Information from Joe Schell:

Sodus Town Ambulance Corps History    updated 2/19/2019

This year on April 8, 2019, we will be celebrating 48 years of service, ironically we took over from The H.S. Norton Co. who ran the service for 40 years. 

April 8, 1971:  we had the first formation meeting, there had been a meeting held at the Sodus High School to determine if there was any interest in Volunteers that might want to run the ambulance service. Some informational meetings were held as early as January of 1971.

April 15, 1971:  STAC’s first official formation meeting with appointment of our first slate of officers.

Copy of STAC’s first slate of officers, members attached.

Town of Sodus purchases a used ambulance for $5,000.00, a 1967 Cadillac. The graphics consisted of a magnetic sign on each front door.

April to September, 1971, we were doing training, filing the necessary paperwork to become incorporated and tax exempt,  getting some ride time on the ambulance which was still being operated by the H.S. Norton Funeral Home.

September 1, 1971, STAC takes over ambulance service with 41 active members.

The Ambulance was initially housed in Joe Schell’s garage on Maple Ave in Sodus until a suitable base could be obtained.

On December 17, 1971, 8 members had completed the NYS MET course: they were Ken and Dorothy Johnson, Allen Duncan, Virginia Defisher, Gary Ellis, Evelyn Mossgrabber, Joe Schell and Gary Wahl.

Lucy Young, Evelyn Schell and Cecil Goulette completed their Advanced First aid training in December, 1971 and went on to complete the MET class in 1972. 

July 16, 1972, STAC purchase the residence at 25 Gaylord St. for $25,000.00 from Jacob Bushart, the funds were obtained from a fund drive. As soon as the property was purchased, the deed was turned over to the Town of Sodus, the presentation was made to George Arney,  the Sodus Town Supervisor. 

October 5, 1972, we had 81 active members, 55 on ambulance. First full year of service we answered 327 calls.

January 8, 1973 Blossom View Nursing Home opens. STAC’s calls increase to 507 for the year. George Arney, Town Supervisor cuts ribbon for grand opening.

1973 STAC purchases a new 1973 Cadillac ambulance, this was considered a high top and was equipped to handle 4 stretcher patients. The cost was just over $16,000.00.

May 18, 1974, Merle Cunningham, one of our founding members and training officers passed away of an apparent heart attack.

July 1974 STAC purchases our first Resuscitation Annies to be used for CPR training.

July 1974 a $40,000.00 contract was awarded to RCA to upgrade the ambulance to hospital radio system. We had no direct contact with hospitals prior to that, we were using the County’s 39.18 frequency and had to relay information through the Sheriff’s dispatcher.   One of our first calls with the new radios made directly to a hospital was to

1976 we purchased a new Superior type II ambulance with Chevrolet chassis for $21,610.

1978, Additional Resuscitation Mannequins purchase with grant from the Xerox Corp.

December 16, 1979, STAC started their first paging system, this was hospital based using telephone lines, since our phones were all rotary dial and the pagers had to be tone activated, the dispatchers had to use a hand held device over the mouth piece of the tones after the number was dialed.

The dispatching was eventually transferred to the Fire Dispatchers when the 911 system was implemented.  

1980, Cecil Goulette donated 4700 hours of volunteer time to STAC.

1981, The Town of Sodus purchases the property at 7060 Ridge Rd. for the new Ambulance Base, this was a former NAPA store, the former base at 25 Gaylord St. was sold and the proceeds were used toward the purchase of the new base.

1981 we purchase a new .Horton Type III ambulance for $36,000.00

July 23, 1981 CAT Teams (Cardiac Assist Teams) were put into service, the team consisted of Ken and Dorothy Johnson, Lucy Young, Joe Schell, Nancy and Bob Lynch, Nancy Thayer and Cecil Goulette.

July 1983, New Backboards were made by the Sodus Central School woodworking shop, they were donated to all the area fire and Ambulance services.

1987 we purchased a new Wheel Coach Type III ambulance for $44,000.00.

1991 Garlock Corp. donated $3300.00 for pagers and radios.

1992 we purchased a new MedTec type III Ambulance for $66,451.00

1992 Ken Johnson given Paul W. Briggs Award, 1000.00 donated to STAC.

July 7, 1992, Flooding in Wayne County, 5”of rain that day.

Sept. 17, 1993, Rupture Ammonia pipe at Williamson Cold Storage, one employee dies.

June 9, 1994 Cecil Goulette Passed away, From Sept 8, 1971 until his passing, he donated 42,180.75 hours.

December 1995. Joe Schell graduates from MCC Paramedic Program.

1997 STAC purchases a new Marque type III ambulance for $84,070.00.

1998, STAC becomes an Advanced Life Support Provider.

1999 Community comes together in attempts to avoid the closing of Myers Community Hospital.

2000 Myers Hospitals expands Emergency Dept. including 6 short stay beds. Monroe Ambulance 8801 stationed at Myers for Emergency transports from Myers to other hospitals, the Town of Sodus had to obtain a Municipal Certificate of Need in order to allow Monroe Ambulance to be base at the hospital.

2002 Myers Community Hospital Closes.

2005, STAC purchase a new PL Custom type III ambulance for $115,000.00.

May 2007, Northeast Wayne ALS merges with STAC, NEWALS purchased a new 2006 Dodge Durango to replace the 1994 Jeep Cherokee that was in service as a Fly Car, the new Durango was donated to STAC. STAC starts partial coverage with paid staff.

2009, STAC purchases a new Excellence Type III Ambulance for $158,000.00.  

December, 2011, STAC purchases property at 7060 Ridge Rd. from the Town of Sodus.

November 1, 2016 Sodus Town Ambulance moved to 49 West Main St. Sodus under a lease agreement after Lessord’s moved to new location.

August 23, 2017 STAC officially purchases the former Lessord property.

March 2018 STAC sells old property at 7060 Ridge Rd. to Lakeside Restorations. LLC. 

The above information is accurate to the best of my ability and is provided by:    

Joe Schell

Director of Operations

Sodus Town Ambulance Corps, Inc.