IPFD 55 + Year History

1949

On May 12th of 1949 the former Prince of Orange

Lodge was sold to The Indian Point Community Hall for
the stately sum of $1.00. The Prince of Orange Lodge
received their title to the property in a deed dated
March 24th 1896.

1955

Fire Dept. formed by Lee Hiltz, Clarence Heisler,

Arthur Heisler, Lorraine Hyson and Henry Lindsay with
Lee Hiltz taking on the role of the First Chief. He
retained that position until 1959. On the 28th of May,
1957 there was a 5 year Indenture made between the
IPFD and Henry Lindsay to lease a piece of land, the
current Millet property between Warren Zwicker and
Dale Cross, to the IPFD for $3.00 per year. The fire dept
built their first structure on this property to house a
couple of portable pumps, some hose and eventually
their first truck.

1959

Henry Lindsay became Chief and held this position

until 1968. A number of significant events happened
during his 7 year tenure.

1960

The IPFD became Incorporated by a Private

Members Bill on the 19th of April 1960. It was after this
time in History that the Fire Dept could set a Tax Rate
for Fire Protection and received their first $90.00 tax
money in 1961.

1961

The first fire truck was purchased from Mahone

Bay in 1961, a 1932 Dodge open cab. That truck can be
seen today at the Nova Scotia Fire-fighters Museum in
Yarmouth. The Indian Point Community hall, former
Orange Lodge, was sold to the Indian Point Fire Dept on
2nd of March 1961.

1968

Cecil Heisler became Chief until 1971. During his

tenure, property that was being leased to the IPFD was
purchased from Henry Lindsay, dated 7th day of August
1968 for the sum of $650.

1969

The first fire truck was sold to a Mr. W.E.J. Hal for
the sum of $300. Then in May of 1969, the IPFD
purchased a 1965 Dodge 1 ton 4X4 to be used as the
fire truck. This vehicle was able to carry all of the
equipment the dept had accumulated.

1970

The property that was purchased from Henry

Lindsay in 1968 was sold to Mr. Millet for the sum of
$1250. The money from this sale allowed the
Community hall to be moved from it=s former location
to where it presently sits, on the former School Property.
The former location was where, in 1905, Dave Elliot=s
driveway is. The former School Property was sold at a
public auction by the Municipality (legality questioned,
property was never owned by the Municipality to sell) to
Vernon Langille, who later sold it to Capt. Andrew
Thomas (former Captain of the Bluenose). Capt.
Thomas transferred this property to the Indian Point Fire
Dept on November 13th 1970 in exchange for the former
Indian Point Community Hall property.

1971

Percy Mosher was next to assume the position of

Chief which he held until 1974. In May of 1971 it was
decided to borrow between $2000 and $2500 to build
the garage connected to the hall. Records indicate that
project was completed in September of same year.

1973

The first central heating system was installed in

the hall at a cost of $1,800.

1974

A re-assessment was carried out within the

Municipality which led to the reduction of the fire tax
rate from .10 per $100 to .05 per $100. The washrooms
were installed.

1975

Richard Langille accepted the role of Chief until

1980. In 1977 the IPFD Hall was made available to a
new group called the Indian Oak New Horizons Club. In
1978 the Annex was added to the hall with the help of
grant monies to this club. 100 hours of labour was

given by 4 fire dept members to enable the club get this

grant money.
1979
1980

IPFD purchased a used Chevy tanker from Chester

for $2,127 and second truck bay was added.
Lindy Hyson until1987.

1981

Fire Tax rate was increased from .05 per $100 to .

07 per $100

1983

IPFD sold the Chevy Tanker purchased in 1979 to

Tiverton Fire Dept for $1,800. There was talk about
converting the 1965 Dodge 1 ton 4X4 into a tanker
pumper and buying a 2 or 3/4 ton 4X4 as a utility
vehicle to carry equipment. A 1979 Dodge 2 ton was
purchased for $5,500.

1984

It became apparent the idea to convert the 65

Dodge was not going to be an option. Parts required to
bring the chassis to a level to accept the weight were
not readily available and what was found led to the
question Ashould we be putting this much money into
such an old vehicle@. Began talking about buying a new
truck.

1985

Fire Tax rate was increased from .07 per $100 to .

