HomeMy WebLinkAbouthistory of central assoc 1893 1976 firemens association_0008CENTRAL NEW YORK FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
officers, before this year these positions were appointed by the President. Archie Hess of Waverly was
elected Historian and Charles Butts of Norwich, Official Starter.
In 1950, Oneida County joined the association, making a total of 17 counties as members;
Kenwood Fire Department was the first to join from this county.
Norwich Fire Department was host for the Fifty -Seventh Annual Convention and was the site
of the start of the First Aid Contests. The first committee for the contests was appointed by
President George Beardsley and consisted of Charles Butts, Norwich; Ray Laraway, Sidney; Roswell
Green, Watkins Glen; Ernest Young, Port Crane and Frank Morgan of Earlville. The first winners in
the event was Emergency Squad No. 1 of Sidney with Greene Emergency Squad placing second.
The following year at Ithaca, Sidney was again the winner of the First Aid Contest, with
Preble Fire Department the winners of the hose races for the third time and obtaining possession of
the overall Point Trophy donated by L. W. Armstrong of the Old Forge Fire Department. Garry
Reynolds of Ithaca was elected President of the association at this Convention.
The Fifty -Ninth Annual Convention was held in Cortland in 1952 with George W. Lang of that
city elected Secretary, an office he held for 13 years (1953-1965). In 1966 he declined to run for
this office; however, in 1970 he was elected to the office of 2nd Vice -President and will be the
outgoing President at the 83rd Annual Convention to be held in Norwich in 1976.
The 1952 Convention Parade consisted of 8 divisions with 67 marching units and
approximately 2,000 individual marchers before an estimated crowd of 30,000 people. Montour Falls
was awarded first place for best appearing Fire Department, with Geneva receiving second place and
the award for most men in the line of march.
The 1953 Convention site was Owego and saw another county join the association. Wayne was
the 18th county member to be accepted on the rolls. The annual parade had a total of 85 marching
units led by the Sampson Air Force Band and Color Guard. In 980 heat, 20,000 viewed the parade,
when again Montour Falls was judged best appearing Department with Odessa placing second. Sidney
Emergency Squad was the top winner in the First Aid contest while Morrisville took top honors in
the Hose Races.
The 61st Annual Convention was held in Watkins Glen where Floyd Angel of Owego was
elected President. Herkimer County was admitted as a member of the association making it the 19th
county to join, today's present total in counties. The first member companies to join the Central
from this county were the Herkimer Fire Department and the Herkimer County Fireman's
Association. Best Appearing Fire Department in the annual parade was awarded to the Odessa Fire
Department, with Cortland receiving the prize for most in line and Morrisville for longest distance.
Sidney Center Emergency Squad won the First Aid contest and took permanent possession of the Louis
C. Brookins Trophy; Whitney Point was the overall winners of the Hose contests.
Historian .............. FREDERICK D. TODD
7 Salo Drive
5 Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886