Our local Fire Department has come a long, long way since its beginning. Our all-volunteer department was first begun as the Quogue-Westhampton Beach Fire Department around the turn of the century.
Taken from `Historical Sketch of the Incorporated Village of Westhampton Beach” by Beatrice Rogers
(Founding member of The Westhampton Beach Historical Society)
Pg. 94 – 96 – Published October 1953
The history of the local volunteer firemen dates back to the latter part of the last century and the story of the first organization, like many other early ventures in progress, has a humorous side in this generation. The late Howell Stevens was instrumental in organizing the first company of vamps, and the only equipment at the time consisted of an antiquated three seated wagon donated by Captain Franklin Jessup and a length of hose which was purchased from funds solicited by George E. Winters. This strange outfit was pulled by the men themselves, but how effective such primitive equipment functioned can readily be imagined.
However, from this humble beginning the Fire Department eventually emerged and keeping pace with the times, has performed a service of vital importance in the Village. It had not been possible to have a fire-fighting company with any degree of efficiency until after the Quantuck Water Company completed the public water system with hydrants along the highways. When this was accomplished in 1902, the Quogue and Westhampton Beach Fire Department was organized and for the first time in history the two villages had real fire protection. Each town was a separate fire district and each elected, from among their citizens, Fire Commissioners, who attended to the details of administration.
The problem of housing Westhampton’s share of equipment was soon taken care of by erecting a fire house on Griffing Avenue. On the second floor of the frame building a large room provided a place for meetings and recreation. About fifteen years later it was decided that a more central location would add to the efficiency of operations, and the fire house was then moved to Glovers Lane where it still remains.
As the population of the two villages increased, the joint organization was no longer necessary or practical; so in 1918 a dissolution was agreed upon and since then each town has maintained an independent fire company.
The Westhampton Beach fire Department continues to use the original building, which by now is wholly inadequate and only by means of a “lean to” here and there can the equipment be crowded in. The firemen take a special pride in the care and operation of the five pieces of apparatus in use at present, and this number includes a hook and ladder truck of 1924 vintage*, a Sanford (1930), a Seagrave and a new Dodge (1950); the latter three are combination pumping engines and hose carriers. The fifth piece of equipment is a hose carrier or “Speed Wagon” built in 1949 on a Chrysler chassis by the young and energetic members of the Department. Many hours and a good deal of “know how” were required to produce this useful auxiliary to the other fire fighting equipment.
* Sold in 1951 and replaced with a more modern truck.
The first mention that we have found of the Fire Department’s existence is in a 1909 article in the Hampton Chronicle, which discusses a near disaster from a gas line explosion that took place in Seeley’s Fruit and Vegetable Market on Main Street.
