The importance of a ‘Juvenile’ or ‘Juniors’ Program was evident at an early time in the Department’s history, and one means of generating interest was the formation of a ‘Juvenile Fire Department’ as approved by the Department at the September 10, 1945 Meeting. The Ladies Auxiliary donated $200.00 and each Department member was assessed $5.00 each with the total to be raised of $1,000.00. The group would be limited to 50 members and would have their own By-Laws. First Assistant Chief Rudolph Hahn was put “in full charge of Juveniles” by Chief William Schork in 1946. This was primarily a Musical Unit which marched with the Department at parades. Lessons were provided by a High School music teacher and each member received $1.00 for each parade attended (as per Honorary Chief George Clancy who was a member at that time). There was no firefighting training provided to those in this group, and it was disbanded in the mid 1950’s.
In October of 1964, Ed Miller, Sr. was appointed as a ‘Committee of One’ to look into the formation of a new ‘Juvenile Fire Department’, but no action was taken at that time.
No more discussion was held regarding a Junior Program until December of 1974 when a Committee was directed to investigate the formation of a Junior Fire Department. This consisted of Deputy Chief K.O. Jackson, Tom Doyle, Bob Hamilton, Herman Hugo, Douglas ‘Boots’ Masterton and others that would include Ted O’Brien (known to all as ‘O.B’).
The Central Islip Junior Fire Department was officially organized at the December 1975 Department Meeting with 48 members accepted. Meetings were to be held on the second Friday of every month. The Juniors participated in their first parade on Memorial Day in May of 1976, and their first parade with the Department was in Lindenhurst the following week. Their first tournament participation was also the next day, in Lindenhurst. The first of many annual Installation of Officers Dinners for the Juniors was held on November 5, 1976 at the Fire House. Members were granted approval to join the Fire Department at the age of 17 provided they had at least two years of service with the Juniors. Bill Cordingley and Robert A. (Bob) Miller were the first members of the Juniors to join the Department in February of 1978. Bob Miller was the first member of the Juniors to serve as Chief of the Department (from 1998-2000). The Junior “Hoboes” sponsored the New York State Junior Drill for the first of many times in 1978 at the track facility at Station #2. Juniors’ member Jim McMullen, Jr. was presented with a plaque for action taken at a fire in a neighbor’s home in August of 1979.
Good school grades are required of all members, and the Coaches and Board of Directors periodically check the report cards of all members. Basic training and classroom sessions in firefighting techniques are held with the intention of attracting a continuous group of new members to the ranks of the Fire Department. To date, many dozens of Juniors have become members as a result of this Program. In addition to Chief Bob Miller (1998-2000), two other Juniors’ members have served in the Chief’s Office – Charles ‘Chuck’ Doyle served as Chief of the Department from 2004-2006, and Philip Falco who served from 2008-2011. Many have served as Company Officers over the years. In addition, numerous members of the Department have served as Coaches, dedicating many hours toward the success of the Team
The Team has been very successful in Drill Team competition winning over 40 drills in their history, and by capturing a total of eight New York State Championships – 1980 @ Sea Cliff (which was also the Team’s very first Drill Team victory); 1989 @ Central Islip; 1999 @ Hagerman; 2000 at Center Moriches (Ridge); 2001 @ Lindenhurst; and 2005 @ Hagerman, 2008 @ Selden, and 2009 @ Hagerman, 2016 and 2019@ Central Islip.
The Central Islip Junior Fire Department (“Junior Hoboes”) has been a very successful part of the Department’s development since its’ inception, and the current Team of over 30 members continues to develop their skills, hoping someday to join the ranks of the Central Islip Fire Department.
"JUNIOR HOBOES” VICTORIES"
1980
**New York State Champions @ Sea Cliff**
1988
@ Central Islip
1989
@ Central Islip
**New York State Champions @ Central Islip**
1990
@ Lindenhurst
East Islip Drill @ Central Islip
1991
@ Lindenhurst
1993
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
1995
@ Hagerman
1999
@ Lindenhurst
@ Hagerman
@ Farmingville
**New York State Champions @ Hagerman**
2000
@ Central Islip
@ Hagerman
**New York State Champions @ Center Moriches**
2001
@ Lindenhurst
@ Central Islip
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
@ Farmingville
**New York State Champions @Lindenhurst**
2002
@ Central Islip
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
@ Farmingville
Islip Town Drill @ West Sayville
2004
@ Islip Terrace
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
2005
@ Central Islip
@ Hagerman
@ Farmingville
**New York State Champions @ Hagerman**
2006
@ Hicksville
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
2008
@ Lindenhurst
@ Hagerman
@ West Sayville (&Town of Islip)
**New York State Champions @ Selden**
2009
@ Lindenhurst
@ Hagerman
Bay Shore @ Central Islip
Islip Town @ West Sayville
@ Islip Terrace
** New York State Champions @ Hagerman**
2011
Bay Shore @ Central Islip
2015
2016
2019
Bay Shore Drill @ Central Islip
**New York State Champions**
Central Islip Invitational
Farmingville Invitational
**New York State Champions @ CI**
Total Tournament Victories - 50
New York State Total Points Champions – 1989,1991,1999,2000,2001,2002,2005, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019
Past Captains of the “Junior Hoboes” is as follows:
1976
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2014
Kevin Jackson
Robert A. Miller
Mark Miller
Thomas Doyle, Jr.
Timothy Crawford
Kevin Coffey
Scott Crawford
Charles Doyle
Edward LoMauro
Mark Johnson
Angelo Julian, Jr.
James P. Miller
Thomas Smith, Jr.
James Crawford
William Fitzpatrick, Jr.
Kenneth Burhart
Philip Falco
Daniel Schreyer
Misael Rivera
Joseph Smith
Andrew Burhart
Kenneth McConnell, Jr.
Kenneth McConnell, Jr.
Christopher S. Murphy
Patrick C. Murphy
Gregory D. Miller
Daniel S. Murphy
Thomas Irizarry
Robert C. Miller
John Webster
Thomas Horan
Ryan S. Murphy
Kimberly D’Arcangelo
Brian Kesler
Jake Degen
Debbie Miller
Stephen McCarroll
Alex Newhoff
Richard Middleton
Joseph Sodergren
Kenneth Degen
Kristine L. Sodergren
