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| Company #2 began
serving the community of Manhasset in 1904 with the organization
of the Hill and Valley Fire Department. In 1912, this unit
became Section No. 2 of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department,
located on Valley Road, today Community Drive. Its equipment
consisted of a hose reel, boots, helmets, raincoats, axes,
and other fire apparatus pertinent to the era. The equipment
was housed in a barn owned by H. Schneider, the local blacksmith.
John Smith was elected Section No. 2’s first Captain. |
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A Ford chassis was purchased for Section No. 2 in about
1921-22; their first truck. George N. Schneider built a
body for the Ford, and it was painted. Many stories are
told about that truck. “On more than one occasion,
the men riding on the back running board would get bounced
up and down, and the front wheels of truck would leave the
road.” “When responding to fires in the southern
end of the district, the truck could not climb the hill
of Valley Road. The firemen would jump off, run alongside
the truck until it reached the top of the hill, and then
climb on again.” |
The Section soon moved into new
quarters on North Hempstead Turnpike to property rented
from the Schneider’s. Members were proud of the
new firehouse and truck.
1925 saw the purchase of a commercial truck with a fire
truck body and foamite generator mounted on an Acme chassis.
Although this was not a first line piece of fire apparatus,
it was an improvement over the Ford. In 1927, the Company
joined the State Firemen’s Association.
The widening of North Hempstead Turnpike, now Northern
Boulevard, in 1928, brought a new era to Section No. 2.
The house located on the Turnpike had to be torn down
and new quarters were built on East Shore Road. At that
time, the Section received delivery of a Maxim Hose Truck,
its first modern piece of fire apparatus. |
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The Company moved into its new house in 1929. In September
of that year, it granted permission to organize the first
Ladies Auxiliary in the Department. Mrs. Jennie Hicks
was elected President. The Company also inaugurated an
ambulance service. The first ambulance was an old Dodge
donated by the late John W. Rivers. It was in service
until 1933 when the need for a new one became acute. At
that time, Fire Commissioners by law were not permitted
to purchase an ambulance with fire district funds. Therefore,
a drive for funds culminated with a dance at the Garden
City Hotel. From these efforts, a new Ford ambulance was
bought and remained in service until 1940, when the first
two Cadillac’s were purchased. |
During the early days, the Ladies Auxiliary of Company
2 supplied the ambulance with linens which they laundered
themselves. From 1929 through 1959, when the ambulance
was transferred to Company 1, it is estimated that Company
2 answered over five thousand calls. In 1938, Company
2 became a Hook and Ladder company, with the purchase
of a Ward LaFrance Hook and Ladder. Fourteen years later,
in 1952 an eighty-five foot Seagrave Aerial Ladder was
purchased. In 1972, a new firehouse was built on East
Community Drive for Company 2, where it resides today.
With the building of this new house, a T-27 snorkel, “Firebird,”
was purchased.
Currently, Company #2 is equipped with a 1999 93’
LTI Tower Ladder, 2003 75’ Spartan/Crimson Quint
and a 1991 Pierce 1500GPM pumper. |
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