The first official meeting of the East End Volunteer Fire Company was held at 8 pm on September 24, 1926. The first Board of Directors were Charles Hemholtz, Joseph Pfost, Robert Caravello, Valentine Reiss, and Chester C. Morton. Ernest Hackwitz was made an honorary member. The second meeting brought the decision to be a uniformed company, but only for Company social affairs, parades, and funerals.
The department was born of necessity when the area would no longer be protected under contract by the Fire Department of the Incorporated Village of Farmingdale. The company is regulated by its bylaws, and provides the protection required under contract with the Town of Babylon. The original name was the "East End Volunteer Fire Company", but was changed in 1959 to the "East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Company Inc."
At its inception, the Fire Company obtained from the First National Bank of Farmingdale a loan in the amount of $5,000 to erect a firehouse on Maplewood Avenue. At that time, the equipment consisted of one fire engine known as the "Hose Wagon". The first fire house on Maplewood Avenue had its first meeting on January 3, 1927.
From that first house, the Company expanded to a new headquarters on Conklin Street in 1938. The current fire house can house over twelve emergency vehicles, kitchen facilities, meeting hall, administrative offices, and a recreation room. In addition, there are now two substations and which contain additional emergency vehicles to help protect the district.
The fire district covers over 16 square miles, bordered on the West by the Nassau County line, on the North by the Town of Babylon and Town of Huntington lines, on the East by Straight Path and Little East Neck Road, and on the South by the Southern State Parkway and the Southern branch of the Long Island Railroad.
Sources:
East Farmingdale Volunteer Fire Department. A History of the East Farmingdale Fire Department 1926-1995. 199
“History.” History - East Farmingdale Vol. Fire Company, Inc., www.eastfarmingdalefd.org/page/history
Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 was organized in 1886 with twenty or thirty volunteers. Water Witch Engine & Hose Co. No 1 was organized April 19, 1889. In May of that year, the company began erecting the firehouse on Rose Street.
In 1892, the Water Witch and Hook and Ladder Company were joined to form the Farmingdale Fire Department. The Hook & Ladder Co. had its first firehouse on the north side of Conklin Street. The Water Witch’s first house was on Rose Street. In 1893, it was moved directly onto Main Street.
It was incorporated as Water Witch Engine & Hose Co. No. 1 in 1903. The fire district lines were set at this time. In the North was the Yoakum estate, West Farmingdale, Kibels Farm in the south and Tax Sheet #9 in the east.
In 1909, the Village acquired the local water plant for $23,000 from the Nassau Water Company to meet the needs of the fire department. In 1910, the Central Park Fire Department was organized and took over most of West Farmingdale. Prior to 1917, the engines were operated by illuminated gas. In 1917, the engines began being powered by steam, which lasted 20 years and then the engine power was followed by electric turbine pumps.
In the early 1920s, the Fire Department changed from its hand-drawn apparatus to motorized equipment. In 1926, the East Farmingdale Dire Department was organized and took over that area. In 1928, the Department was turned over to the Village. Both the Water Witch Engine Company and Engine and Hose Company sold all their property, buildings, and equipment for the sum of $1.00.
On October 7, 1931, the Company was taken under Village supervision. At this time. A three man Board of Fire Commissioners was formed to oversee operations and expenditures. In 1932, both fire departments moved to the Main Street building. In 1940, the First Aid Squad was organized. After fundraising, they were able to buy an ambulance in 1952. In the early 1960s, the Village changed the number from three to five.
In the 1950s, a fire police squad was established, manned by senior fire members. The members of this squad are sworn peace officers. In 1960, the South Farmingdale Fire Department was organized.
Sources:
Gibbs, Alonzo. Gibbs, Iris. (1968-12). Farmingdale. Long Island Forum, Volume XXXI, No. 12, 230
Junior Historical Society of Farmingdale. Farmingdale’s Story: Farms to Flight. Weldon E. Howitt High School, 1956
Notes from Ed Keck