The
History of the Lumberland Fire Dept. Inc.
by Ron Flieger
In late June, 1951, a group of concerned citizens of the
Town of Lumberland held a meeting at the Town Hall in Glen Spey to discuss
the possibility of starting a Volunteer Fire Dept. They called a general
meeting of all towns people for July 20, 1951. (The only known copy now
hangs in the Glen Spey firehouse). An earlier attempt, in 1950, to start a
fire department had not been productive, due in part, because of a letter
from R.C. Lain Insurance Co. of Port Jervis. No other details have been
found.
At the meeting in July the following desk officers and
three trustees were elected:
President: Walter Ellison
Vice President: Charles
Remillard
Secretary: William Brewster
Treasurer: Leroy Jones
Trustees: Harold Van Tuyl, William Cowles and Robert
Haring.
There was a large turnout of interested towns people at
this meeting. Also, there were various officers from Yulan, Highland Lake,
Sparrowbush and Port Jervis fire departments, who were very helpful in the
following months and years getting the "infant" to walk.
At the meeting in August, 1951, line officers were
elected:
Chief: Al Rumery (a retired
paid fireman in Yonkers, N.Y.)
Deputy Chief: Paul Brennan
Captain: Tom Meyer
1st Lieutenant: Henry Thiele
2nd Lieutenant: Miller Fagley.
The department was incorporated in September, 1951, at
which time the by-laws were adopted. The members then began a vigorous
campaign to raise money to purchase equipment, as the only firefighting
equipment they had available was some used "CD" (Civilian Defense) equipment
which had been purchased by the town board a few years before. Their
fundraisers consisted of suppers (nearly one a month), Gay 90's (food
booths, games, rides, etc. at the town hall), letters to the taxpayers, etc.
At the end of 1951, the records show a total of 107
charter members; their names are on a plaque in the Glen Spey firehouse.
During a special meeting on Feb. 29, 1952, it was voted to
purchase a 1952 Chevrolet, built by Central Fire Apparatus of St. Louis,
Mo., approximate cost of $10,000. (The cab and chassis bought through Rube
Young of Eldred). The truck arrived on July 4, 1952, and answered its first
call the same day - a brush fire on the Koch property, White Road.
In the fall of 1952, the members built a two bay addition
on the end of the town barn, (material supplied by the town board), which
was to be their "new home." Also, during the same fall, the members took the
"CD Pump," which was on a trailer and mounted it on a 1942 Dodge weapon's
carrier (4 x 4). They turned it into a very service able piece of
firefighting equipment.
In the spring of 1953, a float was built, a replica of a D
& H Canal Boat. It was taken to several parades. A first prize of a $250
savings bond was won in the Mardi-Gras in Monticello, Oct.
3,1953.Unfortunately the float burned in a fire of the town barn in October
of1955.
The first "Scot-Pac" was purchased in September, 1953. The
cost was $257, with an extra bottle. The Ladies Auxiliary donated money
($480) to buy a resuscitator in April 1954. The Conservation Tanker, also
owned by the town board, was rebuilt by the members in the spring of 1953.
They now had three pieces of equipment.
During the middle 1950s, the first ambulance was purchased
from the Eldred American Legion. It was a used 1947 Packard ($500).
The fire department was called to help their neighbors
during the flood of Aug. 19, 1955. Many people had to be evacuated from
their homes and stranded cars, particularly along the Lower Road and in Pond
Eddy.
Tragedy struck in October 1955. The Town Barn caught on
fire. Although all fire fighting equipment was saved, the building was a
total loss. The fire trucks were housed in Ed Downey's shop in Glen Spey
until the Town Barn was rebuilt in 1956. Three bays were provided for the
fire department's use.
Also, during the mid 1950s the annual chicken barbecue was
begun. This event gained great popularity with the people through out the
area, and continues to the present day. The secret is in the "fixin'" of the
chicken! It now serves between 700 and 800people, many of whom return year
after year. For a few years in the late '60's early'70's we were
serving about 1200 meals but this was too much and people had to wait to be
served and the facilities at the Town Hall wouldn't handle this crowd, so it
was cut back.