10 per $100 to help pay for the new Custom built 1985
1 ton 4X4 chassis, purchased for $16,600, to be
converted to tanker/pumper. That truck is still in service
today and has never let the dept down. The act that
incorporated IPFD in 1960 had to be amended to allow
the dept to borrow more than $5,000.

1986

Sold the 1979 Dodge 2 ton for $4,000. The 1985

chassis was converted to a mini pumper/tanker at a cost
of $28,826 bringing the total cost of the truck to
$45,426.

1987

Carl Hyson until 1989. Fire Tax rate was decreased

from .10 per $100 to .09 per $100. IPFD upgraded to a

central dispatch voice paging system. The Civic

numbering system was implemented.
1990

Lindy Hyson until 1994. Fire Tax rate was

decreased from .09 per $100 to .08 per $100. The 1985
Chevy 1 ton 4X4 was paid off in 1990. Because of the
added strain on the water supply by the Indian Oak New
Horizon club, the dept had a new 24' well dug at a cost
of $2,800.

1994-1995 The dept went a year without a chief. In 1994 a

problem
arouse whereas the Indian Oak New
Horizons Club allowed the
annex=s footprint to
extrude on a neighbouring property.
1995

Lindy Hyson resumed the role of chief until 1997.

June 1st 1995 the Indian Oak New Horizons Club vacated
the hall with full control of the annex returning to the
IPFD. Fire Tax rate was increased from .08 per $100 to .
10 per $100 to help pay for the added financial strain of
running the annex.

1997

Ray Creery until 1999. The Dept boundaries were

changed again when a deed between Frances Eisnor
and the IPFD was finally signed off on the 29th of May,
1997. The main hall had vinyl siding installed. The
1970 tanker was purchased from Martin=s River FD.

1999

Lindy Hyson till 2011. The hall annex received

vinyl siding which completed the full exterior of the hall.
A new heating system was installed along with a water
treatment system. The interior of the lower hall was
refinished to meet current code. In 2004 the fire tax
rate was increased to .12 per $100 to begin saving
money for the replacement of the 1970 tanker. That
fund now sits at $18,000.

2005

In 2005 the fire tax rate was increased to .15 per

$100 to enable the saving of more money for the new
truck which will cost over $150,000.

2007

May 12th purchased new 2007 GMC 3 Ton 4X4

chassis from Eastern GMC, Antigonish for the amount of
$48,419.22
August 16th purchased Snuffer CAFS pump system from
Safety Source for $46,840.26
July 18th purchased light package from Cardinal Fire &
Safety for $4,332.

2008

March 17th purchased New Radios for truck from

LMR for $988.75
March 31st LRB built the new truck at a cost of $79,450.
Took out a $100,000 loan to cover cost of new Truck
The total cost for the new truck was $183,439.13 after
adding in all the little extras i.e.: foam, hoses, valves
etc.
Modified the existing truck bay to accommodate the
new truck
at a cost of $50,000. Perry Ernst
2009

Re-shingled Main Hall roof at a cost of $12,550.

Perry Ernst.

2010
Purchased 4 new Scott Air-Pak 75's at a cost of
$22,125.40 to
replace some of our air pack=s that
were beyond their life cycle.
They were somewhere in
the 25 year old range. Long past their
expiry date.
2011
$100,000 loan was paid off in January. Lindy Hyson
resigned as Chief after holding this position for a total of 25
years.
Carl Hyson as Chief until 2013.
2013

Tom Lockwood assumed position of Chief.

Ladies Auxiliary
The Ladies Auxiliary was organized on 15th of February 1961.
1961

Myrna Hyson was the first president and held this

office until 1962.

1963

Millie MacPherson was the next president until

1968.

1969

Elaine Langille held the position of president until

1971.

1972

Erma Hyson as president.

1973

Alice Mosher as president.

1974

Verona Mosher as president.

1975

Elaine Langille assumed the position of president

and held it until 1981.

1981

Tricia Barr was the next president until 1983.

1984

Elaine Langille stepped to the plate again and held

the position of president until 1985 the last year for the
auxiliary.

It should be noted that Grace Andrews held the position

of Secretary/Treasurer from 1961 until 1968. Myrna Hyson
assumed this role in 1969 and held it until 1985 which was the
final year of the organization.