General Warren Emergency Company #2

1954 INTERNATIONAL JOHN BEAN HIGH PRESSURE

“High Pressure and Whistling Fog”

Our 1954 International Harvester John Bean High Pressure truck was to become the benchmark for all of our apparatus since. The John Bean High Pressure had a 300 gallon tank, high pressure discharges, electric generator, hydraulic extrication tools, lighting, and ‘Indian’ tanks and became the workhorse of the department through the 50’s and 60’s.

1954 IH

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With the ability to pump water, work accidents, and complete salvage operations, unit 4-EM was born. Shown with our first boat. When we retired this truck in 1977, it went first to the Village as a sewer jet, eventually going to the Village of West Haverstraw as a stake truck.

One of the enduring legacies of the General Warren Emergency Company #2 is the statue of General Joseph Warren. The General, a three foot high painted plaster likeness of the great man, has occupied its place in the company history and quarters for time immemorial. The origins of the General are unknown, and his being will be forever a mystery.

In the mid 1930’s, an argument was made that the General was the only member that responded from all 3 firehouses. That argument, made by a former Chief and President who himself responded from 2 of the 3, is the most information the company has on the statue. Through the late 50’s, Smokey led the salute to the General at all company functions.

Always front and center on meeting night, the General was often stolen from his home in the meeting room and hidden away by rival companies. This often happened around Convention time and in 1954,  his kidnapping and subsequent ransom was front page news in the Times. He went missing for nearly 6 months. Brother Gordon is seen here caught flipping the bird at the kidnappers, who returned him just in time for his Birthday Party, the Centennial Dinner of the Company in Bear Mountain. Needless to say, he was returned that night safe and sound and all were able to sing happy birthday and raise a toast in his memory, in the normal course of business.

Real traditions never fade, and the General survives today. He was repaired in the late 1970’s under the watchful eye of former Captain Frank McKiernan. The rehab included a new sword, which was hand-made, and a complete paint job. The General now lives in a box that protects him from the elements. Ex-Chief Jack Ginnity led the company in its salute to the General for many years. You just had to hear Jack sing Happy Birthday once up at the Lodge to get a true understanding of what the General  means to the membership of our company. In recent years, the company has used a graven image of  the General for certian events where travel is an issue, but he still comes out for all special occasions.

All Rise for a Salute and Happy 155th Birthday to the  General!

1936 SEAGRAVE RESCUE AND SALVAGE TRUCK

The 1936 Seagrave was the second motorized apparatus purchased for General Warren. This truck was designed to carry lighting, salvage equipment, and in a new development, tools for industrial accidents and automobile extrication. With war clouds on the horizon, and before the advent of the ambulance corps, many departments began equipping fire trucks with first aid and rescue equipment. This was the ‘cutting edge’ technology of its day. The flashlight and iodine truck would also respond with accident victims directly to Nyack Hospital when the need arose.

1936 Seagrave

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Below is the initial proposal for the 36 Seagrave. As you can see, the truck was spec’d out with a ‘Northern Booster Pump’, 150 feet of 3/4″ hose, and a 100 gallon tank. The pump was dropped in the final build. The 36 Seagrave is the design basis for all of our trucks since.

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At the meeting held on February 2nd, 1937, the company moniker again was changed from General Warren Hose Co.#2 to General Warren Emergency Company #2, a reflection of its mission, and we remain so today.

The 36 Seagrave was last seen sitting in Jurgensens Machine Shop on West Street.

During 1884, an application was received by the Village Board to supply Haverstraw with water, and shortly thereafter construction started on a pressurized water system. By 1885, it was recommended to the Board of Engineers that fire hydrants be placed throughout the Village to improve fire protection. This work was to commence the next spring, and by July 6th, 1886 it was reported that 13 hydrants were in service. By October 5th, 1886 it was reported that 37 hydrants were in service and this set the stage for the Hose Carts.

At this time, General Warren , Union, and Triumph responded with handtubs and hose reels while Lady Warren had a steamer. They drafted water from cisterns and other sources throughout the Village. With the advent of fire hydrants, pumps were no longer needed to draw water. As a result, the village sold the Lady Warren steamer, and put all of the hand engines in storage. Four wheeled hose carriages were purchased by the Village and distributed to the companies In a later development, two wheeled hose carts were purchased to replace the bigger and heavier 4 wheeled variety, and the 4 wheeled versions were kept by the companies and used as parade carriages.

