By Steve Grogan

Tally-Ho Member

In the 1800’s one of the only modes of transportation to then a very sparsely populated Long Island was the stagecoach that ran down Old Plank Road, now Merrick Road, from Brooklyn to Freeport. The stage was called a “Tally-Ho” and it made a stop at the “Tally-Ho Inn” that stood on the corner of Old Plank Road and Horton Avenue.

In early 1911, the Tally-Ho Inn was completely destroyed by fire due to the lack of fire protection in the area. Shortly thereafter a group of public spirited citizens in the area joined together to form a volunteer fire company. Thus Tally-Ho, the fire company, was born. Their first meeting of record was held on March 24, 1911 in a vacant building behind the reconstructed Tally-Ho Inn. In March 1912, the State of New York granted a certificate of incorporation for “Tally-Ho Chemical Engine Company #3 of Lynbrook, New York.”

A chemical fire engine of the hand-drawn variety was purchased and a suitable bell was obtained to summon the volunteers. Tally-Ho was now ready to help protect the area communities. In addition to covering the western part of Lynbrook, Tally-Ho protection area extended north to Franklin Square, south to Hewlett and Valley Stream on the west. Membership included residents from each of these areas. With the help of the Tally-Ho Ladies Auxiliary, formed in 1912, many dances, balls and card parties were held to help raise money to pay expenses for the new fire company. No taxation was ever requested from the area residents for this fire protection.

In the minutes of the February 4, 1914 company meeting, the Lynbrook Fire Department, of which Tally--Ho was not yet a member of, commended Tally-Ho’s assistance at the Lyceum Theatre fire on Union Avenue. Tally-Ho also helped fight the Nassau Hotel fire in Long Beach and the Ocean front fire in Rockaway Beach.

In 1916, Tally-Ho joined the United Fire Departments. This department was made up of independent fire companies operating in unincorporated areas. It was composed of Norwood Hook and Ladder of Malverne, Franklin Hook and Ladder of Munson, and Tally-Ho of Lynbrook.

In 1918, with its volunteer membership growing, Tally-Ho moved into its present firehouse on Horton Avenue, just down the block from the original firehouse and Tally-Ho Inn. In 1922, the Incorporated Village of Lynbrook extended its boundaries westerly to include the Horton Avenue location of Tally-Ho. Under state law, the company could no longer be independent and was forced to join the Lynbrook Fire Department, or disband. Joining the LFD presented a problem because the membership was equally divided between residents of Lynbrook and Valley Stream. An agreement was reached where the members who lived in Lynbrook kept the firehouse and joined the LFD, while members who lived in Valley Stream took the Tally-Ho fire engine, a newly purchased Model-T, and formed their own company in Valley Stream. Thus Engine Company #2 of the Valley Stream Fire Department, located at Brooklyn Avenue and Sunrise Highway, was formed. Tally-Ho and Engine #2 are sister companies and both take pride in the warm relationship that still exists today between these two companies.

In the 1920’s Tally-Ho expanded the firehouse to include a second piece of equipment, a larger hall for dances and a brick face was put on the outside of the firehouse. During the 1920’s Tally-Ho was the center of entertainment for many in the surrounding areas. In the 1920’s Tally-Ho formed its own Junior Fire Department which participated in hose tournaments. One of those juniors, Jim Mariano, is still active today in Tally-Ho.

Over the years, Tally-Ho has gone from hand-drawn pumper and Model-T at its beginning, to a Mack combination pumper in 1923, to a Seagrave 750 gallon pumper in 1947, to a Mack 1000 pumper in 1961 to its present Seagrave pumper obtained in 1976. All of the pumpers were painted red up to the present Seagrave which is lime green. At a company meeting in 1974 the company was equally split between red and the lime green as the color for the new truck. The captain of Tally-Ho at the time voted for lime green. Tally-Ho is presently working on specifications for a new pumper to be purchased in the next two years.

One of the items in the firehouse that has a long history is the brass fire pole. Tally-Ho is one of the few firehouses on Long Island that has a brass fire pole for the volunteers to slide down from the second floor meeting room to the apparatus floor below when an alarm sounds.

In June 1980, company members found a rotting antique Model-T fire engine upstate, which originally was built for the Upper Jay NY Fire Department. The members brought it home to Tally-Ho and over the years have restored the antique. The restored Model-T is seen every year in the annual village Memorial Day Parade and at other fire department functions.

The firehouse on Horton Avenue still stands today as the center of activity as it did in the 1920’s for its members and the many residents who use the hall, also expanded over the years, for local and political activities, weddings, graduations, and other family gatherings and affairs.

In Tally-Ho’s long year history, nine of its members served over 50 years as a Tally-Ho volunteer. In the past few years, John Cribbin, Clarie Matzen, and James “The Rock” Mairino, were honored for their 50 years of volunteer service. The Rock, who passed away just over a year ago, will be missed by all the Tally-Ho members.

Over the years, while new equipment replaced the old, the company continues to attract young community-minded volunteers, as in 1911, who are dedicated to protect the lives and property of the residents of Lynbrook. And as the members changed, new faces replaced long remembered ones, and sons replaced fathers. One thing that has always remained throughout Tally-Ho’s history has been the camaraderie and support that each member gives to each other and the company. For over 97 years the members commitment and dedication to his fellow residents has made Tally-Ho what it is today.

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