Firemen’s Convention in Schuylerville

#onthisday in 1931, the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association held its convention in Schuylerville. The Saratogian reported on the convention on 19 June 1931.* Prizes awarded as convention closes* Schuylerville June 19. (special) At the close of yesterday’s parade of the Hudson Valley firemen, first prize for the largest number of men in line was awarded to Port Ewen hose company which brought 77. North White Plains won the prize for coming the largest distance.* The Saratoga Springs high school drum corp was among the many musical organizations in line, the boys attracted much attention along the line of march. Among the groups parading which arrived too late to be registered were Coeymans, Monticello, Bedford, Deer Park. West Albany, C. R. Paris hose company of Hudson Falls with equipment of the 1900 and la Salle School.* How much credit was given locally yesterday to Henry P. Robison of this village, instrumental in getting the convention to come to this village and who was a delegate last year and was elected a delegate this year. The parade was counted one of the finest seen in the community. * Hand buckets on display* An interesting display in connection with the convention was that in the F. W. Beach show window on Broad Street. It was an old hand bucket which was used more than 100 years ago when the fire fighting was done by so-called in brigades the exhibit was placed on view by William Snyder of Burgoyne Street and was used by Mr. Snyder’s great grandfather Jared Coffin at Nantucket Massachusetts.* The Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association was formed in 1890 as an association of volunteer firemen and fire companies along the Hudson River. The association continues to this day with annual conventions and parades. * The photo is of Anthony Petralia, a member of Schuyler Hose Company and active in preparations for the firemen’s convention.* Mr. Snyder’s great grandfather Jared Coffin of Nantucket Massachusetts was notable man. The Coffin family were a group of whalers operating out of Nantucket, Massachusetts, from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries. Some members of the family gained wider exposure due to their discovery of various islands in the Pacific Ocean. Jared Coffin was an affluent Nantucket sea captain and shipbuilder. In 1845, he built a three-story, Federal style mansion for his wife. Over the years, the house has undergone numerous renovations. The building was a hotel and inn just prior to becoming a part of the Nantucket Historical Society’s holdings in the 1960s. Today, the property is once again an inn.