SUMPWAMS HOSE COMPANY NO. 2

The Sumpwams Hose Company No. 2 was organized during the month of November, 1895.  The origin of its name cannot be clearly established, but as this hose company was formed to provide a more prompt response to the so called “Downtown Area,” it could very well have taken its name from the Sumpwams Creek, which borders the East end of the Village of Babylon.  It should also be noted that “Sumpwams” was the Indian name for Babylon and in the old days, Deer Park Avenue was called Sumpwams Path.

Many prominent men of the Village of Babylon, among them; Dr. William H. Deale, Gustave Fishel, Charles Siegel, W.H. Terry, J.C. Robbins and Richard Higbie, banded together to give birth to this new fire company.

The first piece of apparatus to be used by this company, was the old Phoenix Jumper, a hand drawn rig, and this was kept in the rear of the old Fishel office building on Montauk Highway.  The rig continued to be located there until 1905, when Mr. Fishel reused to leave the gate in the fence unlocked any longer.  As this created a problem, new quarters were located in the Seaman building, on the west side of Fire Island Avenue—rental, five dollars a month.  This was quite an expenditure for these times.  About the turn of the century, a four-wheel hose wagon was also obtained—the beginning of a two truck company.

The Sumpwams Hose Company No. 2, when organized, made it clear that they would not attend any tournaments, as they were in service to protect the business section of the Village of Babylon and this was their prime objective.

 “Pulling on the Ropes,” a term used when fire apparatus was hand drawn, took heroic efforts and a good deal of endurance.  However, the Sumpwams Hose Company earned the name of the “Never-Sweats” a nickname gained after an episode where in the entire twenty man company was dispatched to the hospital due to “exhaustion and fatigue” after pulling their hand drawn apparatus for a distance of about 100 yards.  After a time, however, they mastered the task and did so with distinction.

After much discussion and many meetings over pulling the apparatus to fires by hand or horses, the Babylon Village Board in 1915, authorized and granted a sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the purchase of the first piece of motorized apparatus.  This was a definite boom to the science of fire-fighting and a giant step forward.

However, tragedy struck the Babylon Fire Department and in 1916, the first piece of motorized equipment was struck and destroyed by Train #47 of the Long Island Railroad.  This fatal accident resulted in the deaths of two firemen, Captain John Higbie and Chief Leon Pettit.  This motorized rig was replaced by the LI Railroad Co.

The Sumpwams Hose Company progressed and in 1924, an American La France, six hundred gallon per minute pumper was purchased.  Time marched on and in 1939, a Mack, two-hundred and fifty gallon per minute pumper and booster tank truck was purchased.  In 1948 an American La France, seven-hundred and fifty gallon per minute pumper and booster tank was purchased.  Being a dual engine company since the turn of the century, Sumpwams Hose Company at the time maintained and operated two first line pieces of equipment.  As the years went by, the Sumpwams Hose Company became a modern fire fighting contingent, equipped with the latest tools to combat the perils of fire.  Among them were the latest type of Navy Fog nozzles, later on the latest in variable fog nozzles, a bayonet nozzle, airplane crash-axe, Cooper Hose Jackets, fog applicators, and a full line of equipment for the application of foam and light water.

 In June of 1963 The Village of Babylon let out bids for a new truck for the Sumpwams Hose.  This new piece of equipment was a 1000 Gallon per minute pumper was delivered in March of 1964. This, together with the 1948 American La France 750 G.P.M. pumper, comprised the apparatus of the Sumpwams Hose Company No. 2. The 1939 Mack was at this time retired.  In 1987 a new Pierce Lance 1250 gallon per minute pumper was delivered and the 1964 Mack was then retired.  In 1994 the 1948 American La France was retired and purchased by the company as a parade piece.  Many fundraisers were held and the truck was completely restored by the membership to it’s original condition. 

 The complement of the company normally consists of thirty active members along with life members and  senior members  It is to be further noted, that down through the years, the company has produced many noteworthy Chief officers, namely: Charles Pfeifle, Stuart Gifford, John Burt, E. Clayton Smith, Martin H. Albert, Donald L. Steele and Richard Meier.  Currently Jeffrey C. Weber serves as Chief of the Department and Richard W. Krollage serves as First Assistant Chief.

Many members of the Sumpwams Hose Company No. 2 are also very active in other Firematic Organizations and have served with distinction.  The organizations include the Town of Babylon Firemen’s Association, Town of Babylon , Suffolk County and New York State Chiefs Association and Vocational Education Extension Board. 

Sadly in December 1981 Ex-Captain Francis Novak suffered fatal heart attack immediately after attending an alarm in his neighborhood.  He is the fourth member in the history of the company  to succumb in the line of duty.  His name along with that of Captain John Higbie, Captain Oliver Davison, and Firefighter Robert Shea are inscribed on the Town of Babylon monument in front of Town Hall and the New York State fallen firefighters monument in Albany.

On November 4^th 1995 Sumpwams Hose Co#2 celebrated it’s 100^th anniversary at a dinner dance held at LaGrange Inn in West Islip making it the third Company of the Babylon Fire Department to reach this milestone. 

The members of Sumpwams Hose Co # 2 continue to serve the residents of the Village of Babylon with distinction, pride and honor in the true spirit of the volunteer firefighter.