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SHartland Winters

A collection of pictures and stories from Retired FEO Wayne.

http://firefighterwayne.blogspot.com/
 

WHAT IS WAYNES STUFF
IT FIRST STARTED OUT WITH ME SENDING OUT ABOUT 20 E-MAILS TO MY FELLOW RETIREES
IT EXPANDED AND KEPT ON EXPANDING
IT IS NOW A LOT OF MEMORIES OF OUR DAYS AT THE FIRE HOUSE
I  E-MAILED THESE TO ABOUT 100 OF OUR RETIREES
I NOW FEEL THEY SHOULD BE SHARED WITH ALL OF  OUR "FIRE FAMILY"

ACTIVE AS WELL AS RETIREES

THERE WILL NOT BE ANY "BAD" STORIES

WITH AGE YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THE GOOD TIMES
AND LET THE BAD TIMES GO

SO ENJOY OUR MEMORIES
 I ALWAYS SIGN OFF WITH

"MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY"
                       WAYNE

                                                                                 OUR
                                                                     " FIRE FAMILY"

                                                 BROTHERS & SISTERS

                                                 RETIRED & ACTIVE

                                                 CITY & SUBURBS

                                                 REGULAR & VOLUNTEER

                                                 PAID  ON  CALL

                                                 WELCOME TO

                             " WAYNE'S   STUFF "
                                                                                                    SERVED
                                                                                     DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT
                                                                                                       1962
                                                                                                         TO
                                                                                                        1998
 

DO YOU REMEMBER
YOUR FIRST DAY AT THE ENGINE HOUSE
 ALL YOU YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPERS" WERE TOGETHER  AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY BUT NOW YOU STAND
ALONE, ONE WHIPPER SNAPPER AMONGST A SEASONED GROUP OF FIREMEN.  IT'S SHOW TIME AND YOU'RE ON
STAGE , ALL EYES WATCHING YOU.  THE CURTAIN'S UP, THE AUDIENCE OF FIREMEN ARE OUT THERE  AND  
YOU'RE AUDITIONING FOR A SPOT ON THEIR TEAM.
IT'S PASS OR FAIL.  EITHER YOU PASS AND BECOME ONE OF THEM OR YOU FAIL AND GO BACK TO THE FACTORY,
ARMY, OR WHERE EVER YOU CAME FROM......I WORKED IN   A MACHINE SHOP AND THEN SPENT 3 YEARS IN THE
ARMY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK TO EITHER ONE

SOME OF THE WORDS I REMEMBER FROM THOSE DAYS WERE:
KID....DON'T YOU EVER, EVER SHORT STRETCH OUR LINE....YOU WILL BRING THE WYE GATE RIGHT UP TO THE
PORCH AND NOT LEAVE IT IN THE STREET.

KID.....NEVER, EVER GIVE UP OUR LINE..............THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL GIVE UP OUR LINE IS IF YOU PASS OUT,
OR IF ONE OF OUR COMPANIES GUYS SEES YOU'RE IN TROUBLE AND GIVES YOU A BREAK. YOU WILL NOT GIVE IT
TO ANYONE FROM ANOTHER COMPANY............... EVER.  

YOU CAN'T WEAR A MASK YOUR FIRST MONTH SO HERE'S SOME ADVICE.  IF YOU FIND YOU ARE ABOUT TO PASS
OUT YOU CAN GET SOME AIR BY PUTTING YOUR MOUTH / NOSE  RIGHT NEXT TO THE FRONT OF THE PIPE AS
YOU'RE PLAYING AWAY. THE PIPE CARRIES SOME AIR ALONG WITH THE WATER                        
    WELCOME TO THE DETROIT FIRE DEPARTMENT

WHAT DO WE DO FIRST, SWEEP, DUST , CLEAN TOOLS, MAKE A BED,  MAKE COFFEE, HELP THE COOK, SCRUB
THE TOILETS

HEY GUYS, YOU REMEMBER THAT FIRST DAY, DON'T YOU?

WHEN'S THAT FIRST RUN GOING TO COME IN........................COME ON FIRST RUN..............

THE TAPE IS RUNNING ................IS THAT A BOX COMING IN?????.................OR IS IT JUST  COMPANIES GOING IN
AND OUT OF SERVICE?

