Historical Photos
Riverhead Fire Department Band of 1910
Almost a century ago Riverhead had one of the outstanding bands in Suffolk County, which furnished music for parades and other affairs. The band accompanied the Riverhead Fire Department to the annual tournaments of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen's Association and the local vamps always made a splendid showing in parades.
This picture, taken on August 31, 1910 shows the members of the band and other "tournament fans" waiting at the Riverhead railroad station for the train to take them to Sayville where the tournament was held that year. Special trains to accommodate residents of all sections of the county to the community where the tournaments were held were operated in those days at a reduced fare. The tournament and the Suffolk County Fair then were the two big events of the year.
Shown in the picture, front row, from left to right - Clarence E Dugan, Forrest G "Happy" Downs, Carl A Hallett, J Fred Hallett, Harry Moore, Archibald Hallett and Carl S LeValley. Second row, from left to right - George L'Hommedieu, Fred S Hill, Hans Walty, Samuel Barber, Assistant Chief Nathan T Corwin, G Stanley Brown (boy), Lewis E Young, William Hall, Herbert L'Hommedieu, Matthias N Ammann and John Madden. Back row, from left to right - Chief Frank C Lane, Edward W Carter and Howard V Lane, the latter subsequently serving as one of the Commissioners of the Riverhead Fire District. At the extreme left (wearing a straw hat) is shown Lewis C Austin, late editor and publisher of the Riverhead News.
1935 State Drill Team Champions - Riverhead's Ironmen
Front row - left to right - Francis Painter, Second Deputy Chief Joseph E. Walsh, captain; First Deputy Chief Thomas Romanski, Chief Carl F. Peterson, who is also first vice president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen's Association; Capt. Wallace Downs, of Ever Ready hose; Frank White, assistant captain of the racing team, and Lawrence Schaefer.
Second row - left to right - Clifford Moutoux, M. Lutzky, John Matti, William Hafner Jr., Francis Walsh, second lieutenant of Reliable hose and engine; Assistant Capt. John Benedict of that company; Walter Worthington, Alvin Bartunek and Ex-Capt. Gerard Hajek, of Ever Ready hose.
Third row - left to right - Capt. Harry Wold, of Washington engine; Edward Painter, Capt. John M. Carlson, of Red Bird hook and ladder; Walter Sidor, D. Boutoff, Lloyd Case, First Lieutenant Leonard Firth, of Washington engine; Louis Waski, Alden Young and Anthony White.
Other members of the team - Capt. Frank Zambzryski, of Eagle hose; Stephen Korcelowicz, Frank Zaleski, Capt. Elmer H. Davis, of Reliable hose and engine; Theodore Schaefer, David Catena, Harold Hansen, Harold Hoch-heiser, OrviIle Cheshire, Dan Roche, William Zambzryski, Charles Diamond, Clair Vail, Russell Moore, Chester Kruszeski, Henry Victoria and William Ruland.