The Eggertsville Hose Company, oldest fire company in the Town of Amherst outside the Village of Williamsville, had its beginnings in 1906 in a corner meat market.

 

A group of residents raised the then - vast sum of $113.13 in just 13 minutes at the old Sauter's Market at Main and Eggert.

 

Residents met after two serious fires threatened the safety of the neighborhood. One blaze destroyed the home of Harry Flading on Callodine Avenue. The other fire leveled a haystack owned by John Chassin. In those days, residents living on Callodine Avenue were known as the "West Enders" while residents living on the opposite side of the community were known as "East Enders."

 

East eventually met the West in expressing the common need for fire protection. Concerned residents met in Tom Kuppinger's store at Main Street and Bailey Avenue to decide the best way to secure adequate fire protection. An additional series of meetings on the problem finally resulted in the formation of the Eggertsville Hose Company. It would replace the bucket brigade which had failed to save the Flading home on Callodine Avenue.

The Hose Company's first Chief and president was , town peace justice and president of the District 13 School Board. He had been a member of the Cayuga Engine Company in Lancaster during the 1870's and 1880's.

 

Present at the first meeting at Sauter's were Boetger, John Berkes, Eugene Ouchie and Gus Lippke. After a lengthy battle of words, Ouchie tossed a penny on the counter and said "Here goes the first nucleus toward forming a fire department". Other pennies followed, then nickels and dimes and eventually quarters and halves. Ouchie then said that if the men present donated enough to make a total of $5, he and Berkes "would surprise you". Ouchie and Berkes talked the matter over quietly and finally returned to the group to each add $25 to the rapidly growing fund. Boetger, Lippke and Mike Sauter Sr. each donated $10 and others produced $5 bills and soon there was exactly $113.13. The whole campaign took exactly "13 minutes by the clock" according to Boetger's account.

 

From then on, company meetings were held at Sauter's, Wingert's and Kuppinger's places of business. Eventually department officers were elected and a plot of land was purchased at Main and Maynard for the construction of the fire station. Annual parades and picnics were held and the Fire Company was eventually incorporated on May 8, 1908.

 

A frame building constructed of old railroad lumber was soon erected on the plot at Main and Maynard. The company members did all the work in a fairly short period of time.

 

A spring wagon that could carry fire fighting equipment and hose became our first piece of apparatus. It was horse drawn, usually by Bill Manning's horse, as his was the closest available. Next came the acquisition of two six-foot each carrying 1,000 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose. One reel was stationed at Main and Maynard (the 'East End') and the other was stationed at Callodine and Main (the 'West End'). Both pieces of apparatus were hand drawn rigs.

The firematic officer and command structure at this time was limited to Chief, Assistant Chief, Foreman and Assistant Foreman for the West End and a Warden.

 

The periods traditional red shirt and wide belt was adopted as the official uniform. The community's alarm notification system consisted of an iron railroad rim struck by a hammer. The gong was suspended next to the fire station.

 

Boetger held the office of Chief from 1908 to 1926 and the office of President from 1908 to 1909. At that time, he had the distinction of being the oldest active fire chief in New York State.

 

From the very inception of the fire company, a ladies auxiliary flourished. Its efforts and contributions at picnics and social affairs aided and sustained the company immensely. However, the coming of prohibition caused a rift between the Hose Company and the auxiliary. The ladies were 'dry' and the men 'wet'. The differences between the two could not be resolved and the Hose Company dissolved the ladies auxiliary.

The United States entered World War I in 1917 and many members of the Hose Company served in battle. Corporal Edward F. Schoelles of Co. K, 7th infantry was mortally wounded in the battle of the Meusse Argone on October 16, 1918 and died in the U.S. Veteran's Hospital in Greenville S.C. on March 29, 1922.

 

Motorization of the fire department soon became the norm. The members purchased a four-wheel drive pumper in 1924. It was manufactured in Clintonville Wisconsin and acquired by donations and a $10,000 mortgage.

