The Pine Island Fire Department has a very complex history, as it was formed by the union of the Pulaski Fire Company and the Amity Fire Company, two different volunteer organizations with two different histories.
On Sunday afternoon, December the 22nd, 1935, a group of nineteen young men met for the purpose of organizing a Volunteer Fire Company in Pine Island, with the object being the gathering of a company of men of good moral and honest character as volunteer firemen to prevent the spread of fire in Pine Island, New York and vicinity and to promote good fellowship amongst members. Among the guests who were instrumental in helping form this company were Captain George W. Lappine, who acted as temporary chairman, Chief Martin J. Maher, Trustee William Weed and other officers of the Florida Fire Department. The temporary officers chosen at that meeting were Joseph Wisneski as Chairman and who was the first President, John A. Hucko as Secretary, and Joseph Brozdowski as Treasurer, and a committee was then formed to draw up bylaws. The Line Officers chosen were Feliz Zelaskowski as Captain, Walter Killiman as First Lieutenant and Joseph Brozdowski as Second Lieutenant. In January 1936, the first regular meeting was held and the name of Pulaski Fire Company was adopted as the name of the Volunteer Fire Company of Pine Island, in honor of Count Casimir Pulaski, a patriot of Poland and America in the Revolutionary War. The bylaws were adopted in April 1936 and the Pulaski Fire Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York as a Volunteer Fire Company in May 1936. At the first election, held in January 1937, John Bogdanski was elected the first Fire Chief. Rev. Msgr. John S. Felczak, pastor of the St. Stanislaus Church was named as the first chaplain of the Pulaski Fire Company and had charge of moral affairs of the company. The Fire Police was formed in March 1937 with four members. The Pulaski fire company was accepted as a member of the Orange County Volunteer Firemen's Association in September 1936, as a member of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association in February 1937 and the Firemen's Association of the State of New York in January 1939. It joined the Orange County Mutual Aid Program in November 1957. The first fire school for charter members of the Pulaski Fire Company was started in February 1936 with members traveling to Florida, New York Firehouse for instruction. It was named the Pulaski class and had twenty members. The second fire school was started in October 1937 with another twenty members receiving instruction. Captain George W. Lappine and other officers of the Florida Fire Department were the instructors. The work for the formation of the Pine Island Fire District was undertaken in November 1936, and was approved by the taxpayers and the Town of Warwick in June 1937. Five Fire Commissioners were appointed. The first fire apparatus and siren were purchased in December 1936, consisting of a used 1924 Dodge apparatus with a front end pump, four hundred feet of hose, two lengths of suction hose and a twenty foot ladder; the cost of $200.00 was borrowed from the bank on a note. The fire apparatus was temporarily quartered in the blacksmith shop and was later transferred to new quarters in the Pine Island School Bus Garage. The Pulaski Fire Company turned over the fire apparatus to the Pine Island Fire District in June 1937. The first new fire apparatus, a 1938 Sanford pumper, was received in March 1938, fully equipped. In 1976, the fire company had two up-to-date fire apparatus, a 1966 International 750-gallon pumper with a 500-gallon booster tank and a 1971 4-wheel drive Dodge with a 750-gallon pumper, front mounted and a 300-gallon booster tank. Both trucks were fully equipped including fire service radios. In the spring of 1951, the Company acquired their present property on Pine Island Turnpike on which to build a firehouse. They turned the deed of the property over to the Pine Island Fire District in the fall of the same year, at which time the building of the firehouse was started. It was completed in the spring of 1952 when the Pulaski Fire Company moved into their new quarters. Among the guests who were instrumental in helping form this company, were Captain George W. Lappine who acted as temporary chairman, Chief Martin J. Maher, Trustee William Weed and other officers of the Florida Fire Department. The temporary officers chosen at that meeting were Joseph Wisneski as Chairman and who was the first President, John A. Hucko as Secretary, and Joseph Brozdowski as Treasurer, and a committee was then formed to draw up bylaws. The Line Officers chosen were Feliz Zelaskowski as Captain, Walter Killiman as First Lieutenant and Joseph Brozdowski as Second Lieutenant. Pulaski History researched and written by Ann Gurda.