LET'S SEE THAT LITTLE BELL IS IN THE CIRCUIT WHEN THE COMPANIES GO IN AND OUT...................NO I THINK
THE LITTLE BELL IS IN THE CIRCUIT WHEN A BOX COMES  IN AND IF IT IS YOUR BOX YOU THROW THE BIG BELL
 IN .  THEN THAT MUST MEAN THERE IS NO BELL IN ANY CIRCUIT WHEN COMPANIES GO IN AND OUT.....................
I THINK.....

THE BOXES ARE COMING IN FAST AND WHILE  I'M PUTTING COMPANIES OUT OF SERVICE SOME COMPANIES
ARE GOING IN AND OUT OF SERVICE AND NOW ANOTHER BOX IS COMING IN.................AND NOW THE
DEPARTMENT PHONE AND THE OUTSIDE PHONE ARE BOTH RINGING AND THERE IS  IS NO BODY HERE IN THE
WATCH ROOM BUT ME......................OH SHUCKS " (SHIT)"

NOW SOMEONE IS YELLING ................................."WHERE'S THE TRIALMAN"

  WHEN'S THAT FIRST RUN GOING TO COME IN........................COME ON FIRST RUN..............

YOU LOOK AROUND AND SEE SOME GUYS WORKING ON THE RIGS, DOING PAPERWORK, PREPARING MEALS
AND WORKING ON THE ENGINE HOUSE............................AND YOU'RE TRYING TO FIT IN....................
THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK.


WE EVENTUALLY GOT OUR FIRST FIRE  

REMEMBER THOSE DAYS GUYS, GRAB THE CAN, AN AX, A PIKE POLE ???? THEN SOMEONE YELLS
HEY, WE HAVE A TRIALMAN HERE GIVE HIM
THE LINE
THE GUYS  ALL HAVE MASKS  ON AS IT'S REALLY SMOKY BUT SINCE YOU CAN'T WEAR ONE FOR
YOUR FIRST MONTH YOU'LL HAVE TO  "IRONMAN" IT
I THINK MY DINNER  IS COMING UP........................YEP.............IT SURE IS...........HOORAA........
HOORAA....HOORAA
 DON'T GIVE UP OUR LINE,   DON'T GIVE UP OUR LINE,  DON'T GIVE
UP OUR LINE,

DON'T  YOU EVER GIVE UP OUR LINE..................HOOOORAAAA
AAARRRGGGHHH.....
HHHHHOOOOORRRRRAAAAAA

 I AM  NOT GOING BACK TO THE MACHINE SHOP AND THREE YEARS  IN THE ARMY WAS MORE THEN ENOUGH.

I GUESS PUKING NEVER KILLED ANYONE.,  FUNNY,  THE TRAINING ACADEMY NEVER MENTIONED  PUKING.



PUT THE" WET STUFF ON THE RED STUFF"

IF MY CLASSMATES CAN MAKE IT I CAN MAKE IT TOO.

THE THING THAT IS MORE SCARY THEN MOST FIRES TO A GUY IS....................


BEING UNEMPLOYED

REMEMBER  YOUR FIRST DAY  AT THE ENGINE HOUSE
WAYNE
 

DO YOU REMEMBER
YOUR LAST DAY AT THE ENGINE HOUSE

WHERE DID THE TIME GO
ALL THE YEARS OF GRIPES, BITCHES, COMPLAINTS,  DISCUSSIONS, ARGUMENTS,   STORIES AND LIES, LIES AND STORIES,

PRANKS, JOKES, FIRES, ACCIDENTS, SAVING LIVES AND PROPERTY, HYDRANTS, TICKETS, SMOKE ALARMS, WEEDS, WIRES

 DOWN, EVOLUTIONS, SCHOOL, BULLETINS,  COOKING, WALL AND WINDOW WASHING. SITTING BY THE OLE GAS PUMP,  THE

 CAMARADERIE, FRIENDSHIPS, LAUGHTER,  SADNESS  (NOT IN FRONT OF THE GUYS, BUT ON THE WAY HOME) THE MANY

 DEVIL NIGHTS BEFORE AND WITH COMMAND POSTS, THE 1967 RIOT, AND  THE OTHER DISTURBANCES THAT  WERE KEPT

 QUIET SO THEY WOULDN'T SPREAD, JUDGE CHURCHELS  COURTROOM AND THE FIGHT TO RETAIN OUR SENIORITY SYSTEM,

   RESIDENCY AND HOW LONG IT TOOK TO WIN  IT.   THE  CLASSMATES YOU CAME ON WITH SO MANY YEARS AGO THAT ARE

 NO LONGER HERE OR WERE INJURED THAT THEIR LAST DAY WAS  LONG AGO.  