The years' 1959 and 1960 were very busy ones. The Pond
Eddy firehouse was built, with all volunteer labor. The department purchased
a used 1952 Brockway tractor from Dairy-Lea Milk Co. in Middletown and built
a 1,350-gallon tank and body (again by volunteer labor, a great deal by Ken
Sigler and R.P. Schmitt Jr.). In August 1960, a used 1955 Cadillac ambulance
(green) was purchased. At that time the first coin drop was held on Route 97
in Mongaup.
May 21, 1962, was the scene of the Bel-Air fire. The
dining hall, two cabins and the old Bisland Homestead were lost. The loss
resulted from no water in the swimming pool; therefore, it had to be pumped
up from the Homestead Pond at the bottom of the hill at the intersection of
Routes 41 and 32.
Another purchase was made in August 1962; 1962 Ford built
by Hahn Motors of Hamburg, Pa. It a was new, but had been a demonstrator;
the cost $12,600. This included 800 feet of 2 ½ inch hose and a 40 foot
three section aluminum ladder - another first for the department.
In the early years of the 1960s, at the urging of the
State and County Civil Defense, the department, along with others in the
state, started construction of a fallout shelter. This 10' x 10' block
building, covered by dirt, was to house monitoring instruments in case of
nuclear fallout. This project was never finished, due mainly to lack of
interest, locally and throughout the country. The building is located
between the Town Barn and the firehouse. Also, a piece of land was acquired
from Anna Sperling, on the side hill across from the Pond Eddy firehouse,
for the purpose of building another fallout shelter. The project was never
started. The county had issued instruments and several members attended
training schools.
In September 1964, a new Cadillac ambulance (white) was
bought from S & S Corp., the cost $16,874.
In September of 1970, the department was called to a fire
at Ambarnest Farms (Barnes, off the Decker Road). This fire resulted in the
loss of a wagon shed, house and barn. The firefighting efforts were hampered
by 40 mph winds.
Our ambulance crew was called by Port Jervis to the scene
of a building collapse on Pike Street, Feb. 12, 1971. There were four people
killed and twenty injured.
The year 1971, saw the purchase of another new truck - a
Diamond-Reo, built by Hahn (cab and chassis from Tri-State Diesel). This
pumper-tanker has 1,000 G.P.M. pump and 1,250 gallon tank; approximate cost
$34,000. This was a new idea carrying that much water on a pumper, as most
pumpers only carried 500 gallons. In June the "new truck" went to the
Concord Hotel in Monticello and participated in a demonstration for the New
York State Fire Chief's Association.
In 1973, another new ambulance was purchased - a Chevrolet
with a body by Modulance Corp. For a couple of years the department operated
both ambulances, until the Cadillac was sold.
A 1974 Diamond-Reo cab and chassis (from Tri-State Diesel)
was purchased to replace the 1952 Brockway. The tank and body, built by the
members, was put on this new chassis and a new 750 G.P.M. front-mount pump
was installed by Fosterdale Fire Apparatus.
The fire at the UWA Resort on Jan. 11, 1975 (Superbowl
Sunday), saw the loss of one of the main buildings. It had been one of the
mansions of the Mckenize Estate.
In the afternoon of June 16, 1976, a fire broke out in the
kitchen-dining hall at Camp-O-Rific (formerly Camp Mohaph and Camp Ramah).
The camp had been abandoned for a few years and was badly vandalized.
June 18 - 20, 1976, a celebration was held at the town
hall field in Glen Spey to honor of our country's 200th anniversary. This
event was sponsored by the town and planned by a group of local citizens.
During the three days there was feasting, dancing, singing and several
exhibits. Saturday, the 19th, the first Firemen's Parade was held, with all
of the neighboring departments and many other organizations participating.
Another parade and field day was held in June 1977, the same as the year
before. After the parade, there were contests between the fire companies,
games, truck judging, etc. and plenty of refreshments.
