by Dr. Radut

Patchogue - Fire Department History

Patchogue Fire Department History  [Firefighting History, Patchogue Fire Department & Its Several Companies] 

--  General

  • "History of Our First Chief Edwin Bailey"  (Patchogue Fire Department) 
  • "The firemen of Patchogue gave a grand ball in Tower Hall, on New Year's night...."  Patchogue Advance, January 8, 1883:  p. 3. -- Tower Hall later became Swezey & Newins department store.
  • "Parade and Tournament." New York Times, September 10, 1885:  p. 2. -- The last line mentions an award given to the "Patchogue Engine" [Co. No. 1.]. 
  • "Patchogue Firemen Elect Officers."  Brooklyn Eagle, March 6, 1895:  p. 2.
  • "Patchogue's Fire Department" (Latest Long Island News).  Brooklyn Eagle, July 10, 1895:  p. 7.
  • "Fire Scare at Patchogue."  Brooklyn Eagle, July 17, 1895:  p. 4. -- Mills, Hammond & Co. (on S.E. intersection of the 4 Corners, narrowly escaped incineration).
  • "The Contest at Patchogue."  New York Times, September 5, 1895:  p. 8.
  • "Patchogue Fire Department:  The Brave Defenders of Our Homes and Our Property" [full text]. In [Patchogue] Argus. Picturesque Patchogue [special issue], 14(43) 1898:  [n.p.].  (Patchogue-Medford Library.  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room. Courtesy Long Island Advance)
  • "To Honor Ex-Chief Bailey."  Brooklyn Eagle, July 19, 1898:  p. 11.
  • "The Proposed Law Indorsed, by the Southern New York Firemen's Association in Session at Blue Point.  Next Meeting in Patchogue."  Brooklyn Eagle, October 17, 1900:  p. 3.
  • Flugrath, Fred J.  Historical Resume, 1880-1905, Commemorating the Quarter Century Anniversary of the Patchogue Fire Department and the Formal Opening of the New Headquarters, June Fourteenth 1905 [full text].  [Patchogue, NY:  Patchogue Fire Department, 1905.]  (Patchogue Fire Department; Patchogue-Medford Library.  Celia M. Hastings Local History Room.  Digital Archives)
  • "Firemen's Fund:  Source of Discussion in the Department:  Active Firemen Want Money Coming in from Insurance Companies -- Exempts Want It Kept in Benevolent Fund."  Patchogue Advance, March 24, 1905:  p. 1.
  • "Patchogue.  The Volunteer Firemen's Carnival from July 12 to 22."  New York Times, July 9, 1911:  p. X4.
  • "Dynamite Joker at Large.  After Causing Panic, He Blows Up Stove in a Patchogue Hotel."  New York Times, April 21, 1914:  p. 9.  -- Joseph Morris creates a blaze, then a blast at Bienhauer's Hotel, in Patchogue, disappears and calmly returns to his job in Medford, N.Y.
  • "Let Out in Fire at Patchogue Pound, They Remain with Firemen."  New York Times, December 11, 1930:  p. 2. 
  • "Brush Fire Sweeps Long Island Section:  Nine Square Miles are Burned, Over Near Patchogue, as 300 Fight Blaze."  New York Times, April 30, 1934:  p. 17.
  • "Brush Fire Halted at Edge of Town:  Long Island Flames, Raging 28 Hours, are Stopped at Patchogue Boundary; Many Houses are Saved; Farm Buildings Scorched at North Bluepoint -- Hundreds of Rabbits Flee Area."  New York Times, May 9, 1934:  p. 21.
  • "Lost Near Home 9 Days.  Man Found in Long Island Brush Suffering from Exposure."  New York Times, September 16, 1935:  p. 3.
  • "Boy, 2, Dies in Fire.  Patchogue Child Suffocates Before Neighbors Make Rescue."  New York Times, January 6, 1936:  p. 19.
  • "Would Take Tiernan Boy:  A California Couple Offers to Adopt Survivor of a Murder Plot."  New York Times, May 24, 1937:  p. 5.  -- Entire Patchogue F.D. visits boy, whose throat had been slashed by his mother, in Patchogue Community Hospital, and presented him with a toy.
  • "Charles F. Chapman [obit.]:  Oldest Living Ex-Chief of Fire Department of Patchogue, 88."  New York Times, March 7, 1938:  p. 17.
  • "7,500 Ducks Die in Farm Fire."  New York Times, December 28, 1938:  p. 24.  -- at Gallo's Duck Farm
  • "Fire in Humphrey Home:  $10,000 Damage Caused by Blaze in East Patchogue, L.I."  New York Times, January 9, 1939:  p. 12.
  • "$25,000 Fire at Patchogue."  New York Times, March 9, 1940:  p. 11.  --  58--62 West Main St. store/apartment fire; dog's barking saves 6 lives