          YOU CAN ALREADY SENSE IT , EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE STILL WORKING ON YOUR LAST DAY  YOU ARE NO LONGER

 PART OF  THE TEAM OF ACTIVE FIREMEN. YOU JUST WENT FROM BEING A MOST SENIOR MEMBER OF THIS TEAM TO BEING

 A  JUNIOR  MEMBER OF THE RETIREES TEAM.   YOU KNOW THAT EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE TILL TOMORROW MORNING

 SOMEONE HAS ALREADY CROSSED YOUR NAME OFF IN THE SENIORITY BOOK, JUST LIKE YOU HAVE DONE TO OTHERS.

YOUR LAST DAY AT THE  ENGINE HOUSE

YOU LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SAY " WHERE DID THE TIME GO"

I JUST CAME ON THE JOB YESTERDAY

MAKE SOMEONE REMEMBER TODAY
WAYNE
 

                    "ONE  MORE  RUN"

HOW MANY OF YOU OLD RETIREES WOULD LIKE "ONE MORE RUN"
NOT SITTING DOWN
 NOT BUCKLED UP
BUT STANDING UP ON THE BACK END
HANGING ON THAT BAR
WIND BLOWING IN YOUR FACE
FIRE COAT FLAPPING IN THAT WIND
JUMPING AT THE "BAD BUMPS
BEING FIRST
AT NIGHT
ALL RESPONDING COMPANIES BEHIND YOU.
ALL..............
SIRENS BLARING
BELLS CLANGING
LIGHTS  FLASHING
AN EXPLOSION OF SIGHTS AND SOUNDS BEHIND YOU
IT'S YOUR FIRE
CENTRAL CALLING
EVERYONE'S OUT
SMOKE SHOWING
ADRENALINE RUSHING
CALLING CENTRAL
WORKING FIRE
YOU'RE STRETCHING
YOUR PIPE
FIRST WATER
STAYING LOW
HITTING HIGH
GOING IN
PITCH BLACK SMOKE
BLISTERING HEAT
WHERE'S THE FIRE
MASK FLAPPER NOISE
FIRE CRACKLING SOUND
WINDOWS BREAKING
FIRE SHOWING
NOZZLE OPENING
STRAIGHT STREAM
FOG
FIRE DYING
FOGGING  OUT
CLEARING UP
WASHING DOWN
OVERHAULING
PICKING UP
GOING BACK
STANDING ON ROLLED UP LINE
WIND IN YOUR FACE
SWEATY AND DIRTY
BACKING IN
HANGING LINE
LOADING LINE
CHANGING CLOTHES
DRINKING COFFEE
" TALKIN SHIT"
LAYING DOWN  


                          "ONE  MORE  RUN"


MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

HEY GUYS REMEMBER THIS
THE OLD OIL DRUM. NOTICE THE LOCK ON THE PUMP, DOESN'T   THE BOSS TRUST US NOT TO TAKE THE OIL FOR OUR CARS. WE ARE IN PEOPLES HOMES DURING FIRES AND DON'T TAKE ANYTHING . WHY WOULD WE WANT THE CITY'S CRUMMY OIL.  IT'S  JUST A STRAIGHT WEIGHT OIL ANYWAY WHILE WE USE 10W30. EVEN AS SNEAKY AS THE "OFU" IS I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD TAKE THE CITY'S OIL    

