To the Editor:
After reading of the dissolution of the Altamont Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary, I wanted to share some memories of mine as the daughter of Bill Sr. and Rachel Quay, who were both involved in the fire department and the auxiliary for many years [“AFD Ladies’ Auxiliary disbands as women invade man’s world,” The Altamont Enterprise, Jan. 28, 2022].

We lived at 115-117 Lincoln Ave. in a home that was built in the 1800s and actually was a firehouse in 1904 for a few years! It was also a Masonic Hall, among other uses, but someone along the way remodeled it into a two-family home and my parents bought it in approximately 1943 and they moved from Helderberg Avenue to this home. Eventually, our family changed it to a one-family so we had six bedrooms for my parents, grandmother, and five children.

My father was probably involved in the fire department from 1940 on until his death in 1987. What I remember most was in the 1950s when I was a teenager, there was a red phone in our home that was for fire and ambulance calls, prior to 9-1-1 being established for emergency calls.

I am sure another fireman or two also had the same phone in their home but I have no exact details as to where. I just know that my mother was home with the five children and did not drive, so she did answer many of the calls.

The phone would ring and she would answer and take the information down and then begin to call people to see who could take the call. My father would be one if he was home but the list was next to the phone and my mother would keep calling until she had people to go on the ambulance.

If it was a fire, she had a button to push for the siren to go off.  So, I am proud to say our mother was a 9-1-1 dispatcher before there was 9-1-1!

The fire department and the ambulance squad were a huge part of our father’s life. He was chief at one point for years and also treasurer of the squad for many years.

A funny side note: When I was married in St. John’s Lutheran Church in 1969, I was fearful that the siren could ring. Would my father stay and walk me down the aisle or would he take off  like he had been doing for years and years? Not to worry, the siren did not ring!

I am sorry the ladies’ auxiliary will no longer be a part of the community. Altamont has been fortunate to have hundreds of dedicated men and women to work with the fire department and ambulance squad to help us all out when needed over these many years! We thank you all!

Jane Quay Willey

Guilderland