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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on September 24, 2007 at 7:38pm

Having been assigned to it when this Proud Company was split up, I began pondering and finally put together a tribute , In the form Of a Board, Made of Old Yellow Oak Hose beds and interesting enough some Odds and ends in the way of Tools while the main focus was the Ladder, I added the Frontpieces of each of the three companies assigned the the Modern station, E's 3 and 4 and Ladder 3, which was Ladder 1 Until 1946 when the Chief Renumbered each ladder to reflect its Engine house 1 became 3 , 2 became 5, and 3 became 6, THe actual manpower never Changed, Just the numeric... THe Pike poles were Salvaged from the orginal Bangor Poles from a wooden ladder The 1955 truck was recieved with Aluminum ladders, so it dates back to the 1935 Mack/American La France and that trailer was orginally hauled by the 2 wheeled Cross tractor and refurbed and repowered at The mack shops in Long Island City in that year , Its "possible" the Bangor poles which became 7 ' pike poles due to the codition they were in actually Date To the Horse drawn La France , each Handle was Branded with the ALF logo...some of theother tools shown on the main board a wooden handle flathead we always used Fiberglass handles since the 70's, an L&M door opener, a "claw tool" on the right side (pre 1960's/Halligan bar) and a lot bigger and heavier... and a Piece of Rebar Fashioned Into a prybar which I believe was fashioned and used at the La'mbiance Plaza Building Collapse in 1988 which was the largest loss of life in a construction accident/collapse incident and the Maltese cross ids of Red oak plywood with the frontpieces of the companies and ALF Logo From the last tiller assigned. I am Pretty sure That I am the only Firefighter thathas actually been "assigned" to all three companies as a firefighter, Driver/engineer as well as acting Company officer over the 17 years In the house...

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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on September 24, 2007 at 7:52pm

The Main Board is eight feet long with the 2 four foot wing picture boards, I still have work yet to do, I also Have 3 Panoramic Photos mounted On similar yellow oak boardsIn another part oif the firehouse eventually I'll get to tthem as well..



Below are a couple more pics and 2 of my helmet pics

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Permalink Reply by Tony Leonard,Jr. on November 30, 2007 at 12:40am

Gentlemen,Introducing "Hobuck" the Bull Ox.He is the Official Mascot of The North Evans Vol.Fire Co. in North Evans,N.Y.His Name comes from the 2nd or 3rd name of the Former Village known as Hoeboken,N.Y.,Now the Hamlet of North Evans,As Pictured above on our Old Eng.1.Here are the reasons why we have him for our Mascot,On the corner of South Creek Rd. & The Versailles(say it with me"ver-sales)Plank Rd.,was the Oxen Stable(this is where a privately owned hand pumper was also kept) for the Oxen to rest after towing carts from a slaughter house in Versailles,N.Y. to the Tanneries in 18 Mile Creek.Most of this occured in the early to late 1800's.In this lot was the Byron Hotel,American Legion/Meeting & Dance Hall.Later All 3 buildings would be move to a central part of the current fire co. property,and would become(in 1927 upon forming of the Official Fire Co.)The NORTH EVANS FIRE HALL.The Wood,and doors From the original stable would be used to alter the front half of the old hotel to make the 3 bay Apparatus Room.This Structure also housed Legion Post #1,A Bowling Alley,Library,& Local Scouts,Over the Years.In 2003 this original building was,after many years of being added on to to house bigger trucks,Torn Down to Make room for the Meeting Hall Addition To the New 3 bay Engine House Next Door.When stripping the hard wood floor of the Hall We Found The Bowling Alley,Still Intact!Sorry got a lil off track.The Oak Tree(& Acorn) Silouet with the truck number,on the door is the old Oak tree under which the REAL Hobuck the Ox is buried.This tree,In the Field off of Town Line Rd.,was finally cut down after suffering serious damage in the winter of 2000.And the reason for the Blue & Silver Paint on our trucks,well They are Our Company Colors,because (in 1927)Silver was more valuable than gold.All This is to the best my memory will allow.An As Time Allows We Will Continue To House Our "OXEN" On The Corner Of Versailles & S.Creek Rd.s.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kinne on January 10, 2008 at 4:55pm

Was going through some old photo albums in the station last week and came across two old post card. One was a group picture of out hose company and the other was a shot of our frist "truck" ... a horse drawn hose wagon. They were taken around 1896.
Take note of the fireman behind the team of horses. I think he was the chief and he was on horseback ... the first chief's car ???

