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"BREAK OUT THE BANJOS"; Announced over the firehouse PA system was a call for all hands to shovel snow in front of the firehouse. The BANJO referred to the old, extra large snow shovels. Leading the pack is Lt. Leo Fracassi (L38), WWII veteran that served with Gen. Patton.

TINNED UP WINDOWS AT VACANTS The program to stick decals of curtains, venetian blinds, house plants and other amenities onto the boarded-up windows and doors of vacant eyesores was begun in 1980. At the height of the decal program, decals were placed in the windows of more than 500 abandoned...

A CHRISTMAS STORY, P 2 Many firehouses have added a unique touch to their gathering. I know of one joint that likes to hang the Christmas Tree upside down much to the amusement of the kiddies. But at L 38 we wanted to do something really special unlike previous years. Plus, we didn’t want to...

THE SENIOR MAN Us young whippersnappers that came along after the arson war years benefited tremendously from the senior man, the most influential role model in the firehouse. Many of the senior firefighters we worked with were also veterans of the military, their discipline and demeanor is...

TO REMEMBER: Senior lovable 'Dollar' Bill Gallagher. L 112 Irons Man. Bill was always impeccably dressed and classy coming into work, in uniform, and heading back home. Did not matter, working or off duty, he wore a gold Gucci necklace with a matching bracelet even while working. When we...

A FIREHOUSE CHRISTMAS STORY Days leading up to the Annual Firehouse Family Christmas Party was exciting. “All hands” scrubbed down the firehouse from top to bottom, even going as far as power washing the old diesel exhaust crud from the walls and swabbing the grime off the apparatus floor. The...

Prayers for eternal rest to Brother Moon. To his family, friends and Brothers of R2, may God be with you and comfort you in your loss.

The helmets do through an extensive process of testing, much more than we know. I would think the safety issue is paramount.

Quick story to share. When I was in L 38 I decided to transfer to Brooklyn. I had to submit 4 ladder companies, I selected in this order, L 103, 120, 123 and 112. 112 was a quick addition because I was unfamiliar with Bushwick and a friend told me to add it on. Fast forward, dream comes true and...

Yes, I wish I knew where it was. Here is another photo, I also had the attached bar accessory. (I know Mack is trying to figure out the rig...it's E 82's 68 Mack.)

FDNY just announced the traditional FDNY leather helmet will no longer or be permitted to use. The official helmet adopted is the Honeywell Ben Franklin II. I guess we can also eliminate the term "Bronx Bend."

This is an interesting subject about parts, I knew of a old timer that had an old ALF bell that was removed from a spare many moons ago when they started to become obsolete. I was also given a Mack bulldog that was in front of rig that was going out of service from another old timer. I think the...

6.

HOUSEWATCH Every firehouse in NYC has a housewatch (HW). If the kitchen is the soul of the firehouse it is safe to say that the housewatch is the heartbeat. Inside the housewatch the daily activity is recorded in a journal, telephone calls received, visitors and chiefs welcomed and alarms...

Westchester County, NY just announced filing for upcoming exam by Dec 15, 2002.

Here is E 82 / L 31 pre war years.

One of the most interesting HW's was Ghost Busters Ladder 8. The outside wall of the HW had melted telephones from fires. It was very impressive and unique.

Sorry Kris, he is not. That's Gene H with the big smile. We had just finished a fire in the building behind us, it was a vacant funeral parlor.

Yes, that was Tommys brand new car! Jimmy Z was already deceased for quite a few years. On the right, from right to left the is Ira Thorner, me in the back and Gene with the basball hat. Tommy Dunn is on far left.

Red shirt is the future Chief of Dept Ed Kilduff. Plaid shirt s Jerry, a big honcho in the union back then. Two blue shirts, Bobby Trascoy next to Lt. Tom Kuefner, who shared the front seat with your dad.