HomeMy WebLinkAbouthistory of central assoc 1893 1976 firemens association_0010li
CENTRAL NEW YORK FIREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
Emergency Squad won the First Aid contest for the third time and gained permanent possession of
the Roswell Green Trophy. Winners of the two hour long parade were: Best Appearing Department,
Watkins Glen; Best Auxiliary, Pine City; Best School Band, Sherburne and Best Drum & Bugle Corps.,
Seneca Chiefs of Montour Falls. .
Elmira was awarded the 66th Annual Convention, the first time Chemung County had hosted a
Central Convention. Frank Morgan of Eadville was the Association President, with Keith Whiting as
Ist Vice -President and Ben Steinberg as 2nd Vice -President. Best Appearing Fire Department in the
Parade was Geneva; Best Auxiliary, Pine City; and Sherburne as Best School Band.
Winners of the overall Point Trophy in the First Aid contest was won by Sherburne, while
Croton Hose Company of Owego took top honors in. the hose races with 6 points. On their way to
winning, they set a new record in the ladder contest with a time of 13.8 seconds.
At the annual spring meeting, a Special Tribute was paid to Archie Hess of Waverly. Mr. Hess
became a member of C.N.Y.F.A. in 1907 and during this period had only missed two conventions
over a period of 52 years (1907-1959). He had held the office of Historian since it was created in
1948 and has done an outstanding job. On the recommendation of Assistant Historian, Harry
Woodburn of Waverly to The Board of Directors, Historian Hess was honored with a life membership
in the association at the 67th Annual Convention.
Word was received by the association that Past -Chaplain Rev. Levi W. Lunn had died on April
18, 1960. He was Chaplain of Central for 35 years.
The 67th Annual Convention was hosted by the Cortland Fire Department for the eighth time.
Keith L. Whiting of that city was elected President, with Ben O. Steinberg, First Vice -President, and
Lawrence A. Decker of Montour Falls as Second Vice -President. Past President Frank Morgan was
granted a life membership as was John J. Bell, past Chief of the Owego Fire Department and a 35
year member of the Central.
Montour Falls was the overall winners in the hose races with 4 points. The McGraw team set a
new record in the Wye contest with a time of 22.8 seconds. Greene was the top winner in the First
Aid contests followed by Sidney. The annual Parade took 3 hours to pass the reviewing stand with
the following winners: Best Appearing Department, Penn Yan; Best Auxiliary, Virgil; Best School
Band, Oxford; and Best Drum & Bugle Corps, Montour Falls Seneca Chiefs.
Endicott was the site of the Convention in 1961. The officers remained the same; however, for
the office of Historian, Assistant Historian Harry Woodburn was advanced to the office of Historian
due to the death of Archie Hess on September 1, 1961.
A special tribute was paid to Howard C. Bartlett of Oxford, known as "Bart" throughout the
association. He joined the Oxford Fire Department in 1908 and became Chief in 1923. He held that
office until 1964 when he retired. In addition, Mr. Bartlett is a life member and past President of the
association and in 1961 was serving his third 5 -year term as a Trustee to the Firemen's Home. Fowler
Historian .............. FREDERICK D. TODD
7 Salo Drive
7 Trumansburg, N.Y. 14886