The first fire company was formed in 1879, when Dolgeville was known as Brockett's Bridge.  Volunteer Company #1 had little in fire fighting equipment other than buckets.  Two years after its formation, the company purchased a hand pumping engine.  A bell on Major Winton's Tannery was used to call the firemen to duty. On March, 29, 1887, a second fire company was formed.  It was known as Excelsior Hose Company #1.

Dolgeville's first major fire was in 1892. Neither department possessed efficient equipment to fight the fire and several buildings were destroyed along Main Street.  The departments pressed the need for an adequate water system for the village. As a result, the Irondale Reservoir was built to supply water.  The village also purchased two hand-drawn hose carts.

A major reorganization occurred in 1894 when Volunteer Company #1 split into two departments.  The member roster was numbered and those with odd numbers went to Company #1, while those with even numbers went to Company #2.  Company #1 was renamed the Alfred Dolge Hose Company #1 and was located on South Main Street.  Company #2 was called General J.P. Spofford Hose Company #2 and was housed on North Main Street.  Shortly after that took place, the Excelsior Hose Company disbanded and members received credit for time served when they joined either of the new departments.

On April 4, 1974, Alfred Dolge Hose Company #1 and General J.P. Spofford Hose Company #2 combined departments and created the Dolgeville Fire Department.  Even though one department was created in Dolgeville, all the fire trucks and other equipment was still housed at the two previous fire stations.  On Saturday, October 12, 1991, the Dolgeville Fire Department dedicated a new firehouse with all of their trucks and equipment in one location.

In 2002, an anonymous donation was made to the Dolgeville Fire Department that paid off the new building. The fire department is proud to own their building.

Fire fighting in Dolgeville dates back to the year 1879, when this village was known as Brocketts Bridge. The forming of the first fire fighting company is credited to Alfred Dolge, the founder of the village. This organization was nothing more than a bucket brigade, but what it lacked in equipment it made up in enthusiasm, and it was only a couple of years later when the fire department became a reality.

In 1880 or 1881 a hand pumping engine was purchased, probably by Mr. Dolge, although some old timers say that it was obtained by public subscriptions. Nevertheless, with the advent of the pumping engine, the fire company became regularly organized, with rules to follow and officers to guide and direct.

Fred Englehardt, deceased, was chosen as the first captain. He served for a few years and the next man to be selected was Captain William Penn, an interesting person and a favorite with the men. Henry Dolge, a brother of Alfred Dolge, was, as near as can be ascertained, the third chief of this old fire company.

In the old days the discovery of a blaze was heralded by shouts of "Fire!" in the streets until enough persons had been gathered to drag the old engine to the scene of the fire. Later a bell on the Major Winton tannery building was rung as a means of summoning the men to duty. This bell, which is probably over 100 years old, was later acquired by Alfred Dolge and in turn presented by him to the Fire Department, and it now is hanging in the small tower on the top of the Alfred Dolge Hose Company building on South Main street.

The first headquarters of the fire company was a barn on the east bank of the East Canada creek directly across from the Dolge avenue bridge and was then owned by the Slausons. This building, although considerably remodeled, is still standing and is now owned by the Daniel Green Company. Later the engine was moved to a building situated in the rear of the First National Bank. This building is still standing.

The original company as formed consisted of only about fifteen men, who were fitted out with red shirts, helmets, black belts and trousers of whatever color the individuals happened to own.

As far as known, the first considerable fire at which the hand engine was used was at the home of Dr. A.G. Barney, the father of Dr. F.M. Barney. This fire did considerable damage, probably due to delay in sounding any alarm and getting the old engine into operation. It was very difficult to start this old pump and get it working. Most of the buildings in the village at that time were situated along upper Main street and, of course, at a fire the pump had to be drawn into the stream and the men who manned the long horizontal handles on either side of the machine were compelled often to stand in water up to their waists. A person who was a fireman in those days had to be a rather husky individual to stand the strenuous work. Some old citizens recall seeing old Captain Penn stationed on the top of the hand engine and directing the men by shouting in a loud voice: "Up! Down! Up! Down!" as they went at their back breaking task.