REMEMBER HOW YOU WOULD TRY TO BALANCE THE OIL EVERY MONTH AND IT NEVER DID BALANCE. YOU WOULD GO OVER AND OVER AND YOU WERE ALWAYS A COUPLE OF QUARTS LOW,  DON'T TELL ANYONE BUT I HEARD THAT SOME GUYS (FROM THE "OFU")WOULD BUY A COUPLE QUARTS OF OIL AND POUR IT IN THE DRUM TO MAKE IT BALANCE
MUST NOT HAVE A TRIALMAN AT THIS HOUSE AS THERE'S A RAG  AND OIL ON TOP  
TRIALMAN........TRIALMAN......... TRIALMAN ............TRIALMAN...........TRIALMAN........     .WHERE'S THE TRIALMAN  HE'S NEVER AROUND WHEN YOU WANT HIM, NOT LIKE US WHEN WE WERE TRIALMEN.
HEY FELLOW RETIREES REMEMBER HOW WE WERE THE BEST TRIALMEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVER HAD.  THEN WITH EACH PASSING YEAR OUR STATURE GREW AND GREW UNTIL WE EACH THOUGHT WE WERE THE GREATEST TRIALMEN THAT EVER LIVED. THEY DON'T MAKE  TRIALMEN LIKE US ANYMORE............. SENILITY IS SETTING IN

NOTE: TO OUR SUBURBAN" FIRE FAMILY"
I WILL BE REFERRING TO THE "OFU" QUITE A BIT. IT STANDS FOR                                                             OTHER  F$#@%&G  UNIT

IT'S JUST A COMICAL WAY OF BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE FOR THINGS THAT DON'T WORK RIGHT AT THE ENGINE HOUSE .  ALL OF US HAVE BEEN ON BOTH UNITS FOR OUR CAREERS. NO MATTER WHAT UNIT YOU ARE ON IT'S ALWAYS THE "OFU" THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

HEY GUYS REMEMBER THIS
THE  WATER PRESSURE GAUGE  THAT WAS RIGHT BY THE WATCH DESK
IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO RECORD THE PRESSURE  EVERY HOUR  FROM 600 AM TO MIDNIGHT.
600,AM        55
700 AM        56
800 AM        54
900 AM        55
1000 AM      55
1100 AM      57
1200 NOON    55
HOUR AFTER HOUR RECORDING THE PRESSURE,  YOU CAN SEE HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS
NOTICE THAT  FROM 600 AM TO 700 AM THERE IS ONLY A ONE POUND DIFFERENCE WHILE  FROM  1100 AM  TO 12 NOON THERE IS A 2 POUND DIFFERENCE. THEN FURTHERMORE FROM 900 AM TO 1000 AM THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE WHAT SO EVER
THEN IF YOU ADD ALL THE PRESSURE UP YOU GET 387 ,                                                                                           THEN..... IF ........YOU ..........ADD ..........THESE........ NUMBERS UP........ YOU GET....... 18

NOTE} EVER WONDER WHO CHECKED THESE "WATER PRESSURE FORMS  AND HOW MUCH THEY GOT PAID
EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO   AM     NOON     PM     AND MIDNIGHT.....NOW ITS 0600 HRS        1200 HRS    2400HRS

WOULD THE SUPER HERO "CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT NOW BE KNOWN AS "CAPTAIN 2400 HOURS" ..............       JUST WONDERING

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

REMEMBER THIS GUYS , THINK BEFORE YOU SCROLL DOWN




THE HOSE TOWER STAIRWAY

THERE IS A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING  AND EVERYTHING IN ITS PLACE
AND YOU OLD FARTS YELL AT YOUR KIDS FOR NOT PUTTING THINGS AWAY
THOSE BUCKETS BELONG DOWN STAIRS BY THE SLOP SINK AND THE DUST MOP SHOULD BE HUNG UP
ON A HOOK.  I ALSO SEE SOME RAGS THAT BELONG IN THE  RAG  WIRE BASKET KEPT IN THE HOSE TOWER
THE HOSE TOWER IS NOT A CATCH ALL PLACE FOR THE STUFF YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT AWAY

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE


 

HEY GUYS REMEMBER THE TWO WAYS TO HOOK UP LINE  WITH THE ROPE
ONE YOU JUST LOOPED THE ROPE AROUND THE MIDDLE OF THE LINE AT THE HALF WAY POINT ATTACHING THE HOOK AROUND TO ITSELF AND HAULING AWAY,  AT THE TOP THE GUY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THE LINE TO  UNFASTENED THE HOOK FROM THE ROPE

