26. Charles Phillip Steinhauer Jr. (1939-1940)
Served 1 Year
Charles Steinhauer was born July 31, 1897, on the family farm in Central Park (Bethpage, NY) to Charles Sr. and Josephine (Krauss) Steinhauer. He married Mildred Herte in September of 1923 and was employed as a Machinist and Automotive Mechanic for M.J. Knipfing & Sons in Westbury. He lived at 32 West Cherry Street, 45 Park Avenue, and his last home at 19 First Street, all in Hicksville.
Charles joined Volunteer Hose Company 4 in 1915 and served as their Captain in 1928 and as their Treasurer. Charles was elected 2nd Assistant Chief 1936 through 1938 and as 1st Assistant Chief in 1938 and was ultimately elected the 26th Chief in April of 1939. His Assistant Chiefs were Charles Jud and Vincent Braun.
It was during his term that the district would purchase members dress uniforms, adopting a new style uniform. It was in June that the Hicksville Water District decided that they would paint fire hydrants “yellow” that were at the end of the water main. This would allow responding firefighters the ability to recognize that the water pressure was low and that they should not hook up more than one apparatus on this same main line.
At a Fire Prevention demonstration Chief Steinhauer explained that common sense will go far toward reducing the loss of life and property from fire. Joining Chief Steinhauer was Captain Jack Sweeney of the Nassau County Firemen's school. A battery of speakers discussed before the large audience in the auditorium of fire headquarters several things which should be done and a greater number which should not be done to guard against fire in homes, business buildings and elsewhere. The demonstration followed a parade through the center of the village, under command of Chief Steinhauer with firemen and apparatus from the Hicksville, Jericho, and Plainview Fire Departments. Chief John McDonald was in command of the Jericho Department and the Plainview Department was under command of Chief Conrad Staehler. The Charles Wagner American Legion post band played. Chief Steinhauer insisted that fire prevention should be practiced 52 weeks in the year, not one week. He paid high tribute to Erie H. LeBarron, Superintendent of Hicksville Schools, who would never allow a minute to pass without some discussion on fire prevention. He believed that the school was the best setting to teach fire safety to school children. The system inaugurated and followed by Mr. LeBarron should be taken as a pattern for all schoolmen throughout the country.
On October 2, 1939, fire damage to the plant of the Press Radio Corporation on Cantiague Road was estimated at $300. The fire was caused by a short circuit and the damage was mainly to the one-story frame building housing the plant although some repairs and replacements must be made to apparatus, it was reported. Hicksville firemen were under command of Chief Steinhauer who controlled the blaze before serious damage was done to receiving apparatus. The plant is one of the receiving stations of the corporation in the metropolitan area.
Chief Steinhauer received his 25-Year Gold Badge with Henry Schnepf in 1940 from Chief Vince Braun. Charles was a Charter Member, Trustee and President (1942) of the Volunteer and Exempts Firemen’s Benevolent Association of Hicksville.
Chief Steinhauer passed away at the age of 57 on July 28, 1955, and he is interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery, Hicksville
