LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Stony
Brook Volunteer Fire Department to be celebrated on August 1, 2009

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 100th Anni-
versary of the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire Department, and to honor its
past and present firefighting members for 100 years of fire protection
to the citizens of Stony Brook and its surrounding communities; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community protection
services in every locality of our State; during the past 100 years, the
courageous and devoted firefighters of the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire
Department have valiantly responded to all types of fire emergencies and
have won the praise and respect of the community which they serve; and
WHEREAS, The Stony Brook Fire Department had its inception in the mind
of Thomas S. Anderson, who, for months during 1907 and 1908, tried to
impress upon the citizens of Stony Brook that there was a great need for
such a department; and
WHEREAS, It was not until New Year's Day of 1909, when the saw mill of
D. T. Bayles & Son was entirely destroyed by fire that the people real-
ized that Mr. Anderson was right; and
WHEREAS, Consequently, a meeting was called on January 29, 1909, and
plans were made for the organization of the Stony Brook Fire Department,
consisting of two companies to be known as the Eagle Hook and Ladder
Company No. 1 and the Engine Company No. 1; and
WHEREAS, The first home of the Department was in the building located
near the Stony Brook Pond owned by C. Temple Emmet; shortly afterward,
the Department moved to a location on the corner of Mill Road and Main
Street; and
WHEREAS, The Department's first equipment consisted of a two-wheel
hand drawn chemical engine purchased May 22, 1909, and a hand drawn Hook
and Ladder truck purchased February 19, 1909; and
WHEREAS, Thomas S. Anderson was chosen as the first Captain of the
Hook and Ladder Company, and continued to hold that position for the
balance of his life; Ralph S. Sammis was elected as the first Foreman of
the Engine Company; and
WHEREAS, Hervey P. Wells was chosen as the first Chief of the Depart-
ment and it was to great extent of his zealous efforts that both the
Engine Company and the Hook and Ladder Company were incorporated on
March 13, 1909, under the laws of the State of New York, and the Stony
Brook Volunteer Fire Department was an accomplished fact; and
WHEREAS, In these first days of the department, the alarm was rung on
the church bells and the firemen had to run to the firehouse and then
drag the apparatus to the scene of the fire and after such an exhausting
ordeal fight the fire to the best of their ability; later the department
paid the sum of $3.00 to anyone bringing a team of horses to the fire-
house to drag the apparatus to the fire; and
WHEREAS, The department moved to its new firehouse in January of 1921
until 1941, when it moved to its present quarters; and
WHEREAS, During the life of the department, the men have responded to
many calls; among the most notable was the fire which destroyed the home
of Mrs. Henrietta Shipman at which the one fatality in the history of
the department occurred, when Charles R. Moll was killed by the explo-
sion of the chimney which fell on him; and
WHEREAS, After the first hand-drawn equipment, it wasn't until 1924
that the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire Department purchased additional
equipment when they added a General Motors pumper, which was used until
1940; in 1931, the Department purchased a Mack Hook and Ladder; and

WHEREAS, As the years passed, a Chevrolet Hose Cart and a Stewart
Ambulance were added and the Department was very proud of the modern
up-to-date equipment which consists of the Mack Hook and Ladder, two
Mack Pumpers, a Chevrolet Pumper and a Chevrolet Fire Police and Emer-
gency Wagon; furthermore, the Department is equipped with two-way radio
and considerable emergency equipment including Geiger Counters which are
in conjunction with Civil Defense; and
WHEREAS, During the early years, the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire
Department was self supporting and depended on the generosity of the
citizens of the community and the work of its members to finance its
work; today, the Department is supported by the Stony Brook Fire
District which was formed in 1931 and extended in 1937; and
WHEREAS, For many years, the women of Stony Brook maintained an Auxil-
iary to the Fire Department, and by their work, contributed greatly to
the furnishing of the Firehouse; and
WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire Department in public service and fire
protection is one to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year,
for 100 years, whenever the alarm sounded, these noble volunteers left
their homes and went to the aid of their neighbors; and
WHEREAS, The brave firefighters of the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire
Department are prepared to risk their lives every day to help save the
lives of others and to protect homes and property from the destruction
caused by fire; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the skill and devoted service demonstrated by
individual firefighters, the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire Department
reflects the history and development of firefighting over the past 100
years; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude to
those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should give
special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the betterment
of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic good works
performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great Empire State,
their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
proudly commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Stony Brook Volunteer
Fire Department to be celebrated on August 1, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Stony Brook Volunteer Fire Department.