For World's Fair Fans ... The Fire Dept at the '39 World's Fair

This has nothing to do with the reconstruction project, but is wonderful for all you Fair enthusiasts. ...


During the last 10 years I have watched the 1939 New York World’s Fair part of www.PMPhoto.to grow from my father’s 271 photos to more than 700 photos and stories about the Fair.

The latest addition to the site comes form Gary Urbanowicz, a New York City Fire Department Historian. Gary has sent in photos and information about a part of the Fair that I have not seen on any other World’s Fair site, and honestly, never even thought about it. Here is a little of what you’ll find at the New York Fire Department at the World’s Fair:

“Initially, the New York World’s Fair Corporation planned to establish its own fire department at the fairgrounds in Flushing Meadow Park. They hired Thomas F. Dougherty to lead this department. Dougherty, a member of the FDNY from 1888 through 1932, was a former Assistant Chief, a Bennett Medal Winner, and the namesake of an FDNY valor medal. The Corporation purchased five pumpers from the Ahrens-Fox company. At some point, the New York World’s Fair Corporation decided not to man the equipment with its own firefighters. In September 1938, the FDNY 55th Battalion was formed and stationed at the Fair to man the apparatus.”…

I believe this to be not only a wonderful addition to the site, but a tribute to the men of the New York Fire Department who did such a marvelous job protecting the people and structures at the Fair.

The second page on the site for the Fire Department is the “Record of the 55th Battalion” which is an article that was published in the July 1941 issue of the NY Fire Department magazine “WNYF”.

I would like to hear your comments on this addition to the site. I also ask readers to look for, and submit similar information about the police and security force at the Fair, I believe their story needs to told as well.