1754 House Inn Free Meals to Firefighters during Storm

WOODBURY –Forty town emergency workers – firefighters, public works employees, and police – ate a free, hot meal at the height of the storm Tuesday August 4th , thanks to Michael Bates-Walsh, proprietor of the newly renamed 1754 House Inn on Main Street South. “It was entirely his initiative, and it was awesome,” Says Fire Chief Janet B. Morgan.

According to Chief Morgan, the initial phone conversation went like this:

“How many people do you have there?” Bates-Walsh said. “We want to send over meals.”

“Too many,” Chief Morgan remembers saying.

“That’s not what I asked,” said Bates-Walsh. “Be here at 5:45pm.”

Bates-Walsh and four employees filled the back of Fire Engine 4 with large hamburgers, hot chicken cutlet sandwiches, French fries, homemade pasta salad, soft drinks, and more – all individually packed in large paper bags. The food was brought back to the firehouse and hungrily devoured by 25 volunteer firemen, nine public works personnel, and six police officers. In all Woodbury’s own emergency personnel responded to 35 emergency calls on Tuesday mostly due to downed power lines with many of them live.

Said Chief Morgan. “He’s a friendly newcomer in town and he immediately has become part of the community. All our merchants are great, and this was something special.”

As for Bates-Walsh, “It’s all about belonging and we appreciate what the emergency services here stand for and what they do.”

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Further info: Chief Janet B.Morgan daytime non-emergency dept nbr 1 203 263 3100 or WVFDCT.PIO@gmail.com cc Jon.Kapstein@gmail.com PIO home tel 1 203 586 1423. For 1754 House Inn email Michael@1754house.com tel 1 203 405 3735