The Home had its inception in 1888 at the annual State Volunteer Firemen's Convention held in Cortland. At this time, the following resolution offered by George W. Anderson, later president of the Association and now de ceased, was unanimously adopted:

WHEREAS, The services rendered by the Volunteer Firemen of the State of New York are at all times hazard ous and involve risk of life, but are freely given in the protection of life and property of their fellow citizens without compensation or reward; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Firemen's Association of New York State take such action to provide a home for those who, by reason of adversity or force of circumstances, may become so situated that they are not able to provide for themselves; RESOLVED, That the President of this Association appoint a committee of five members, whose duty it shall be to report to the next annual meeting of the Association a plan to carry out the intention expressed in the foregoing resolutions.

The committee named consisted of George W. Anderson, of Brooklyn; Charles S. Rogers, of Hudson; Charles A. Josephs, of Buffalo; Alexander Wiltse, of Catskill, and George W. Irish, of Cazenovia. The next annual convention of the Association read a report of this committee stating that the sentiment of the association members, as near as could be learned was unanimously favorable to the resolution adopted a year previously and the convention instructed its president, George W. Irish and the chairman of the committee, George W. Anderson, to take such action as would properly carry into effect the resolutions.

The State Association was not permitted under its charter to engage in work of this character, so a distinctly separate organization was formed, incorporated under State laws and called the Firemen's Home Association of the State of New York. The following men were named and consented to act as the first board of trustees: Roswell P. Flower, Watertown; George W. Anderson, Brooklyn; John Courtney, Brooklyn; John W. Vrooman, Herkimer;

The trustees selected a site consisting of thirty acres of admirably adapted falm land above the city of Hudson and proceeded to the erection of the home which today stands as a magnificent tribute to the brave volunteer firemen of New York State. From the piazzas of this home, beautiful as now completed, can be seen the beautiful and historic Hudson winding its majestic way to the sea. To the east, north and south lie beautiful stretches of country, while across the State line twenty miles eastward can be seen the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, while in the background the towering Catskills lend grandeur to the scene.

Leaving the city via Howard avenue, after traversing about a mile of fine country road, one comes suddenly upon the first view of the ideally arranged cluster of buildings tnat compose the Home. A well kept driveway leads from the avenue to the piazzas and around the principal buildings and well kept flower beds and shrubbery delight the eye. The home proper is built of brick with dark granite trimmings and is three stories in height. Since the first building was formally opened in 1895 additions have been made, which were completed in 1907, giving a Home today woltln more than $150,000, with ample accommodations for caring for 100 veterans.

Tile main building faces the west and has a frontage of 118 feet and a depth of 40 and 80 feet being in the form of an L. Since the completion of this building there have been some notable additions made. A dormitory of three stories has been erected just east of the main building, an administration building of three stories, south of main building, and a large one-story brick kitchen added to the north of the main building completes the central group as it stands today. These were finished in 1907. Other buildings added to the property since its use as a firemen's home include a two-story barn, ice house and cooler, boiler house, laundry, all of brick, and a hen house, granary, root cellar and carriage house. On the farm land acquired by later purchase, a large grain barn has been erected and a tenant house bought with the property has been remodelled and fitted for use of employees.

The main entrance to the central group of buildings is at the west. The entrance from the broad piazza which runs across the entire northern exposure of the buildings and around the administration building, leads through vestibuled and heavily timbered doors to a reception hall. The woodwork inside is all done in natural finish and the first attraction to meet the eye within the buildings is the main staircase in the reception hall. At the landing between the first and second floor is a magnificent memorial window to the volunteer firemen of New York State.

On the first floor to the right lies the administration building with offices, trustees meeting room and superintendent's apartments beyond, while to the left are service rooms, dining room and kitchens. The stairs lead to rooms on the second and third floors occupied by inmates of the Home. Directly back of the entrance is the dormitory with the game and smoking rooms on the first floor and two floors for sleeping rooms above.

The new dormitory is on the east side and is a brick structure of three stories. It is connected with the adminis tration and main buildings by an arcade. The first floor contains five rooms including a large recreation and game room, two toilet rooms, a wash room and a bath room with four tubs and one large shower bath. The smoking and game room is nicely fitted up, having billiard and game tables, reading tables and an abundance of seats and easy chairs. The second and third floors of this building have each sixteen single sleeping rooms and one linen and supply closet.

The main building has accommodations for about sixty more inmates in rooms for one, two and three persons. These are on the second and third floors. In both dormitory and main buildings the rooms are up to date in every respect, having the best of lighting and ventilation. Beds with comfortable matresses, oak dressers, chairs and tables and clothes presses are provided. The halls are covered with linoleum flooring, the bath rooms have rubber flooring, and the toilets are sanitary in every respect. Everything in and about the private rooms of the inmates and in every part of the entire buildings is kept scrupulously clean. A feature worthy of note in connection with the rooms for inmates is the fact that a large number of these rooms are endowed by volunteer fire companies and by public-spirited individuals in many sections of the State. The rooms are furnished in similar style at an approximate cost of $75 per room to the companies thus endowing them. The name of the company or individual appears above each door. Page 6