Born: March 30, 1887
Died: September 16, 1959
Married: Eva Grace Secord
Children: Andrea Miller
William J. Disco served as chief of the Saranac Lake Fire Department.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, April 8, 1953
Fireman Bill Disco Marks Anniversary
Thirty-two years service with the Saranac Lake Fire Department have just whizzed by for William J. Disco, who likes his work.
Twenty-five years ago today, "Bill" became a paid driver for the department, which he first joined as a volunteer on April, 11, 1921.
He is the oldest active member among the department's nearly 60 volunteers and four paid drivers.
Practically a native, Bill came to Saranac Lake when he was two years old. Like so many people from all walks of life, he grew up liking the excitement that accompanied his work.
There have been a few changes in the department, though, since he volunteered his services.
There was but one truck" at the fire house during Bill's first days. In fact, the truck is still around and used in case of emergencies. To the boys at the station it is known as Old Cymanthy. It is a 750 gallon pumper American LaFrance model, purchased in 1920.
In 1925 a hook and ladder truck was purchased. In 1950 it was replaced by a new hook and ladder truck.
Bill recalls that years ago soda and acid was the standby remedy for blazes, such as furniture. "It would ruin furniture so badly", he says, "that we might just as well have let it burn." "We had only a small amount of 2 1/2 inch hose then. Water poured through it would drown a place. But we sure had a flock of volunteers in those days."
The Fire House No 1 Company was located where the Drutz store now stands. The building now serving as the playhouse at the William Morris playground was the station. That building was moved to the park area from its Bloomingdale ave. site. The No. 2 station was located behind Mike and Sandy's store on Main st. The present station went under construction in 1910 and was com- pleted in 1911.
Today at the fire house there are three pumpers, an emergency truck and a racing truck.. Firemen even use the village flusher when needed.
Upstairs in the firemen's quarters there are a recreation hall, meeting room and kitchen combined and a four-bed bunk room. There are four paid drivers, who work on 24 hour shifts. "Residents should be proud of their fire house and volunteers," Bill says.
When the veteran fireman was asked about fires in Saranac Lake, he recalled the Branch and Callanan mill fire to be the biggest. It occurred in 1930. Volunteers were called out shout 10:15 p. m. one evjening and pumped water from the river continually until 6 p. m. the next day.
"The coldest day I've ever put in," remembers Bill, "was the day fire broke out at Doug Martin's farm at Gabriels. It was 22 below zero and I was driving Old Cymanthy. She has no enclosed cab."
The worst fire for smoke that Bill can recall is the fire some years back at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Frederick Pierce on Franklin ave. "You couldn't see your hand before you," he says.
And while reminiscing Bill chuckled over a phone call he received after the alarm had sounded one day. "Where's the fire?" asked a feminine voice. “It's over at the Meagher ice house," Bill replied. 'You think you're dammed smart, don't you?" came the retort. Well, the next day after reading about the fire in the Enterprise, the phone rang again at the firehouse. 'I apologize," said a feminine voice.
In April, 1949, the men at the Fire Station acquired something new. It was a Dalmatian dog. Her name is Lady, but the boys call her Smoky. And sure, she likes to go along for the ride, too.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise, September 16, 1959
Bill Disco Dies, Was Fireman
Wiliam A. [sic] "Bill” Disco, veteran fireman with the Saranac Lake Fire Department until two years ago, died yesterday afternoon at the local General Hospital. He had been a patient for several days.
Before his retirement from the Fire Department, Mr. Disco was the oldest active member of the firemen, a group that included 60 men. He joined the department in April 1921 as a volunteer and seven years later became a driver.
He retired in 1957 because, as The Enterprise said editorially, he had "reached that certain age" when the State required it. He served briefly with the village water department.
Mr. Disco was born March 30, 1887 in Black Brook, the son of Bart and Elizabeth Disco. He leaves his wife, the former Eva Secound [sic], whom he married in 1914; a daughter, Mrs. Dudrea [sic] Miller, of Miami; two sisters, Mrs. Benjamen Talbert and Miss Laura Disco and a brother, Frank, all of Saranac Lake.
The body is at the Fortune Funeral Home where a Rosary service will be held at 8:30 tonight. Members of the Fire Department will act as pallbearers and serve as an honor guard at a funeral Mass tomorrow at 9:40 in St. Bernard's Church. Burial will be in St. Bernard's Cemetery.