Ground was broken in the summer of 1978, for a new
firehouse in Glen Spey, in front of the Town Barn, on land received from the
town board. The "new home" was built by Michael Hunt, Inc. of Port Jervis at
a cost of approximately $96,000 and occupied in November 1978. A large wood
burning stove was built and installed by the members to help heat the
building and keep the costs down. The landscaping, around the new building,
was done by the members, along with the construction of the Bell Tower. The
bell on top was the original from the Pond Eddy schoolhouse .The ring that
hang sat the bottom is a tire from an old locomotive. It hung at the Glen
Spey corners, Routes 31 and 41, for many years before the establishment of
the fire department. This was the only warning signal the people had that
there was a fire.
After the Fire Dept. was organized a dispatching and
answering system was needed, so private telephone numbers were printed on
cards and handed out to all the people in the Town. Three primary numbers
were on top and six secondary numbers on the bottom. In Glen Spey there was
John Frey's (in the Post Office across the road), Russell MacKechnie's (what
is now Testa's next to the firehouse), and R.P. Schimtt's (across from the
firehouse) they would holler over to the first to arrive at the firehouse as
to where the call was. In Pond Eddy there was Bill Harris , Herman Worzel,
and Gordon Worzel, all near the firehouse. A few years later wires were
strung between all these locations and the firehouses and voice activated
phones were installed so it was not necessary to holler any more. This
system was used until 1976when the Dept. went to Plectron's in the members
homes and the emergency number was answered by an answering service in Port
Jervis, with back up phones in all the above homes as well. The siren's
could also be blown from all these locations also. The base radio in the
firehouse was remotely operated from these locations to dispatch through the
Plectrons. It was in the 1980'swhen the Dept. started using Pagers that are
used today. Presently all dispatching is done through the Sullivan County
911 Control Center in Bethel.
Late in the 1970s and early 1980s, an old hand-drawn
chemical extinguisher and hose cart were restored by Don Reed Sr. Both
projects took many hours to complete and are beautifully finished. They are
mounted on a trailer and are displayed at parades, etc. Thanks, also, to
several other members who helped with this project.
In the early summer of 1981, the 1962 Ford (Hahn) was
refurbished. (sanded and repainted) A winch was added to the front and any
other repairs that were needed was done by the members.
During 1982, the department was asked to burn most of the
remaining buildings at Camp Ramah. This hands-on experience was great
training for the new members, as well as the "Old Timers." Also, the
neighboring fire departments joined in several drills to take advantage of
this training.
The body and tank on the 1974 Diamond-Reo was replaced in
the summer of 1984, with a 1,600 gallon stainless steel tank and body,
furnished by 4-Guys, Inc., Meyersdale, Pa.; cost approximately $23,000.
On Feb. 19, 1985, the department had another first - a
baby girl was born in the ambulance en route to Mercy Community Hospital,
Port Jervis. The proud parents were Mr. and Mrs. Robert Case of Route
97, Hillside.
In 1987 a Mack Custom Pumper [1968] was purchased from the
North Amityville Fire Co. for $15,000.00. This truck was refurbished in1990,
a new body and tank were installed, front suction added, and the cab
repaired. The work was done by R.L. Tunno of Westbrookville, NY.
Cost approx. $65,000. This was the first CF685F model that Mack Trucks
built. It is serial #1000.
A new Ambulance, on a Ford chassis, was purchased in 1988
at a cost of $65,000.
On March 22, 1989 at 5:00 AM the alarm was sounded for a
fire at the Bel-Air Minsik on Rt. 42, near the Glen Spey Post Office. Upon
arrival a rescue of an unconscious man from a second floor window was made
by Pete Thiele, Leigh Sherman and John Consolo, who's efforts doing
CPR saved the mans life. The fire was stopped but the building was beyond
repair.
A new 1990 Mack-Superliner was purchased, the body and
pump was done by American Fire Apparatus of Ball Ground, GA. Cost approx.
