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Big Tree VFC - History
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Forward
Being of the "younger generation" I don't recall all the memories herinafter related in print, but at the solicitations of a few friends and brothers of the Big Tree Volunteer Fireman's Company, together with whom, I have often intimately conversed on this favorite subject of local reminiscences, and with a personal desire to place on record many of the names of well known persons who lived here, and of current events during the childhood of the community of Big Tree; not very remarkable to the general reader, but interesting to our townspeople of the present day and those hereafter to follow.
I hope my readers will not find cause to cavil at these recordsof recollections, nor to question their correctness. I admit possible errors; maybe misstatements of facts and anachronism, due to natural lapses of memory common to everyone, and for which I am liable to criticism and correction. I may add that these articles have been written with no special attempt at rhetorical grace nor picturesque effect. The ultimate, is to remind the people of the area of the 150th Anniversary of the Community of Big Tree, particularly those who were not cognizant of this fact.
The Big Tree Treaty made in 1797 at an Indian Council held on the banks of the Genessee River near the present site of Geneseo, opened for settlement of all of Western New York except for several reservations which were set up to be the homeland of the Iroquois forever. The largest of these was the Buffalo Creek Reservation with the southern boundry along the line at the top of Osborne Heights. Fairview Pkwy being a part of that line.
Big Tree Treaty
Agent
Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company Inc.
The summer of 1936 saw a group of men gathering at Albrecht Brothers Gasoline Station; at Schoen's Grille (the present Hitching Post) while others met at Joseph Kryszak's Garage, all talking on the same subject: A Fire company for the Highland Acres-Big Tree Area. On November 2, 1936 the first meeting was held at Schoen's Grille, at 8 pm. At that meeting Mr. William Koenig was elected to act as temporary chairman; Ira Milks to act as temporary secretary and the three groups were asked to work together. Circular letters were passed throughout the community inviting the male populace to come to the next meeting which was held a week later at the same place. Among the early or charter members were the following: William Koenig, Alois Schoen, Ira C. Milks and his brother Arnold Milks, Albrecht Brothers, Joseph, Charles, and Jack; H.A. Minken, J. Hohl, W.E. Dalzell, Peter Makin, Bernard Wroblewski, Charles Metzger, Louis Sobini, Sextus Roorda, Spencer Trask, Joseph Kryszak, Henry Kisznewicz and son Peter, Norman Manista, Stanley Behe, Norbert Nichter, Roland Emerson, Joseph Cortean, Amicare Paolini, Glenn Tanner and Ray Zufelt.
A chemical truck was purchased and line officers were elected, with Joseph Kryszak assuming the duties of the first chief. Through the years he was followed by Glenn Tanner, Sextus Roorda, our present chief David Durwood Sr., who has served the past five years.
William Koenig passed from temporary chairman to the first president of the fire company, followed by Ben Wroblewski, the late Edward Hollis, Charles Albrecht, Peter Makin, Kearney Suto and Francis Doherty, who now is serving in that capacity.
Every young organization is cognizant of calling upon experienced men to assist them in forming a sound organization and so it was that such men as: Otto Haegland, George Fornoff, Joe Doll (who served as the first instructor on firematics), Ed Campbell, and two members of the Newton-Abbott Volunteer Fire Company; Earl Evans and Jeff Wanamacher, came forward to assist.
By this time a number of new members had been added: Matt Roorda, Ed Roorda, Frank Aikens, Edward Barraclough, Barbati Brothers; John, Michael, and Umberto; Fred Barten, Walter Jordan, Christ Koch, Art Hansgan, James Brend, Manuel Canyas, Floyd Chilson, Jerry Ciaschini, Frank Colwell, Edward Crotty, Charles Di Rocco, David Durward, Eugene Doherty, Joe Foley, Jose Garcia, Jerome Gratvin, Walter Knapp, John Koch, Donald Krecker, William Kuehnle, Carlton Lapp, Richard Lenahan, N. Manzette, Edward Nesslin, Thomas Novilli, Michael Podkulski, Joseph Pavone, Joseph Raslog, Edward Rousselett, Dallas Shanks, John Violanti, Achille Volpini, Vincent Wappman, Edward Sattler, and Edward Sperck.
Fire school classes were started, the pressure was on with the "Boys" spending a great deal of time at the fire hall and many a "joiner" soon dropped out or was dropped.
The Ladies Auxiliary was founded and with their support the first fire company field days were held. Most of the prizes were donated by the members of the two organizations and the businessmen in the community. In contrast to last years outlay of over $2,000 in prizes.
In order to promote the fire companies' activities a parade unit was formed with the members wearing white shirt, black tie, and blue trousers. The present uniform is: suntan trousers with a green stripe on the outside of the leg, black belt, green shirt trimmed in gold, visor type hat in sun tan trimmed in gold and green except the line officer's hats which are white. The unit in full force numbers about 35 men. An occasion, when a good number of men turn out, is Memorial Day when tribute is paid to our departed brother members at our Memorial Grounds where a tree has been planted for each active departed member as a living symbol.
The writing of the foregoing sketches, and excursions among the institution people, and events of the past Big Tree Community and as these memories are recollections and may be, in some particulars, inaccurate.
We are steadily, in these decades, succeeding the past 150 years, when we had so broad a beginning, illustrating that in all advances we are making, each seeming as if the best had been reached; it proves but the commencement of far greater improvements, as the atomic energy. That we are in all these steps of progress, but "making stepping stones for our dead selves to higher things".
Much more could be written about the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company with the material collected but printing costs must be considered and the Fire Company is a story in itself, the serious and comical phases, all aspects of current events, the doings and peculiarities of the people daily passing in panoramic review.
My deepest thanks to those who made this history of our community possible; Mrs. Ethel Thompson, librarian, Blasdell Free Library; Mayor Charles Albrecht (Mayor for the past 25 years); Chief David Durward Sr. (Chief of the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company for the past 5 years); and Mr. Robert Wilson, Publisher of the Blasdell-Frontier herald, who not only encouraged me but on a Sunday night would call and say: "Have you any copy ready?" and without waiting for an answer would conclude his remarks with: "Drop it off at the office on your way to work."
-written by: a volunteer fireman
Courtesy of Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company 20th anniversary booklet |
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Hamburg, NY
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