Competition between the many volunteer Fire Departments on Long Island can trace it’s history back to the late 1800’s when tournaments were held to display the firefighting skills of the volunteers using the equipment in use at that time. These would consist of ladder climbing and hose events that also included hand-drawn equipment and, of course, a ‘bucket brigade’. With the development of motorized vehicles, these contests evolved over many years to what is used today, but the ‘basics’ of these competitions echo back to an earlier time when each Drill Team strove to be ‘the best’ at that day’s tournament. Central Islip’s earliest entry into these events took place in 1909 when the ‘Central Islip Fire Company’ voted to take place in the #1 and #2 contests to be held at the Annual Tournament in Southampton in September. There is no mention of the ‘Company’s’ performance in these two events in the minutes. Central Islip also attended the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen’s Association tournament in Sayville in 1910 with the Hook & Ladder and Chemical Engine (at the time, the Department’s only two pieces of equipment). Many years of dedication and hard work were realized when the “Hoboes” captured their first tournament victory by winning the Islip Town VFA Drill in West Sayville in July of 1961. It was the first of many subsequent Championships on many levels (Town, County, State, etc.). The Team re-organized in 1962 creating the positions of President and Vice-President. The Captain and two Lieutenants were to take care of the preparation of the team for competition on the track, and the new Executive Officers were to handle the business portion of the Team’s activities. The Arch and Track at Station #2 on Wheeler Road was completed in August of 1962 and became the site of over 100 Drills on various levels (over 75 motorized) including Juniors’ competitions. The “Hoboes” achieved the ultimate distinction of capturing the first of their six New York State Championships on August 22, 1963 being crowned as ‘State Champions’ at the Drill held in Niagara Falls. A new building for the Team was constructed in 1968 to the rear of Station #2 – this is referred to as Station #2 ½, or simply as “The Shack”. Up to this time, the Team operated out of Station #2 where they had a locker room facility and where the 2 trucks were stored. The Team won its’ 2nd State Championship at Watertown on August 15, 1970.The third State Championship was won, again at Watertown, on August 21, 1976 and the fourth at Hempstead on August 26, 1978. This was an especially distinct victory as it marks the only time in State Championship history that a Team has won without the use of a ‘C’ Truck. This was due to the fact that the engine was rendered completely out of service during a test run the night before the Drill. The Team placed in all 8 contests in one Drill for the first time at the Southern New York Drill held at Mineola in 1979, and scored the most points by a “Hoboes” Team with 35 ½ points at Farmingville in 1986. The fifth State Championship for the “Hoboes” came on August 19, 1990 at Main-Transit (Buffalo) and the sixth at Hempstead on August 14, 1993. The 1993 season was the most successful in Team history with 6 tournament victories for that year. An impressive performance in the Efficiency Contest in 2002 resulted with first place finishes in all 8 recognized Suffolk County Drills for the year, with the Team scoring 40 out of 40 possible points. This is the first time that any Suffolk County Team has accomplished this feat for any one contest in any one year. The Drill Team has been an important part of the Department in its’ over 80 year existence whether known as the “Running Team”, “Golden Arrows” or “Hoboes”. |
