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Post by cfdoldbird on Nov 22, 2008 23:04:57 GMT -5
The story on the nickname "40 Thieves". The 40 Thieves were one of the first, if not the first, organized street gangs in New York City. It was formed in the early to mid 1800's and was made up primarily of the Irish. The story supposedly goes that this gang, as a part of their nefariousness, would go into building fires, mostly after they were extinguished, and steal anything that was salvagable. The nickname was adopted by the Van Guard Hose Company drill team in 1914. The "actual why they chose the name" part of this story is unclear and probably always will be, as many of the old-timers who could provide some insight into that question, are sadly no longer with us. But just guessing, choosing that name and associating yourself with the "40 Thieves gang" back in 1914 was probably considered "bad ass". That's the conclusion I drew anyway. The Patchogue FD also had company teams called: The Engine Company #1 "Jolly Tinkers (I'm sure many are familiar with this fact, and yes, I do have one of those snazzy t-shirts) and The Euclid Hose Company #2 "Sewing Circle", which was changed years later to "Bulldogs". Coincidentally, I saw this story of the Forty Thieves on the History Channel today. Couldn't believe it. Interesting. |
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Post by bleedskellblue on Jan 8, 2009 13:49:56 GMT -5
New Hyde Park used to be the gamblers.....after about 1000 differnt stories the only one believable is that the team watched as someone ran up the ladder and then stated "he ate up that ladder like a termite"....if anyone wants to know about the skell story youll have to ask in person
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Post by ChristianHooker on Oct 12, 2009 10:13:37 GMT -5
-Oceanside "Sailors" (Columbia Engine) is actually the nickname of the high school teams, and goes back to Oceanside's nautical tradition.
-The "Mariners" from South Side Hose follows the same nautical history. South Side, as the name indicates, is located in the south end of town, bordering the salt marsh, and thus surrounded by many of these same sailors.
-South Side has also been known over the years as the "South Siders" and the "Boondockers" to demonstrate their distance from the "developed" part of town.
-Salamander Hook, Ladder & Bucket Co originally raced as the "Bingo Boys" in honor of their big mode of fundraising in the first half of the century- holding bingo nights in their fire hall. In later years, they raced simply as the "Salamanders"
-Oceanside Hose Co 1 has been known as the "Eggnoggers" in honor of their annual holiday Eggnog party, a long-standing tradition.
In 1994, the department that raced for a century as separate company teams combined their forces as the "Misfits." This was also the town's first motorized team in decades.
On a less official note, the annual Nanook Drill sees the Christian Hook "Hookers & Hose." Christian Hook was the original name of Oceanside, until the name was changed to become a bigger indicator of the town's location and new industry- oysters from the surrounding waters.
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Post by NANOOKS on Oct 14, 2009 1:16:19 GMT -5
Interesting with the Christian Hook being the name of Oceanside...
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