My younger Buff years

[nfd2004]

On my almost weekly trips of "My Younger Buff Years", I would always stop at a store called "The Finest and The Bravest". This store was in the Bronx on Kingsbridge Ave near 231 St, almost across the street from the NYPD 50 Pct and ESU # 4. That store was run by a woman by the name of "Roz". Myself and my buddies would always stop in there to buy a few goodies. She sold T-shirts, patches, hats, books etc. I would always buy one or two FDNY Company patches. And Roz was a good woman. She would always talk to us. She knew we were on the job in Connecticut and knew that we were FDNY buffs and why we would go down there. Sometimes she would tell us if there had been a job in the neighborhood.

  Some of the Company Patches I have are from units that today may have some very special meaning. Like a patch for "The Super Pumper", "Tin House South Bronx..E85/L59, "Tin House Gang..E232/L176", "Engine 71..The Pride of Park Ave"(no longer on Park Ave), or a reminder of before that horrible day on 9/11..."Engine 10...On Top of The World".

  I have plenty others. "Harlem Zoo...E59/L30, "Big Blue-Bronx & Harlem...Rescue 3", "In the Eye of the Storm...Engine 280", "da'Bums on da'Hill E83/TL29" (no longer a TL), "Fire Factory-Harlem..E58/L26", "108 Truck Pride of Williamsburg-BKLYN..Ladder 108, ""First Due at the Zoo-Bronx, N.Y...Engine 88", "The Eye of Bed Stuy..Engine 235", "Can-Do Brooklyn..Engine 201". And plenty more.

  Later on "The Finest and The Bravest" store moved to Eastchester Ave across from the 49 Pct just south of Pelham Pkwy. This made it even easier for me to go there coming in from Connecticut. I guess overall Roz was in business for about 8-10 years before she closed. I remember her telling me that she had a medical condition, I think maybe her heart. She was certainly a good woman to me and the guys I used to bring in there.

  I guess part of "My Younger Buff Years" was going to "The Finest and The Bravest" store in the 1980s, as much as chasing the rigs was.

  I wonder if she's still around today. I think she had two sons. One was named Kevin (?) and I think he worked the store with her. Anybody remember that store ?

 

 

[kidfrmqns]

I frequented the Finest and the Bravest as well when they were near the 49 pct. I used to buy uniforms there when I started working EMS for the voluntary hospitals. I believe she closed after a serious fire in her shop some time around 95 or 96.

 

[memory master]

Yep, remember the store by the 50. Purchased many uniform items there prior to quartermaster days. Roz was very nice and would go out of her way for you. I would go up to the Bronx rather than patronize Paul's on Jamaica Ave. around 106 street in Queens.

 

[kidfrmqns]

Yep, remember the store by the 50. Purchased many uniform items there prior to quartermaster days. Roz was very nice and would go out of her way for you. I would go up to the Bronx rather than patronize Paul's on Jamaica Ave. around 106 street in Queens.

Me too, and I worked in Queens. It seemed Paul's didn't care about you unless you were PD.

 

[Atlas]

After the store near the 49, she moved to East Tremont Ave, between Westchester Ave & Bruckner Blvd. Her business droped when the FDNY went to the quartermaster system & she closed her store. I think that she still resides in upper Manhattan & does special orders from her house. She did have two sons.

 

[nfd2004]

After the store near the 49, she moved to East Tremont Ave, between Westchester Ave & Bruckner Blvd. Her business droped when the FDNY went to the quartermaster system & she closed her store. I think that she still resides in upper Manhattan & does special orders from her house. She did have two sons.

  Thanks Atlas. I vaguely remember somebody telling me that the store had moved to East Temont Ave. And I'm glad she's still around.

 

[Atlas]

If you want I can get an up-date for you.

 

[nfd2004]

If you want I can get an up-date for you.

An update would be Great. Alot of us would be interested in hearing how Roz is doing. And I'm sure she would be glad to hear how we appreciated how good she was to all of us, and to let her know that we haven't forgotten her.

  I guess in her own way, she was a part of the FDNY (and NYPD) during those years. A stop at "the Finest and the Bravest" was always a part of "My Younger Buff Years". So I guess whether it was "Angies Market" and Engine 82s quarters, or the Brooklyn or Bronx "Tin Houses", or showing the newer buffs where the most famous corner of Charolette and 170 Sts was. I think its pretty safe to say; the store called "The Finest and the Bravest", also belongs in that historic group. And probadly should be mentioned and remembered as a part of it.

 

[Atlas]

About 12 years ago, I was on a tour of Offutt Air Force Base. Duringa stop at the base flight line crash station, one of the chiefs approached me after finding out that I was from NYC. He grew up next to the bodega that was opp. Eng 82 & Lad 31. Its a small world out there when it comes to FDNY.

 

[nfd2004]

Our friend "mikeindabronx" has advised me that he put up a new page for his web site www.fdnysbravest.com . So as only Mike can show us, let us take a look back into what I call; "Mikes Younger Buff Years", as he added Page 15 to his Excellent collection. Once again, Thanks Mike. I think we all agree that your pictures are some of the Best out there.

  www.fdnysbravest.com

 

[cmr2088]

Willy, a few of us from Ct regularly took a ride down for buff purposes in the mid 90's, and the first stop would be at Finest and Bravest on E. Tremont.  Second stop was almost always a White Castle, on Webster ave., for about 10 of those steamed little burgers, per man. 

