5 years ago – Firefighters battle Victory blaze in icy temps

The Saratogian had an article that documented this fire on 7 January 2014 by Jennie Grey.

When a young mother at 15 Pearl St. turned her back for an instant around 10:30 yesterday morning, her 3-year-old son put a plastic strainer on the stove and turned it on. In moments, their stove and then their rented home went up in flames, and Devon Diotte, 25, raced to get little Logan, her older son, Landen, 4, and their puppy outside to safety.

Diotte’s fiance, Christopher Wilber, 23, who works for Quick Response in Malta, a fire and smoke damage restoration company, was not home at the time of the blaze.

Nobody in the family was hurt, but the house was destroyed by the fire and the wind that fanned the flames.

“The wind sure assisted the fire,” said Victory Mills Fire Chief Larry Wolcott, who directed operations at the site.

Volunteer fire departments from Greenwich, Quaker Springs, Schuylerville and Victory Mills spent hours not only battling the blaze, but contending with freezing temperatures. Trucks and apparatus froze, slowing the process. The fire companies had to eventually keep lines running so the water wouldn’t freeze.

Smudges of ash streaked the firefighters’ faces as they worked, while a sheen of ice formed on their black coats. One man could hardly climb into his engine, he was so cold.

“Everyone just froze to death,” Wolcott said.

Diotte, a National Guard veteran, stood shivering on the sidewalk across the street from her burning house. Firefighters kept urging her to go inside a nearby church to get warm, but she and Wilber didn’t budge until Logan and Landen were safely in her mother’s car, buckled into their car seats and kissed good-bye. Diotte’s eyes filled with tears.

Inside the church, she told the story of the fire: “Logan is the one who explores, the one I have to watch, but he’d never done anything like that before. He’s never been interested in the stove or in cooking.”

Older brother Landen may have saved his family by first turning off the stove once Logan had turned it on, then running to tell his mother.

“Mommy, Logan is trying to burn the house down,” the little boy said.

Diotte flew into the kitchen, saw that Logan was unharmed and tried to put out the stove fire with water. Grease under the burners made the flames flare up even more. Then the stove made a loud popping noise. She knew it was time to get out quickly.

She took nothing with her but the boys and their puppy. They are all left with nothing but each other, which Diotte said is the most important thing.

Diotte’s mother is sad that a family Bible, originally belonging to Diotte’s grandfather, was left behind. Landen is crying for the red blanket his great-grandmother sewed for him.

“I don’t think Logan makes the connection between playing at the stove and the fire,” Diotte said. “When we were all safe outside, I said to him, ‘Logan, you can’t play with fire. It’s dangerous.’ He said, ‘Yes, ma’am,’ but I don’t think he completely understands.”

The owners of the rented house were wonderfully supportive, Diotte said. They hugged her and uttered not a word of blame, despite losing their building.

Both sides of the family came as soon as they heard of the fire, and a close friend began organizing donations right away. Emergency workers and the Red Cross are also helping Diotte and Wilber with clothing and necessaries.

“Everybody is being amazing,” she said.

Along with being the Town Historian, I am a volunteer firefighter.  I remember that morning arriving at the Public Library, hearing the sirens from the Victory Fire Chief’s vehicles and hearing my pager go off.  I went down the two blocks and started to help out.  My journal had the following remembrances, “A long day at a house fire a few random thoughts. I am glad everyone was safe especially my brother firefighters, so sorry the young family lost everything. The house was across from my church and given the weather I took some refuge in my church.  I have never taken refuge in a church before. I am amazed at the Facebook posting and the caring community that I live in.”

OTD: Community observed Memorial Day in 1955

#onthisday in 1955, the community observed Memorial Day.

The Saratogian reported on 31 May 1955 the following:

Schuylerville Holds Services, Parade Honors War Dead

Schuylerville – Schuylerville pay tribute to it’s dead with traditional ceremony is Memorial Day including a parade and service in Memorial Park Featured in the two division parade or the Schuylerville Central School being in charge of Douglas C. Archer, instructor and the Green Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps led by John Petralla, drum major.

Both groups gave zest to the parade with their usual excellent music as well as lending color to it.

