Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Former Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse, today a glass shop
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Beacon, NY |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | Schuyler Tillman and Benjamin Hall |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Added to NRHP | 2004 |
The Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse was the very first fire station built in what is now the city of Beacon, New York. It was designed by Schuyler Tillman and Benjamin Hall in a fancy Second Empire architectural style and finished in 1893. You can find it at 140 Main Street. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, which means it's recognized as an important historical site. Today, it's no longer a firehouse but a glass shop.
Contents
History of the Firehouse
Who Was Lewis Tompkins?
Lewis Tompkins was an important person in the history of Beacon. He was born in 1836 and came from an old English family. He was even related to Daniel D. Tompkins, who was the Vice President of the United States a long time ago.
When Lewis was about 17, he started learning how to finish hats. Later, he moved to Matteawan (which is now part of Beacon) and worked for a clothing company. He eventually started his own hat factory, the Dutchess Hat Works, in Fishkill-on-the-Hudson (also part of modern Beacon). His business grew a lot, and he became a leading maker of wool hats in the United States.
Lewis Tompkins cared a lot about his community. He helped Matteawan and Fishkill-on-the-Hudson get new school buildings. He also built homes for his employees. He was a big supporter of Highland Hospital, a local charity. The building of the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company firehouse was mainly thanks to him. He passed away in 1894.
The Lewis Tompkins Hose Company
The first fire company in the area, Beacon Engine Company, started in Matteawan in 1886. Soon after, in Fishkill Landing, the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company was formed. Much of the money for this new fire company came from Lewis Tompkins, who owned the big Dutchess Hat Works.
The first piece of equipment the company used was a hand-pulled hose cart from 1886. After Lewis Tompkins died in 1894, the fire company members decided to name their company in his honor.
In 1903, the hand-pulled cart was replaced with a wagon pulled by a horse. This horse was named Ben, a large grayish-white horse who worked for 15 years before he retired. The Tompkins Hose Company was the only fire company in the area to own its own firehorse. Other companies had to borrow horses from local stables when they needed them. Ben was replaced in 1918 when the company got a shiny red Ahrens-Fox fire engine. Ben was later buried in Glenham.
The Original Tompkins Hose Firehouse Building
The original Tompkins Hose Firehouse was built in 1885 at 162 Main Street in Fishkill Landing. It was a two-story building with a tall tower and a fire bell. In 1905, the people of the village voted to add a third story to the firehouse.
The Tompkins Hose Company moved to a new building at 13 South Avenue in 1982. The old firehouse was no longer used for firefighting. For a while, it was used by different local non-profit groups. Later, it was changed into a glass studio. This building is considered an important part of the Lower Main Street Historic District.
New Life for the Old Firehouse
In 2005, a local business called Hudson Beach Glass received a special loan to help them buy and fix up the old firehouse. This loan was part of a program to help local businesses and create jobs.
Michael Benzer and John Gilvey, who own Hudson Beach Glass, bought the property at 162 Main Street. The Mayor of Beacon at the time, Clara Lou Gould, said that fixing up the historic Lewis Tompkins Hose Firehouse was important because it saved a piece of the city's history. She also said that using the building to show and sell beautiful handmade glass products would attract both residents and visitors.
On September 8, 2008, a special plaque was placed on the old firehouse. This plaque honors the members of the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company who served there.
Images for kids
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The Lewis Tompkins Hose Company No. 1 Firehouse, today a glass shop