During the same year the Exempt Firemen's Association and the Eggertsville Hose Club were founded. The club, a source of fond memories, was discontinued on July, 4 1965.

 

Our second Chief was Harry Behling. He joined the company in 1921 and became Chief in 1926. Behling was a member of the Buffalo Fire Department for many years rising to the rank of Lieutenant. Being well liked and possessing experience in modern firefighting techniques, he remained Chief until his death on December 18, 1929. At the time of his death, Chief Behling was also President of the Western New York Firemen's Association. Frank Weigel filled his unexpired term as Chief.

 

In 1924 the company loaned one of its hose reels to help the U-Crest Hose Company of Cheektowaga.

 

The burning of the original building mortgage was celebrated in February 1928 with a well attended party. Plans for a new building were immediately discussed and ground was broken in September 1931.

The new fire hall was dedicated on May 8, 1932 - exactly 24 years after the incorporation of the Hose Company. The building was also built at Main and Maynard and addressed 3826 Main St. The builder of the new fire station was Julius Braun.

 

1932 also saw the installation of the Gamewell coded telegraph alarm system to replace the old alerting system. The Gamewell system remained in service until 1981.

 

The company initiated first aid work under Bill Bradley in 1932 and was the first local fire department to maintain an American Red Cross Highway Station. In those days the Rescue Squad responded to calls over a wide territory and helped other area fire departments form their own rescue squads.

 

During the Depression Years, money was scarce and time plentiful. Firefighters added equipment by innovation and remodeling motor vehicles. Additional equipment supplementing the apparatus fleet included a Model-T Ford, a with a home made pump, a 1928 Hudson Chief's car and a converted serving as a first class rescue vehicle. The pumper dropped its crankcase answering an alarm in Tonawanda in 1936. This put an end to our first motorized

firefighting vehicle.

Eugene Braun was elected President of the New York State Volunteer Fireman's Association in 1936. He was one of five brothers who joined the company in the 1920's. Braun was also President of the Hose Company from 1925 to 1935 and a leader in the volunteer fire service. He was the first President of both the Erie County Firemen's Association and the Amherst Fire Council and a President of the Fireman's Association of the State of New York (FASNY).

 

The company put into use the first spray hose nozzle in 1936. A 750 gallon per minute replaced the old four-wheel drive vehicle in the spring of 1937. In service until 1982, this pumper featured a 50 foot wooden Bangor ladder.

 

Two veteran firefighters, John Scherer and Thomas Daley, were seriously injured responding to an alarm in 1939. An automobile collided with the fire engine at Sheridan Dr. and Sweet Home Rd. throwing both men off the tail board. Both firefighters were hospitalized for a year.

 

In 1940 a 600 gallon per minute was placed into service and the present dress was adopted in 1941.

 

World War II saw another member of the company die while on military duty. Platoon Sgt. Frederick John Brunner, USMC, was killed in Europe.

 

William M. Belinson was the recipient of the New York State Firemen of the Year Award in 1957 in recognition of two separate rescues from burning structures. Belinson would later become Chief in 1960.

 

A with 1,000 gallon per minute capacity was purchased in 1961. A new truck followed in 1965.

 

The Eggertsville Firemen's Benevolent Association was organized in 1962. Joe Blackburn was elected President of the New York State Fire Chief's Association in 1963.

 

In 1946, President Elmer Ahern was elected President of the Western New York Volunteer Firemen's Association. Three years later, Chief Yanke was elected President of the New York State Fire Chief's Association.

 

The rapid postwar growth of the community necessitated growth in the fire department. A 750 gallon per minute added in 1949 and a new Ford rescue truck was acquired in 1950.

 

A second station (Station Two) at Carmen and Amsterdam was built in 1966 to serve the north end of the district.

A 1,000 gallon per minute was acquired in 1968 with an additional unit purchased for Station Two in 1972.

 

Tragedy struck in 1970 with the line of duty death of firefighter Edward Guarino at a house fire on Westfield Rd.

