing the #1 position, invited us to be their guest, which we accepted.
We, in turn, invited Jackson Hose and their guests to dine with us after the parade. They accepted. When Empire and guests left the truck house on October 9, 1909, we had six companies as our guests, each with their own band. It was like a parade in itself, which proved our chief was all wet. We were led by a jackass wearing a beautiful blanket, upon which was the slogan "GOOSETOWN AGAINST THE WORLD." This slogan still holds fast.
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