3. Andrew Bernard Heberer Sr. (1895-1905)
Served 10 Years
Andrew Heberer was born July 12, 1865, in Fosters Meadow (which is now Elmont, Queens, and was the son of Kasper and Elizabeth Heberer. He was first married to Elizabeth Herbst in 1887, and she died at the early age of 41, on May 10, 1905. Andrew went on to marry Florence Pledger on November 15, 1905. He lived at 11 Broadway and then on Old Country Road.
Served 10 Years He joined as a member of Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1. He was Foreman of the Company from 1887 through 1894 when he was elected to serve as the 3rd Fire Chief. His Assistant Chief changed a few times during his tenure. There was August Hauser, Fred Becker, Frank O’Brien, William Duffy and Julius Augustin.
In late August of 1895, Chief Heberer was awoken by rattling windows, and the chandelier wobbling, and he immediately called for the members to assemble. Residents took to the streets looking for answers as to what was going on. It would later be reported that an earthquake struck the Atlantic coast from around Delaware. The ground shake only lasted around 10 seconds but stirred the residents about the village. Chief Heberer kept his members milling around the village to make sure there were no fires.
The fires during Chief Heberer’s term included a fire at Emil Kerbs butcher shop and dwelling, that was saved with limited damage. A fire at William Fitzpatrick's dwelling, Henry Graf’s silver leaf shop and dwelling, Peter Lath’s barn which was a total loss; James Murphy, dwelling was saved with small loss; Frank Amori’s dwelling, Joseph Schwartzenberger’s dwelling were completely lost, but barns and outbuildings were saved. At the latter fire, the fire had gotten much of a headway before the alarm was given. The steamer and the hook and ladder truck both operated excellently and remained in service during the entire fire.
A fire at William Fitzpatrick’s property in Jericho, the residents narrowly escaped from being burned out of their home. A water pipe became frozen after the workmen wrapped paper around it, which started the fire. The result was that the floor caught fire, and the flames spread very rapidly. The Hicksville Fire Department was telephoned and soon had the fire under control.
The home of Postmaster William Duryea of Plainview suffered a total loss of all his outlying buildings, barn, carriage house and corn house. His horses, hogs and farming implements were all lost in the blaze. The department under Chief Heberer’s direction was able to save his main residence and the post office. Two firemen were removed from the scene due to heat and smoke exposure.
At a special fire department meeting, a resolution was adopted authorizing Chief Heberer to appoint a committee of three men from each company to see what the firemen were willing to do in the matter of disbanding. The joint committee was to confer with the trustees and have them call another meeting of the taxpayers, to give them a chance to vote again on the $500 appropriation or a smaller amount. The issue at hand was to see if the department can do with less funding. Chief Heberer appointed August Hauser, Frank Marrs and Frederick Herzog, from Protection Hook and Ladder Company No. 1; Henry Rohrbach, Frederick Peters, and Louis Munch, from Independent Engine Company No. 2; and Hartmann Rohrbach, William Jaegle, and Ernest Lebkie from Citizens' Engine Company No. 3. The residents wanted nothing to do with the fire department and as a reaction to their attempts to disband the department, Chief Heberer gave the village 30 days to come to their senses or they would suspend operations and refused to attend any fires. To ensure the residents knew he was serious, he had the hammer to the fire gong removed so no alarm could be sounded.
In October a pan of fat caught fire in Albert Kramer’s bakery and only two neighbors prevented the total destruction of the building. The direct result was due to no residents willing to participate in manning the fire equipment. It took less than a week when the members of the three fire companies were so disgusted that they could not muster enough to response. It would be several months later, the residents finally approved $200 for the department to get the right equipment. It was Hartmann Rohrbach who would service the steamer engine and Chief Heberer to get things rolling again.
In October of 1897, Chief Heberer ordered Independent Engine Company No. 2, to have Hartmann Rohrbach overhaul their engine and put it in good order. When Mr. Rohrbach was through with the engine it was in as good a condition as it ever was and then Chief Heberer asked that it should be cared for so that it will never get in such poor condition.
