Provision of Advanced Fire Restoration Resources Helps Manage the Outcome of Fires in Camillus

11/13/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of SW Onondaga County is ready to help their community, call us today.

SERVPRO Maintains a Highly Trained and Well Equipped Team to Help Camillus Homeowners, Fix Fire Damage 

Camillus town stands in an area with a long occupation history stretching back at least four years before it became part of Onondaga County. The town was established on March 8, 1799, and named after a Roman general whose full name was Marcus Furius Camillus. It is a unique name since it is the only town in the United States to carry it. There was a significant setback to the township's development when a major fire destroyed 20 years' worth of records in 1829.   

The town underwent several changes in its formative stages, some of which came about because of the push for freedom against colonial tax policies and lack of representation. Camillus was the fifth township of the Military Tract. The Military Tract was land set aside to entice more people to participate in the revolutionary war. Initially, each soldier was guaranteed 100 acres as a bounty for the service rendered. By 1871 the acreage was increased to 500 per soldier when it was established that a better incentive was necessary to boost the numbers enlisting. The town also underwent various reorganizations over time. Initially, it was a military township. It was then included in Marcellus, a civil town before it was finally formed into a separate town and given its old name back.

A History of Community Cooperation

Many initial developments in the town are attributed to individuals. In 1792, William Lindsay discovered the first plaster bed, not only in the town but also in the entire country, albeit accidentally. He took a large block of a unique stone home, and after examination by several people, it was finally established to be plaster. Other notable firsts in the area include:

• The first frame house erected by Isaac Lindsay in 1795
• The first store in town set up by John Tomlinson in 1808
• Dr. Isaac Magoon became the first physician in the township in 1808

However, collaboration among the community members was also rife when settlers first arrived in the area. Probably because there was considerably hard work of clearing the vegetation in the area, a form of cooperation known as "bees" in which a general invitation is sent to all able-bodied men in town, was the main driving force for development. There were logging bees, chopping bees, husking bees, and many others. The hard day's work was followed by a night of dance and merrymaking as the men unwound and prepared for another fruitful day.

Interest Places to Visit in Camillus

Some remnants of the hard work done in the area in the early days have survived the years. One great example that presently attracts many visitors is the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct built back in 1844 as part of the Erie Canal – an aqueduct is a bridge that holds water, allowing canals to cross rivers, streams, or valleys. The canal ran 386 miles from Lake Erie in Buffalo to the Hudson River in Albany. It provided a direct route from New York City to the Midwest, thus triggering large-scale agricultural and commercial development. It also led to immigration to the frontier areas of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Western New York. It is also credited with transforming New York City into an economic powerhouse since people from the city could exploit the resource-rich interiors where timber, furs, minerals, and fertile land were plentiful. In Camillus, the economic boom also had a positive effect because over 19 mills sprang up along the Nine Mile Creek since it offered a perfect power source and convenient transport for inputs and final products.  

Today, the Nine Mile Creek Aqueduct is one of the historical sites tourists can enjoy when visiting Camillus. In 1976 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places cementing its place in the town's history. Work to restore its full functionality as an aqueduct started in October 2008 and ended almost a year later in August 2009, allowing boats to transverse it again - the first time in 89 years. There are other fascinating attractions in the town, including:

• The Martisco Station Museum which was built in 1870. It was also entered in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
• The Sims Store Erie Canal Museum. It is a replica of the original store located 2 miles east of the current site. The original store served as a stopover point before boats entered the lock.
• Modern-day parks such as the Camillus Recreation & Parks where people enjoy grills, shelters, and a brook to cool off.
• Sycamore Hill Gardens. It is a serene garden with a variety of trees, flowers, ponds, and beautiful landscaping.

How Does SERVPRO Help Camillus Homeowners Rebuild after Fire Incidents?

Fire incidents can damage Camillus homes extensively within a short period. Such damage might continue worsening even after the firefighters quell the flames. The Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) at SERVPRO receive extensive training in managing fire loss sites, including securing the property's remnants, preventing secondary damages, and how to handle the different perspectives of the restoration process to guarantee a positive outcome.

Fires might cause all the damage at the site or create the conditions necessary for other factors to damage the property. For instance, when flames consume materials, gaping holes can develop in walls or roofs, allowing rainwater and other weather elements inside the house, leading to more damages. Aspects of the fire, such as soot and other residues, can also cause secondary damages. Our SERVPRO technicians respond in different ways to minimize further deterioration of homes, including:

• Boarding up wall openings to protect the interiors. Roof tarps also help provide a temporary cover for the damaged house
• Pre-cleaning vulnerable surfaces and applying protective products such as oil to prevent corrosion and deep staining.
• Expediting all restoration processes including cleaning, renovation, and refinishing of affected areas
• Securing items salvaged from the loss site boosting the chances of saving them

SERVPRO of SW Onondaga County helps keep the long-established history of reinvention in Camillus alive by simplifying fire damage restoration for any category of damage. Call us at (315) 488-3900.