The History of the Mastic Chemical Company # 1

The First 75 Years 1925-2000

 

          The Mastic Chemical Company was formed by fifty-two men from Mastic and Moriches.  Joseph Titmus was elected Chairman of the early meetings, being the only member with fire experience.  Numerous meetings were held, and after some disagreement, separate units were started in Mastic and Moriches.

 

                   Subsequently, four men were elected as sponsors for the Mastic unit.  They were Russell Ferrer, Anthony Tebbins, Harold Lukert and Thomas Eaton Jones.  The charter for the Mastic Chemical Company No. 1, Better know as the Mastic Fire Department, was obtained from the State of New York on April 29, 1925.  The department started with a  1925 Brockway Chemical Pumper Truck and a Peirce Arrow.  The contract was awarded to America LaFrance Apparatus Company for a chemical pumper on a 1925 Brockway chassis.  There was a single 45 gallon Chemical tank and 2 smaller 35 gallon tanks.  All the water was discharged by soda and acid.  The truck was delivered about June 1925.

 

                   The first officers of the Mastic Chemical Company were: Chief Thomas Eaton-Jones; Foreman Jud Barry; Foreman B.G. Hurley; Secretary Thomas Doyle;  Assistant Secretary Charles Trywusch; Treasurer A.h. Tebbins, Directors were: Theodore Whitehead, B.G. Hurley and Fred Squires; Finance John Kitson.

 

                   In 1925, The Brooklyn Citizen Real Estate Company donated two lots on Section One, Mastic Park.  This 40’ x 100’ parcel of land was the site of the first firehouse.  The 24’ x 24’ building was built by members under the direction of Anthony Tebbins.  The materials were purchased and financed by chapman’s Lumber Yard in East Moriches.  The materials were paid for by donations and efforts by the members at the end of the second year.

 

                   Funds were raised by a large community auction and dance in the summer of 1926, held at the Mastic Community Club House.  In the latter part of 1926 a meeting hall was added to the firehouse, with the construction again supervised by Anthony Tebbins.  It was completed sometime in 1930.  A 1923 Peirce Arrow Utility Truck and a 1923 Reo Utility Truck were added later to the roster.

 

                   In 1927 the Mastic Fire District was formed.  All Properties of the Mastic Chemical Company were turned over the Fire District.  After this point, The mastic Chemical Company No. 1 would be known as the Mastic Fire Department.  When the property was turned over to the Fire District, a contract was signed whereby the fire department was guaranteed to have a meeting room and a recreation room at all times.  Should this agreement ever be violated the original 40’ x 100’ site would revert to the Mastic Chemical Company No. 1.

 

                   On May 31, 1935 at 7:30pm the Mastic Fire House was destroyed, the cause was a faulty stove.  The trucks were saved but all records and trophies were lost.  On September 11, 1935, Thomas Eaton-Jones was awarded the contract to rebuild the firehouse.

 

                   The years from 1925 to the 50 year anniversary in 1975 were well documented.  Those years included brush fires in Manorville for seven days, Duck Farm fires, fire at a local church, local businesses, Dana Estates, mutual aid calls from neighboring department like Ridge, Patchogue (Lace Mill fire), Brookhaven Mastic Beach and many others.  Trucks were purchased, including one of the first high – pressure fog pumpers on Long Island.  Over the years, more pumpers were bought with bigger tanks, longer wheelbases, and John Bean high pressure pumps with volume pumps as well.  Water supplies were a concern, and there were not many hydrants in our community for a long time.  Additions to the building were completed, A new firehouse was built, and the fireman’s field opposite the main firehouse was purchased.  The Drill Team (known as the “Whistlers”) won several trophies, one of the first Hurst Tools was purchased (“jaws of Life”), the district purchased its first Chief’s car and, in 1975 we celebrated 50 years of community service.

 

                   The members of the Mastic Fire Department are proud of our dedication, our level of training our accomplishments and of the good things we have done for our community.  We look forward to many more years of the same dedication training, service and accomplishments.