34. Stanford (Sam) Weiss (1950-1952)
Served 2 Years
Stanford “Sam” Weiss was born on December 31, 1906, and was the son of Harry and Hannah (Goodman) Weiss. They lived at 35 Broadway. He married Catherine “Kitty” (Waller) Weiss in June of 1929. They lived on Herzog Place, at 109 Plainview Road and on Bethpage Road. Sam was first a Dairy Farmer that ended in 1930 and later owned his own electric business, known as Ultra Electric, for over 20 years.
Sam’s father, Harry, owned a grocery store on Broadway, and he was a member of Company 2 around 1915. His mother Hannah was a founding member and the 1st President of the Ladies Auxiliary. Sam was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army in 1943.
Sam joined Emergency Company 5 on April 4, 1930, and was assigned badge 234, when they were stationed on Marie Street. Sam was appointed 2nd Lieutenant to fill the remaining term of August Cardella when he resigned in August of 1937. He would be elected as 1st Lieutenant in 1937 and would become the 8th Captain in 1938. As Captain, Sam would create a new Committee to oversee the publicity and post notices in the local paper.
Sam was elected by the membership as the 34th Chief of the Department from 1950 to 1952. His Assistant Chiefs were Edward Schluter Jr. (1st) and Wilber (Arnold) Jeanson (2nd).
A letter was presented to the Board of Commissioners after a small fire in a Levitt-built house. The letter was placed in circulation by the North-Levittown Homeowners Committee after a 5 day investigation. The report branded the fire department as incompetent, and the report was considered a barefaced attempt to besmirch the integrity of the Hicksville Fire Department. The charges which were presented were ridiculous and show a complete lack of knowledge of the workings of the fire district or fire department. An independent committee of the Board of Fire Commissioners was made public into the fire at the home on Fork Lane, that proved conclusively that the charges of negligence on the part of the fire department are without foundation.
In March of 1951, an oil stove explosion burned out the lower floor of a house and injured a 71-year-old man, John Kelsey who was filling the oil stove reservoir in his home at 142 West John Street when the blast spewed liquid flames on living room furniture. Treated at the scene by Dr. Harriet Jackson of Meadowbrook Hospital East Meadow, for burns of the face and shock. Kelsey was taken to the hospital where he was reported in fair condition.
On July 3, 1951, property damage estimated at $3,000 was caused to the Just Rite Bakery on Broadway and Cherry Street, when the floor over the ovens in the rear of the building ignited. Additional damage of $300 to bread and cake dough ready for baking was also calculated. Thick smoke and clouds of steam hampered the firemen under the direction of Chief Stanford Weiss.
A resident at 218 Lee Avenue was burned when the gas tank in the car of which he was working on exploded and he was taken to Meadowbrook Hospital where he was treated for burns to his eyes and lacerations to his face.
On a cold November night, firemen were forced to drain the giant high overhead water tank next to the railroad station on Jerusalem Avenue. Over 500 spectators watched with anticipation as firemen searched for a small boy that they were told fell into the tank. Chief Weiss put up floodlights that would light up the sky as they shined on the 44-foot tank. To the hundreds of spectators, it seemed like an ominous death, when they located the boy’s bow and arrow that he was playing with. Chief Weiss decided to drain the tank through the feed line that served the railroad as he feared that the body in the tank would be drawn down the 34-inch pipe and become lodged at ground level where the pipe tapers. Assistant Chief Schulter and his crew on the top of the tank worked hours using grappling hooks to locate a boy. Firefighter Harold Hauxhurst had his employer, C.W. Lauman bring over 100 feet of metal piping that would be used to drain the tank. The futile 7-hour rescue ended when that tank was drained and no body was found. It would later be found out that it was the imagination of a young boy looking for attention.
The Department distributed 10,000 stickers to homes in the district, advising them to call a special number in case of fire. The number is Hicksville 3-0026. The red on white sticker measures 3 inches by 5 inches and is used for posting to a phone book or near the household phone. The listing of a number to call in case of fires is expected to eliminate much confusion and a delay in the routing of alarms to the Department. For more than a decade the phone number had been “unlisted” and was only connected in event of an emergency.
In October, Charter Department member from 1893 and past Assistant Foreman, Adam L. Dauch passed away and funeral services were held with Department honors. He was interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery.
On November 10, 1951, the entire department mourned the sudden death of Walter Francis Stillger, M.D. and Department Doctor, who served as a family physician and as an active civic leader for more than three decades. He died suddenly at the age of 60 and was interred with full Department Honors. The Department was also saddened to learn of the passing of former Chief William Duffy.
During Sam’s term, he was instrumental in bringing the Long Island Lighting Company (LILCO), a major electric utility to Hicksville. An office building complex was constructed that fronted Old Country Rd. This would become LILCO’s headquarters in Hicksville.
The Department, under Sam’s direction, was on duty for two successive nights fighting a persistent fire in tons of rubbish in the pit of the Searington Sand and Gravel Co. on the south side of West John Street. The fire continued to smolder and smoke throughout three days, until the debris was completely buried with sand by the pit operator. An estimated 60,000 gallons of water or more were poured into the flaming pit by the firemen to extinguish the blaze.
Sam also served as President of the Exempts Benevolent Association in 1949-1950 and served on the Labor Day Committee serving as Chairman in 1953 and 1957. As the Chairman in 1957, Sam was able to secure the newly opened Mid Island Shopping Plaza as an area to host future events. Sam worked with Stackler and Frank to host the 29th Annual tournament at this location. It would become a long-lasting agreement with the Mid Island Plaza. That year the Parade was attended by 4,104 firemen and ladies and a record 25,000 spectators showed up to witness the day’s events. The events ended with less than 1,000 spectators when the contest ended around midnight. The cause for the delay was due to the underground water main which broke, and a temporary water supply was provided by Karlson and Reed Contractors and the Hicksville Water District.
Sam was elected Fire Commissioner in 1959, serving one- five-year-term and served as Chairman in 1963. In 1972, Sam was elected as Water Commissioner, a post he held until 1980. During his term of office at the Hicksville Water District, residential homes and commercial buildings grew. The district increased their facilities to serve all its customers adequately. During his term of office, the district built its first Water Treatment Plant at Bethpage Road to improve the quality of water.
Sam served as Past President of; 9th Battalion Chiefs Council, Nassau County Firemen’s Association, FASNY; South Shore Firemen’s Association, and as a Nassau County Parade and Drill Official. In 1984 the membership elected Sam to receive the American Legion Award for his fifty years of active service to the community.
Sam was a long time Committeeman for the Ernest P. Francke Republican Club, Masons and Kismet Shriners.
Chief Weiss gave 56 years of active service to the Hicksville Community before passing away on July 12, 1988. He is interred at Montefiore Cemetery in Springfield Gardens, NY.
Chief Weiss shown fueling an antique fire apparatus during an upstate parade 
Ex Chief Weiss shown with a member of Engine Company 7 at a store fire Circa 1958
