At the regular Fire Council meeting on August
18, 1921 Chief Frank Godesky spoke of forming a new company east
of the railroad tracks. A motion was made and seconded that the department
proceed with plans for a new company, Hose Company No. 3 and that people
east of the tracks be notified to get together and hold a joint meeting
with the council. The motion was carried.
1922
Hose Company 3 of the Mineola Fire Department was formally organized on
August 29, 1922 by a group of public spirited citizens. The firemen who
organized Company No. 3 were Edward Hughes, John Stack, Albert Person, John
Russel and William Crowley. These men were the first officers of Company
No. 3, except for William Crowley. He was the only fireman not to hold an
office at the commencement of Company No. 3
Before the Company No. 3 firehouse was built, the firemen
either held their meetings in their homes, or in Company No. 1’s firehouse
on Main Street, or in Company No. 2’s firehouse on Jericho Turnpike.
In October 1921, the firemen of Company No. 3 began a fund-raising campaign
for their own firehouse, by holding annual barn dances. The firemen built
the original Company No. 3 firehouse in their spare time; it was completed
in 1923. Today that structure is still serving the emergency service needs
of the Village of Mineola as the headquarters of the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance
Corps. The ownership of the firehouse was transferred from the members of
Company No. 3 to the Village of Mineola, on November 30, 1923, for the sum
of one dollar. The mortgage on the property had become too much of a burden
for Company No. 3.
The members of Company No. 3 at the time the firehouse was
erected were: John Stack (First President), John Russel (First Captain), Albert
Person (First Treasurer), Edward Hughes (First Secretary), William Crowley,
Edward Pospisil, Louis Pospisil, George Pospisil, John Roppelt, Herbert Wissert,
Robert Wissert, and George Wissert. The members of Company No. 3 were required
to pay three dollars a year for dues. They were also required to pay twenty-five
cents for a key to the firehouse. The dues are still a requirement, but purchasing
of keys has been abolished.
Before the Nassau County Police Department took over the
alarm system, the alarm was sent off from the Water Works Building, across
the street from the Company No. 3 firehouse. The firemen had to call-in to
the police station, from a police box in front of the firehouse on a telephone
pole, in order to obtain the location of the fire.
Before the construction of the Company No. 3 firehouse, the
only piece of fire fighting equipment on the east side of the railroad tracks
was a hose reel. The hose reel was formerly the property of Company No. 2.
Company No. 3 kept this equipment in a small building about the size of a
one-car garage. The building was located along side the old water tower, across
the street from Company No. 3’s present firehouse on Elm Place.
1924
In 1924, Company No. 3 received their first piece of motorized apparatus,
a White hose wagon. The White hose wagon was formerly the property of Company
No. 1.
1927
In 1927, Company No. 3 received their first new piece of apparatus, a 1000
gallon per minute Seagrave pumper. The Village of Mineola gave the Seagrave
pumper to Company No. 3.
1929
In 1929, Company No. 3 set a new drill team record in the class C ladder contest
in Floral Park. For three consecutive years, 1930, 1931 and 1932, Company
No. 3 won the point trophy at the Annual Labor Day Firemen’s Tournament,
in Floral Park. That trophy was retired and now proudly hangs on the wall
of Company No. 3.
1932
On July 3, 1932, Company No. 3 had its first serious casualty. James McKinley,
while fighting a fire at Bank’s Lumberyard on Elm Place, broke his ankle.
His ankle developed gangrene and had to be amputated. Company No. 3 members
went on a door to door campaign to collect donations to pay for James McKinley’s
mortgage.
1934
At the March meeting Paul Donnelly made the motion that Company No. 3 become
an Engine Company.
1935
In December the Wardens were directed to ask for 2 gas masks (self-contained
breathing apparatus). These may come from the 6 owned by the Department or
purchased new.
1937
In March, the Ladies Auxiliary of Company No. 3 was organized, but was later
changed to include the other two companies. The first telephone was installed
in Company 3. The wardens were instructed to ask for a teletype system to
be installed so that each company would be notified at the same time of the
location of a fire.
1945
On November 11, 1945 Company No. 3 received a new Ford utility truck which
was later sent to headquarters.
1953
On February 22, 1953, Company No. 3 received a new Ford pumper.
1956
On June 18, 1956, Company No. 3 received a 1000 gallon per minute Ward LaFrance
pumper.
1962
In 1962, the Company No. 3 firehouse was enlarged. A ladies rest room and
a storage room were added.
