Fairville forms Fire Unit in '56

History - Newark

Fairville forms Fire Unit in '56

The following is an article which ran in the Courier-Gazette Bicentennial issue of July 1, 1976.

The Fairville Volunteer Fire Department was organized on February 22, 1956. The first meeting was held in Hockenberger's Hotel with 39 members joining at the first meeting. At this first meeting Burnett Porter was elected chief-president and Arsene De Blaere was elected first assistant chief vice president.

The Department was incorporated on May 17, 1956, with J. Willis Barrett acting as our attorney and legal advisor. Prior to organization, a 1922 American La France 500 GPM pumper was obtained from the Ward La France Corporation and donated to the Department by Burnett Porter. The volunteer members then installed a 400 gallon capacity tank and a windshield on the truck to make it operable for firefighting.

The District No. 13 schoolhouse was obtained on June 20, 1956, four months after organizing. The building was badly in need of repair, and as we were already planning to purchase another truck, it was necessary to repair and add on to the original structure in July of 1956. Franklin Orbaker and his helpers were in charge of the construction and Howard Scheer, with his ingenuity and electrical ability, developed and installed the signal system.

With the 12-foot addition on the fire house completed, we were ready to purchase a 1958 American La France 1,000 gallon pumper. At this time the Department was under the leadership of Chief Leslie Feiock.

The first fire which occurred in March of 1957, was a car fire in a Buick sedan. Fourteen men responded to the fire, which was put out with the use of C02, two Indian tanks, and water by the pails-full.

We entered our first parade in Canandaigua on June 28, 1958. The first Fairville Carnival was held in 1962 on rented land of the Franklin Orbaker Farm, which has since been purchased by the Department for carnivals and for other activities.

In the last several years the company has purchased an American La France Pioneer Fire Truck, a new Chevrolet Squad Car, and last year a 1970 Chevrolet ambulance, with the money earned by hard work at our carnivals, feather parties, and other money-making functions. The company has been led competently by Chiefs Harold Jordan (1964 1969), Eugene Weimer (1969-1972), Pete Fagner (1973-76) and the present Chief Robert Jordan.

In October 1975 construction began on the new firehouse on the carnival grounds on Route 88. At an approximate cost of $62,000 the firehouse was completed in March of 1976 at which time equipment was moved to the new firehouse. At an open house in April, Congressman Frank Horton presented the department with an American flag. Much of the work on the firehouse was done through voluntary work both from firemen and friends from other departments.

Present officers of the Department are Chief Robert Jordan, 1st assistant chief Richard Ramph; 2nd Assistant chief James Kommer; captains Gary Iddings, Jacob Frank and Albert Frank; Lieuts. David Mackey, John MacKay, Richard Jordan, Ronald Blaisdell, Jack Bouwens and Carl Tack. Isaac Willemsen is fire police captain with Edward DeWolf as lieutenant. First aid captain is Robert Klahn.

Henry Kotvis is president, Harold Jordan, vice-president, Dick Benwitz, secretary and Gary Wells, treasurer. Rev. Jack Sproat and Rev. Gerald Harris are chaplains and Jim Stone, James Kotvis and Eugene Weimer are trustees. The Ladies Auxiliary has greatly aided the fire department through the years and has assisted financially with many donations to the fire department.

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