The following was read at the Lynbrook Fire Department’s Annual Memorial Service held at the Firefighters Memorial on Sunrise Highway on Sunday, October 24, 2004.  At the service the name of Tally-Ho’s Second Lieutenant Frederick J. Schnorr was added to the memorial.

By Steve Grogan, Tally Ho Historian 

Today, as the Lynbrook Fire Department comes together to remember our brother firefighters who have died in the line of duty, we also add the name of another hero to our Firefighters’ Memorial who has long since been forgotten.  Today we also honor the memory of Second Lieutenant Frederick J. Schnorr of Tally-Ho Engine Company 3 who gave his life in the service of our village many years ago.

Frederick J. Schnorr lived at 9 Lewis Place in Lynbrook.  He lived there with his wife Catherine and a son, Fred Jr.  On November 7, 1927, at the age of 47, Fred Sr. joined Tally-Ho and quickly became an active and dedicated member of the company.

Just after 2 o’clock in the morning of May 31, 1932, Fred Schnorr, now 51 years of age, and a Second Lieutenant with Tally-Ho, responded with Tally-Ho and the rest of the Lynbrook Fire Department to a reported fire at 23 Maple Avenue not far from Schnorr’s home.   Tally-Ho was the first company on the scene and Lieutenant Schnorr led the company’s attack on the fire.  The firefighters were met with a heavy smoke condition as they arrived on the block and soon found a store house in the rear of the property with thick clouds of billowing smoke coming from the building.  Lt. Schnorr led the members of Tally-Ho into the building finding stack upon stack of smoldering mattresses and woolen waste burning.  Although there was no visible fire the choking smoke made the attack extremely difficult.  Neither Schnorr nor the other volunteers were wearing any type of breathing apparatus.

According to the newspaper, The Nassau Daily Review, “Schnorr was overcome soon after he entered the building.  He was carried out by (his) companions, and first aid treatment was administered by members of the rescue squad.  Schnorr, however, never regained consciousness and he died at 4:45 AM.  Dr. Alexander Cohen pronounced him dead and determined the cause as heart failure.”   

The New York Times reported it somewhat differently.  The Times said that Schnorr was carried from the building, revived and treated at the scene, and had managed to make it to his nearby home, dying there a few hours later.

Second Lieutenant Frederick J. Schnorr died that morning in the line of duty just like the other four Lynbrook volunteer firefighters who are listed on the stone in front of us.  Schnorr, whose name has now been added to the stone, will now be remembered as Lynbrook’s first line of duty death.

Back then in 1932, then Lynbrook’s Mayor, Howard G. Wilson, said, “Fred Schnorr was a modest, courageous fireman.  He was alert and vigilant in the performance of his obligations as a volunteer fireman.  His faithfulness and his devotion duty and his service to the people of Lynbrook will ever be remembered by all of us.”

Although it is over 72 years since Mayor Wilson made that statement Frederick J. Schnorr will finally and eternally be remembered by the Lynbrook Fire Department at this memorial.  He will no longer be forgotten.

The officers and members of Tally-Ho would like to thank Lynbrook’s Village Historian Art Mattson whose research uncovered the death of Schnorr and brought it to our attention.  The members of Tally-Ho also made an effort to locate a living relative of Schnorr, but without success.

We also thank the Lynbrook Fire Department for allowing Tally-Ho to honor our forgotten fallen leader.         

May He Rest in Peace.

 In the above photo the senior members of Tally-Ho Engine Company #3 join together to salute the memory of Second Lieutenant Frederick J. Schnorr at the memorial service that added the name of Schnorr to the Lynbrook Fire Department’s memorial on Sunrise Highway.  From left to right are, Ex-Chief Tom Ryan, Ex-Chief Robert Cribbin, Honorary Chief Dan Quaranto, Ex-Chief Dominic DeCarlo, and Tally-Ho Captain James Deliver.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle article