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Health & Fitness

A new Fire Chief for the 150 year old Nyack Fire Department with some "living" history

A small piece on the Nyack Fire Department's chief's election and a bit of Fire Alarm Box History. Plus a plug for the 150 year NFD History Program at the Nyack Library on May 14.

Representatives from Nyack's eight fire companies will electing a new fire chief for the department that is celebrating 150 years of volunteer service to the "Nyack Community."  The new chief will be the 75th man to hold the office of Chief (if he is elevated to that position in 4 years.)  Sorry, Ladies there has not yet been a woman fire chief in Nyack, but that can change)  The election is for the office of Battlation Chief, the 3rd in line.  The Battalion Chief is elected to Deputy Chief in 2 years and hopefully to the Chief's office in 2 more years.  Yes, it is a 6 year committment. While 74 men have been chief there are another 16 who held the office of Battalion or Deputy Chief, but was not Chief for one reason or another. 

While this is the up-to-date happenings of the NFD...There is a long history to chat about. Something I have been reading and researching for some time.  For instance, I hope you have seen those red fire alarm boxes attached to the utility poles around town. They are Gamewell pull stations.  The number on the front of the box corresponds to its location, and will be the number the fire whistle blows when the box is pulled or activated.  The Star Fire Alarm system was first installed in 1914. There were 19 boxes; 18 in Nyack and 1 in Upper Nyack.  With some politics involved (when is that not a consideration) there were no boxes in South Nyack until May of 1925 when then Chief J. Edmund Smith completed a contract with South Nyack Officials.  For years the "Master Signal Board" for the fire alarm system was located in the telephone building on Main Street.  Operators would activate the fire horn on top of Central Station on Park Street.  In 1923 the master signal board was moved to the Nyack Police department where it remained until 1990 when the NPD was dispanded.  Now the alarms are routed through 44 Control in the Fire Training Center in Pomona. The Gamewell System long ago replaced the original Star boxes.  Additional boxes are installed at Nyack Hospital, Nyack College, the old Nyack High School and many of the larger commerical and multi-residential building around town.

The history of the 150 years of our all volunteer fire department will be the subject of a talk I will be presenting at the Nyack Library on Tuesday, May 14 starting at 7:30 in the downstairs community room.  A presentation of more than 70 slides will accompany my talk. 

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Oh yes, I know the fire whistle still blows, but that is a subject for today's leaders of the NFD and the NJFD.  I am just an historian fire-buff.  BTW..do you know the location of the fire alarm box closest to you home and the number?

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