36. Wilber Arnold Jeanson (1954-1955)
Served 1 Year
Wilber Arnold Jeanson was born August 20, 1910, in Hicksville and is the son of John and Martha (Mahoney) Jeanson. He lived in the Jeanson homestead on the corner of Broadway (next door to St John’s Orphanage). He married Beatrice Mohrbach in 1946. He was employed as a Well Driller for CW Lauman Water Contractor and later for Grumman Aerospace.
Although born with the name “Wilber” he went by his middle name, Arnold. He joined Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1 on March 31, 1932, and served as 2nd Lieutenant in 1943, 1st Lieutenant in 1944 and went onto serve as their Captain 1945-1946.
Arnold was elected the 36th Fire Chief in 1954 and his Assistant Chiefs were Larry Huttle, 1st Assistant and Medard Ofenloch, 2nd Assistant.
Coming into the mid-fifties, the Northwest Civic Association completed a six-month effort to petition the Fire Department to accept a Chevrolet Ambulance, which the residents were able to raise the necessary funds. It was estimated that $ 13,000.00 was raised and the Fire district accepted the keys during the Labor Day ceremonies in 1955.
The Board of Fire Commissioners proposed to Chief Jeanson local properties for sub-fire stations of the district. The appropriation of funds for the purchase of three locations was included in the 1954 district budget. The Board accepted contracts that have been signed by the Board of Fire Commissioners for the purchase of three sites for sub-firehouses. The sites include (1) triangular piece, about 170 ft. fronting on Woodbury Road at Briggs and Ronald Streets; (2) 180 x 100 piece on west side of Newbridge Road at corner of Buffalo Street and (3) property on west side of Strong Street measuring 183 x 119 feet and about 125 feet from the corner of West John Street. Architect plans were drawn for buildings to be proposed for each parcel.
There were three notable fires while he was Chief. The first on the property of Phil Barberie Property on Cantigue Road; the 2nd had firefighters answering a call at the Stackler and Frank property, the former St. John’s Protectory barn on North Broadway when the building caught fire. The third fire caused damage estimated at $40,000 and ruined the Aircraft Restaurant at the corner of Herzog Place and Broadway. The blaze broke out apparently in the kitchen and the blaze gutted the restaurant kitchen. It caused damage to an adjacent decorating shop and a dress factory on the second floor. It was the most destructive fire in the community in over 10 years.
Chief Jeanson was a member of the Hicksville FD Labor Day Parade & Tournament Committee. During his term, the department was saddened to learn of the passing of Ex-Chief Edward Schluter Sr. who served as Chief in 1913-1914.
Arnold’s two brothers, John, and Otto were members of Company 5 and 1. John served as Captain on two separate occasions. The family homestead has its own street named after the family, known as “Jeanson Place”, located off Nevada Street close to the entrance of the Broadway Mall. The Jeanson home once stood next to the St. John’s Orphanage.
In 1969 Arnold was appointed to the post of Water Commissioner after the passing of George Kunz. He was appointed by both the Town of Oyster Bay and Town of Hempstead and took his post immediately. He was elected to his own term the following year and while in his 3rd year of his term, the district was stunned with his untimely passing.
He was corresponding secretary of the Hicksville Republican Club, secretary of the Hicksville Committeemen’s Counsel and a member of the Manetto Lodge No. 1025 of Hicksville.
Chief Jeanson passed away on January 21, 1975, and he was interred at Plain Lawn Cemetery in Hicksville.
