You are currently standing next to the Rhinebeck Fire Department. This site serves as an impressive reminder to those who bravely took up the call to serve our community.
First organized in 1834, the Rhinebeck Fire Department consisted of two companies, H. S. Kipp Hose and the Relief Hook and Ladder. Over time, the department expanded to include more companies, the most famous of which was the Pocahontas Engine Company #2. The namesake handtub “Pocahontas” was purchased from the Button Company of Waterford, Connecticut in 1859. The machine, an innovation in firefighting technology at the time, had two long arms on either side of a central chamber. During a fire, the company would pump these arms up and down to build pressure in the chamber, expelling water from the nozzle.
The effectiveness of Pochantas was tested in May of 1864 when a great fire broke out in the village. The conflagration started at the building of Stephen DuBois on South Street and the Post Road, quickly spreading north to consume the building on the southern side of East Market Street. With the help of the handtub, the fire was eventually put out. Dozens of buildings were badly damaged, and the attempts to rebuild can still be seen today. “Old Pokie,” as the fire department affectionately calls the handtub, was eventually retired in favor of motorized vehicles.
The Dutchess County Historical Society is proud to be the stewards of the Rhinebeck Fire Department Collection, which details the department’s impressive history. To read more stories about the Rhinebeck Fire Department and other departments across the county see the DCHS 2024 Yearbook or pick up your own copy at 6282 Route 9, Rhinebeck, New York, 12572.