E80/L23 - years ago, hanging on the kitchen wall was a clock - wind it up and it would play a certain song. For awhile, whenever 80 had the meal and the call went out "chow's on" - an engine guy would wind up the clock and as the truckies came streaming into the kitchen somebody would always say "23's theme song, playing again" - "Send in the Clowns" by Judy Collins. As I said, that went on for awhile, a short while and mysteriously the clock disappeared!
Which brings to mind another "clown" story:
1981 - L23 has 4 probies assigned from the latest class (Billy B., Richie L., Rich N., & Al R.) - doesn't take long for Aldo to develop aspirations of becoming a ladder co. chauffeur, almost always reserved for the most senior men in the company, but he has been granted the privilege to assist the chauffeur, in washing the rig every day tour he works. He seems to enjoy the cleaning and quickly takes to the rig like it is his own, taking pride in how the truck looks - usually not a bad thing!
I don't think a year has gone by and Aldo is already asking about how it works for guys getting to go to chauffeur school. He's been told a number of times that he has quite a ways to go before his name will even be in the mix. One 9x6 tour Aldo is working and L23 is going out on BI (building inspection) - the dispatcher is doing a roll call of the units going out on inspection - the Lt. yells down to turn on the perko switch and answer when the dispatcher calls for L23. Aldo happily jumps up into the rig andinstead on just turning on the radio, he starts the rig up - sits there patiently waiting and answers when the dispatcher calls L23. Now all is well until Aldo, for some unknown reason, takes off the maxi-brake and the rig slowly starts rolling forward, picking up a little speed. Guys are yelling for Aldo to hit the brake, well, that doesn't happen and WHAM - what a sight , the rig going right through the closed apparatus door, across 139 St. and into the iron fence of 504 W. 139 St. Luckily, no pedestrians or vehicles were passing by the firehouse at that very moment or it could have been much more serious. I think Aldo had to have his hands pried off of the steering wheel.
Lucky enough to be working that day, I ran up to the 3rd floor, got my camera out and took a few pictures to preserve the historical moment. Many years later Aldo finally got his wish (LCC), long after L23s Capt. from '81 was gone. If ******* is who I thinkhe is, I may be mistaken, but he might have been the Manhattan boro commander at the time or maybe he was the commander when 80/23 had the mid '80s firehouse cellar fire, I do recall the boro commander visiting the house, but not for a moment of glory!
It may take awhile, but I'll find those pictures.
Which brings to mind another "clown" story:
1981 - L23 has 4 probies assigned from the latest class (Billy B., Richie L., Rich N., & Al R.) - doesn't take long for Aldo to develop aspirations of becoming a ladder co. chauffeur, almost always reserved for the most senior men in the company, but he has been granted the privilege to assist the chauffeur, in washing the rig every day tour he works. He seems to enjoy the cleaning and quickly takes to the rig like it is his own, taking pride in how the truck looks - usually not a bad thing!
I don't think a year has gone by and Aldo is already asking about how it works for guys getting to go to chauffeur school. He's been told a number of times that he has quite a ways to go before his name will even be in the mix. One 9x6 tour Aldo is working and L23 is going out on BI (building inspection) - the dispatcher is doing a roll call of the units going out on inspection - the Lt. yells down to turn on the perko switch and answer when the dispatcher calls for L23. Aldo happily jumps up into the rig andinstead on just turning on the radio, he starts the rig up - sits there patiently waiting and answers when the dispatcher calls L23. Now all is well until Aldo, for some unknown reason, takes off the maxi-brake and the rig slowly starts rolling forward, picking up a little speed. Guys are yelling for Aldo to hit the brake, well, that doesn't happen and WHAM - what a sight , the rig going right through the closed apparatus door, across 139 St. and into the iron fence of 504 W. 139 St. Luckily, no pedestrians or vehicles were passing by the firehouse at that very moment or it could have been much more serious. I think Aldo had to have his hands pried off of the steering wheel.
Lucky enough to be working that day, I ran up to the 3rd floor, got my camera out and took a few pictures to preserve the historical moment. Many years later Aldo finally got his wish (LCC), long after L23s Capt. from '81 was gone. If ******* is who I thinkhe is, I may be mistaken, but he might have been the Manhattan boro commander at the time or maybe he was the commander when 80/23 had the mid '80s firehouse cellar fire, I do recall the boro commander visiting the house, but not for a moment of glory!
It may take awhile, but I'll find those pictures.
