From inception until 1943 the village had provided fire protection for the rural areas on the east side of town of Ellicott at no charge.  At that time the village had only one Pumper and when it went into East Ellicott the village was left without fire protection.  In the spring of 1943 the Village Board notified the Ellicott Town Board that after July 1st of that year the village would no longer furnish fire protection for the rural section outside the village.  This action resulted in the formation of a fire protection district in East Ellicott and eventual contract with the village to furnish fire protection at a cost of $800.00 per year.  The number of personnel in the fire department was increased from 60 members to 80 members with the additional number being recruited from the fire protection district outside the village.
     Later, as soon as the purchase could be cleared with Washington because of the war, a new truck was purchased by the village for the purpose of supplying service to the newly formed  fire district.  The contract between the village and town has been renewed annually since that time.  The East Ellicott portion of the district has, and still does, include some of the heavier industry in the area.
     In the 1950's the Falconer Firemen desired to build a recreation area.  The following is condensed from The Post Journal articles between 1952-53:

     Before the end of 1952 a two story clubhouse will be build on a five acre plot of land on Hough Hull.  The Falconer Volunteer Firemen's Association composed of member of the Falconer Hose Company and Hook and Ladder Company already has $6,000 in the treasury and earmarked for the project which has been discussed and planned over the last ten years.
     The proposed club house is to be of clubhouse is to be of part cinder block construction and part wood and will overlook the village from a spot about halfway up the hill.  The volunteer firemen comprising nearly every craft required for building, from the drawing of the plans to the finishing touches, will do all the building work.  They hope to have the work underway this spring (1953).
     The club will be a 40 x 60 foot building.  The upper floors will have a large hall with a stage, foyer, checkroom, and a large brick faced fireplace.  The lower floor will have a fun room with a fireplace and a large modern kitchen.  Present plans are to create a general recreation area on the five acre site.  It is also planned to have three terraces on the hillside with adequate parking both above the club house and below it.
     Fund raising for the approximately $6,000 needed to complete the project has included home mailings, card parties, stags, and a Valentine box social and dance, among other activities.  In addition the fire men have each raised their own dues to the department by $10.00, the excess going to the building fund.

     In 1971 the building was sold to the Boy Scouts of America due to the distance of the location from the village and the reduction of the parking spaces when the Southern Tier Expressway was completed.  The Falconer Rescue  Squad was formed in 1970.  The first ambulance was purchased in 1970.  Then, as is still true today, the rescue squad and it's equipment, including ambulance, are financed through donations and with a percentage of the annual fund drive.

[ Part Three ] - [ Part Five ]

**The History of the Falconer Fire Department was taken directly from "History of the Volunteer Fire Department of Falconer, New York.  Commemoration the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Falconer Fire Department 1893 - 1993."