Above is a 2 wheeled hose cart that was used during a demonstration on the Bank Corner for the 100th anniversary of the H.F.D. in 1954. Congers came to the village with their steamer which they fired and pumped. The 2 wheeled hose carts that the Village bought were exchanged between the companies depending on needs, and a single hose cart still survives today owned by a private collector.

On May 15th, 1854 upon incorporation of the Village of Warren, the Warren Fire Department was formed. The push for incorporation of the Village was a direct result of a number of devastating fires that had visited the downtown area, and funding for permanent water supplies and for a new apparatus was approved at that meeting.

Although the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company was formed and responding from Liberty Street, its funding was by popular subscription. With the exception of several buckets hung on its frame, this company had no means or intentions of purchasing a pump. At the same time, another group of concerned citizens organized. They too had attempted subscription to fund a new pumper, but could not raise enough funds.

It was this group of citizens who were to form the Warren Engine Company #1 (* see note) that same evening in 1854, becoming the first organized fire company in the new Village of Warren. In the final step that night, in exchange for a body of men, the new Village was to accept Warren Engine Company #1 into the Warren Fire Department.

On September 1st, 1854, the Village of Warren purchased from Mr. Isaiah Millburn a building at what is now 36 Middle Street. The firehouse cost $700.00 and was used from 1854 -1936.

As you can see from this picture, the bay door has been bricked over, but is quite visible. The flagstaff also still remains. At $700.00, the price was high for those days, but the location on Middle Street was centralized and would have been a valuable location at that time. After we vacated this building in 1883, the Triumph Hose Company was to move in.

A picture of the Middle Street Firehouse Circa 1920

Up until 1880 Rescue had been meeting in Osborne Hall on Liberty Street but in this year a new building was erected for them opposite General Warren on the North side of Middle Street. At meeting of the Board of Trustees held March 6th, 1882 a resolution was passed to raise the sum of $1000 for the purpose of purchasing a suitable house for General Warren Engine Company No. 1 and passed by the taxpayers on March 22nd. This new building was built on the west side of the building then occupied by Rescue in 1883 and the Foreman was advised at meeting of the Village Board of December 5th, 1883 that the new house was ready for use.

At meeting of the Board held January 7, 1884 the Foreman, Frederick Glassing, Jr. was presented with 36 keys for new engine house for No. 1. The company was still in possession of the hand engine and several more cisterns had been constructed throughout the village one of which was in the street in front of the new fire-house. General Warren’s quarters on the left, or west side of the building.

This cistern was pictured in front of the Rescue Hook and Ladder#1 quarters on Middle Street. This cistern was dug around1880, when the building was built. This relic was covered over when new sidewalks were installed some time later. Old cisterns, as well as coal, cold storage, can be found under many sidewalks in Haverstraw.

In 1980, filming for the movie Ragtime was to commence on Middle Street. The production required a firehouse and infrastructure circa 1910. The Middle Street location was ‘transformed’ using set peices and was where Coalhouse Walker Jr. was and his car were waylaid by the firemen. Ragtime was to be nominated for 8 Academy Awards including Best Art Direction and Set Decoration.

Middle Street 2008   B is 1854 firehouse  A is 1883 firehouse

Note:

* Hand Engine #1

The  General Warren Emergency Company #2 has operated continuously for 155 years, and our records, photo’s and stories speak volumes of the history of the Village of Haverstraw and it’s Fire Department. As we entered our 150th year back in 2004, we had the ability to identify the names of all of our membership rolls for those 150 years, which we published in book form. The next step was getting those names out onto the web, in a format that would encourage family genealogy research, along with tools and links to carry the research on.

Reading the name searches on our website reveals a Who’s Who of Haverstraw’s past. Former members, families of former residents, and long lost connections come and research the family name. Seeing the company website become such a destination; a half of a million hits last year, and the fact that a vast majority were ‘Haverstraw’ people searching the family name, caused us to give pause. We created the Genealogy page to help our visitors research and investigate their Haverstraw connections, many who may have served in the General Warren Emergency Company #2. We have also helped many others;  apparatus hobbyists, fire whistle fanatics, and history buffs all spend time here and we try to answer all questions in a reasonable period of time. Either way, were happy to have you visit our website, encourage your links for non-commercial purposes, and hope you find your connection to Haverstraw helpful.

