This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company No. 1 in Oyster Bay and to celebrate this milestone, the fire company held a parade and party on Saturday, Sept. 26, which was attended by a few hundred supporters. Members of the Nassau County Sheriff’s Color Guard led the parade, followed by the Atlantic Steamer Fire Co. No. 1, the Oyster Bay High School band, all 10 other departments in the 5th Battalion and the Cold Spring Harbor Fire Department.
An interesting aspect of this parade were the nonprofits who contributed to the festivities in the form of floats; the top three entries won cash prizes. First prize of $1,000 went to Raynham Hall Museum; second prize of $500 went to the Oyster Bay U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for their fire boat float, representing 225 years of protecting the coast line, and third prize of $300 went to Boy Scout Troop 299 for depicting the first U.S. Army-Navy football game.
After the parade, guests and firefighters alike headed to the parking lot behind the firehouse to enjoy music on the showmobile by Crimson Street and food and beer for sale by local vendors, including the Italian-American Club, the North Oyster Bay Baymen’s Association, Gooseberry Grove and Gourmet Deli. The Boy Scouts sold soda and water and commemorative mugs, sweatshirts and t-shirts were sold as well.
The parade and party was spearheaded by Frank Ozol, the anniversary chairman and five-term ex-chief. He said he had hoped that by shortening the route to only a half-mile and awarding cash prizes to the organizations with floats depicting an 1890s theme more people would attend.
While he said it was a “rocking good time,” the party broke up earlier than expected because they didn’t as big of a turnout.
“Parades just aren’t what they used to be,” Ozol said. “Those who missed it missed a good time.”
