On August 12, 1913 a special meeting of the local Town Firemen was held for the purpose of adopting a Constitution and Bylaws of the newly formed Westbury Fire Department. At this meeting a motion was made and seconded that the former Hose Committee together with the racing team form a Hose Company and all other members be known as the Hook and Ladder Co. A committee was appointed consisting of Thomas Renison, Herman Berger, Henry Buck, James Topley, William Knoller, Louis Defaerrari, John Renison, Herbert Seaman, John Deferrari, Harry Bair, Joseph Kuethen and Thomas McCormick to organize a Hose Company. As a result of their efforts a Hose Company was established September 4, 1913.On September 4, 1913 the organizational meeting was held with Henry Buck acting as temporary chairman. Thomas Renison was elected Foreman and served until June 5, 1916, Joseph Kuethen was elected Assistant Foreman and served until April 3, 1916 and William H. Bennem was elected Secretary and served until April 15, 1920.
Membership at this time consisted of 19 members. A Bylaw Committee consisting of Messrs. Kuethen, Buck, Topley, Tenision, and McCormick was appointed to write Bylaws which would govern the newly formed Company. Messer's. Buck, Kuithem and Topley were appointed to develop membership applications.
The second Monday of each month was the designated meeting night. The first leader committee was appointed consisting of Messrs. Berger, Bair and Blanchard. It was their duty to maintain, clean and repair all apparatus, equipment and headquarters. The Foreman appointed a new committee each month. Any member who failed to perform his tour of duty was fined .25 cents.
On October 6,1913 new Bylaws were adopted and four additional new members joined the company. By June 1915 Hose Co. # 1 had reached its full membership of 35 members with one on the waiting list.Copies of all Company minutes were turned over to the Department.
On February 2, 1914 the Company decided to join Nassau County Firemen's Association. ($10.75) and Southern New York Firemen's Association at $1.00 dues. At this time the Hose Co.#1 had two wagons. (Could not take both to tournaments unless one replacement was made.) Dues were .10 cents per meeting and the entry fee was $6.00. (If a member accrued $2.00 in arrears he was expelled. Later the amount was lowered to $1.20.)
On July 6, 1916 the Wheatley Hills-Westbury Fire Apparatus Committee was formed to update automobile apparatus.
First motorized equipment was used for tournament on June 4, 1917 in Freeport. It was decided to used Fred Navrot's Peerless truck and pay for steps and sign to be installed. Mr. Navrot received $15.00 for truck used at two tournaments at Freeport and Southern New York Tournament in Flushing.
On August 6, 1917 the Company purchased uniforms for Harry Bair at $4.75 each and requested the the Commissioners have sirens installed on the apparatus.
In December, 1917 a new American LaFrance 750 G.P.M. pumper was added at a cost of $10,500.00. Subsequently a Ford Chemical truck was obtained and years later a Willys Knight and Lincoln Hose Truck. The Lincoln was a car donated by James N. Hill and converted into a Hose truck by a Christ, local blacksmith.
On July 22, 1921 it was voted to purchased a Packard car from Mr. A. Robertson for the sum of $250.00-4 new shoes (Tires) and tubes for $144.00. Members solicited money to adapt truck body for carrying hose. (It is believed that the Packard was used for Tournament purposes only.)
Additional apparatus purchased later consisted of: 1935 American LaFrance 12-600 G.P.M. Pumper, 1942 Chevrolet Pumper-extended chassis, 1958 Mack 750 G.P.M. Pumper (replaced 12-600) 1965 Hahn 1000 G.P.M. Pumper-Ford chassis (replaced Chevrolet), 1975 Seagrave 1500 G.P.M. Pumper and 1982 American LaFrance 1500 G.P.M. Pumper-fully enclosed cab.
Through the years, Hose No. 1 has performed under the leadership of 33 Captains and 12 members had been elevated to rank of Chief of the department.
Hose # 1 Ex-Chiefs:
1913-1916 Herman Berger
1922-1926 Henry Buck
1926-1935 Thomas Walsh
1939-1947 John Dowling, Sr.
1953-1956 Anthony Pepe
1967-1968 John Dowling, Jr.
1971-1973 James Kennedy, Sr.
1981-1984 John W. Olson
1987-1990 Robert G. Price
2001- Richard A.
Dellacona (Current Chief)
The 25th Anniversary of Hose Co. #1 was celebrated in April 1938 with a dinner
catered by William Packer at a cost of $65.00. At this time the company ofices
consisted of Captain Charles O'Connor, 1st Liut., Frank Clinton, 2nd Liut.,
GGeorge Knifing and Clerk Arthur McKenna.
The 50th Anniversary of the Company was celebrated April 1963 under the leadership of Captain James Kennedy Sr., 1st Lieut., Edward Bonner, 2nd. Lieut., Jack Cappel and Clerk William Hickey.
On September 4, 1988, Hose Company # 1 proudly completed 75 years of dedicated service to our community. We enjoyed numerous company functions throughout the year to celebrate and honor the forty-three (43) members of Hose Company # 1. Captain Price rose to rank of 2nd Assistant Chief in 1990 and rose to the rank of Chief of the Department starting in 1995. Richard Dellacona held the position of Company Captain from 1990-1995. Richard Dellacona rose to the rank of Chief starting April, 2001. Patrick Lavin served as Captain from 1995-1996. From 1996-1997, Ron Pfeffer occupied the position of Captain of Hose Company # 1. During our 75th Anniversary Hose No. 1 had a membership roster of forty-six (46) members.
Since our 75th Anniversary, we updated our apparatus to include a 1989 American La France 1500 G.P.M. Pumper. This truck is specialized in that it has a Telesquirt with a fully enclosed 10-man cab. The piece of apparatus was the first of its kind for the Westbury Fire Department. This was followed a 1996 Saulsbury 1500 G.P.M. pumper, also with a fully enclosed 10-man cab. It is outfitted with air conditioning and a new style of roll up doors. We continue to upgrade our apparatus and equipment to meet safety standards for all department members.
During 1997, the 100th Anniversary of the Westbury Fire Department, we proudly honored the following members of Hose Company # 1 for their fifty years of dedicated service to the Westbury community. Those members were Richard Davis, Ex-Chief James Kennedy Sr., and Hose Company # 1 Clerk Frank S. Nicoll. These names are now included with the following active members of our company who also have achieved fifty years of service. Carl Lidstrom Jr. (65), Morton J. Lemkau (58), and Earl Tobie (58).
Though hard work we have achieved a great deal from 1913 to the present and have experienced many enjoyable times. It is rewarding to recollect the days of Horse and Wagon to the present, a time of sophisticated modern equipment. We continue functioning as a Hose Company within the Westbury Fire Department sharing our expertise with the fellow comrades of Hose Co. # 2 and Hook & Ladder Company.
Under the leadership of our current officers, Captain Patrick Cody, 1st Lt. Albert Parillo, 2nd Lt., C. Stewart and Clerk Ron Pfeffer, Hose Company #1 continues to serve our community with the same dedication and unselfish devotions as members have done for the past Eighty-Nine years.
1925
Chemical
Truck
1935 American LaFrance Pumper
