In 1959, Hanover Center firemen were part of Silver Creek Fire Department. A group of members who lived in and around Hanover Center became Station 2 setting up a Fire Hall in the old one-room school building in Hanover Center.

Later, we became Hanover Hose Company 1 and was formed as an individual Fire Company. In 1969 a new fire hall was built on land donated by Bill and Tessie Miller on Hanover Road. We held Tractor Pulls, Mud Bogs, Chicken BBQ’s and donations from the residents to fund the fire dept. Hanover Hose has always supported the other four fire departments in the Town of Hanover.

Two years ago, a meeting was held with all five fire departments’ representatives and members of the Town of Hanover Board along with lawyer Brad Pinsky. The lawyer explained how Fire Districts work and their benefits. One suggestion he made was that each fire department becomes their own District to start with, then if they wish to merge with each other, do that in the future. This would be an easier and more economical way and still provide the current level of public service. This would remove the fire taxing and liability from the Town Board.

Around November 2024, the Town of Hanover Board stated they did not want five Districts. They wanted one District with all five departments, covering the areas we currently cover. Shortly after this, we found out that Irving and Hanover Fire Departments’ budgets would be cut in half.

After receiving the budget news, Pinsky suggested we have residents of our fire protection area sign a petition that he drafted. We had accumulated about 90% of the residents’ signatures. We had a very favorable response to the petitions. Then we were told by Pinsky that the Town Board would not accept the petitions.

On Jan. 27, 2025, at the Town of Hanover Board meeting the fire departments were asked to voice their willingness to merge into one District. Sunset Bay and Silver Creek Fire Departments expressed a desire to merge. Forestville, Hanover Center and Irving did not want to merge. The Town Board said they did not want to discuss it anymore and it was up to the five fire departments to work it out. A statement was made that they didn’t want any of the fire departments to be dissolved or to lose their identity.

On March 16, a meeting was held by Hanover Center Fire Department to decide what they were going to do. After discussion of either merging with Silver Creek or Forestville, the membership unanimously voted to join in a District with Forestville. We felt our dynamics were more compatible with each other. Pinsky presented this to the Town Board, they said no that was not what they wanted.

On April 7, our President of Hanover Center Fire Department who is also a member of our Board of Directors, with authorization of the entire fire department membership, went to see Town of Hanover Supervisor and indicated that if we can’t merge with Forestville Fire Department’s District then we will merge with Silver Creek Fire District.

No additional communication has been received from the Town of Hanover Board since.

A public hearing will be held on May 27 at Silver Creek High School Cafeteria at 7 p.m. discussing the merger of the fire departments of Silver Creek and Sunset Bay. The Town of Hanover Board is eyeing King Road as a line of demarcation, essentially dividing the town in half.

Where does this leave the Hanover Center Fire Department?