On Monday May 27^th, 2002 the Queensbury Central Fire Company held its third annual Firefighter’s Memorial Service at their Station # 1 on Lafayette Street. Fire Company Chaplain C. Powel South was once again our host. Accompanied by the Galloway Gaelic Pipes & Drums of Glens Falls, the firefighters, Auxiliary Members and honored guests gathered on the front lawn to recite the Fireman’s Prayer and hear Amazing Grace performed by the band. Auxiliary President Christy Congel and Auxiliary Treasurer Linda Suckman placed a memorial wreath next to the monument. Another wreath was place by Chief Joe DuPrey and Corporation President John Kassebaum. This also marked the third and final phase of a 3-year project to honor our members.

Phase one, completed in May 2000 included a 48” wide by 36” high black granite stone was purchased through Michael and Patty Miller from Adirondack Memorials in Lake Luzerne. It was designed by the members of the Fire Company and bears a very detailed, hand-etched, full color picture of Tower 1 – the organizations 95’ Baker Aerialscope with an angel looking down upon two firefighters operating the platform. The stone itself came from Houle Brothers Granite in Barre, VT. Jean Lennox, an employee of Houle Brothers, did an outstanding job with the artwork. The monument is permanently set on the front lawn at Station # 1 and is illuminated at night.

Phase two, completed in May 2001, recognizes our Life Members and our Deceased Members. The wall mounted plaques measuring approximately 54” wide and 40” high bears the following inscription:

“In Loving Memory of Those Who

Have Answered The Final Call”

The smaller wooden plaques display the names of each deceased member of the Fire Company and the Ladies Auxiliary. The second plaque is inscribed as follows:

“We Honor Those Who

Have Attained Life Membership”

The third phase recognizes the Charter Members of the organization. These people are the forefathers who built the foundation on which Queensbury Central proudly stands today. The smaller wooden plaque displays the names of each Charter Member of the organization. A large Maltese cross, the symbol of the firefighter sits between two ceramic firefighter statues. On each side of the plaque, enclosed in glass are two gold ceremonial Chief’s trumpets. Before portable radios, it was customary for the Chief to give orders to the firefighters on the fireground through the trumpet. Today, it is used in parades to carry flowers in honor of departed members and has become a traditional symbol of leadership.

Firefighter’s Memorial Dedication

On May 29^th, 2000 the Queensbury Central Volunteer Fire Company and Ladies Auxiliary held a Memorial Ceremony at their Station # 1 on Lafayette Street. The service was held to honor all the members that have passed away while active members of the Fire Company.

At 12:00 noon, the Galloway Gaelic Pipes & Drums of Glens Falls escorted the Firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary members down Lafayette Street. Memorial Committee Chairman Larry Jeffords welcomed everyone and Chaplain C. Powel “Chet” South gave the Invocation. Chief Richard Jones introduced the line officers along with special guests Warren County Fire Coordinator/Past Chief Marv Lemery, Warren County EMS Coordinator/Past Chief Jim Canavan and Warren County Deputy Fire Coordinator/Past Chief Brian LaFlure. Representatives from the four other Queensbury Fire Companies were introduced as well as the Captain of West Glens Falls Emergency Squad.

President Robert Wescott Sr. introduced the Administrative officers while Auxiliary Vice President Linda Suckman introduced the Auxiliary officers. Chaplain South then returned to the podium to introduce the members of the Queensbury Town Board, which included Supervisor Dennis Brower, Ward 2 Councilman and Deputy Supervisor Ted Turner, Ward 3 Councilman Dan Stec and Ward 4 Councilman Tim Brewer. The first guest speaker was Queensbury Town Supervisor Dennis Brower. Supervisor Brower offered words of praise for all volunteers. After that was Fire Company Past President, Past Assistant Chief, Life Member and Warren County Undersheriff Jim Piper who reminisced about his career with Queensbury Central and the many friends he has made over the years.

The keynote speaker was New York State Fire Administrator James A. Burns. Jim is a Life Member and Past Chief with a distinguished career in the Verplanck Fire Department in Westchester County, he is a Past President of the Hudson Valley Volunteer Fireman’s Association, he has served on the Board of Trustees of the Fireman’s Home in Hudson serving on numerous committees including President of the Board of Trustees – A position he held until his appointment in 1999 by Governor George Pataki to the position of State Fire Administrator. Jim considers himself “A back step volunteer firefighter that made it to the top”.