The General Warren Emergency Company #2 was formed on May 15, 1854 following the incorporation of the Village of Warren, NY. Funding for the purchase of a hand pumper, hose, and quarters for a fire company was approved at that meeting. The Village of Warren, in exchange for a body of volunteer firefighters, issued this apparatus and equipment to the newly formed Warren Fire Engine Company #1. Operating continuously for over 150 years, General Warren Emergency Company #2 remains “Ever Ready When Duty Calls”

The General Warren Emergency Company #2 is the Heavy Rescue Company of the Haverstraw Fire Department. General Warren Emergency Company responds as unit 4-EM to all activities dispatched to Rockland County Department 4. 4-EM is equipped with onboard extrication tools, air bags, portable generators, ventilation equipment, power tools, lighting, portable pumps, firefighter S.C.B.A., firefighter comfort, and other rescue equipment. Our 1998 Saulsbury/Spartan Gladiator is also equipped with a 4 stage Waterous pump, a 400 gallon tank, and permanent foam firefighting capability.

Please enjoy our in house Fire Company web site. We strive to provide a modern, accessible source of fire company history and information to the public. All pictures, audio, videos and documents presented here are the property of the General Warren Emergency Company#2, and are free to download and use for non-commercial purposes. We hope you link and give credit when appropriate, but don’t hesitate. Any other content presented here such as newsletters, scanner feeds, rss feeds are used with thanks to our friends.

The Haverstraw Fire Department, Rockland County Department 4, consists of a Fire Council of one Chief Officer, four Assistant Chief Officers, and 10 Wardens who administer the Haverstraw Fire Department. Operationaly, the Fire Chief and his 4 assistants lead the Department at all non-EMS emergency incidents in the Village of Haverstraw, New York.

Companies

• Rescue Hook and Ladder Company #1
• General Warren Emergency Company #2
• Relief Hose Company #3
• Cosgriff Hose Company #4
• Lady Warren Hose Company #5

Chief Officers 2009-2010

• 4-1 Chief Peter Rugg  General Warren #2
• 4-2 Assistant Chief Patrick McNamee Relief #3
• 4-3 Assistant Chief Al Lynch Lady Warren #5
• 4-4 Assistant Chief Robert Drexler Jr. Cosgriff #4
• 4-5 Assistant Chief Thomas Price Rescue #1

Apparatus

• Rescue H&L #1 operates a 1969 Pirsch model 41E open cab 100′ tractor drawn aerial as “4-99″
• General Warren #2 operates a 1998 Saulsbury Spartan/Gladiator heavy rescue as “4-EM”
• Relief Hose #3 operates a 2002 KME 1750 GPM pumper as “4-1750″
• Cosgriff Hose operates a 1989 American LaFrance 1500 GPM pumper as “4-1500″
• Lady Warren #5 operates a 2005 KME 1500 GPM pumper as “4-1501″

H.F.D.

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On February 14, 1859 the New York State Legislature passed an act which provided for, and regulated the election of a Chief and two Assistant Chiefs of the Fire Department of the Village of Warren, now Haverstraw, New York. The first convention held under this Act was on May 8 1859 in the United States Hotel , and Samuel A. VerValen of Rescue was elected the first Chief receiving 52 votes over Belding Barnes, of Warren Fire Engine Company No. 1, who got 46 votes. William Oldfield of Warren No. 1 was named First Assistant and Benjamin Felter of Union No. 2  Second Assistant Chief.

On June 7, 1934 a special meeting of the Fire Council was held for the purpose of adopting an amendment to the Constitution and By-Laws of the Haverstraw Fire Department to allow equal representation to the board by allowing election of one Chief Engineer and 4 assistants for the ensuing year, one from each of the five companies. Read about the Combination HERE.

The 2009 Convention will be held on Thursday evening April 9th in General Warren Emergency #2’s quarters at 8pm sharp. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Chiefs Convention.

#2’s Delegates to the 2009 Chiefs Convention:

• Ex-Chief Joseph P Gordon 1964-1966
• Ex-Chief Frank ‘Bud’ Wassmer 1991-1992
• Ex-Chief Andrew M Connors 1999-2000

Nominee:

• Chief of Department Peter J. Rugg

Read more about the history of the Chiefs Convention on the History page.

The General Warren Emergency Co.#2 is pleased to announce its Officers and Delegates for 2009.

Line Officers:

• Captain Bart Gordon
• First Lieutenant Gary Nash

Department Officers:

• Warden Andy Connors
• Warden Matt Connors

Delegates to the 2009 Chiefs Convention:

• Ex-Chief Joseph P Gordon 1964-1966
• Ex-Chief Frank ‘Bud’ Wassmer 1991-1992
• Ex-Chief Andrew Connors 1999-2000

Nominee for the Chief of the Haverstraw Fire Department:

• Peter J. Rugg

For a complete list of the 2009-20010 officers, please visit the Membership page.