  • "'Jurisdiction' Aids Fire:  Home Burns as Responsibility for Area is Disavowed."  New York Times, May 3, 1942:  p. 30.  -- Home of Herbert F. Austin, 295 Bay Ave.
  • "Patchogue Man Held in Arson."  New York Times, October 8, 1942:  p. 15. 
  • "Fire Wrecks Clock, Patchogue Treasure."  New York Times, January 10, 1946:  p. 25.  -- Clock "Old Faithful", in Swezey & Newins tower, maintained by the village was lost in a blaze, after 30 years as a local landmark 
  • Barry, John L., Fire Chief, as told to Craig Hazlewood.  "Village Fortunate in Having strong Fire Department:  Story of F.D. Since Founding in 1880 is a Fascinating One; Patchogue Engine Co. No. 1 Formed After Van Ausdale Bakery Fire in 1880 Threatened Entire Village; Honey Bee Engine was Firdt Piece of Equipment."  Patchogue Advance, 75th Anniversary edition (Section 2), December 5, 1946:  p. 1.
  • "Heads Volunteer Firemen."  New York Times, June 28, 1947:  p. 30.  -- Mentions election of its new president at the conclusion of the 52nd annual meeting of the Southern New York Volunteer Firemen's Association, held at Patchogue High School
  • "1781 Landmark Burns:  Unexplained Night Fire Levels Former Durkee Homestead."  New York Times, January 22, 1949:  p. 28.  -- Col. Chauncey B. Humphrey loses most of house, rescues 3, and 5 F.D.'s save valuable archives.
  • "Patchogue Oil Tanks Saved as Truck Burns."  New York Times, June 17, 1949:  p. 25. 
  • Barry, John L., Ex-Chief.  "Story of the P.F.D. Since Founding in 1880 is a Fascinating One:  Village Smoke-Eaters Can Well Be Proud on Their 70th Birthday" (Editorial Section).  Patchogue Advance, February 9, 1950:  p. 1.
  • "Fire Wrecks Patchogue Hotel."  New York Times, January 16, 1951:  p. 33.  -- Winona Hotel, 380 Bay Avenue
  • "Investigate School Fire:  Patchogue Police Officials Join in Inquiry into Blaze."  New York Times, May 23, 1951:  p. 37.  -- Fire previously declared arson by Patchogue Fire Chief, Fred Pape
  • "Dog Gives Alarm in Fire:  Patchogue Patrol Animal Barks Factory Warning."  New York Times, July 19, 1952:  p. 17.  -- Police dog "Duke," give alarm at Justus Roe & Sons factory blaze
  • "Patchogue Fire Costs $20,000."  new York Times, November 9, 1953:  p. 18.  --- Vrooman Lumber Yard
  • "$2,000,000 Fire Destroys Landmark in Patchogue Business Center."  New York Times, February 11, 1956:  p. 18.  -- Mills Building, S.E. corner of Main St. & Ocean Ave.
  • "Old Artillery Shells Upset Downtown Area."  New York Times, June 6, 1959:  p. 3.  -- That is, in downtown Manhattan, after the company moves to Patchogue.
  • "Fire Ruins Patchogue Office."  New York Times, December 11, 1960:  p. 75.  -- 2nd floor, Main St. & S. Ocean Ave.
  • "Firetruck Overturns, 4 Hurt."  New York Times, April 16, 1962:  p. 23.
  • Tappe, Marion.  "Gus Remembers When:  Oldest Volunteer Fireman in Suffolk County Reminisces."  Long Island Advance, October 7, 1971:  [n.p.]
  • "4 L.I. Firemen Hurt in Fighting Blaze at Patchogue Car Agency."  New York Times, December 28, 1976:  p. 19.  -- Leitner Pontiac, 17 Medford Ave.
  • McSweeney, William E.  "Speaking Personally:  A Love Story:  Patchogue's Rialto:  Requiem for the Rialto."  New York Times, March 14, 1978:  p. LI 19. 
  • Gilberti, Terry.  "Hearing on Patchogue Fire District Set."  Review Newspapers, August 28, 1997:  p. 2. 
  • "Fire Engulfs Church; No One is Injured."  New York Times, January 13, 1998:  p. B4.  -- Iglesia Roco de Salvacion de Patchogue
  • Sorrentino, Michael.  Photos:  Patchogue Village FD Receives WTC Steel (Patchogue Patch, August 24, 2011)
  • "Patchogue Fire Department's First Woman Officer."  Long Island Advance, January 13, 2022: p. 4.
  • "New Chief For Patchogue Fire Department." Long Island Advance, January 12, 2023: p. 14.
  • Ed. Note:  Smithtown Library's Richard H. Handley Long Island History Room, is listed in the New York State Historical Documents Inventory, as having, under "Miscellaneous Collections:  Long Island - Towns and Villages, 1649-[ca. 1937], a "petition to establish a fire department in Patchogue, 1837".  -- MR

