Hook And Ladder Company #1 

History

In the spring of 1878 a fire destroyed the barbershop of William Darkow on South Main Street, opposite of Sparrow Park. As the spectators watched the building burn to the ground they realized the need for an organization to protect our village from the menace of fire. A call was put out to young men of the village to form such an organization. They met on August 12, 1878 in Columbia Hall and formed a fire company. Sayville Hook & Ladder Company No.1 was the name chosen by the organization. The Charter, which was to last for 50 years, was signed on the Grand Piano in Columbia Hall. It was the first incorporated fire company on the south shore of Suffolk County. Names on the original charter included many important local citizens of that time. Names such as Smith, Raynor, Foster, Rev. Prescott, Suydam, Gerber, Terry, Munkelwitz, Jedlicka, Habermann, Gillette, Noe, Rogers, Nohowec, and Candee. Fred Munkelwitz, a local carriage builder constructed the first hand drawn truck. A structure was built on Railroad Ave to house the Company. The structure still stands today south of Island Fish Net store, now a private home. In 1889 they felt that this location was out of the way, and purchased land on Main Street, east of Greene Ave. A very impressive building was constructed and occupied in 1890, remaining in service until1938. A second ladder truck was built by Fred Munkelwitz in 1890, and was considered the finest available. It can be seen displayed each year during Memorial Day. The original truck was sold to the Blue Point Fire Department in 1890. In 1917 Commodore Bourne donated a 1917 Reo Chemical Truck to the Company. Called the “Cannonball “, it remained in service until the 1940s. In 1929 the Fire District purchased an AC Mack Combination. Carrying 303 feet of ladders and pumping over 1300 GPM on its acceptance test. This tuck served the community well and was also in demand by neighboring fire departments at major fires because of its great pumping capacity. Finally it was replaced in 1955 by an aerial ladder, it’s final disposition unknown.