The Peru Gazette

Posted September 19, 2008
By John T. Ryan

The Peru firefighters paid their respects to Donald “Don” R. Hanlon who passed away on September 11, 2008 (more photos taken by firefighter David Brown) at age 79 after 61 years of service to the department where he served as assistant chief and commissioner.

Firefighters everywhere are known for the respect they pay to their fallen comrades. Firefighter John Roach explained that when an active member passes away the department stands honor guard at the wake. On the day of the funeral firefighters transport the casket of the deceased firefighter from Hamilton’s Funeral Home to the church oftentimes pausing at the homes of other recently deceased firefighters. Along the way they travel down the Bear Swamp Road to the fire station where they back the fire truck in and close the door. Then they call fire dispatch in Plattsburgh to request that the station’s alarm be sounded – the firefighter’s last alarm. From the station they proceed to Main Street where a group of marching firefighters joins the procession. At the church one or two aerial ladder trucks from neighboring communities proudly raise a huge American flag and the firefighters serve as an honor guard. Following the funeral the deceased firefighter’s family and friends usually gather at the firehouse for a luncheon served by the members of a neighboring department’s ladies auxiliary. The Keeseville Auxiliary served the luncheon after Don Hanlon’s funeral.

As the senior active member of the department (44 years) John Roach is often called upon to deliver a funeral eulogy. He delivered the following eulogy praising Don Hanlon’s service to country and community. Roach recalled how Peru looked in 1947 when Don first joined the Peru Fire Department.

Donald R. Hanlon — March 2, 1929 – September 11,2008
A bit of history has left Peru. Actually maybe a large part of history has left Peru.
A great man, a great husband, a great father, father-in-law and great grandfather in the short time that he was to Cher’s children Austin and Justin. They loved him and he loved them.
Speaking of history, may I recall for us the hamlet of Peru in which Don grew up and served so well for so many years. Sixty-one years in our great Peru Fire Department- Firefighter, Assistant Chief, Commissioner and dedicated in each position. Forty plus years as a Grand Union employee, many of those years right here in Peru. That’s dedication too.
Some of the congregation today can remember the old business district of Peru of which Don was a part. Others may have to close their eyes and try to picture what I will attempt to recall for you. You know where Don lived at 23 Elm Street in the home where he was raised by his parents, Ed and Mary Hanlon. The home is just up the street from the current Community Church Fellowship Center where Peru’s first real fire station stood – a two bay structure built in 1948 so that the new 1946 pumper could be housed in a real fire station. Prior to that the model A and Brockway were stored in the rear cellar of the old town hall situated on the northeast corner of the bridge. None of the current fire department members were in the department then.
Later the fire department acquired a 1953 pumper and the model A was retired. Unfortunately it was sold. In 1962 we acquired a tanker that carried 750 gallons of water, more than twice as much as the 1946 and the 1953 models put-together. The tanker was a popular mutual aid truck for the neighboring departments. The Brockway was retired, but fortunately kept. Don is the last active fireman to have fought fires with it. A third bay was added to the west side of the original fire station probably around 1961 to make room for the new tanker.