THE OTHER WAY  WAS TO FOLD THE TOP TWO FEET OF LINE IN HALF,, AT THE HALFWAY POINT, AND ATTACH THE ROPE AT THAT  TWO FOOT POINT
THAT  LEFT A LOOP THAT THE TOP MAN COULD PUT THE LINE ON THOSE BIG TIMBERS BEFORE UNDOING THE HOOK.
REMEMBER TRYING TO BE "THE MAN" BY ATTACHING TWO LENGTHS OF WET HEAVY LINE AND RAISING BOTH OF THEM.
ONCE YOU DID THIS YOU COULDN'T BACK OFF, THE LINE RAISED , YOUR "JEWELS LOWERED. THE LINE WENT UP THE JEWELS WENT DOWN.  A WHIMP WOULD NOW ASK FOR HELP BUT NOT A  "MACHO, MACHO, MACHO MAN, YOU WANT  TO BE A MACHO MAN  ,.................KIND OF A GUY THING NOT ASKING FOR HELP

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

HEY GUYS GUESS WHAT, THE POLES ARE GONE NOW ALONG WITH THE POLE HOLE DOORS
NO MORE BRASS POLISHING THE POLES EVERY SATURDAY. REMEMBER HOW THAT WHITE SMELLING AMMONIA POLISH USED TO STAIN YOUR CLOTHES . THINK BACK OLDTIMER , CLOSE YOUR EYES TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND REMENBER THAT POLISH SMELL,  SEE YOU OLD FART ONCE YOU SMELL THAT POLISH YOU CAN NEVER FORGET IT
REMEMBER THE BOSS YELLING "BRASSSSSS    DAYYYYY" AND THEN GETTING A CUP OF COFFEE WHILE US YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPERS" POLISHED BRASS.
THEN JUST AFTER WE FINISHED, SOME NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS WOULD COME IN AND PUT THEIR HANDS ALL OVER THE POLES ,TARNISHING THEM.  YOU WOULD YELL" HANDS OFF THE POLE"," HANDS OFF THE POLE"    
IF NO ONE TOUCHED THE POLES THEY DIDN'T TARNISH AS FAST . YOU SLID THE POLE BY WRAPPING YOUR ARMS AROUND IT TO SLIDE, AND THEY WERE COVERED BY YOUR SLEEVES. AS SOON AS THEY WERE TOUCHED BY SKIN THEY STARTED TO TARNISHED
SOMETIMES ON SATURDAY THE BOSS WOULD SAY " THE POLES LOOKED OK SO WE DIDN'T HAVE TO POLISH THEM. THAT'S WHEN NOBODY TOUCHED THEM ALL WEEK

MAKE  SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

HEY GUYS REMEMBER THIS, O.C.D. EQUIPMENT  OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE

EVERY ENGINE HOUSE HAD THEM, FIRE COATS, BOOTS AND HELMETS

MOST COATS WERE HANGING FROM PIPES IN THE BASEMENT

THE BOOTS WERE IN BOXES OR WHEN THE BOXES ROTTED AWAY THEY JUST LAID ON THE FLOOR , THE HELMETS WERE ALSO IN BOXES
THE CITY HAD A GARAGE SALE AND HAD THE REPAIR SHOP ROUND ALL THIS STUFF UP ONE YEAR,.  I CAN'T RECALL THE YEAR
I ALSO DON'T KNOW WHAT YEAR THEY WERE MADE IN. I DO KNOW NONE OF THE STUFF WAS AS GOOD AS THE FIRE CLOTHES I HAD WHEN I CAME ON IN 1962

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

 

REMEMBER THESE GUYS , THE OLD BOOTS WE WORE
SOME GUYS WALKED AROUND WITH THE TOPS FOLDED ALL THE WAY DOWN  TO THE SOLES
MOST OF US GUYS HAD THEM FOLDED HALF WAY DOWN AND THEN HALF WAY UP, LIKE THIS

WE DIDN'T HAVE BUNKER PANTS SO THE HIGH BOOTS DID  PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FOR THE UPPER LEG AREA.

