22. Henry Robert Gleckler (1933-1934)
Served 2 Years
Henry Gleckler was born March 11, 1899, to John and Henriette (Rinne) Gleckler at 15 John Street in Hicksville. He married Margaret Dolliber in 1925 and resided at 19 Sterling Place. He was employed as a plumber for Braun Bros for 45 Years.
He joined the Department in 1918 as a member of Volunteer Hose Company 4, where he served as their Captain in 1927.
Harry, as he was known in the department, was elected the 22nd Chief in 1933 and again in 1934, with Valentine Kerbs serving as 1st Assistant Chief and Henry Luhmann as his 2nd Assistant Chief. Members were given first aid insignias to be sewn on their uniforms.
At the April meeting of the Department, the members voted in favor of creating the position of Financial Secretary. When the vote was tallied, William Cisler had 65 votes, Edward Strong had 40, Fritz Gleckler with 2 and rounding out the field with one was George Gleckler. William Cisler was declared elected and would receive an annual salary of $40.
On February 18, 1933, the fire alarm sounded at about 3:00 PM and the Hicksville Fire Department lost no time in getting to the burning building. It was the Fred Kunz house, located on Ninth Street, and Jerusalem Avenue. While working at the fire one of the ladders broke in two and August Jud dislocated several knuckles, misplaced his knee, while Tony Fussalo broke a rib. They were attended to by Dr. Rave. The origin of the fire was a mystery. The family was visiting neighbors across the street when the blaze was discovered.
Chief Gleckler dedicated the new Firehouse in May of 1933. Prior to construction in 1932, the old firehouse (now Peppercorns Restaurant) had been moved to its current location. A combination of brick and stone, the new headquarters has many up-to-date features and is among the best equipped firehouses in the county. It was built on the site of the old building which had served the community for 25 years. The new building is complete in every detail. The main floor accommodates the apparatus of all five companies of the department. A large recreation area, company and commissioners' meeting room and the lounge are on the upper floor. Kitchen facilities, shower rooms and an indoor drying rack, as well as space for a billiard table are in the basement. During his term, after the new station was opened, he ordered a Department photo betaken at the new fire station.
At the July meeting of 1933, the department members requested that a new Company be created as Company 6. This Company would be a Rescue Company to handle first aid alarms. When the vote was taken, 96 members voted and there were only 26 votes affirming the request while 67 members voted “no” and the motion was defeated. In September of the same year the members voted against the creation of a new By-Law that would have forced members who were elected as Fire Commissioner to take a leave of absence from their respective Company. When their term was completed, they would rejoin their Company with all missed time counted as active service. The resolution was overwhelmingly defeated.
On August 20, 1934, Chief Gleckler mourned the untimely passing of his brother Edwin Glecker at the tender age of 23. Edwin was hospitalized with kidney trouble in New York City. He was Captain of Volunteer Hose Company 4 and a member of the Department for 7 years at the time of his passing.
In November, just as Henry Puvogel finished a practice game of polo at the indoor field of the Hempstead Riding Academy on Mill Road, as he dismounted, he collapsed. He was carried into the dressing room, to which Dr. Stewart Ross of Hempstead was summoned. The doctor said Puvogel was dead when he arrived. Puvogel was 41 years old and was well known as a polo player and former member of the Department and father of Ex-Chief John Puvogel.
In late 1934, the Department Surgeon, Dr. August Rave resigned and was given Life Member status with a Gold Badge. In his place, Dr. Walter Stillger took his place.
Henry was Chairman of the Annual Labor Day Parade and Drill in 1935. He was elected Fire Commissioner in 1939 and was reelected to four terms or twenty years. While in office, he served as Chairman in 1943, 1947, 1952 and 1957.
After 50 years of service, Henry (Harry) Gleckler moved to Trumball, Connecticut, in 1968 where he lived out his final days and passed away on September 25, 1987. He is interred at Nichols Farm Burial Ground in Trumball, Connecticut.
