John Edward Holla (1860-1939)

John Edward Holla (1860-1939). Village President and Fire Company Founder. J. Edward Holla was born in Albany before the Civil War, one of seven children of Charles and Augusta Holla. Charles, a German immigrant, moved his family to Sing Sing (Ossining) and worked in the prison shoe shop. J. Edward, as he was known, got a job as a keeper at Sing Sing Prison in the 1890s. He would work at the prison in various capacities, including chief clerk, for the next 20 years while also pursuing a career in local politics. , In 1897, Holla was elected to the village board, and in 1901 and 1902 he served as village president. Sing Sing changed its name to Ossining at that time, thus making him the first President of Ossining. He also served as president from 1913 to 1914. , As village trustee and president, Holla advocated for a new firehouse on State Street. Residents worried that the south end of the village, including the first Ossining Hospital on Orchard Street, was too far from the other firehouses and thus vulnerable. Holla held the new fire company's first meeting at his home on State Street, where he lived with his wife Antoinette Van Wart, a direct descendant of Isaac Van Wart, who captured Major Andre during the Revolution. They had a daughter, Edna May. , The Holla Hose Co. No. 5 was named in his honor, and Holla served as its captain and president. Still located on the cliff above Sing Sing Prison, the company responded to fires there until that institution got its own fire brigade. Holla also instituted the annual inspection of all companies of the volunteer Ossining Fire Department, a tradition carried on to this day.