It is with deep regret the Officers and Members of the General Warren Emergency Company #2 announce the passing of Financial Secetary Peter Schoen.
Pete was a 21 year member of the General Warren Emergency Company #2 joining on June 5, 1990.
Firmematic Services will be held on Monday January 23, 2012 at Hellman Memorial Chapel 15 State Street Spring Valley, NY.
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In 1936, the Village of Haverstraw erected a new Municipal Building on industrial land on Maple Avenue. A new Village Hall, Police Station, Quarters for the 3 Middle Street companies and space for the D.P.W. was created at this time.
As the 1950′s approached, the Municipal Building was the center of activity in the village that would easily host 20,000 people for street festivals and ball games. With the advent of radio communications, radio station 4-100 was located in #2′s quarters, and remained there until the Haverstraw Village Police consolidation in 2006. The DPW was to move to a new building in the late 1970′s and the Village was to move to the Provident Bank building at the turn of the century.
Today, the Municipal Building the the home of the Haverstraw Fire Department. Meeting rooms, offices, and space for training as well as a new Radio Room were freed up after the Village Government moved to New Main Street. The Cosgriff Hose Ladies Auxiliary, the Chiefs, and the Companies got a little extra room after a long cramped existence. Today, after dedicating the Council Rooms to all of the Past Chiefs of the Haverstraw Fire Department, all department functions are held in the ‘Shrine’.
A major renovation in 2010 in anticipation of the new 4-99 took place, and the new Rescue Hook and Ladder Rooms were expanded into the old 551 poky.
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. To hear Jack sing Happy Birthday up at the Lodge was classic, and the tradition stands. In recent years, the company has used a graven image of the General for certain events where travel is an issue, but he still comes out for all special occasions.
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The General Warren Emergency Company 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.
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The General Warren Emergency Company #2 has operated continuously for 157 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.
→ No CommentsTags: 1854·2011·H.F.D.·Haverstraw·Newspaper·Rockland Messenger
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. Operationally, the Fire Chief and his 4 assistants lead the Department at all non-EMS emergency incidents in the Village of Haverstraw, New York.
Companies
Chief Officers 2011-2012
Apparatus
→ No CommentsTags: 2011·2012·44004·Chief Al Lynch·Chief Bart Gordon·Chief Patrick McNamee·Chief Robert Drexler Jr.·Chief Thomas Price·H.F.D.·HFD
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.
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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 below.
Today, an annual Convention is held on the first Thursday after the first Tuesday in April. 15 delegates, 3 from each of the 5 companies meet to elect a line for the ensuing year. Upon assent of the Village Board, the Officers will assume their positions on the 3rd Tuesday in April at 9pm sharp.
Nominees for 2011
→ No CommentsTags: 2011·Chief Al Lynch·Chief Patrick McNamee·Chief Robert Drexler Jr.·Chief Thomas Price·Chiefs Convention·H.F.D.
The General Warren Emergency Co.#2 is pleased to announce its Officers and Delegates for 2011.
Line Officers:
House Officers:
Department Officers:
Delegates to the 2011 Chiefs Convention:
Nominee for 4th Assistant Chief of the Haverstraw Fire Department:
For a complete list of the 2011-20012 officers, please visit the Membership page.
→ No CommentsTags: 2011·Annual Meeting·Chiefs Delegates·Line Officers
For the first 45 years of the Haverstraw Fire Department, leadership was in the form of 1 Engineer, or Chief, and up to 4 Assistants, who were duly elected from any of the Companies. The machine played a dominate role in early Haverstraw, and firehouses were the center of political life in the village. Politics played a starring role in the election of officers, who along with the Boss would work hard to get their man in. As the department added Companies, the Department added Assistant Chiefs.
Reading the newspaper’s of the day, you would see that the department went through periods of intense controversy, including disbanding and re-organizations of companies, though often with the same political plot line. In 1880, the department was led by a Chief and 4 assistants. In 1887 there were 3 Assistants. By the turn of the Century, the Department was led by a Chief and 2 Assistants.By the 1930′s, Haverstraw was to reform the process, abandon the old and begin an election of 1 Chief Officer from each of the 5 companies, and this tradition stands today.
