January 20, 1974 Fire Department Ambulance Service Begins

On January 23, 1974, one headline in the Ithaca Journal noted, “Ambulance Now in Use.” The story included a photograph of the 1965 ambulance that the Interlaken Fire Department had purchased.

A second article reported the “emergency vehicle went into service as of midnight, Sunday, Jan. 20. It can be summoned by calling 532-4444, any hour of the day or night.”

Raymond Hurlbut assisted with ambulance service for 37 years prior to 1974. As it was back then, so it is today, regulations and “sufficient and qualified help” are necessary for any ambulance service. The 1973 changes were effecting all communities, “a void in service being created…as local undertakers go out of the ambulance business.” 

“Members of the Interlaken Fire Department Ambulance Squad pose with the newly-purchased ambulance. From left are Joe Lincoln, chairman of the fund drive for the vehicle; David Eggersdorf, Dewey Albro, fire department chief; and Jeff Bond.”
Ithaca Journal article, Interlaken Historical Society Paper File collection

What did these dedicated volunteers do with two months lead time? When they learned Mr. Hurlbut was considering giving up the ambulance service, the department “took up the slack.”

That first ambulance was purchased for $800 from the County Ambulance in Ithaca. As with so many other aspects of the Fire Department, it was a community effort to have the ambulance ready to use.

Listed in the Ithaca Journal article were Ronnie’s Body Shop painting, Jim Fergus the lettering and Mr. Hurlbut donated the needed oxygen supply. At that time the ambulance was housed in one of the bays at the Village of Interlaken garage on Railroad Avenue, just around the corner from the Main Street Fire House.

Interlaken Ambulance at the fire house ca 1986.
Interlaken Historical Society Photo collection

From its beginnings in January 1974 until the last runs in December 2003, volunteers have given their time for training, maintenance, fund raising for new vehicles or needed equipment, and most of all, to answer the call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Mr. Patterson, in his 1976 volume Between the Lakes, The History of South Seneca County dedicated the book to Wheeler A. Bassett and the “members if the Interlaken Fire Department, both past and present.”

1976 Ambulance and members of the Interlaken Fire Department.
Interlaken Historical Society collection.

As a community, we owe this dedicated group of ladies and gentlemen a loud and lasting thank you. Even today there are members of the department who are trained, and renew their training, to help as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). They are often first on the scene, using their training to evaluate and begin treatment. They also assist the ambulance personnel when the “rig” arrives, helping get the patient enroute to the hospital.

Several of these same EMTs and first responders also serve as instructors for Community CPR classes. While it may seem like an odd statement, it has stayed with me since first hearing it in class, and truly does sum up what the ambulance does best, “red lights and diesel fuel.”

EMTs and other first responders stabilizing patients while waiting for the helicopter.
Author's personal photo collection

Dewitt's Diary Sunday January 20, 1974 Temperature 20, clear, some clouds working up. Weather vane south. Sun for a short time. Temperature up to 30.

Cloudy tonight, and a few sprinkles The ice condition is still with us tonight. Very bad around the house and barn.