On October 17, 1901, a fire at the large kraut and pickle factory of the H. J. Heinz Company began around 8:00 PM when a lamp exploded in the engine room. The engine room was semi fire-proof, and the doors were immediately closed. The Fire Department quickly responded and caught the fire just as it was getting through the roof and within five minutes had it under control. The damage was estimated at about $500. The factory was running both night and day and if it had burned down many Hicksville people would have been without work.
A meeting held at the Grand Central Hotel on September 12, 1902, after the Town of Oyster Bay granted permission for the creation of a Fire District. Chief Heberer led the effort for almost a year and when the fire district was finally created there were three fire companies. Protection Hook and Ladder Company No 1, led by Foreman August Peters, Independent Engine Company No. 2, led by Fred Peters, and Citizens Engine Company No. 3, led by Frederick Schwartzenberger. They all agreed and signed an agreement to turn over all their property to the district. The property was valued at about $5,000. In addition to these three companies, there were two juvenile companies, and they do excellent work in getting out in quick time and are training for active work in the larger companies later. Apparatus was stored on Hartmann Rohrbach’s property.
During his term the department held its first Parade and Convention. Hicksville played host to the 5th Annual Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention in October of 1902. The parade was led by Grand Marshall Henry Puvogel who led the parade on horseback starting at John Street and Broadway and looped around ending at the Grand Central Hotel. Chief Heberer and his Assistant Chief Frederick Becker were followed by the Company Foremen; Frederick and August Peters and Joseph Schwartzenberger.
In 1902, Chief Heberer relied on a contract with a water company, who owned the water supply through mains, pipes and hydrants. During his term the village moved away from cisterns to 55 hydrants supplied by the Nassau County Water Company. In January 1904, Volunteer Hose Company 4 was approved by the Board to organize and was overseen by Chief Heberer. The Board would contract for a new hose cart to be used by Company 4 and the new Company was limited to 25 new members. E.R Day was elected Foreman with Adam Dauch and Frank Brown was elected as his Assistant Foremen.
On November 8, 1905, there was a fire at the Hartmeier cottage on Nicholai Street. The fire was outside the fire hydrant limits and they could do nothing about the lack of water. The cottage was occupied by Jacob Kellner and family. They had barely enough time to exit the cottage with just the clothes on their backs.
Property for a new firehouse was purchased from Fred Herzog for $375. The property was located on Mary Street, next to the Long Island Railroad tracks. After working on procuring the property for over 10 years, Chief Heberer was able to secure a proposition to erect a firehouse for its members. The Town of Oyster Bay made the resolution to the people of Hicksville. There was opposition between the firefighters and the taxpayers over the proposed $6,000 expense. Chief Heberer had his members rode throughout the village to muster up support. When the polls were closed, and the tally was made 103 voters of a possible 108 came out and voted. Sixty residents voted in favor while 42 people voted against the proposition. On November 1, 1904, the cornerstone was laid and placed into position by Ernest Liebke, one of the oldest firemen on Long Island. At the age of 85, Ernest was still an active fireman and was serving as Commissioner.
In May of 1905, Andrew’s wife, Elizabeth passed away and he was devastated. He would graciously step aside to allow his 1st Assistant Chief Julius Augustin to take the reins with John Puvogel going on to serve as 1st Assistant Chief.
Prior to entering politics, Andrew owned and operated his own grocery store in Hicksville. He succeeded Charles Stoll as the Justice of the Peace in Hicksville in 1925. He was a member of the Board of Education, Charter member of the Bank of Hicksville, Director and past president of the Plain Lawn Cemetery and a member and District Deputy Grand Marshall of the Odd Fellows. Andrew Heberer was a prominent member of the Robert L. Bacon Republican Club and served as its leader. He served as the Chaplin for Nassau County Jail and the Jones Institute. He was an ordained minister at the Hicksville Methodist Church and taught Sunday School.
At the age of 69, Chief Heberer suffered a fatal heart attack while driving home on February 5, 1935, and he is interred at the Bethpage United Methodist Cemetery in Bethpage.