SOME OF US WENT TO BARRYS WAR SURPLUS ON GRANDRIVER NEAR OAKMAN BLVD AND BOUGHT NAVY DECK PANTS   WE USED THEM FOR BUNKER PANTS WHICH DID DO THE JOB. WE DID HAVE TO ALTER THE BOTTOMS OF THE PANTS TO FIT OVER THE BOOTS

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

Ok Guys a little story to go with this picture.  Notice how the line is packed on end rather then laying flat like we did in our later years.Well we had a boss that would count the number of rows at the end.  He wanted a certain amount of folds on the end of each row , I can't recall how many the count was.
Anyway we had a FEO that went to the repair shop and got a piece of line and cut it into about one foot sections.  Then he would fold the sections and insert them into the rows to throw off the rows count.  That boss was on "THE OFU"   ( OTHER  F#$*&%G  UNIT )   We all know how the OFU was so it really
didn't bother him if their day started with an upset boss.     End of story. 

By the way if there are any more stories no names will be used as the stories are only to be used to..............MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
Wayne

OK GUYS ALL SET TO GO
CLOTHES ALL READY  TO" MAKE THE RIG"
REMEMBER BACK THEN THE RIG DIDN'T WAIT FOR YOU
IF THE DRIVER AND BOSS WERE ON IT, IT WAS GONE.. YOU LEARNED TO BE ALERT 24 HOURS A DAY
YOU WERE OUT OF THE DOOR IN SECONDS AFTER THE BELL SOUNDED.
THE CITIZENS GOT THE BEST SERVICE IN TOWN

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

REMEMBER THIS GUYS, OUR LINK TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD
WHILE THE AVERAGE GUY OUT THERE WAS HOME EVERY DAY WHEN WE WERE AT WORK WE WERE OUT OF TOUCH FOR 24 HOURS.WE  MISSED BIRTHDAYS, HOLIDAYS ,LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES , DANCE RECITALS, PLAYS
REMEMBER THE TALKS TO OUR CHILDREN " DID YOU GET A HIT, DID YOU SCORE A TOUCHDOWN, DID YOU SAY YOUR LINES OK, HOW DID YOU DANCE,
THEN WHEN OUR WIFE WOULD CALL WITH A PROBLEM WE HAD TO SAY "YOU'LL HAVE TO HANDLE IT, I CAN'T BUST OUT.
NOTICE HOW  A  FIREMANS WIFE CAN HANDLE MANY MORE  THINGS THEN OTHER WIFE'S WHOSE HUSBAND WAS HOME EVERY DAY
THE ONLY LINK TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD.....................REMEMBER OLD TIMER
MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

HEY GUYS.
THE OLD WATCH DESK
THE OLD BIG BELL
THE OLD REGISTER
SEE THE CIRCUIT KEYS JUST ABOVE THE BELL AND PHONE

  YOU HAVE AFTERNOON WATCH TODAY AS I SEE YOU TRIED TO TAKE CREDIT FOR STANDING
AFTERNOON WHILE ON DETAIL

YOU KNOW AT OUR HOUSE WE STAND WATCHES BY A COMBINATION OF DATES AND BOXES. . I TOLD YOU  BEFORE, IF YOUR DATE SUPERSEDES THE AMOUNT OF BOXES YOU HAVE BEFORE THE   LOWEST MANS
DATE THEN THAT CANCELS YOUR DATE AND YOU HAVE TO CATCH UP TO THEIR BOX.  BUT IF YOU WERE ON FURLOUGH THE   DATE COLUMNS WILL HAVE TO REVERT  TO BOXES

TRUST ME A SENIOR MAN IS THE MOST HONEST MAN IN THE ENGINE HOUSE
I HAD HEARD THE SENIOR MAN ON THE "OFU" USED TO LAUGH ON HOW HE STUCK THE YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPERS" WITH AFTERNOON AND COT WATCH.    HE NEVER LET ANY ONE LOOK AT THE WATCH BOOK

DID YOU EVER FEEL THE SENIOR MAN STUCK IT TO YOU?
WHEN YOU BECAME A SENIOR MAN DID YOU EVER STICK IT TO THOSE  YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPERS"

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY..........................................EXCEPT THE SENIOR MEN THAT STUCK IT TO ME WHEN
WAYNE                                                                                                        I WAS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"
                                                                                                                  I REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE .
 

