By Joanne Kosuda-Warner

   A rousing thank you to everyone who has donated to the building fund for the Old Village Fire Hall! With our year-end appeal, we’ve raised about $9000. We intend to seek additional funding from private Foundations and government organizations to help pay for needed repairs.

The Old Village Fire Hall was acquired by the Andes Society for History and Culture in 2004. It houses our Thrift Shop, the main source of our operating income. For over 100 years this building in the heart of the town served the community in a myriad of ways. The ground floor housed the fire trucks, but the meeting rooms upstairs hosted fire department events, emergency squad meetings, and election-day meetings/dinners. In addition, American Legion and Boy Scout meetings were held there. At one time, village offices were also located on the upper level.

ASHC Board Members: Joanne Kosuda-Warner, Pres., Cathy and Michael Castellano, Linda Dunne, Vice Pres.

Construction surveys are still in the works, but we hope to have some estimates in by the Spring. The primary need is for structural work to the foundation. In addition, the building needs: a new furnace, a glass door to act as a new entrance (and climate barrier); facade repairs; painting; improved lighting and signage. The second floor also needs plaster repairs, painting and additional lighting. Some of this work will be completed this Winter.

If you have not done so already, we hope that you can donate to this worthwhile project.  Please make checks payable to ASHC and mail to Andes Society for History and Culture, P.O. Box 455, Andes, N.Y.13731.~

Andes Military Band in front of the Fire Hall on May 30, 1919 for Memorial Day Celebration six months after the end of World War 1 (courtesy of Scott Hill)