4. Julius William Augustin (1906)
Served 1 Year
Julius Augustin was born on October 5, 1879, in Queens and was the son of Julius and Louisa (Freytag) Augustin. He lived in a large home on Broadway. The homestead was taken down in 1984 to make way for Delco Plaza. His father, Julius Sr. passed away when he was only 7 years old, leaving his mother to raise him.
In the 1870’s, Julius Augustin started a grocery and general mercantile business in the late William Freytag store building on Broadway. He conducted this very successful business up to 1890, when he sold it to Henry F. Huettner. He continued to manage the furniture business and coal yard. Julius married Helen Bacon in August of 1904 and three years later she passed away in 1907 at the age of 25.
Julius was an Assistant Chief from 1904 1905 and it was in 1905 when Chief Heberer stepped aside following the death of his wife. When Julius was appointed to fill the term from October through December. He would go on to be elected to his own term as the 4th Fire Chief in 1906. His 1st Assistant Chief was John Puvogel, and it was also decided by the Board of Fire Commissioners that a position of 2nd Assistant Chief be created to help in the leadership duties. Charles Henry Huettner from Company 4 was appointed.
During his term, Chief Augustin battled a blaze involving several buses of the People's Bus Line. After the buses were getting a supply of gas in front of the Hicksville Garage on Jerusalem Avenue, suddenly the buses burst into flames. If it were not for the prompt arrival of the Hicksville Fire Department with their chemical apparatus it would have been a total loss. It was noted during the investigation that Mr. Lauck, the owner of the bus company, after measuring out 6 gallons of gas was asked to put another 5 gallons into a tank. As he put in the sixth gallon, some of the gas overflowed the tank and flames suddenly burst forth between the tank and the engine. After trying to fight the fire alone, Mr. Lauck finally telephoned the alarm to be sounded. At the time of supplying gas, the motor was not running, so the blame was placed on an overheated motor and defective wiring.
It was on Decoration Day, May 30, 1906, under the direction of Chief Augustin, the Hicksville Fire Department entered their new home. The new firehouse cost $6,000. It was described in the local paper that “it was like a wandering spirit which has become tired of its journeys, it fluttered into its new quarters, as if half afraid to enter but as the machines found their way into position, there was quite an amount of satisfaction expressed at the change”.
There has been a universal demand for years for a new engine or fire house in Hicksville, there were many comments both pro and con. The opening of the fire house settled all the debates by residents. Hicksville had a firehouse that favorably compared with any on Long Island. The building was 40 feet square, two stories high, with an extension of 15 feet by 24 feet, which is occupied with a janitor’s quarters. The ground floor is made of cement and had lockers, toilets, and washroom for the firemen. The height of the first floor was 12 feet with a second floor that had a large assembly room. The room was 40 feet square, 17 feet in height, with a dome in the center. In the center of the room between four dome posts was an oak table, surrounded with eight leather-backed chairs and twenty-six polished chairs for the members who attend meetings. Off to the north end was a sliding pole to the lower story to assist in quick call of firemen who may be present at meetings.
In November of 1906, John Puvogel resigned as 1st Assistant Chief, and it was decided to wait for new elections to appoint a new Assistant Chief. The following month, the Board of Fire Commissioners dropped their role of appointing a Chief each year, allowing the members to choose their candidates. The Board retained their right to approve the appointments. After the Steamer was found in disrepair, Chief Augustin had local machinist and Swedish immigrant Carl Karlson overhaul the unit. In December of 1906, the Steamer was tested and found in perfect working condition.
At the election for 1907 there were some members in the department that were disappointed with Chief Augustin. At the election Chief Augustin was nominated for Chief from Company 3 and 4. However, Company 1 and 2 nominated Jacob Christ. With the snowy weather, voter turnout was low. After 65 votes were cast, Jacob Christ received 36 votes, while Chief Augustin only 29.
When Chief Augustin’s wife Louisa died in 1907, he was left a widower with a one-year-old daughter. He would leave Hicksville for Washington State. He left his daughter to be raised by his mother Helen and his Aunt Lou in 1911. Chief Augustin would remarry Dorothy Hill.
Chief Augustin passed away on January 19, 1953, in Spokane Washington and he was brought back home to Hicksville and is interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery.
The First Hicksville Firehouse on Mary Street Cost $6,000. Still stands today across from existing Headquarters on what is now known as East Marie Street or Gebhardt Plaza)