ENGINE HOUSE SINKS
CRAMMED TOGETHER
ELBOW TO ELBOW
A LEFT HAND TOOTH BRUSHER STANDING NEXT TO A RIGHT HANDED TOOTH BRUSHER
AN ELBOW TO ELBOW DUELING MATCH
TWO FAUCETS
ONE HOT
ONE COLD
NO WARM
EITHER  BURNED HANDS
OR FROZEN
SO OLD THE ENAMEL WAS WORN OUT UNDER THE FAUCETS OF MANY OF THEM
THE COLOR WAS BLACK UNDER THE ENAMEL     ..........REMEMBER     OLDTIMER

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

HEY GUYS DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT OPEN LITTLE DOOR   TO THE LEFT OF THE POLE WAS,
COME ON YOU OLD TIMER THINK....................TAKE YOUR TIME                             CAN'T REMEMBER, TAKE A PILL AND THINK ABOUT IT

IT WAS FOR A RED LIGHT THAT WAS ON AT NIGHT......SORT OF A NIGHT LIGHT
ACTUALLY IT WAS A REGULAR BULB IN THERE BUT IT HAD A PIECE OF RED GLASS SO TO NOT BE SO BRIGHT AT NIGHT.  AS AIR CONDITIONING CAME INTO BEING THE GUYS  (OFU)  TOOK OUT THE BULB AND PUT A PLUG IN THE SOCKET SO THEY COULD PLUG IN THE AIR CONDITIONER

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

YOU CAN'T FORGET THIS PLACE GUYS

A SENSE OF REVERENCE

STANDING WHERE THE PAST FIREMEN STOOD

THEIR SPIRITS ARE STILL HERE

ALL AROUND YOU
 
A STILLNESS

GENERATION AFTER GENERATION

FIREMEN
 
NO DISTRACTIONS

JUST YOU AND THE SPIRIT OF THE PAST FIREMEN THAT STOOD HERE BEFORE YOU

YOU CAN ALMOST SENSE THEM STANDING AROUND YOU

WATCHING YOU

JUDGING YOU

ARE YOU ONE OF THEM

OR  ARE YOU FAKING IT

ARE THEY HELPING YOU

OR LEAVING YOU ALONE

ARE YOU PART OF OUR "FAMILY"

OR JUST PASSING THROUGH

THEY KNOW

AND YOU KNOW THEY KNOW

FIREMEN

MAKE SOMEONE THINK TODAY

WAYNE
 

HEY GUYS REMEMBER SOME BOSSES WANTED ALL THE BUTTS EVENED UP
YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE NOT,  DO YOU KNOW WHY???
ALL LINE WHEN IT COMES NEW IS 50' LONG , BUT IF THERE IS A HOLE IN THE LINE
NEAR THE END  THE SHOP JUST CUTS IT AND REPLACES THE BUTT,. SHORTENING THE LINE TO UNDER 50'
NATURALLY IF THE HOLE IS IN THE MIDDLE THE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.
REMEMBER WAY BACK THEN, IF  JUST THE OUTER LINE COVER WAS RIPPED IT WASN'T REPLACED

REMEMBER JAMMING THE HANDLES OF WET MOPS IN THE LINE AS THEY WERE HANGING

AM I JOGGING YOUR MEMORY OLD TIMER?
YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER ALL THIS STUFF WHEN THEY SEND YOU TO "THE OLD FOLKS HOME" SO YOU CAN TELL THEM "FIRE STORIES
 

IF YOU END UP AT THE SAME NURSING HOME I DO, JUST REMEMBER

"CARDS FOR DISHES, TWO LEGS,  ONE TIE, ALL TIE"
"ALSO , DON'T SHORT SHEET THE OLD FOLKS"
" YELL REAL LOUD ....SOUP'S ON....AND.....CHOW".....
    NONE OF THAT SISSY DINNER BELL STUFF

    IF THEY TRY TO GIVE YOU PILLS TO TRANQUILIZE YOU
    SPIT THEM OUT
    " GUYS LET'S GO DOWN FIGHTING"
    " WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH....THE TOUGH GET
       GOING"
 

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
 

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