---  PML Catalog Sampler:

--  Fireboat

  • "Patchogue FD Takes to the Seas:  New 28-Foot Fire and Water Rescue Boat Unveiled at Mascot Dock."  Long Island Advance, August 10, 2006:  p. 8.

--  Firehouses

--  Engine Company No. 1 (founded 1880)

  • "Patchogue's Old Honey Bee:  Firemen of the South Side Village Celebrate the Twentieth Anniversary of Their Organization.  History of a Crack Company.  What It has Done for the Village and the Victories It has Won in Suffolk Tournaments."  Brooklyn Eagle, March 7, 1900:  p. 7.
  • "Engine Co. 60 Years Old, Celebrates."  [Patchogue Advance,] February 2, 1940:  n.p.

--  Union Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1 (founded 1887)

--  Van Guard Hose Company, No. 1 (founded 1891)

--  Euclid Hose Company, No. 2 (founded 1892)

  • "The concert on Tuesday evening for the benefit of Euclid Hose company was a success..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, January 22, 1893:  p. 9.
  • "On the strength of the addition made to the treasury of Euclid Hose company by the recent concert the members have ordered their new hose cart.  It cost $350, most of which has already been collected..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, January 29, 1893:  p. 4.  -- The company decided to temporarily forego uniforms in favor of the hose cart
  • "Patchogue Notes."  Brooklyn Eagle, April 16, 1893:  p. 3.  -- Wedding of Mamie Vrooman (daughter of a prominent Brooklyn builder) to J.W. Hoagland, foreman of Euclid Hose Co., No. 1, who arrived in uniform, the Co., having provided "a  handsome buffet".   
  • "The Patchogue firemen had a very good time at the state tournament at Coney Island..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, August 20, 1893:  p. 5.
  • "When the Euclid hose company held its second annual election about a week ago, the members decided that the majority of the officers were worthy of another term..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, March 18, 1894:  p. 5.
  • "The Euclid hose company are to have a supper in Ackerly's music hall on Wednesday evening next.  A number of pretty girls have accepted the invitation to wait on tables and the affair promises to be quite a success..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, April 29, 1894:  p. 5.
  • "Euclid Hose to have a New House."  Brooklyn Eagle, August 4, 1895:  p. 8. 

--  Patchogue Exempt Firemen's Association

  • "The Exempt Firemen's Association of Patchogue elected officers about a week ago..." (Patchogue Notes).  Brooklyn Eagle, January 22, 1893:  p. 9.
  • "Death of Everard H. Preston, Secretary of Patchogue Exempt Firemen's Association" (The Island's Obituary Record).  Brooklyn Eagle, August 7, 1897:  p. 2.