This is the story of The Combination.
On February 14, 1859 the New York State Legislature passed an Act which provided for, and regulated the election of a Chief Engineer and two Assistant Engineers of the Fire Department of the Village of Warren in the County of Rockland. Throughout the 19th century, the system of picking Chief Engineers held, and an annual convention became routine to elect a chief and 2 assistants for the following year, with the older more established companies holding sway over the others. The candidates themselves, at times surrounded in controversy, were often at odds with the Board of Engineers over company issues, and often would get the ‘boot’ after a Convention rife with political machinations.
By 1900, with 5 companies represented by 3 Chiefs, clout came in the guise of easy assignments and better equipment for the companies involved. Ill will and dissent followed in the companies not represented in the combination. They had good candidates for Chief but couldn’t get enough votes. The first eight years of the 20th century would find General Warren #2, Lady Warren #5, and Relief Hose #3 in control of the combination.
In 1908, the two companies not represented, Rescue #1 and Cosgriff #4 used their influence to swing #2′s their way, and the Middle Street Companies combined. This would last until 1914, when Bernie Fox, the Democratic Party leader in the village, and a member of #5′s would vie for Chief. This would set off a another change in the combination that would ultimately bring it down.
The year is 1914, and Haverstraw was hosting the Hudson Valley Parade and Convention. Thomas Flynn of #1′s was in step for Chief. On Broadway, Bernie Fox wanted to be Chief for the big convention and #5’s needed the combination to secure this honor. Once again, General Warren went along and the combination changed again, with #3’s and #5’s joining #2′s in electing Fox. The big loser was Tom Flynn and The Rescue Hook and Ladder #1.
In 1921, a young man joined General Warren and his name was Charles Fales. He was the step-son of Thomas Flynn, and being that the only thing deeper than politics is family, Smokey never forgot that Flynn got the ‘boot’. Working the ranks of General Warren, serving as Secretary and Captain of the company as well as Village clerk, Smokey was elected in 1930 as 2nd assistant engineer. Smokey was quickly named chairman of the By Law committee and soon had a group of rules up for review. Among them was a rule to allow the Election of a Chief Officer from each of the 5 companies. The matter of equal representation was voted down in committee, with #3′s and #5′s dissenting.
Now, nearly 20 years later, and after 4 years of constant political maneuverings with the Middle Street companies to remain in office, Smokey was elected Chief on April 5th, 1934. For years, General Warren #2 had enough votes for their man, and this year Smokey was no exception. He was to be the last Chief to be elected by The Combination. Meanwhile Relief #3′s and Lady Warren #5′s had nothing to gain and everything to lose in this 1934 election, and went along electing Harry Joachim of Relief Hose #3 and Jack Feeney of Lady Warren #5 for the ensuing year. This was the final election for the Combination.
Meanwhile, both Middle Street companies, #1′s and #4′s, had been out of the combination since Tom Flynn got the boot in 1914. Now, a generation later reform of the system came from within The Combination, and the matter of Equal Representation on the Board of the Haverstraw Fire Department was proposed as a bylaw change to that board.
The Department Minutes show that during the Department re-organizational meeting on April 27, 1934, Smokey proposed an amendment to the By-Laws to allow equal representation to the Board from all five companies. On June 7, 1934 a special meeting of the Board of Chief Engineers 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. The amendment passed and an election was held that night to elect Chiefs from Rescue #1 and Cosgriff #4. The the close of that meeting the Board consisted of the following:
Charles Fales General Warren #2
Harry Joachim Relief Hose #3
Jack Feeney Lady Warren #5
William Babcock Cosgriff Hose #4
William Pallett Rescue #1
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To this day, on the first Thursday after the First Tuesday in the month of April, the Haverstraw Fire Department convenes a Chiefs Convention at 8pm to select 1 Chief and 4 Assistant Chiefs to represent each of the five companies of the Haverstraw Fire Department.
→ No CommentsTags: Charles Fales·Chiefs Convention·H.F.D.·Harry Joachim·Jack Feeney·The Combination·William Babcock·William Pallett
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