Ever-Ready Engine Co.3

Many changes occurred back in 1920 with mergers and disbanding of firematic units. In November of 1920 the merger of the Rough and Ready Company and the Chemical Company, which had disbanded, formed the Ever-Ready Engine Company #3. This merger of companies was done at the request of the chief of the department and the board of fire commissioners.

At this meeting in November, the new unit was named Ever-Ready Hose Company #3, with the following as its first officers: Fred Corwin (foreman), Otis Vail (assistant foreman), lssac S. Stivers (secretary) and Ernest Weeks (treasurer). At its first meeting on December 17, 1920 the company voted to hold meetings on the last Friday of each month, and that tradition has prevailed for over 80 years.

At a meeting on January 28, 1921 the first by-laws were adopted by members of the company. The May 21, 1921 meeting minutes contain news of the commissioners making up the budget for the following year, and in the budget was $2,500 for a motor hose cart. The records indicate a motion was carried that the secretary appears before the commissioners to request that said new truck be assigned to our company.

Issac S. Stivers was the first fireman to fight for the acquisition of boots, raincoats and helmets according to early records. Apparently at that time, these items were not considered basic equipment for firefighting. Stivers also wrote the oath of office and membership for the Ever-Ready Engine Company, a first in the Riverhead department.

The roster of the company over the past 80+ years shows the names of many well-known department members, including the late Carl F. Peterson, ex-chief of the department and a former member of the Board of Fire Commissioners. It was during the regime of Chief Peterson that the Riverhead Firemen's Association was formed, Chief Peterson serving as its first president. The late Roselle Benjamin was the first treasurer.

Other past members of the company included Alden Young, who was an ex-chief of the department and former chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Riverhead Fire District, A. Lloyd Case, who was the director of fire safety for Suffolk County and Alan Benjamin, an ex-chief.

An interesting fact noted in company records is that a total of four Hajek brothers, namely Gerard, Fred, Rudolph, and Albert were all members at the same time, and all also served the company as captain.

Originally penned in 1986 by Patrol Ex-Capt. Alan Shields, Revised in 2002 by Red Bird Ex-Capt. Raymond Kwasna for this site.