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Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on January 11, 2008 at 2:02pm

One thing about the pics....between the Parade flowers in trumpets But more over the flags and bunting I would suspect the 4th of July or decoration day as the old timers refered to Memorial day I dont know , I would expect local traditions or even markings on the photos Might tell... if he is the "chief" maybe I am missing something , his uniform seems kinda bland (guy on horse back..?) But again localized customs would dictate.... Seen some apparatus drawn by Oxen... which is great , long as you have lots of space beween Building lots..lol seems to me you guys should preserve those pics in a "decent" frame or frames its not so expensive to keep em nice and free of "more handling and oils from being handled" definately cool pics I should mention that many communities hauled using Oxen, out west especially ,, NOt as galmourous as horses, nor a fast, but they would be able to go farther distances for sure...

Permalink Reply by Merritt Long on February 11, 2008 at 3:31pm

Ok now its time for my contribution lol. Above is a photo of our original firehall, I am not sure of the date or the truck sitting outside its doors.

Permalink Reply by Johnathan Turner on April 12, 2008 at 3:42am

The department I serve with is the oldest rural Volunteer department in the county (1918) and second oldest organized Fire Department in the County (Portsmouth FD was first in 1911 and was also Paid). Our Fire departments First EMS (called rescue back then) was on November 5th 1956. Chest Pain no less. In 1963 we became the first department in the county to have a water rescue team. In 1966 our Department became the first in the county (outside of Portsmouth) to have a dedicated Rescue unit, a 1946 Dodge Panel Truck. On Febary 24 1973, some local residents DONATED a Cadillac Ambulace to the department (we averaged 18 "rescue" runs a year then), In 1976 US Dept of Transportation, State of Ohio and the county Formed the EMS system here. Out of the 36 people that took the first 60 hour EMT class, 23 were from my department. Also that year, we recieved delivery of a 1976 Braun Ambulance, the first "Modular" (Box type now) style ambulance in the area. We also recieved in 1979 a 4 wheel drive ambulance. Little more that a Ford van, it was an experiment and was sold to a few departments. We were the first, and only one, in the county to purchase such a unit. in May 1982 we were the second Department in the county to puchase a heart monitor in the county and a year later we aquired a defibulator. We are on our second station (The orginal Stone Building Marker is at the County Fairgrounds). Not bad for a Vollie I think. This year marks our 90th anniversary, and we plan on having a small festival to mark the occasion.

Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on April 12, 2008 at 5:57pm

Hey guys, I do the history for our department, so I have quite a few cool stories. The one I would like to share with you is this:
Our first fire Chief that organized the department in 1841 was originally from New York. In New York he was a member of the old volunteer fire department and was later the President of the Lorillard Fire Insurance Company. The best part was when I found out where he was born in New York. My first Fire Chief in Adrian Michigan was born at the corner of Church & Vescey street in New York city...you all know what was built there many years later? That's right...the World Trade Center complex.
I found that to be a very exciting discovery.

Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on September 21, 2008 at 1:02am

Here's another cool connection/ idea as far as making your contemperary house feel a bitmore Homey and connected to its past. In The City Of Norwich Connecticut after Many years living in Victorian era stations. Head quarters was replaced in the late 90s But as a real nice touch is these Hangings one commemorating the horses The other an orginal Gamewell Indicator and gong, pictured below..

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Permalink Reply by Dan Thomas on October 4, 2008 at 2:17pm

Not that it is some great history. But one of our engines was, according to records, was one of the first to arrive at the Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire in Northern Kentucky back in '77. That fire still stands as one of America's deadliest fires.

Permalink Reply by Mac on October 23, 2008 at 3:02pm

Dont have any pictures to post with it however after the civil war the first pumper columbia fire department (sc) recieved came from fdny. Over 100 years later with the help of school children and the community columbia fd was able to purchase a pumper for fdny after 9/11.

Permalink Reply by SMOKEnPipesJim on October 23, 2008 at 5:47pm

I've heard and read that story, IT would be kind of cool to memoriakize that in some manner, alongthose lines In Brockton Mass The "Strand Theatre fire Claimed a large number of firefighters in a collapse about 60 years ago, Brothers from Scranton Pa, at that time was touched and moved to assist they're sistercity in time of need, and they sent an engraved piece of COAL, from the hills around scranton....recently Scranton lost a member line of duty and Brockton's Pipe band traveled to PA, to help repay part of the debt to Scranton's brothers ... Tradition runs deep...in the fire service brotherhood

These are ceratinly NOT the only examples either, by any stretch

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