The parade moved from the school at 10 AM with Malcolm Barrett as marshall followed by the Old Saratoga Post American Legion. Color bearers were Donald Eddy, Ben Vanderwerken and Mrs. Eliza Wendall of the Legion Auxiliary, a gold star mother. Color guards were Octave Wood and Robert Fremont. Next in line were the firing squad in charge of Walter Serbu and George Blanchard, Peter DeMarco, Roy Alny, Vernon Wrightman and Joseph Willete. Gold Star Mother Ride Attorney Thomas Clancy and Supervisor Joseph L. Turcotte drove cars for the Gold Star Mothers among whom were Mrs. Williams Smith, Mrs. George Hewitt, Mrs. Burtus Irish, Mrs. Mary Coffinger, Mrs. John Miner, Mrs. Stanley Wiatrak, and Mrs. Phoebe Noel.

The school band led the first division followed by the American Legion, the American Legion auxiliary, the Schuyler Hose Company Exempt Association and children on bicycles.

Appearing with the Drum and Bugle Corps and leading the second division was Eddie Carter, champion baton twirler, followed by General Philip Schuyler post, Veterans of Foreign Wars headed by Commander William Carey. Color Barriers were Barney J. Villa and Robert Elcox. The Jolly Juniors 4H club, Boy Scouts Troop 13, the school children and the Schuyler Hose Company complete the division.

Services at the Fish Creek Bridge. for sailors and marine dead, were open with a prayer by Joseph Mattee, chaplain of the American Legion, followed with a floral salute by the Gold Star Mothers and Joan Miner, president of the American Legion Auxiliary.

James Perrotta sounded taps followed by a salute for the dead and the high school band playing near My God to Thee.

Mayor gives reading.

The parade then proceeded north on Broad, to Memorial Park, where Mayor James E. Carrey gave a memorial reading. Thomas J. Clancy acting as the master ceremonies introduced Mayor Carey. There was a band selection by the School Band and Mrs. Burtus Irish sang the Star-Spangled Banner accompanied by the school band. Wreaths were place at the soldiers monument in the park in memory of the soldier’s that died in World War I and World War II and part of the Korean conflict. This part of the program was carried out by Michael Nolan, William Carey, John Jay Sullivan and Francis Hall. The invocation was given by the Rev. Runyon L. Wolff, pastor of the Old Saratoga Reformed Church and the Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. James R. Gazely, pastor of the Church of Visitation.

The parade then reform and continued to the school to disband. The exercise of Prospect Hill Cemetery was carried out immediately after the parade by the firing squad. William Carey and Eugene Reed, co-chairmen of the event, expressed appreciation to the Rev. Mr. Wolff, Father Gazeley, Mayor Carey and all those who helped to make the ceremonies a success.

It should come as no surprise that the historic community of the Town of Saratoga commemorates Memorial Day. The actions in the Town of Saratoga and the Battles of Saratoga are part of a legacy that has contributed to the shared American identity and an evolving sense of patriotism.

OTD Village President gave fiscal update

#Onthisday, “The village board held a session Friday for the purpose of making a final audit of the bills. President Amos B. Jaquith States that for provision has been made for a new fire alarm system, The inspection of the village water supply at the reservoir, in that there is a balance of $1005. The estimates for the new fiscal year cover the fire department and the doubling of the hose service. With the same amount estimated for the next year, the tax rate of the village will remain what it has been. Schuylerville, the President states, is in good financial conditions, the past three years having been a period of reconstruction work on the part of the board. The estimates and audit of the bills will be published in the official village paper,” reported the Saratogian on 26 February 1917.

OTD: Fire department quick action saves the Seeley Block

#0nthisdate in 1917, Schuylerville’s bravest was working to save a block of buildings on Broad Street.

It was reported that “Victor Hamilton desires to thank the Schuylerville fire department for its prompt work Wednesday afternoon in extinguishing the conflagration in the rear of Dr. W. J. Taylor’s dental parlor, Broad Street. Fire Chief T.E. Funston was early on the job and soon had a force of men at work saving other sections of the Seeley block.” according to the Saratogian on 9 Feb 1917