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The name of the Dikeman Hose Company
reflects the interest and contributions of a prominent
citizen of Goshen. He was Edwin Dikeman, who was born in
Warwick, NY in 1835. A prominent businessman, he operated
for many years the apothecary shop on West Main Street under
the name of Dikeman's Drug Store. Mr. Dikeman's civic
interests were notable. For eleven years, he was a trustee
of the Village of Goshen, and for four terms he served as
president of the community, a title that would be replaced
by mayor at a later date. The Goshen Fire Department was
also among his interests, his membership and activity
beginning in 1852. The Hose Company
which bears his name was organized mainly through his
efforts, and the name was in response to what he had done.
He was hailed by his contemporaries as a leading fireman in
this part of the state, and the Excelsior Hose Company of
Port Jervis made him an honorary member. He also represented
the Dikeman Hose Company at a firemanic convention held at
Kingston, NY in 1882. Details of the
actual organization of the Company appear in the
meticulously hand-written minutes of the village trustees
during their meeting of September 11, 1873. On the following
night, another meeting was held in the rooms over Dikeman's
Drug Store on West Main Street. Present as the "founding
fathers" were George Smith, William H. Wood, John T. LaRoe,
E.T. Sparks, Edward Dalton, G.P. Crans, and Jerry Baldwin.
Wood was named Foreman of the new fire company, Sparks
became the Assistant Foreman, and Crans and LaRoe were
chosen as Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. Six days
later, on September 18, another meeting convened and the
Company was named Dikeman Hose Company No. 3, thereby
cementing into the village annals for all time the
contributions and civic interests of Mr. Dikeman. Also, the
first additional members were elected on this occasion:
Abram Fuller, Charles Wells, James McManus, H.S. Wilcox, and
William Dayton.
With the initial paperwork out of the way, we can safely
assume that the members of the new Company anxiously awaited
the first fire call. The first call the Company answered was
in April 1874 when the alarm, sounded on bells at the time,
called them to a fire in the West Main Street building
occupied by Hoyt's Dry Goods Store. The Dikemans achieved
initial glory, for they were the first to get water on the
flames. In appreciation of their services, an insurance
company awarded them a $10.00 prize.
A Greenwich Avenue blacksmith shop was the
first place where the Company stored its equipment and after
three subsequent moves, the Dikemans entered their present
location in 1885.
In reviewing a hundred and thirty years of achievement, it
is important to pay tribute to some of the members who did
so much for the outfit in the early days. Charles E. Wright
served as Foreman (we call it Captain now) for eleven years
and also served as the Company President. The honorable J.B.
Sweezey was Company President for many years, and James
Lundy was another who held many offices with the Dikeman
Company. In 1918, almost half-way
through the first "Dikeman Century", the company had one of
their members nominated and elected to the post of Chief of
the Goshen Fire Department for the first time.
Edward J. Farrell, born in Wappingers Falls on April 25,
1868, began his career with the Dikemans at the age of nine
as a torch bearer and hose tender on September 12, 1877. He
was known throughout the state for his prowess as a fireman,
and served as Chief of the Goshen Fire Department from 1918
to 1922. Eleven years later, in
1929, another Dikeman rose to the rank of Chief of the
Goshen Fire Department. Joseph C. Donovan was born in Goshen
on January 12, 1892. He joined the Company on March 7, 1916,
holding several offices in the Company prior to his being
elected Chief of the Department. Known as a hard taskmaster,
he gained the respect of his men through his sincere
interest in their safety, his demonstrated knowledge of
firemanics and his unwillingness to send a fireman into a
dangerous situation unless he led the way. His leading of
others into burning buildings gained him the nickname
throughout the county as "Smokey Joe." He served as Chief of
the Goshen Fire Department from 1929 to 1940.
The Dikeman Hose Company waited another
twenty-six years before another from their ranks achieved
the coveted post of Chief of the Department. Alfred R. Turi,
born in Crystal Run on July 4, 1919, was elected in 1966.
Joining the Company on May 4, 1938, he served as Second
Lieutenant, Captain and Engineer of the company during the
period 1949 to 1966. Aside from being a great leader by
example, Chief Turi was an advocator of fire training and a
student of fire science and tactics. Chief Turi was also
instrumental in organizing the Goshen Fire District as it is
known today and served as Orange County Fire Coordinator in
the years following his term as Chief.. |