$112,000.
During 1992 the Dept. gave the 1962 Ford to Johnson Chapel
Fire Dept. in Tennessee, this is where Pete Thiele, Bill Frey, Chuck Frey
and Bob Zwisler moved.
The 1981 Chevy Rescue van was given to the newly formed
Sullivan County Dive Team to tow their boat.
The Road Rescue Ambulance was purchased in 1994 for
approx. $85000.00
In 1996 the Dept. purchased a new KME Renegade Pumper\Rescue
Truck. It has a top mount 1500 gallon pump, 1000 gallons of water, many
compartments, a 10000 watt generator and light tower, complete set of "Jaws
of Live" and much other needed equipment. Cost was approx. $315,000.
A new tanker was purchased in December of 1999. It is a
Freightliner with a poly tank. Carries 3000 gallons of water. Has a
1250g.p.m. pump and three quick dumps for easy and fast unloading. This
truck was purchased from Fouts Brother Inc. of Atlanta, GA. Cost was
$124,000.
In August of 2000 the Dept. purchased an Rescue Air Boat
from RiverCraft of Norwich, NY for approx. $31000.00, it will be used on the
many lakes and rivers. This craft can go over ice, snow or water.
Throughout the years the members of the Lumberland Fire
Department have held and attended many drills, fires, and first aid schools
to constantly upgrade their knowledge to be prepared for emergencies. Also,
during all these years, many members have designed and built several pieces
of equipment and instituted new ideas in the fire service. One such idea to
"Color Code Your Nozzles" by Ron Flieger, was published in the October,1984,
issue of "Firehouse" magazine, a national publication.
In the past years, the department has made many good
"SAVES" of lives and personal property. This accomplishment came about by
hard work and dedication. This is something that all of the members and the
entire community should be very proud of.
Not to be forgotten is a big "thanks" for all the help the
Auxiliary has given to this department throughout the years. These folks are
there at fires, helping at fund raisers and have given money when needed.
Also, thanks to the people of the Town of Lumberland and our neighbors who
have supported the fire department in many ways.
In doing the research on this history, I came upon an
interesting story. When this department was started in the summer of 1951,a
crusade was on for members. A person by the name of M. Schunke Mehrer sent a
check for dues, and thus, became a member. M. Mehrer continued to pay dues
for several years until the department (Bill Harris in particular) found out
that this person was a woman. They went and talked to her, telling her that
a woman could not be a member. (In those days it was an all male fire
service-- no "females please".) She agreed and told them to
put the membership in her husband's name, Paul Mehrer. I had heard this
story, but could find no proof as the records showed Paul. Finally, I found
the original list of dues paid - and there was M.Schunke crossed out
and Paul inserted above. So, the Lumberland Fire Department had its
first lady firefighter in 1951 - and a Charter Member at that!
The Dept. has had numerous very good lady firefighters for
several years. In 1999 the first female was elected as a Line Officer, Pat
Meehan, in 2000 we had two female Line Officers, Pat and Ann Steimle.
I want to say "Thank You" to everyone who helped me (with
pictures, stories, etc.) in writing this "HISTORY OF THE LUMBERLAND FIRE
DEPARTMENT." I enjoyed it very much and look forward to keeping it updated.
*Footnote:
Regrettably there have been two civilian deaths by fire;
The first was Howard (Nubbie) Van Tuyl, of Van Tuyl Rd. in
Hillside, on Dec. 16,1966. The fire was confined to his bedroom. He died in
St. Francis Hospital in Port Jervis. (Mercy Hospital)
The second was Rodolf Albers, of Rt. 41 Pond Eddy, (high
hill) on Dec.13, 1993. The fire was the result of Mr. Albers spilling
gasoline on himself while cleaning a can. A space heater in the garage
ignited the gasoline. The garage and a farm tractor was destroyed. Mr.
Albers died in Westchester Medical Center that evening.
Written:
November 1985
Revised:
November 1992
December 1993
December 1998
October 2000