 

An addition was erected to the substation in 1973 and a was put into service the following year. Also in 1974, an quint was acquired. This truck featured 206 feet of ground ladders and 1,500 gallon per minute pump. A chief's car was purchased in 1976 and a 1,500 gallon per minute was added in 1980. Two identical

were simultaneously placed into service, one for each station, in 1982. During this time period the fire service and our department began to experience an increase to the first aid call volume.

In the late 1980's and 1990's new apparatus was acquired including a heavy duty truck, three Pierce pumpers, three Ford chief's vehicles and a utility truck.

 

The firematic officer and command structure at this time reflected the changes and demands of the fire service. This structure is currently in use today and consists of the Chief, First Assistant Chief, Second Assistant Chief, four Captains and five Lieutenants. The company administrative board has also changed and expanded with the times. The current board of Directors consists of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, three Secretaries, three Directors and the Sergeant-At-Arms. This board is responsible for the day to day operation of the company. Not to be overlooked is the Eggertsville Fire District. Fire District Number One of the Town of Amherst was established by the Erie County Board of Supervisors on March 10, 1908. The original commissioners were Eugine Ouchie, Joseph Seitz and Charles Leedham. John Berkes served as their Treasurer. This board has also changed over the years and now consists of five commissioners and the Secretary/Treasurer. This board is responsible for overseeing service to the district residents and maintenance of district owned equipment and property.

 

In 1991, at the Southwestern Convention, firefighters Michael Rotola and Eric Gibson were honored as "Firemen of the Year" for their rescue of a man from a burning second floor apartment fire in the fall of 1990. In 1992 Assistant Chief Peter Miller and firefighter Stephen Hodges were honored as "Firemen of the Year" at the Erie County Fair for their actions in the rescue of a mother and child and recovery of a man and child from the second story apartment of a arson fire. On December 23, 1992 the company was called upon to make a very dangerous trench rescue of a buried worker. Under the direction of Chief James Quigley (with the assistance of the Snyder Fire Department and Amherst Highway Department) the man was rescued. The company received the "Excellence in Team Work" award. This award was received several more times over the past several years for life saving actions involving the company and patients that were saved after going into cardiac arrest.

 

In 1995 the Great Valley fire Department suffered from a serious fire that destroyed their firehouse and all of their equipment. In an effort to help, our company and the Fire District sent Great Valley our old and a for their use so they could continue to service and protect their residents

In the early years before motorization, lightning storms were a constant threat to the community. During such storms a lightning watch was established. This watch evolved into what is currently referred to as "Night Duty" where firemen sleep at the station during the night. This service is still in existence today to provide the residents of the community the benefit of an immediate response regardless of the weather.

 

At various times the Main St. hall (Station One) served as host to several of our local religious congregation. Msgr. William Tobin celebrated the first Roman Catholic Mass there in 1920. After a damaging fire in St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sunday School classes were temporarily taught in Station One. The first Jewish services in the town of Amherst were also held at the station.

 

In 1995 the Hose Company and Fire District constructed and moved into a one story, 20,000 square foot state of the art fire station at 1880 Eggert Rd. This new station consolidated stations one and two, returning them to the town tax rolls, while also improving response time to emergencies as we are now centrally located within the district.

As the community and demands of the fire service have continued to grow, additional updated equipment has been added. Today we have three 1,500 gallon per minute Pierce pumpers, one 100 foot Pierce aerial truck with an articulating arm, one Ford F350 Horton light rescue, one Ford Expedition light rescue, One Pierce heavy rescue, one Ford F250 utility vehicle and three Chevrolet Yukon chief vehicles.

 

Based on the solid and glorious foundations and traditions of the past, The Eggertsville Hose Company stands ready to continue to fulfill its duty to save life and property in the future.

 

 

 

 

Information and history of the Eggertsville Hose Company was compiled by William Belinson, Ira Striejewske, Stephen Hodges and John Buttino.

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