Below is a letter to the Claverack President/CEO and the Board of Directors.

November 17, 1998

Dear Sirs,

On October 17, 1998 the Little Meadows Fire Department was summoned to a fully involved structure fire. Although the house was a total loss, several nearby structures came through with a little or no fire damage.

How? A thousand yards from the fire scene was a dry hydrant donated by Claverack REC. Because of this hydrant, we were able to protect and save a multiple family apartment house located only 40 feet from the fire, a garage only 20 feet from the fire and the Little Meadows Café, which is located directly across the road from the scene. Without the dry hydrant, these structures would have suffered extreme damage, if not complete destruction. Claverack’s foresight, generosity and public involvement saved the people of Little Meadows from what could have been a major disaster.

Special thanks are also due to Mr. Donald Kannenberg, who as a member of the Claverack board of directors, was instrumental in obtaining and installing the dry hydrant. Mr. Kannenberg is also a member of the fire department and was on the scene of the fire as a truck driver/pump operator.

This fire is ample proof of the effectiveness of dry hydrants and the program in which Claverack provides them. As a resident, property owner and chief of the fire department, I wish to say “thank you.” Thank you for your dedication to the communities Claverack serves, thank you for your vision to start the dry hydrant program and most of all, thank you for being caring, dedicated people.

Lawrence Purtell
Chief, Little Meadows Fire Department

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