Just east of the fire station was Warren Brelia’s Chevrolet Dealership and Esso gas station. That building still stands as Dr. Smith’s office. Just east of that was the hotel and tavern adjoined by the Grand Union where Don worked, managed by Stan Frechette, grandfather of our current Chief Engineer Chad Frechette, the Post Office, Marsha’s pharmacy and ice cream fountain, all victims of the fire that started in the hotel in June of 1964. A building on the corner survived probably due to a firewall. In 1964 it was the Red Front Market owned by Doris and Loyal Burdo, previously a meat market owned by Gil Hulett and a partner. Gil was a past Chief Engineer and Commissioner. That building was razed when the new bridge was built.
Just across from the Red Front Market where the Peru Hardware parking lot is there was a house where Stan Frechette lived. The white building still standing was the garage for that house. On the Main Street side of the house was Tom Holland’s barbershop across from the Town Hall. The brick building just north of Town Hall had a liquor store and a small diner attached to it. Where Becky’s Diner is was George Parker’s Ford Garage and Scony gas station.
Percy Brown, a former fireman and father of Doug, Clifford and Ross Brown, and Gladys Darling, who later became Postmaster, owned the hardware store and Amoco gas pumps. Next was Ray McGee’s meat market where J&L Diner was and Colour’s Hair Salon is now.
At one time there were seven gasoline stations/outlets in the Hamlet of Peru: Tydol was Bill Delorme’s and is now Liberty’s; Texaco was across from Liberty’s; Brelia’s Chevrolet sold Scony; George Parker’s Ford sold Amoco; Percy Brown’s Hardware sold Shell; Joe Morrow’s Allis Chalmers Garage sold Sunoco; Lyman Smith, also a former Peru fireman as were two of his sons, was located where The Log Home Specialist is now.
Who can forget Mason’s Lumber Mill, the biggest mill north of Glens Falls? It burned in 1967. Remember the dam by the bridge? Loggers would unload logs behind the fire station and float the logs to the mill. In the winter there was ice harvesting behind Don’s house extending up the river to the bridge on Jarvis Road, often referred to as Irwin’s Bridge.
Don enjoyed having coffee at Apple Blossom Florist which was formerly Peru Farm Center, the Ford tractor dealership owned by Bernard Jarvis, a former firefighter and long-time commissioner, and his partner Charles Cook.
Across the river was a milk plant, a GLF, W.W. Finney’s feed store, the train station and Callahan and Bezio Coal and Fuel Supply which was located where Pasquale’s Pizza is.
I mention these things to recall the hamlet in which Don grew up and in which he was such a big part. He began his career at the Grand Union, probably during World War II, at a young age. Those of us too young to be in World War II but able and willing to do a man’s work could work as young teenagers prior to child labor laws.
Don’s abilities were recognized by his superiors and colleagues and attested by his many years as assistant manager at Grand Union in Peru and Plattsburgh and of course his position as fish monger at Plattsburgh’s largest Grand Union. His election to and long years as Assistant Chief and Fire Commissioner also attest to his recognized abilities.
In addition to these dedications and he was dedicated, his greatest dedication was to his wife Lucille. Don always spoke highly of Lou, a true treasure in his life, and of course his son Michael and lately Cher and her children.
In addition he cherished his good friends Bob and Loretta Timmons and Bill and Karla Downs. Now among that sextet, only Loretta and Karla remain to share the memories of old Peru of which Don was such a part and contributor.
There is one funny story Don told me about himself. One morning as he was shaving he looked out the window across the river and noticed something different which he mentioned to Lucille when he came downstairs. They looked out together and Lou said, “Don the milk plant is gone”. It had burned during the night and neither one had heard the siren. The only alarm system we had back then, before pagers and scanners, was the mill whistle which was used as an alarm. I don’t remember the year, an incident like that is something no firefighter wants to happen. The big ones are the most interesting and challenging.
We remember the co-op apple storage fire in 1963 when Chief Bernard Rock (Rocky) grabbed Don’s assistant chief helmet by mistake. Rocky got tar all over the helmet. Don laughed to Rocky about how hard it would be to get the tar off when it was actually Don’s.
We remember the propane tank fire (Peru Gas/Propane) that started out as a grass fire and got under the tanks lighting them off. Gil Hulett and Don arrived in Gil’s car just as a 100-pound gas cylinder blew up and went across the car hood. Gil slammed on the brakes, threw the car into reverse and backed halfway to Peru.
Don was a deep person never one to flaunt his accomplishments but was sincerely proud and pleased with them.
Grand Union honored him many times in addition to his promotions. The Clinton County Firefighters’ Association, which includes departments from southern Quebec and western Vermont, honored him as its Firefighter of the Year in 1981.
I am sure that every firefighter here today, past and present, the congregation and every Peruvian who knew Don has the greatest admiration and respect for our good friend Donald R. Hanlon, 1929 to 2008.
As he joins Lou, his sister Catherine, his bother Francis, his brother in law Billy Howard, his parents Ed and Mary Hanlon, may God welcome him into his kingdom in which we all hope to be.
In the words of the old Latin church: Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum. Don and all here today, May the peace of the Lord be with you.