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wagon, pumper, and chemical) was placed in service. Originally purchased by the Monhagens themselves, the city later paid for it. In 1913, a Stearns engine and chasis was purchased by the Monhagens to replace the American Mors components, although there was no change in external appearance. Soon after this, the truck was equipped with a pair of Favary tires, manufactured in Middletown, on the rear wheels. These tires proved to be a minor disaster, going flat and causing mechanical problems. This motor vehicle is believed to be the first triple-combination fire engine in the country. Like the "Black Joke" before it, the truck was disposed of.
In 1910, the King Street fire house (home of the Excelsior and Eagle companies) was remodeled and enlarged to three floors. Architect of this project was David H. Canfield. After Central Pire House was built, the King Street building was used for other purposes. It was torn down in the 1960's during urban renewal. The site is now part of the Jaines Street parking lot.
The McQuoids motorized when the company purchased a Victor, placing it in service November 15, 1911. The Waalkills motorized when their Seagrave went into service November 4, 1914. Ontarios placed their new Seagrave motor truck in operation February 5, 1916. After considerable controversy over the selection of a truck, the Eagles put their Stutz into service June 2, 1922. An American-LaFrance was delivered to the Phoenix September 25, 1925. Lastly, the Excelsiors received an Ahrens-Fox 75 foot aerial ladder truck March 14, 1927. The era of the hand-drawn and horse-drawn truck had come to an end. The Excelsiors, Eagles, McQuoids and Phoenix had gone from hand-drawn to horse-drawn to auto trucks. The Monhagens, Ontarios and Waalkills went from hand pulled directly to automobile trucks.
By the mid-1920's, the Eagle-Excelsior fire house on King Street was in need of replacement. There was a proposal to build a double truck house on South Street next to the Middletown Savings Bank (where the drive-in lanes are now). This was rejected by the voters in 1925. Movement for a central fire house, around for years, began to pick up.
At a special election held August 5, 1926, taxpayers authorized a $55,000 bond issue to replace the King Street house. Architect Robert R. Graham's plans for a two-story, two-bay brick structure were approved at the January, 1927 meeting of the Comenon Council. However, objections were later raised to the continued use of the King Street site due to traffic congestion and the narrowness of the street. This led the city to put the building up for sale at auction in early March, 1927. The highest bid was considered too low and rejected, with the city deciding to retain ownership of the building. Alderman Mellis suggested construction of a new house on the site of the McQuoids-Monhagen site on East Main Street. This was agreed to at a public hearing in March, 1927.