On August 12th, 1947, Wisner Masker called a meeting at his fruit farm to elect officers for a volunteer fire company to serve the Amity School district. On August 29, 1947 the first meeting of the new fire company was held and the following were elected to office: President-Wisner Masker Treasurer-Michael Holodinski Jr. Finance Secretary.-Charles Schultz Secretary-Fred Wilcox Sergeant at Arms - Fred Mohr and Daniel Gerlitz Then there was the Board of Trustees: Milton Masker Richard Eurich Fred Wilcox Albert Scheuermann The election for vice president was held over because the candidate, J.P. Daubert was unable to attend this meeting. Attorney Samuel Eager swore all the officers into office. These men, your neighbors, started protection for the area that continues today. A few generations later, we are still doing what is necessary to save buildings and people from the hazards of fire. It has been said the firemen are first of all activists. They want to do things yesterday that they thought of today. But a great deal of planning goes to the movements of the fire companies of the nation both then and now. The technological advances in fifty years require the usage of equipment that was not available then. In a meeting held April 11, 1948, a decision was made to both lease the Community Hall and to purchase two fire engines from Greenwood Lake. The lease for the Community House required no payment the first year, $50.00 the second year and $100.00 for each of the next three years. The members worked to convert the Community House to a building that would house the new equipment. Our first truck was an American La France. The cost was reasonable, one dollar. This was our first firehouse and first fire truck. The firehouse helped us stay together and to plan methods of working and financing. The truck enabled us to reach fires and fight them more successfully. We were a unit. The truck stayed with us until November 5,1948 when Milton Masker, seconded by Michael Holodinski, moved to sell the truck for $500.00. We kept the firehouse. We purchased a tanker in 1955 for one whole dollar. As wives of volunteer fireman can attest, the life is sometimes rather exciting. While driving the tanker at a fire call and rolling down a steep hill, the driver noticed the brakes had quit operating. Fortunately, a big hill on the other side slowed the truck down to a stop. The driver slept well that night. Our second truck was a White GMC, Fred Gerlitz drove this into a pond, deliberately, to fight a fire in Huck Miller's barn. By doing this, he pumped directly out of the pond without using a hose to draft. The third truck we used was a 1966 International. This was a very good piece of equipment at that time. We took it to Port Jervis during the big flood and pumped out basements for over fourteen hours. That truck went to Tennessee around 1977. The names changed, the jobs and positions changed. Members left and new members joined but the Amity Fire Company continued to serve its assigned area. Field fires, house fires, automobile fires and lots of such activities kept us busy.
The fire commissioners were slow, 2 years to pass the purchase of a 1983 Diamond Reo. We finally made it and the first mutual aid fire was to Florida for a structure fire on Jessup Road. The first fire in our district was a structure fire on Timlow and Newport Bridge Road. During the wet down for this truck, the Florida Fire Department could not attend. To Recognize the truck, they hired a dust cropper to fly over and drop water on the truck. Parades are a vital activity for fire companies. They make the members work together and that is very necessary at a fire. Parades are also one of the social aspects of firematics. The firemen meet their neighbors at a time of no emergency. After the parade, food and drink are usually offered to the public. The people who come to visit can see the firehouse and how the firemen operate. Many people do not realize that parades are often the means by which defective parts, paint loss or other problems are found as the machines are prepared for the parade. Also, the firehouse gets a wash-down and leaks may be discovered and then repaired. Through the years - all fifty of them - our records indicate those facts as part of the heritage of our existence. The secretaries from all those years kept a faithful record of all our changes, both in manner of operating and the tools we used. Oh yes, in June of 1989, we did purchase a bus from the Warwick School System for $500.00. We also received from the School District $500.00 worth of extras for the bus. We turned it into a rescue truck. Donations enabled us to obtain a Jaws of Life tool to help us save lives. July 12, 1965 was probably the date our new building was first envisioned. Leon Scheuermann was appointed Chairman in charge of remodeling the firehouse to accommodate a new fire truck, which was anticipated to arrive June 11, 1966. Preparations were required. By February 1966, our committee, as reported by Raymond Blaikner, was processing the purchase of a lot and investigating building plans. At our February meeting, the building committee was increased to six members: Chairman Leon Scheuermann, Fred Gerlitz, Raymond Blaikner, Milton Masker, John VanEtten and Robert Hastie. Insurance was covered and the building was on its way. By October 10, 1966, a motion for an open house to be held November 6, 1966 was made and the building was completed. Much has been added to the original building as more and larger equipment has been added for the protection of the neighborhood. Trucks have changed, enlarged equipment bins have been added. As it became necessary, we have increased the size of the building. All this, remember, without cost to any taxpayer. The present Auxiliary of the Amity Fire Company was organized in March of 1974 for the purpose of assisting the firemen. Since forming, the Auxiliary has proven to be a valuable asset to the company through financial aid, cooperation and dedication. Through their efforts, an annual scholarship is awarded to a deserving child of an Amity or Auxiliary member. While the buildings remain, the membership has dropped to a dangerous level. Very few new people are applying for membership. Required training does make it difficult to become a fireman. However, if the time ever comes when your home is threatened, the training received by the members will probably reduce your loss. You might even join and help. Amity History researched and written by John Mattinson, Sr. Amity Fire Company Historian.
HISTORY OF PULASKI AND AMITY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
First Parade
First Firehouse in Amity
6-14-86: 50th Anniversary, Chief Dave Paffenroth(left) with Master of Ceremony, Conrad Morgiewicz
1971 Dodge @ Pulaski's 50th
