9. George Julius Neder Sr. (1914-1915)
Served 2 Years
George Julius Neder was born January 17, 1869, in Brooklyn to Andrew and Elizabeth Neder and moved to Hicksville in 1900, to his father’s farm on South Oyster Bay Road, which was later sold to Leroy Grumman in the 1930’s.
George married Pauline Lang and he owned his own garden business at 92 East Marie Street. They had several children, three of which served the volunteer fire service.
George joined Independent Engine & Hose Company 2 in 1903 and served as their Captain in 1906 and 1907. He also served as their Treasurer. When reviewing the meeting minutes, Chief Neder was an influential member of the department and carried much influence in the operation and dealings of everyday business.
George was appointed as 2nd Assistant Chief in 1913, when A.J. Connery resigned. Just a month later 1st Assistant Chief Joseph Ofenloch was suspended and removed from the Office. George Neder, the only remaining Assistant Chief was appointed by the Board as the 9th Fire Chief. His Assistant Chiefs were Fred Fricke and William Mohrbach who were appointed by the Board.
Chief Neder’s first meeting was not without controversy. It was noted that the Department Recording Secretary was suspended, and a new secretary had to be elected. Charles J. Schmitt was elected and served until October, when he was replaced by Lawrence Braun.
In December of 1913, Volunteer Hose Company 4 was suspended by the Board of Fire Commissioners for rules and infractions governing the department. In an effort to repair morale, Chief Neder with the assistance of Commissioner John Puvogel requested a vote by the Department to solicit the Board of Commissioners to reinstate Volunteer Hose Company 4 on November 11, 1914. The Department voted in favor of reinstating Company 4. However,at the Board level, two fire commissioners voted in favor while two voted against the motion. The Chairman, William Duffy refused to vote. It would take another meeting to get the Board to allow Volunteer Hose Company 4 to become part of the department again.
At a Special Meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners on November 13, the Board voted 3-2 to reinstate Volunteer Hose Company 4. The members who had come back were George Schaaf, Frank Brown, William Braun Jr., Walter Wheeler, Frank Junk, Henry Schnepf, Henry Puvogel, Fred Turner and Joseph Ofenloch. They would be joined by Anthony Manzolillo, John Gebhardt Jr., Eugene Stahle, Charles Ambron, Edward Ruf, and Jacob Karman on December 19, 1914.
Under his term in December of 1914, the firemen responded to the Jericho Hotel when gasoline was being used to clean clothing and ignited. The damage was confined to the room of origin and all items contained were lost in the blaze. The Jericho Hotel was known as the “Death Turn” during the Vanderbilt Cup races.
On January 6, 1915, Chief Neder received word that one of their charter members, Ernest Liebke, passed away at the age of 94. Mr. Liebke came to Hicksville in 1869 and lived on a little farm on Broadway. He was a cigar maker and the largest strawberry farmer at that time. He was a charter member of the old Chemical Engine Company and was an active member of the Fire Department up to 1905, when he resigned to be one of the first Fire Commissioners of the Hicksville Fire District, a position he held for five years.
In December of 1915, Postmaster and fireman, John Puvogel, was on his way to the office, when he discovered a fire in the Kenmore Hotel and turned in an alarm. He made his way through thick smoke and intense heat to reach the occupants. He led Mr. and Mrs. Smith to safety as they escaped in their nightclothes down the back stairway. The building was a total loss. The fire spread to the Chinese laundry occupied by Charlie Wah, who was able to save only his electric washing machine. The Kenmore Hotel loss was $5,000. It was owned by Mrs. Johanna Taliaferro of Hicksville.
After exiting as Chief, George was elected Department Treasurer where he served 18 years from 1916-1934. George served on the annual Hicksville Department Labor Day Parade and Tournament Committee, serving as its Treasurer.
George had two sons that went on to become members. His son Edmund Neder was a Charter member of Emergency Company 5, serving as Lieutenant and his son Robert was a member of Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1, serving as Treasurer. His grandson George Edmund Neder Jr. was a member with Volunteer Hose Company 4, serving as an Assistant Chief in the 30’s, before joining the Plainview Fire Department where he served as Chief in 1961.
George went onto be elected as Fire Commissioner starting in 1918 and spent 15 years, 3 terms and acted as Chairman of the Board in 1921, 1925 and 1929.
Chief George Neder Sr. was a 54-year member and passed away on June 7, 1964, at the age of 96. He is interred in the family plot at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
Edmund Neder, Chief Neder's son as a Charter Member of Company 5
Robert Neder, Chief Neder's son as a member of Company 1
