Putnam Valley Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a not-for-profit corporation organized in 1961. This year we are celebrating 47 years of service to the people of Putnam Valley.
In early 1961, the Mohegan Volunteer Fire Department notified Putnam Valley that it could no longer provide ambulance service to our town. The Mohegan area had grown to the point that they had to reduce their area of service.
It is not easy to start a new ambulance corps. It takes people, a plan and money. After several attempts, with various people supplying the necessary momentum at critical times, money began to accumulate and people were ready. Help came from many sources. To mention one would be unfair to the many who contributed service, suggestions and/or money. Women were taking a part, not as a supporting auxiliary, but front-line active members. There were 42 volunteers ready to start first aid training by September of 1961.
Obtaining a charter to operate an ambulance was also not easy - resembling the proverbial marriage license, it is only a license of greater responsibility.
The Corps opened its doors in November of 1961 with a $250 second-hand ambulance carrying a $700 resuscitator covered by only $400 worth of liability insurance - great hopes and little cash. For the first 13 years the Ambulance Corps worked out of a garage on the estate of the late Leonard Wagner. In 1974, we moved to our present location, 2 bays of the Putnam Valley firehouse.
Adopting a constitution and by-laws took many additional months because this document would contain the mission of the Corps and how it would be implemented.
No money collected is used for the benefit of Corp members, unless they themselves are victims of an emergency.
The first ambulance used by the Corps remained in service until it literally fell apart early in 1963; the second one was a loan from Brewster FD while we undertook our 1963 fund drive for the replacement ambulance. The thought of raising $15,000 in a town the size of Putnam Valley was a frightening one. To the members it meant hard work, in addition to their regular tours of duty. The result confirmed the fiber of the Corps members. Today we continue the proud tradition of this hard work and dedication to the town..
Our headquarters was located on Oscawanna Lake Road in Putnam Valley, N.Y. Consisting of a 2 bay garage, in the same building as the local fire department. We currently have over 80 members, many of whom are New York State Emergency Medical Technicians or Certified First Responders. Some of our founding members are still active in the corps.
A 14 acre piece of land was donated jointly to us and the fire department, by Miss Helene Goebbels to assist us in facilitating our goals. In 1999, we sub-divided the property into a 25/75 split per Miss Goebbels original plan. This division will allow us to actively pursue our building, and will allow the FD to utilize their portion as they wish.
In Summer 2000 we broke ground on our new headquarters. Spring 2004, we moved into our new building, a sizable change in space. Our previous home at the FD was less than 500 square feet. Our new building is close to 11,000 square feet. The building was designed to meet the ever increasing needs of our community, for years to come.
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Copyright ©, 1999-2004, Putnam Valley Volunteer
Ambulance Corps, Revised
January 1, 2008