Remembering Leonard Cairns

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Leonard Cairns, who had been my neighbor pretty much my whole life. Here's his obituary: Obituary of Leonard J. Cairns | Welcome to MacArthur Funeral Home &... (hallandpeet.com)

Leonard was 93 at his death, the oldest man currently living in the Town of Bovina. He had lived in Bovina since he was 13. This Bob Wyer photo was taken in June 1944 at the Andes Central School, from where he graduated in 1947. Leonard is second from the left in the back row. 

I found this Bob Wyer photo of Leonard from May 1948. It was for the license he needed to drive trucks.

Leonard enlisted in the Marines in 1950. This image comes from the Bovina Historical Society 2006 calendar which featured Bovina veterans. Leonard served in the Korean War, receiving the Purple Heart. The image was provided by his family. 

Leonard was active in the Bovina community. He was the last surviving charter member of the Bovina Fire Department at its creation in 1949. Here's the first page of the new department's minute book with signatures of the charter members. Leonard's is on the first line of names at the right. 

Leonard was on the Bovina Public Library's board and was its President from 1970-1973. During his tenure, the library received an O'Connor grant to convert the old Bovina District 4 school building into the library.

 

Leonard and Ann celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2004.

Leonard celebrated his 90th birthday in 2018.

Leonard and Ann were good neighbors, even as they went into their golden years. They brought food over to my mom after my dad's passing in 2004. In 2011, I had hernia surgery and Leonard came by with a chicken dinner for me during my recovery. 

Leonard's lawn usually was the first one mowed in our little neighborhood - and he still was mowing into his 90s. It took some convincing to get him to let others do his lawn. 

I close with this photo I took in July 2009 of Leonard and Ann with their neighbors the late Mary Haran and her daughter Regina. They were watching the parade held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Bovina Fire Department.

RIP Leonard. 

Bovina Fire Department

Bovina has had some kind of fire department at least since 1915, when the Bovina Center Fire Department was created.  In 1949, the Bovina Fire District came into being and shortly after that, the Bovina Fire Department as we now know it was formed.  I will be doing future blog entries about the early department and the current one, but I'm doing this entry specifically to highlight an exhibit at the Delaware County Historical Association, which formally opens this Friday (February 17) from 4 - 6. The Weird, The Odd and The Wonderful: Historic Objects and Curios from the Museum highlights a number of items from the DCHA collections.  In the exhibit is an item close to me - my dad's fireman's uniform.  The uniform dates from 1963 and was purchased through Stewart's Department Store in Delhi.

I suspect the entire department got these uniforms around the same time.  And they got public exposure that same year.  On July 6, 1963, the Bovina Fire Department participated in a parade at the Delaware County Firemen's Convention parade in Sidney.  This photograph was published in the Oneonta Star on July 8.

The men carrying the banner are Carl Schneider and Jack Burns.  The man behind the banner is Fire Chief Floyd Aitkens.  The left row of marchers are [unknown], Bob Burns, Ernie Russell, [unknown], John Robson, Herb Parsons (maybe) and [unknown].  The right row are Lester Stewart (partially hidden by Floyd Aitkens), Charlie LaFever (my dad), Cliff Hall, Bob Hall, Ronnie Russell, Roy 'Doc' Hadley and Jack Damgaard.  Any additions or corrections most welcome.  I especially want help on the ones I marked [unknown].  Click on the image to get a larger version.

So come to DCHA on Friday from 4-6 for a wine and cheese reception opening this exhibit.  Items on display, as well as my dad's uniform, will include: a 1950s Electro cardiogram, a stuffed albino woodchuck, a sheriff's billy club, a 1880s jeweler's lathe, a coffin, and a 1755 fire pump. The exhibit will be open during DCHA's regular hours until May 11th. Admission is free.