Considerable pressure was developed by this surprising old hand engine and it usually required abut six men or more to handle the nozzle and direct it on the fire. The old-fashioned straight nozzle was then in style and, as they were not made with shut-off, as present day types are, much water damage was caused. The old idea that water always did more damage than the fire was probably true then, but in these days it is very rarely the case, for with modern equipment and chemicals it is much easier to control the streams.

It might be of interest to note here that Alfred Dolge was an active member of the old original company and that his cousin, C.O. Dolge, who is now living in this village on Ransom street, is the only surviving member of the old original company.

The old company functioned until the year 1894 when, at a meeting, it was decided to split the company into two parts and form two companies, one to be located on North Main street and one on South Main street. Quite a number of members of the old department are still living and those who are residing in Dolgeville are James Thresher, F.P. Barrett, Irving Snell, Charles Bliss, Byron Cross and Julius Breckwoldt.

At the time the two companies were formed, the old membership list was taken and the first named man on the list became a member of the No. 1 Comapny and the next on the list became a No. 2 member and so on through the entire list. It was decided to call one company Alfred Dolge Fire Hose Company No. 1 in honor of the founder of Dolgeville, and the other company was called General J.P. Spofford Hose Company No. 2, in honor of the fighting general of the Civil War. The first chief to be named was Helom Brunkhorst and the first foreman of No. 1 Company was W.R. Roberts, and for No. 2 Company Harvey M. Duesler was named.

As the village water system was being installed and in some part of the village was ready for use, something more modern was needed for fire fighting than the old hand engine. This was not necessary where the village hydrants were available, although the old relic was used a few times in outlying sections and the battle-scarred machine should have been preserved, but through lack of interest it was allowed to rust away and now is no more.

Two hand-drawn hose carts were purchased. They were about alike and carried a box for tools and nozzles, a wire basket on top for coats and helmets, an axe on one side and a crowbar on the other. Each cart could carry about five or six hundred feet of hose. A reel which carried abut one hundred feet of strong rope was fastened to the front and when the apparatus was needed this rope was run out, the fire fighters got a hold and the race was on.

As there has always been friendly rivalry between the two companies, an answer to an alarm was really a race to see who could get to the blaze first. Probably the horse races of today are no more exciting than some of the runs made by the men of these two companies. Many prizes have been won for Dolgeville back in the days of the Tri-County Conventions by these men who so speedily drew these carts to a blaze.

The gongs on the sides of the two hose carts rang merrily as they were dragged through the village streets until 1922, when the village fathers decided to partly motorize the department, and sounded the death knell of the old carts. It was in this year that a Ford truck was purchased and equipped and was given into the charge of Alfred Dolge Hose Co. No. 1.

To the boys who had been pulling the heavy two-wheelers by hand for years this was the last word in fire apparatus and as the Spofford Hose Company was still compelled to use the old cart, much dissatisfaction was aroused, which resulted in the purchase of a fine large Larabee truck in 1927.

This was obtained largely through a large cash donation made by the members of Spofford Hose Company No. 2 and a good investment, as it is still in use today and, as it is equippped with a pumper, has done good service at many fires outside the village.

In 1929 the old rivalry cropped out again and No. 1 company started a whirlwind campaign to raise money for a larger truck and, as a result, the fire department was increased by the addition of a Sanford chemical and hose truck. This truck, which was purchased through the efforts and hard work of the members of Alfred Dolge Hose Company No. 1, was later formally turned over to the village by the Company.

Since that date another light car has been purchased by the members of Alfred Dolge Hose Company No. 1 and has been named "The Dawn Patrol," and has been used in the service at fires and in motor races and contests.

This company was incorporated in 1896 and has several members in active service who have served thirty years or more. The quarters for the Alfred Dolge Hose Company are located on the corner of South Main and Slauson streets and it is in this building and in the tower in the rear where the modern and complete alarm system is located. The rooms are well furnished and many a social hour is spent in this building.

Spofford Hose Company is housed in the Barney building on North Main street and has spacious and well furnished quarters. Both companies hold regular monthly meetings for the transaction of their business and each has a membership of about fifty men at all times.

The Spofford Hose Company was incorporated in 1903.