Assembly Resolution No. 623

BY: M. of A. Murray

COMMEMORATING the 95th Anniversary of the Medford
Fire Department, Inc. to be celebrated at its parade
on August 12, 2017

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to commemorate the 95th
Anniversary of the Medford Fire Department, Inc. to be celebrated at its
parade on Saturday, August 12, 2017, and to honor its past and present
firefighting members for 95 years of fire protection to the citizens of
Medford, New York, 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 95
years, the courageous and devoted firefighters of the Medford 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, Wood fires have always been a hazard on Long Island; the
brush and pitch pine surroundings are ignited by lightning strikes,
carelessness, intentional burn-off of property lots for clearing, and
more often than not, as a result of the Long Island Railroad and their
steam locomotives which traverse through Medford; and

WHEREAS, In the past, fires were extinguished either by burning out,
groups of neighbors working together, or by the State Conservation
Department which monitored the area from watch towers along the central
moraine hills to the north in Farmingville and Selden, New York; and

WHEREAS, In the early 1920s, a group of men formed a volunteer fire
department at Westphal's Garage; by 1923, the South Medford Independent
Hose Company had joined the Suffolk County Volunteer Fireman's
Association for an initiation fee and first year's dues of $3.50; and

WHEREAS, In November of that same year, the Suffolk County Volunteer
Fireman's Association purchased a piece of fire apparatus from the
Bayshore Fire Department, and Joseph Anderson offered to donate a plot
of ground on the State Highway at Jamaica Avenue; in the meantime, the
fire apparatus was stored in a shed at the Medford Hotel; and

WHEREAS, William Hahn, Sr. was elected Chief, serving from
1923-1925; Leroy Smith offered a piece of land on Peconic Avenue and
Oregon Avenue for the purpose of building a fire house; in 1924, this
property deed was recorded; and

WHEREAS, During this time, fire apparatus demonstrations were
presented to the public in order to procure donations; some members
donated their $.25 an hour salary putting out fires with the State
Conservation Department back to the fire company; and

WHEREAS, By 1925, members of the South Medford Independent Hose
Company had to be at least 18 years of age, and every member had to
attend every quarterly meeting, unless he had a reasonable excuse; he
was fined $.25 if he was absent; and

WHEREAS, Meanwhile, a second group of men had gotten together to
form a volunteer fire department, and in April of 1926, these
individuals reorganized their group and called the Medford Fire
Department Company No. 1, and George S. Mistler was chosen as its Chief;
and

WHEREAS, As of March 10, 1929, the original group referred to itself
as the Independent Fire Company of South Medford, and its Chief was
Alfred Kerny; he imposed a limit of 15 members, charged dues of $.25 a
month, and meetings were held on the last Friday of the month; and

WHEREAS, Chief Alfred Kerny provided his fire extinguishers and
wrecker, and a whistle was purchased to notify members of alarms; Chief
Kerny also donated all his available space at his repair/gas station to
store apparatus and hold meetings free of charge; and

WHEREAS, Members purchased their numbered badges at a cost of $1.50
each, and a fire apparatus was purchased from Bellmore Fire Department
in March of 1929; and

WHEREAS, In 1937, Medford Fire Company No. 1 proposed building a
fire house on the donated property on Oregon Avenue and Peconic Avenue;
then Chief, George S. Mistler opened the fire house on June 7, 1940; and

WHEREAS, In April of 1948, Richard Holmes was elected Chief of the
Medford Fire Company No. 1 and Eugene Kiernan was elected Chief of the
Independent Hose Company of South Medford; one year later, the two fire
companies joined together and formed the Medford Volunteer Fire
Department under the leadership of Chief William Hahn, Jr.; and

WHEREAS, With a membership of dedicated firefighters, the record of
the Medford Fire Department in public service and fire protection is one
to be envied; for 24 hours a day, for 365 days a year, for 95 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 Medford 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 Medford Fire Department reflects the
history and development of firefighting over the past 95 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 95th Anniversary of the Medford Fire Department,

Inc. to be celebrated at its parade on August 12, 2017; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Medford Fire Department.