UNION FIRE COMPANY

HISTORY

(Last Updated on 10/22/2003)

9/12/1887	Union Fire Company organized and incorporated. Prior to 1887, Union Fire Company was known as EAGLE HOSE COMPANY #1. The engine house was located on Union Road opposite Indian Church Road in Gardenville. It was built in 1860. Official records of the Town of West Seneca indicate that the Union Fire Company was the first fire company to be organized in West Seneca.
5/11/1895	Purchased #4 Howe engine and hook and ladder for $1100.
5/26/1895	Union Fire Company was reorganized and re-incorporated.
10/14/1895	A social dance was postponed until the opening of the Buffalo-Gardenville trolley line.
1899	The engine house and property was sold to G. J. Kauderer for $48. New fire house built on property at 1899 Union Road, near Seneca Creek Road.
1/20/1900	House warming of new fire house.
1900	Purchased large striker bell for fire house tower.
3/7/1908	Town of West Seneca dispatches police calls from rear of Union Fire Company fire house.
1908-1910	West Seneca fire alarm system installed.
1911	Purchased large hose fire wagon.
2/3/1913	Ladies Auxiliary of Union Fire Company organized.
9/21/1914	Union Fire Company Annex substation was organized and located on French Road, currently Dan Majeski’s Nursery.
1915	First street lights in West Seneca.
1920	Purchased J.B. Moore’s sleigh as auxiliary to fire wagon.
1920	Electric lights installed in the fire house.
3/20/1920	Puchased Waterhaus Ford fire engine for $1744.47.
1923	Membership drive. 159 new members. 246 total members.
8/5/1924	Purchased the old Gardenville High School on Union Road at Kron Avenue for $2000.
1/3/1925	First official company business meeting held in fire house.
12/12/1927	West Seneca Fire District #2 organized.
1928	Lease signed between Union Fire Company and West Seneca Fire District #2 for use of fire house for fire fighting purposes. Union Fire Company to retain the old high school property for it’s own use to hold meetings and for rent to organizations.
7/18/1929	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases American LaFrance 500-gallon pumper for $6750.00.
1935	Uniform Club organized. Organization of junior firemen to assist the fire company to fight fires.
1940	Auxiliary fire and first aid truck constructed from a 1932 Packard 4-door sedan, with a 100-gallon water tank.
1941	First Union Fire Company members to enter World War II. Henry Weber, Elmer Dusch, Harry Symowski, Harold Weiss.
1942	Outbreak of grass fires.
1943	To war: Joseph Baumgarten, Rondey Sauers, Dr. Lawrence Miano, Edward Wisniewski.
1944	To war: Joseph Croell, James Anderson, Robert Brunner Jr.
1945	To war: Willard Hines, Raymond Eldermeyer
1950	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases Union #1. 1949 Ford V-8 500 GPM pumper, 2 automatic hose reels, special nozzles, 3-stage pump.
1954	Old Gardenview High School building razed and new fire hall built at 2055 Union Road at Kron Avenue. Meeting rooms on second floor and hose drying room in basement. Basement later converted to firemens’ recreation room.
1957	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases Union #2. Chevrolet rescue truck with 250 GPM pump and first aid / rescue equipment.
1962	West Seneca Fire District #2 adds 2 new truck bays to existing fire hall. New section includes new bathrooms and kitchen, and recreation room in basement is extended.
1967	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases Union #3. Ward LaFrance 1000 GPM pumper.
1971	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases Union #7. International suburban first aid truck.
1976	Raised roof on fire hall to accomidate an aerial ladder truck.
1977	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases Union #6. Young 65-foot aerial ladder truck, 1250 GPM pumper, with Ford diesel engine.
1977	Survived Blizzard of ’77.
1981	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases new Union #7. Chevrolet first aid / rescue truck. Replaces 1971 International first aid truck.
1982	West Seneca Fire District #2 purchases new Union #4. American LaFrance 1500 GPM pumber. Detroit diesel engine, stainless steel body, fully equipped. Replaces 1949 Ford pumper.

	More to come …

Present	116 years of dedicated service!

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