The Wallkill Engine and Hose Company #2 was organized on November 3, 1860, making the year 2010 the 150th year in existence for the company. The Wallkills were later incorporated on September 2, 1913. The first Wallkill apparatus was purchased in 1860 and it was a horse-drawn, hand pumped, Button and Blake engine which was purchased from Watertown, NY. On April 4th, 1895, the Village of Montgomery voted to construct and maintain a better system of waterworks for the task of fighting fires. A large cistern was build in the center of the village and filled with water in October of that year. This cistern made the Wallkill's job much easier, since a source of water was always guaranteed in the village now. In 1902, a hose carriage was purchased from Roanoke, Virginia by the village for the Wallkill Engine and Hose company as a tool to transport their many lengths of hose to fires around the village.

In March of 1913, the most devastating fire in Montgomery's history hit at 4am. The fire began in a barn in the center of the village and quickly spread to surrounding buildings including the academy and the fire station. The station was destroyed in this blaze, but the Montgomery firefighters were able to rescue most of their firefighting equipment including the Wallkill's Button and Blake Engine which was slightly scorched. The station was rebuilt just up the street from the site of the burned out one in 1914 at a sum of around $9,000.

The year 1921 brought about the purchase of the first motorized vehicle for the Wallkills. They acquired a 1920 Mack pumper to replace their hand pumped, horse-drawn engine. In 1926, standardized fire hose and hydrants and universal threads regulations came into being, making the engine company's job much easier and allowing for interchanging of equipment. The next Wallkill apparatus replacement occurred in 1948 with the purchase of an American LaFrance pumper for $14,000.
The 1960's brought even more changes to the company, first a tanker truck was bought for the department to allow more water to be brought to fire scenes in non-hydranted areas for the Wallkills to pump from. The Wallkills also replaced their 1948 American LaFrance pumper with a newer 1960 American LaFrance pumper.

The next major changes in the company would not come until closer to present day, beginning with the erection of the current fire station in January of 1983 and the purchasing of their current apparatus, a 1997 Central States pumper.
The company, as it exists today, is still going strong with 20-30 active members and a new apparatus in the early planning phases for replacement. Even though talks of a company merger with the Fleet Hook and Ladder Company to consolidate into just the Montgomery Fire Department are proceeding, the Wallkill Engine and Hose Company's legacy and rich history will live on and will surely be preserved for the future generations of Montgomery's firefighters to see.

To view an expanded and more in depth history of the Wallkill Engine and Hose Company No. 2, Click Here.