1970
In 1970, the Mineola Fire Department dedicated the headquarters radio room
in memory of Chief Ernest Nonelle of Company No. 3. Chief Ernest Nonelle was
the Second Assistant Chief of the Mineola Fire Department when he died.
1972
August 29, 1972 marked the Fifty Year Golden Anniversary of Company No. 3.
A dinner dance was held at the Roslyn Country Club to celebrate the occasion
on September 9th. During those first fifty years, seven members from Company
No. 3 were elected to the office of Chief of the Mineola Fire Department.
1974
In August, a set of final specifications was submitted for a 1250 gallon per
minute pumper for Company No. 3. In a vote of 5 to 4 the Fire Council voted
to paint the new pumper the standard Mineola Red instead of the Ward-LaFrance
safety lime yellow as was unanimously approved by the company.
1975
The Fire Council accepts a bid of $102,989 from the Seagrave Company for the
new 166.
1976
A 1250 gallon per minute Seagrave pumper was delivered to Company No. 3 and
placed into service as Engine 166.
1979
A 1250 gallon per minute Seagrave pumper was delivered to Company No. 3 and
was placed into service as Engine 163.
1983
On March 19, 1983 Company No. 3 dedicated its new larger, modern quarters
next door to their old quarters and the old firehouse was given to the Mineola
Volunteer Ambulance Corps for their use.
1993
A 1750-gallon per minute Emergency One pumper was delivered to Company No.
3 and placed into service as Engine 166 replacing the 1976 Seagrave.
1997
On August 9, Company No. 3 celebrates Ex-Captain Thaddeus Nowakowski’s
50th anniversary as a member of Company No. 3 and the Mineola Fire Department.
August 22, 1997 marked the Seventy-Five Year Diamond Jubilee of Company No.
3. The 75th anniversary is celebrated on November 15th with a gala celebration
at the Roslyn Country Club, the site of the 50th anniversary celebration.
Twelve men have risen from the ranks of Company No. 3 to become Chief of the
Mineola Fire Department.
Chiefs
| Louis Pospisil 1931
– 1933 |
George Pospisil 1935 – 1937 |
Charles Whitzel 1941 – 1943 |
| Henry Dermigny 1946 –
1948 |
John Roppelt 1954 - 1955 |
Matthew McLaughlin 1960 - 1962 |
| Nicholas Martone 1966 –
1968 |
Adam Mieczkowski 1972 - 1974 |
Ernest Nonelle * |
| John Blekicki 1976 - 1979 |
Albert Angelos 1983 - 1985 |
James Rowe 1989 - 1991 |
| Gary Mazur 1995 – 1997 |
Michael A. DeStefano 2001 - 2003 |
* - Second Assistant Chief, died while
in office |
Honorary Chiefs
| John J. Kessler 1996 |
| Thaddeus Nowakowski 1997 |
| Michael Maiolica 2001 |
Captains
| John Russel 1922 – 1926 |
Louis Pospisil 1926 – 1928 |
Peter Dresson 1928 – 1930 |
| John Lund 1930 – 1932 |
George Pospisil 1932 – 1933 |
Paul Donnelly 1933 – 1934 |
| Andrew Whitson 1934 – 1935 |
Charles Whitzel 1935 – 1937 |
John Wisneski 1937 – 1939 |
| Henry Dermigny 1939 – 1941 |
Charles Rowlands 1941 – 1943 |
William Kennard 1943 – 1945 |
| John Roppelt 1945 – 1947 |
Ernest Nonelle 1947 – 1949 |
Joseph Wiglarz 1949 – 1950 |
| Matthew McLaughlin 1950 – 1952 |
Walter Blekicki 1952 – 1954 |
Vincent Johnson 1954 – 1955 |
| Elmer Oberg 1955 – 1957 |
Robert DeStefano 1957 – 1958 |
Michael Maiolica 1958 – 1959 |
| Jack Malone 1959 - 1960 |
Nicholas Martone 1960 - 1962 |
Thaddeus Nowakowski 1962 - 1964 |
| Adam Mieczkowski 1964 - 1966 |
David Hanley 1966 - 1968 |
Anthony Kaider 1968 - 1970 |
