13. William Joseph Braun (1918-1919)
Served 2 Years
William Braun was born on April 17, 1887, in Hicksville and was the son of William Sr. and Sophia (Betcha) Braun. They lived at Dutch Lane. William married Mary Catherine Jacobs in November of 1909, and they lived at 77 Broadway, then 83 Halsey Avenue. William was a painter before inheriting the butcher shop from his grandfather on Broadway.
William joined as a Charter member of Citizens Engine Co.# 3 before transferring to Volunteer Hose Company 4 where he served as their Captain from 1909 through 1911. After leaving office as Captain, he was elected as the Department Recording Secretary in 1911.
In 1918, William, without previously serving as an Assistant Chief was elected the 13th Chief to serve the Department. In December of the same year, during nominations, there were members that wanted a change. After the vote was taken Chief Braun received 28 votes, while Ex-Chief Wiliam Mohrbach received 27 and Ex-Chief George Neder garnered 25. William was duly elected for his second term. As for his Assistant Chiefs, Henry Schnepf was re-elected with 20 votes to Lawrence Braun’s 12. The second Assistant Chief position was also not without challenges. Henry Puvogel and Charles Schaefer both received 16 votes. After a second vote on election night, one member changed his vote. Henry Puvogel received 19, while Charles Schaefer came up short with 17.
During his first year of 1918 the second motor apparatus, a replica of the first, was received, replacing the old hand engine of Company 2. The same year, a fire at the Joseph Keller property destroyed the barn and outlying buildings on Woodbury Avenue. The damage was worse than it should have been due to several frozen fire hydrants.
In April 1918, the department responded to Jericho, the home of William Underhill, for an outlying building on the estate. Firemen prevented the flames from spreading to the handsome Underhill home. The grain building was destroyed, including the area on the second floor used for the hired hand. The cause was from the stove overheating and setting fire to the building.
A fire broke out in the barn on the Henry Kuhl farm located on West John Street. The quick response by the fire department using their motorized apparatus, contained the blaze before it would have destroyed the building.
On October 14, 1918, Chief Braun introduced a resolution recognizing the deepest sympathy for Walter Wheeler, offering sincere and heartfelt sympathy for his act of heroism, and paying the ultimate sacrifice in the great war of World War I. The Fire House was draped in mourning and the flag placed at half-mast in memory of Private Wheeler, who died in France serving his country, on August 24. The deceased private was an honored and beloved member of Volunteer Hose Company 4.
Just a few weeks later, Chief Braun was notified that a gold star was added to Hicksville's honor roll as another member had given up his all in his country's service on foreign soil. Sergeant Joseph A. Barry being the second member of the community and member of the department to die in a French hospital. Notification from the War Department reached the Chief on November 8, 1918. Once again the Fire House was draped in mourning and the flag placed at half-mast in memory of Sergeant Barry who was a member of Independent Engine and Hose Company 2.
Due to a business decision, William resigned after serving 3 months into 1919, turning over the reins to Henry Schnepf.
At the end of 1919, William was elected to serve as Fire Commissioner, a position he held for over 27 Years. He was elected to five, five-year terms and served as Chairman of the Board in 1923, 1928, 1931, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945, and 1950. It has been said by the early members that William had a passion and drive that steered the district in a positive direction.
William was a member of the Joseph Barry Council of the Knights of Columbus and served as a Charter member and their first Grand Knight.
William’s son, Vincent was also a member of Hose Company 4 and was Chief of the Fire Department. The Braun family extends through many generations and across several notable families within the firefighter community (i.e. Gebhardt, Schuckmann, Saurer, Ofenloch). Vincent’s great grandchildren, William and John Zike, continue the family tradition as 4th generation volunteer firefighters in Volunteer Hose Company 4. His great-great- grandson, Steven served as well in Volunteer Hose Company 4 before transitioning to the New York City Fire Department.
Chief William Braun passed away on January 19, 1969, and is interred in the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.
Circa 1918, showing the 2nd motor apparatus which was a replica of the first as seen in the center bay, replaced the old hand engine of Company 2.
