Jackie Morris is pictured with (l to r) Chief Retired (the late) D. Scott Warthman, Fire Department Historian Gerald Remington, Museum Curator and Fire Chief Gregory Wing, as she presents a fire helmet from 1882 to the Fire Department. It will be added to the fire memorabilia in the Fire Museum located at Station #4 behind the Firefighter's Monument. Submitted photo

Brockport Fire Department receives historical treasure

The Brockport Fire Department museum recently received an old fire helmet formerly worn by Assistant Chief Engineer Leonard Krausey in 1882. Krausey held the position under Chief John A. Getty. Getty was the first fire chief of the department after reorganization in 1877, and is revered as the father of the fire department as we all know it today. Interestingly enough, these two chiefs, with the aid of Assistant Chief John Knowles, commanded one of the largest fires in Brockport history on June 22 and 23, 1882 when the Johnston Harvester Factory located on North Main Street burned. The fire left 450 men out of work and the factory was never rebuilt.

In addition, Krausey was a Civil War veteran. Several items belonging to him were acquired by Anna Rothfuss, now in her nineties. Mrs. Rothfuss passed the helmet, a certificate of membership in the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Tower Society of Brockport and an oil painting of a steam fire engine to her son, Ira, for safekeeping. Ira contacted Jackie Morris, village historian, who accepted these items to be housed and preserved locally.