Assembly Resolution No. 964
BY: M. of A. DeStefano
CELEBRATING the 100th Anniversary of the founding
of the Medford Fire Department
WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing and
celebrating important milestones in the history of those organizations
that substantially contribute to the health and well-being of their
communities; and
WHEREAS, One such organization, the Medford Fire Department, which
was founded in 1922, is celebrating the 100th Anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Prior to the formation of a fire department in Medford,
groups of neighbors banded together to monitor the area from watchtowers
because woodland fires were a significant hazard in the brush and pitch
pine; some of these local residents met at the former Westphal's Garage,
now known as Tom and Son's, to plan the creation of a volunteer fire
department; out of this meeting, the South Medford Independent Hose
Company was born; and
WHEREAS, In 1923, the South Medford Independent Hose Company joined
the Suffolk County Volunteer Fireman's Association; that same year, they
also purchased a piece of fire equipment from the Bay Shore Fire
Department; and
WHEREAS, William Hahn, Sr. was elected as the first fire chief and
served from 1923 to 1925; the fire department was gifted land by Leroy
Smith at State Highway Route 112 and Jamaica Avenue to store their fire
equipment; and
WHEREAS, In April of 1926, another group of residents formed a
second volunteer fire department, known as the Medford Fire Department
Company No. 1; George Mistler served as the fire department's first fire
chief; Leroy Smith donated property at Oregon and Peconic Avenues to
build a fire house, which opened on June 7, 1940; and
WHEREAS, In April of 1949, the two separate fire companies merged to
form the Medford Volunteer Fire Department under the leadership of Fire
Chief William Hahn Jr.; since 2014, the Medford Fire Department has
answered 1,519 calls, and had their busiest month to date in August of
2020 with 112 emergency calls answered; and
WHEREAS, Fire departments are an integral part of community
protection services in every locality in our state, and with the
membership of courageous and devoted volunteer firefighters, the Medford
Fire Department has bravely responded to all types of emergencies and
has earned the praise and respect of the community it serves; and
WHEREAS, Residents have voted the Medford Fire Department as the
'Best Firehouse on Long Island' in the Best of Long Island contest for
three consecutive years, 2017, 2018, and 2019; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body cannot express sufficient gratitude
to those devoted individuals who recognize that the preservation of life
and property is a sacred responsibility and who make that responsibility
their own by serving as firefighters; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that we should
give special recognition to those who work so assiduously for the
betterment of their communities, and acknowledge publicly the heroic
good works performed by the volunteer fire departments of this great
Empire State, their officers and auxiliaries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the Medford Fire
Department; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Medford Fire Department.