It was an extreme pleasure to have all of them with us and we sincerely appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedules to join us. The highlight of the day came with the unveiling of the monument. The 48” wide by 36” high black granite stone was purchased through Michael and Patty Miller from Adirondack Memorials in Lake Luzerne. It was designed by the members of the Fire Company and bears a very detailed, hand-etched, full color picture of Tower 1 – the organizations 95’ Baker Aerialscope with an angel looking down upon two firefighters operating the platform.

The stone itself came from Houle Brothers Granite in Barre, VT. Jean Lennox, an employee of Houle Brothers, did an outstanding job with the artwork. With the assistance of Glenn Shiel of Lake Luzerne, Denny Farone of Wilton (and Betsy the St. Bernard) the monument was placed prominently on the front lawn of Station # 1. As silence fell on the crowd, the memorial service was conducted. Chaplain South read the names of the 26 deceased members whose names will appear on a plaque in the station meeting room. They were:

Albert M. Ransom – March 20, 1951

Ralph G. Blanchard – October 24, 1951

George W. Stewart – September 25, 1952

Norman J. Walbridge Jr. – October 9, 1952

J. Seward Ball – January 11, 1958

Warren Northup – November 3, 1958

Karl F. Anderson – June 25, 1960

Winfield Nichols Sr. – January 25, 1963

Andrew R. Butz – February 8, 1965

Kenneth G. Gage – March 14, 1967

Robert F. Stott – July 21, 1967

J. Ernest Miller – July 4, 1968

Bernard J. Codner – October 7, 1968

R. Arthur Stewart – September 17, 1970

Frederick Leunberger – February 20, 1979

George Liapes – August 8, 1981

Owen Kane – July 27, 1982

Jesse E. Smith – October 28, 1984

John Schoelermann – December 1, 1984

J. Floyd Sleight – December 6, 1988

Paul Sperry – February 19, 1992

George Reese – September 4, 1995

James W. Scott Sr. – October 16, 1995

Karl Chadwick – December 29, 1995

Charles Howe – October 31, 1998

Bertram J. Martin – October 19, 1999

As each name was read, a bell mounted atop the monument was struck and a rose was placed at the base of the stone. The ceremony ended with the Galloway Gaelic Pipes & Drums playing a medley of “Amazing Grace” and “Scotland The Brave”. Chaplain South offered a closing prayer and refreshments were provided by Rick Whitmore’s Catering Service. The ceremony was the culmination of many hours of planning, research and organization by the committee. As a result of this intense preparation, the day went extremely well and a fitting tribute was made to those “pioneers” that are no longer with us.

In memory of members of our department who have passed....

Albert M. Ransom 03/20/51

Ralph G. Blanchard 10/24/51

George W. Stewart 09/25/52

Norman J. Walbridge, Jr. 10/09/52

J. Seward Ball 01/11/58

Warren Northup 11/03/58

Karl F. Anderson 06/25/60

Winfield Nichols Sr. 01/25/63

Andrew R. Butz 02/08/65

Kenneth G. Gage 03/14/67

Robert F. Stott 07/21/67

J. Ernest Miller07/04/68

Bernard J. Codner 10/07/68

R. Arthur Stewart 09/17/70

Fredrick Leuenberger 02/20/79

George Liapes 08/08/81

Owen Kane 07/27/82

Jesse E. Smith 10/28/84

John Schoelermann 12/01/84

J. Floyd Sleight 12/06/88

Paul Sperry 02/19/92

James W. Scott Sr. 10/16/95

George Reese 12/04/95

Karl Chadwick 12/29/95

Charles S. Howe 10/31/98

Bertram J. Martin 10/19/99

Elwood “Pete” Greene 06/10/02

John P. "Jack" Cushing 02/27/10

Richard "Dick" Simmes 02/16/11

Robert T Wescott Sr. 11/4/12

C.Powell "Chet" South 03/21/2019

Richard "Chip" Collins 02/15/2020

Paul Pontiff 10/5/2021

Deceased Members

of the Ladies Auxiliary

Johanna Schoelermann 1971

Charlotte Codnar 1976

Margaret Leuenberger1977

Pearl Ball 1978

Mary Sleight 1978

Lydia Sperry 1978

Hazel Smith 1981

Doris Chadwick 1983

Ethelyn Gage 1986

Audry Anderson 1988

Irene Howe 1989

Jane Baker 1993

Rose Stott 1995

Bell Liapes 1997

Laura Goldman 1986

Geraldine Daley 1998

Shiela Stewart 2000

Jeraldine South 2010