History of the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company

The Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company has served the Town of Tonawanda, New York, for nearly a century, providing fire protection, rescue services, fire prevention education, community risk reduction, emergency planning, and emergency response to residents and businesses throughout its district.

Today, the company operates from its headquarters at Station 1, 738 Sheridan Drive, and also maintains Station 2 on Military Road. As one of the volunteer fire organizations serving the Town of Tonawanda, Sheridan Park continues to operate a modern fleet of fire and rescue apparatus while actively recruiting volunteers for firefighting, emergency scene support, administration, and community outreach.

When It All Started

The roots of the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company date back to September 1928, when the first organizational meeting was held at the home of Thomas Driscoll, located at 77 Dupont Avenue. At that time, the Sheridan Park area was growing rapidly, and local residents recognized the need for organized fire protection close to home.

The members present at that initial meeting were:

These early members laid the groundwork for what would become one of the long-standing volunteer fire companies serving the Town of Tonawanda.

The First Apparatus and Early Service

The company officially began service in February 1929 when the nearby Eggertsville Fire Company donated an old hand-drawn hose reel. That reel was stored in a garage at 120 Dupont Avenue and became the department’s first piece of firefighting equipment.

Later in 1929, the company purchased a second-hand Reo fire truck from the Painted Post Fire Company for $400. During the summer months, the apparatus was kept outside at 141 Dunlop Avenue. In the winter, the company rented garage space at 129 Dunlop Avenue to protect the vehicle from the weather.

The company’s first officers were:

Steve McCarthy, Chief
Emmett Crowe, First Assistant Chief
Gilbert Chapin, Second Assistant Chief

In the early days, notifying members of an emergency was much different than it is today. When a call came in, the Chief had to go outside and manually operate a hand siren to alert members that their service was needed.

The company first held meetings at 99 Two Mile Creek Road. Meetings were later moved to the Sam Tropea Real Estate office at the corner of Sheridan Drive and Dunlop Avenue, and eventually to the basement of the Community Church at Dupont Avenue and Sheridan Drive.

At that time, the organization was known as the Sheridan Drive Hose Company.

Building the Fire District

In the spring of 1930, the Fire District was established. Plans were made to construct a fire hall, with work performed by residents from within the district who were unemployed during the Great Depression. The hall was completed that same year at an approximate cost of $20,000.

As the fire company grew, so did its apparatus fleet. The company’s first motorized pumper was a Stewart apparatus, purchased in the fall of 1929 from the Young Fire Equipment Company for approximately $4,000. A Dodge was added in 1936, followed by a Buffalo in 1947.

One of the company’s earliest major incidents was a working fire at Miller’s Farm, located near Kenmore Avenue and Sheridan Drive. The fire reportedly burned through the night and became one of the first significant fire responses handled by the young organization.

Early Traditions and Company Life

From the beginning, Sheridan Park was more than an emergency response organization. It quickly became part of the community’s social fabric.

The first annual Field Day, or picnic, was held on August 16, 1930, and featured open-air dancing. On November 29, 1934, the Sheridan Park Fire Company Drum Corps was formed. Three current Life Members were part of the Drum Corps at that time: Carl Reiser, Hubert Rider, and George Torok. Royal Morrow served as chairman.

Life in the early company also came with expectations and responsibilities. In 1929, any member who missed a fire call was required to pay a 25-cent fine. That same year, total house collection donations amounted to $101.

These traditions, responsibilities, and community events helped build the identity of the organization and strengthened the connection between the fire company and the residents it served.

A Significant Moment in Local History

Sheridan Park firefighters also played an important role during one of the most serious emergencies in the history of the Town of Tonawanda.

On September 23, 1953, an explosion occurred at the Lucidol chemical plant on Military Road. The explosion killed eleven people and injured seventeen others. Historical accounts note that the blast was powerful enough to disrupt telephone service and disable the Sheridan Park Fire Department siren.

The response to the Lucidol explosion remains an important part of the company’s history and reflects the serious responsibilities carried by local volunteer firefighters during major emergencies.

The Modern Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company

From a donated hand reel and rented garage space, Sheridan Park has grown into a modern volunteer fire company serving a busy community in the Town of Tonawanda.

Today, the department operates a contemporary fleet that includes:

Two Pierce Impel engines
A Pierce Velocity Ascendant 107-foot ladder truck
A Pierce rescue truck
Utility vehicles
Chief officer response vehicles

The company continues to provide fire suppression, rescue services, fire prevention education, community risk reduction programs, safety planning, and emergency response services throughout its district.

Nearly a century after that first meeting on Dupont Avenue, the Sheridan Park Volunteer Fire Company remains committed to the same mission established by its founding members: neighbors serving neighbors, protecting lives and property, and supporting the safety and well-being of the community.