Newsletter

Welcome to the Chief's Office!

In here you'll find all kinds of information that may be of interest to you.  So site back, relax and check us out!

2009 Administrative Officers

President - Tod Steese
Vice President - Tom Kleckner
Treasurer - John Walter
Secretary - Harold Erdley Jr.

2009 Chief Officers

Chief 301 - John Heiges Jr.
Deputy Chief 302 - Steve Walter
1st Assistant Chief 303 - Larry Brown Jr.
2nd Assistant Chief 304- Andrew Schnure

2009 Line Officers

Captain 305 - James Emery
Captain 306 - Ralph Zimmerman
Captain 307  - Harold Mast
Captain 308 - Vance M. Bouy
Lieutenant 310 - Casey Murray
Lieutenant 311 - John Walter
Lieutenant 312 - Wayne Bierly
Lieutenant 313 - John Heiges III

Chief Engineer/Training Officer - Tod Steese

QUESTION:

Why is the shamrock found throughout our site, on our helmets and on our apparatus?

ANSWER:

MHC is Union County Company 3.........hence the Shamrock. Numbers played an important role in old world symbolism. Three was the most sacred and magical number. Everything good in comes in threes. The rhythm of story telling in the Irish tradition is based on threefold repetition. This achieves both intensification and exaggeration.

The origins of the shamrock are lost in antiquity, but legend suggests that it was used by St. Patrick in the fifth century to demonstrate the meaning of the Trinity. The shamrock is found on Irish medieval tombs and on old copper coins, known as St. Patrick's money. The plant was reputed to have mystic powers... the leaves standing upright to warn of an approaching storm.

Symbolism, superstition and tradition are all important to firefighters. Many fire departments have adopted symbols or characters that represent their personality. Some range from the traditional - the shamrock or maltese cross, to the more comical - cartoon characters. Whether it be a cross or Wiley Coyote, you can bet that a fire department will hold their symbol in the highest regard.

Firefighting History

September 14, 1875

The Tragic Aerial Ladder Test of 1875
Courtesy of The Dragonfighters, NYFD
(Excerpt from a newspaper)

At The Tweed Plaza, Canal St. and East Broadway

An aerial ladder was to be tested. Several public trials of this new invention had been given and the dangerous character of the invention had been commented on. On one occasion when one of the ladders appeared to be ready to topple over, Chief Bates prevented it by slashing a line, which carried to the top of the ladder. (editor's note: Chief Eli Bates was Chief of Department in 1875.)

The final experiment was made on the Plaza, in the presence of a vast crowd and many firemen and others interested in such matters. The ladder was raised in eight sections to a height of 97 feet and Chief William H. Nash of the 4th Battalion ascended followed by Firefighter Philip J. Maus of Hook and Ladder 6, Firefighter William Hughes of Engine 9, four other Firemen and a Lieutenant.

Chief Nash had reached the summit of the ladder when it snapped far below him and dashed Nash, Maus and Hughes, who were above the fracture, to the cobble stones of the square. Nash and Maus were instantly killed and Hughes died within an hour. No one else was injured.

The accident revived gossip which charged there was a corrupt understanding with the inventor and the payment from the City of $25,000 (editor's note: that's a huge sum of money in 1875!) for his patented rights. Public indignation ran to an intense pitch. The Fire Commissioners promptly shut down the aerial business.

September 15th Commissioner King offered a Resolution which was adopted prohibiting the further use of aerial ladders as it had been demonstrated they were useless and there was good reason to believe that the invention was foisted on the Department at an enormous expense and by corrupt means.

Little did they know back then how important aerial ladders would be in the future!

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