Big Tree VFC History ~ “Our Roots”

During the summer of 1936, places like the Albrecht Brothers Gasoline Station, Schoen’s Grill, and Joseph Kryszak’s garage were filled with men discussing the topic of a fire company for the Big Tree/Highland Acres area. On November 2nd, 1936 a consolidated meeting of these groups of men was held at Schoen’s Grill, where it was decided that working together would be better for the achievement of their goal. William Koenig was elected as temporary chairman and Ira Milks took the job of temporary secretary. Plans were made to hold their next meeting in one week at the same location. Circulars were made up and distributed throughout the community inviting the male populace to the meeting.

December 1936 saw this organization become known officially as the “Big Tree Volunteer Firemen’s Association”. We elected Alois Schoen as Treasurer, making him the first elected officer of the new organization. In early 1937, William Koenig and Ira Milks were officially elected as President and Secretary, respectively. Joseph Kryszak was elected as our first Chief.

To the best of our knowledge, the men whose names appear below were members of the Company when the Charter was signed on March 10th, 1937:

“Where the ‘Big Tree’ Grows”

Constantly looking to better our service to our community, the men made several additions to the station.  In 1962, under Chairman Francis X. Doherty, office space for the Chief and President, a meeting room, an additional apparatus bay, and record storage areas were added. In 1979 a renovation was completed to make the building more energy efficient. Again in the 1990s an addition was made for energy savings. This Station continues to serve us as our Headquarters. In the late 1960s it was decided that we should add a second station due to the size of our district and increasing number of calls. 

Recently we have purchased property at the corner of Big Tree Rd. and Bristol Rd. This area is very close to the exact center of our current district.  Our hope is to consolidate both of our current stations into one central station.  This is an effort to provide a more efficient and rapid response to our community when needed as well as to have a state of the art and energy efficient station so as to be fiscally responsible to our district members.  We hope to break ground soon.

“Our Apparatus”

Our first piece of apparatus was a chemical truck on loan to us from the Caseler Manufacturing Company of Buffalo. (Caseler Mfg. was started by a few ex-employees of Buffalo Fire Appliance. In 1941 Caseler would become known as Young Fire Equipment). Later in 1937, we purchased a used pumper from the Wellsville Fire Department. This pumper remained in service until 1957 when a new 750 gpm pumper was purchased for about $19,000 from Young Fire Equipment. It should be noted that the cost did not include the chasis that was donated by the Ford Motor Company.

In 1995, due to manpower shortages, it was decided to replace two of our pumpers with one 1250 gpm pumper from R.D. Murray. In 1999 we decided that a new R.D. Murray 1250 gpm pumper would replace the two remaining pumpers. The two new R.D. Murray pumpers currently serve as our Engine #1 and Engine #2. Although fire protection has always been our #1 priority, it became apparent that over the years people needed additional types of assistance. Car accidents required specialized tools to free victims trapped in the crumpled metal, scenes needed to lit up at night to make it safer for our firefighters, and more equipment needed to be carried for more scenarios that our firefighters were called out to deal with.

In 1941, we became the second volunteer fire company in New York State to furnish free ambulance service to the citizens of our community. Our first ambulance was a truck purchased for about $225. The members put about $450 into converting the truck to a full regulation ambulance by themselves. Subsequent ambulances were much more substantial including a 1955 Pontiac Ambulance. In 1962 we added our first “new” rig, a Superior Pontiac, which remained in service until 1972 when it was replaced by another new Superior Pontiac. In 1982 an ambulance made by the Braun Company replaced our Pontiac.