Of the 5 guys in the little Toyota Carolla, 1 had never been to Finest & Bravest before. We other 4 knew the deal with the ERS pull box inside the store. Basicly we set him up ;D, and he pulled the box. His reaction would have won us 10grand on Funniest Videos.  He took a serious ribbing, and Roz played along.

There was another buff store next to Ladder 20 in SoHo, called N.Y.C. Firefighters Friend, that sold used gear, New Yorkers, rubber coats, plus many other shirts and patches; etc. If I remember correctly, they also sold some Code 3 collectibles, too.

I can't tell you how many times a few of us skipped high school, on a Friday to buff the Bronx. 

 

[1261Truckie]

Mike - thanks for page 15....great shots. Willie - thanks for the heads up

 

[nfd2004]

Mike - thanks for page 15....great shots. Willie - thanks for the heads up

  There's more to the story Jim. You see, yes, Mike sure took some Great shots in those days. Somebody said to me that even with those "Great" pictures, some guys still don't believe how busy it was then. But for those of us somewhat more senior members, we know that yes, this did happen. And those that were a part of the job back then, really are "The Greatest Generation of Firefighters".

Now, lets get back to Mike. You see our good friend "mikeindabronx" did a Great job back then. But he's really not doing too much now. If it wasn't for Mikes wife Marie, we'd still be waiting to see those Great pictures. You see, its Marie whos doing all the work posting those pictures on Mikes web site. Of course Mike never really let us know that. So Marie, "we Thank You for all the work that you have done putting those photos on Mikes site". For guys like myself, we sure do appreciate what you have done for us. "THANKS MARIE".

  "cmr2088", you sure your name isn't Willy "D" Jr !!! Driving down from Connecticut, stopping at the Finest and the Bravest, and throwing down a dozen or so of those White Castle burgers from Webster Ave sure sounds like a Willy "D" to me. At one time I even had a used Toyata for my trips.

  And I do remember the store in SoHo next to Ladder 20.

 

[fdce54]

Damm Mike, Willie D threw you right under the bus, gave you up in a heartbeat......................lol.................... ;D

 

[nfd2004]

Damm Mike, Willie D threw you right under the bus, gave you up in a heartbeat......................lol.................... ;D

  Well Frank "fdce54", all this time we thought it was Mike doing all the work. It wasn't!!! It was his wife Marie. And only after a very through investigation did we all find out the truth. Mike apprently has been sitting back there listening to his scanner while his wife does all the work.

  But the reality of this whole thing is, I guess we do have to give Mike credit for the Excellent work he has done in preserving the history of the FDNY during some of its busiest years. Through his pictures he gives us all an idea of just what the "Greatest Generation of Firefighters" did, and went through during those years.

  And apparently Mike would like to make up to us for not telling us that his wife Marie actually has been doing all the work. So with that Mike has just added an additional page (Page16) to probadly one of the Best FDNY Photo Collections out there. It is a tribute to the Firefighters who were a part of it, and I'm just really glad there was a guy like Mike out there to preserve it.

  Click on his site www.fdnysbravest.com to see his latest addition. And Thanks Mike. We all really do "Love you".

 

[1261Truckie]

Once again, thanks Mike for another great page of photos. You provide a wonderful visual history of the troops.
And, of course, thanks Willie for lettin' us know

 

[68jk09]

Thanks again Mike......especially picture # 11 on page 16......RIP to the Vigiano Brothers......NEVER FORGET !..NEVER FORGIVE !

 

[mack]

Thank you Mike. Great pictures.

 

[Bronx72]

  As buffs, we usually see only the view of a fire from the outside. And many photographers and videographers fixate on the fire and don't go for the real story: the firefighters.  The interior photos you have are very impressive...the closeness to the action, the smoke banking down or the fire rolling overhead, the narrowness of the hallways, the expressions on the faces of exhausted firemen...in short, a profession and a brotherhood  brought to life for us to see.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.

 

[nfd2004]

  As buffs, we usually see only the view of a fire from the outside. And many photographers and videographers fixate on the fire and don't go for the real story: the firefighters.  The interior photos you have are very impressive...the closeness to the action, the smoke banking down or the fire rolling overhead, the narrowness of the hallways, the expressions on the faces of exhausted firemen...in short, a profession and a brotherhood  brought to life for us to see.  Thanks for sharing your experiences.

  Rob, thats a very good point. The photos of the fdnysbravest.com has brought as close as possible to the inside view of the job firefighters deal with. And although I was never really good at photography, during the time that Mike took these photos, there were no digital cameras. Certain types of photos required a certain speed film or a special type of flash for the camera. There was no way of checking the pictures right on the spot. The film needed to be developed first, then good or bad, is what you got.

  The film, camera, strobe flash, and developement was quite expensive. You really had to know your stuff as certain light and distance factors came into play.

  Mike had special permission to ride and photograph scenes from these various companies. I'm just glad he was there. I can relate to many of the scenes that he photographed. It was a much different time then. Sometimes I'd be in the hallway watching the forcible entry team as they forced the apartment door and then the engine crew moved in with the line. Or sometimes I would be pretty close as the roof team made the vent hole. I guess some of the guys would maybe know me by sight and knew that I would stay out of their way, and I always made sure I had a way out.

  That's certainly NOT the case now. But I think there was just so much going on at the time then, that nobody seemed to bother me.