On the evening of September 8, 1869, forty-nine townsmen met in the Warwick Brass Band rooms (later Parking Plumbing) for the purpose of forming a fire company. Mr. W.H. Knapp was elected chairman of the meeting and Mr. J. W. McElroy, secretary. The following were duly elected as officers J.G. Knapp, Foreman: W.H. Knapp, 1st Assistant Foreman: Lewis Fritz, 2nd Assistant Forman: J.H. McElroy, Secretary, and J.H. Van Duzer, Treasurer. The name chosen for the company was Warwick Valley Engine Co.

A special meeting of the company was held September 3, 1869 for the purpose of changing the name of the company. Excelsior Fire Engine Co. No. 1 was chosen. At the November 7, 1971 meeting the name was again officially changed to the Excelsior Hose Company No 1 of Warwick. Officers of the newly-organized company were then elected: Mr. J.W. McElroy, secretary. The following were duly elected as officers: J.G. Knapp, Foreman: J.H. Holly, 1st Assistant Foremen: R. J. Rutan, 2nd Assistant Foreman: C.E. Tolhurst, Secretary and J.H. Van Duzer, Treasurer.

The company’s first meetings were held in Firemen’s Hall until January 1, 1887. Chief Ira S. Smith and several other members appeared before the Village Board of Trustees, requesting a more suitable location to hold their meetings and house their equipment. The request was put to a vote, and on March 6, 1886, a parcel of land on High Street was purchased from Thomas Burt for $750. The total cost of the land and building was $3.525.

The company’s first piece of equipment was a secondhand hand pumper (called the Man Killer), which, with the completion of water mains was replaced by hand-draw hose carts steered by a couple of firemen. The first piece of motorized equipment, a Robinson truck, was acquired in 1916 for $7,000, allowing the company to afford protection to property within a radius of ten miles from the village (with assistance from the Raymond Hose Company No. 2 and the Goodwill Hook and Ladder Company No. 1). Eighteen years later, a new Maxim truck was purchased for $12, 500. This truck was in turn traded in on the new Mack truck in 1948 at a cost of $13, 500. The company purchased a Maxim in 1965 and today owns a 1988 Mack truck.