| John Blekicki 1970 - 1972 |
Michael DeStefano Jr. 1972 - 1973 |
Robert Hauser 1973 - 1976 |
| John Kessler 1976 - 1978 |
Albert Angelos 1978 - 1979 |
James Rowe 1979 - 1982 |
| Michael DeSorbo 1982 - 1984 |
Dennis Collins 1985 |
Gary Mazur 1985 - 1987 |
| Steven Wagenblast 1987 - 1989 |
Joseph Tartaglia 1989 - 1991 |
Scott Holliday 1991 - 1993 |
| Michael A. DeStefano 1993 - 1995 |
Richard Lahey 1995 – 1997 |
Thomas Bellizzi 1997 – 1999 |
| George Rowe 1999 – 2001 |
Thomas O’Brien 2001 – 2003 |
George Rowe 2003 - Present |
Honorary Captains
| Michael R. DeStefano 1989 |
| William Kessler 1993 |
| Carlo Salussolia 1993 |
Presidents
John Stack 1922
|
No Records Available 1923 – 1932 |
Joseph Lynch 1932 – 1934 |
| Louis Pospisil 1934 – 1937 |
Harold Beardslee 1937 – 1938 |
John Britt 1938 – 1939 |
| William Wisneski 1938 – 1941 |
William Britt 1941 – 1942
|
John Hicks 1942 |
| Paul Donnelly 1942 – 1943 |
George Pospisil 1943 – 1945 |
William Kennard 1945 – 1947 |
| Louis Siegel 1947 – 1948 |
John Condon 1948 – 1949 |
George Pospisil 1949 – 1951 |
Walter Whittlesey 1951
|
Elmer Oberg 1951 – 1952 |
Matthew McLaughlin 1952 – 1957 |
| Pat Millie 1957 – 1959 |
Robert DeStefano 1959 – 1960 |
Michael R. DeStefano 1960 – 1962 |
| Peter Irace 1962 – 1964 |
Lawrence Figueriedo 1964 - 1965 |
Peter Irace 1965 – 1968 |
| Edward Miller 1968 – 1969 |
Frank Liebeck 1969 |
Robert Hauser 1969 – 1970 |
| Lawrence Sadowski 1970 - 1972 |
David Hanley 1972 - 1973
|
William Kessler 1973 - 1976 |
| Thomas Peterson 1976 - 1978 |
Thomas Morrow 1978 - 1979 |
Michael A. DeStefano 1979 - 1980 |
| William Gresalfi 1980 - 1982 |
Alby Maiolica 1982 - 1984 |
William Navarro 1984 - 1986 |
| Michael DeStefano Jr. 1986 - 1988 |
Gary Mazur 1988 - 1990 |
Michael DeStefano Jr. 1990 - 1991 |
| William Gresalfi 1991 - 1992 |
William Kessler 1992 - 1994 |
William Symington 1994 - 1996 |
| George Rowe 1996 |
Leonard. Schmidt 1996 – 1999 |
James Carlson 1999 – 2001 |
| Mark Valentino 2001 - Present |
|
|
DECEASED MEMBERS
William Frank February 1925 –
July 1927
|
Albert Scheer Jr. November 1925 –
May 1929 |
William Schlinn January 1924 –
April 1931 |
Joseph Wittman August 1933 – May 1941
|
George Pospisil November 1922 – May 1951 |
Henry Dermigny August 1928 – August 1955 |
James McKinley November 1922 – July 1959
|
Walter Blekicki May 1943 – October 1962 |
John Roppelt May 1923 – May 1966 |
Ernest Nonelle January 1943 – February 1970
|
Peter Irace September 1942 – August 1971 |
Lucian Kavich April 1930 – June 1972 |
Neil DeStefano August 1941 – April 1973
|
Leo Michels June 1943 – March 1974 |
George Ruppel January 1927 – June 1975 |
| Thomas Roppelt April 1925 – December 1975 |
Anthony Kaider August 1944 – June 1977 |
James Symington Jr. February 1977 – February
1978 |
| Adam Mieczkowski June 1948 – May 1982 |
Joseph Wiglarz October 1938 – February 1985 |
George A. Rowe October 1962 – February 1988 |
| Robert Kessler January 1964 – May 1988 |
Robert DeStefano August 1944 – November
1989 |
Michael R. DeStefano June 1939 – January
1990 |
| Charles DeStefano September 1953 – June
1991 |
Michael DeStefano Jr. October 1956 – November
1992 |
Paul Donnelly December 1929 – November 1995 |
| William R. Kessler August 1947 – November
1996 |
Carlos Salussolia January 1956 – March 1998 |
Matthew McLaughlin March 1930 – May 1999
|
Robert Trimboli September 1998 – December
2000
|
|
|
|
