Standing by the fire trucks in the rear are the two paid drivers — Leo Maple on the left and Francis Seymour on the right. (Photo provided by the 1960 Convention program)

I remember this convention well. Hundreds of volunteer firemen and their families attended the Northern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc. convention and the village was rockin’.

The detailed program opened with this greeting:

“The Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, the Village of Saranac Lake, the Chamber of Commerce and the people of the village all join in welcoming you to the 64th Annual Convention of the Northern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc.

“You will find that Saranac Lake is justifiably called ‘The Little City in the Adirondacks’. Our modern retail establishments, hotels, banking institutions and restaurants provide a truly distinctive metropolitan atmosphere which should make your stay here an enjoyable one.”

The hotels, motels, restaurants and bars were jammed. There was a big parade and tournament events held on the LaPan Highway, closed for those events. The 10 contests began with the Individual Ladder Contest followed by nine other events, ending with the Bucket Contest. Cash prizes were awarded in each event.

The parade was held on Saturday, June 11 with cash prizes awarded in these categories: Best Appearing Department with Music; Best Appearing Department without Music; Best Appearing Ladies Auxiliary; Department Coming Longest Distance; Department with Most Men in Line; Oldest Fireman in Line of March and the Oldest Piece of Fire Equipment in March.

The names of the fire department members were not listed in the program. Please read the attached page with the names serving on the various committees managing the convention and find all your friends and relatives.

The program contained about 130 advertisements with many individuals supporting the firemen. For example, taking a half page on the back cover of the program was Congressman Bob McEwen and New York State Assemblyman, Hayward “Red” Plumadore.

You will see in the photos that Francis Gladd was Fire Chief and later a Village Trustee. In 1964, only four years later, my high school classmate Richard Yorkey was fire chief and I was mayor. That’s when we tore down an old building on Broadway and built the addition next to the present firehouse.

Here’s a short, connect-the-dots, fire department story:

Chief Yorkey’s son, Rick Yorkey, is a paid fire driver. Come this June, he will have worked in that position for the Village of Saranac Lake for 40 years. He started that job the same day our dear friend, Kent (‘Kent-c’) Robinson started as a paid driver, they were the same age and have the same birthday. Kent-c died during the coronavirus epidemic. Maybe the village can have some kind of ceremony for Rick and give him a gold watch for his service, or at least a Timex.

The other paid driver’s are: Garrett Foster, Samuel Branch, Ben Tucker (Ben’s father is Tom Tucker, chief of the Paul Smith’s/Gabriels Fire Department) and Ray Muncil.

The officers of the 2025 department are: Chief Michael Knapp; 1st Assistant Chief, James Stinson; 2nd Assistant Chief, Andrea Boon; 1st Captain, Andrew Wright; 2nd Captain, Justin Fletcher; 1st Lieutenant Daryl Brier; 2nd Lieutenant , Cassitty Rose; Director, Timothy Donaldson; Director, Robert Girard; Secretary, Gifford Hosler; Treasurer (blank in the roster); Safety Officer Timothy Donaldson and Dive Captain, Brendan Keough. Eva Stinson is official photographer of the Fire Department.

The full roster of active volunteers including the officers: Corey Culver, Justin Fletcher, Michael Boon, Ed Woodard, Gifford Hosler, Daryl Brier, Frank Brier, Brennan Rutledge, Mary Brown, Robert Girard, Chuck Dobson, Julie Harjung, Shawn White, Michael Knapp, Bill Madden, George Sovey, Brendan Keough, Andy McGill, David Warner, Andrew Wright, Bob Nadon, Jim Stinson, Tim Donaldson, Ryan Schneider, Adam Mayville, Andrea boon, Cassitty Rose and Nate Jones.

The fire department needs more volunteers to enlist in the department. Our village is fortunate to have so many volunteers in every field … that is why, annually, the Chamber of Commerce, with public input, honors a Citizen and Volunteer of the Year. So many events would not happen without volunteers — I hesitate to name just one — but how about the men and women who build the Ice Palace. It is often said that the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid could not have taken place without the hundreds of volunteers.

However, right at the top rung of the volunteer ladder (no pun intended) are the members of the Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

So, young men and women of the Saranac Lake region, please think about becoming volunteer fire fighters. Go talk to the chief or any other member of the department for a briefing.

You will be in dangerous situations; you will participate in intense fire fighting training; you will be working with one of the best equipped fire companies in the North Country; you will receive the best fire fighting personal apparel and you will be honored for serving in one of the toughest volunteer jobs in the community — all alongside men and women who will have your back in every situation.