Organized January 17, 1927
Kingston Ladies Auxiliary
History of Kingston Ladies Auxiliary
Founded on January 17, 1927 by Katherine Mathews
Under the efforts and organization of the late Katherine Mathews, the Kingston Ladies Auxiliary was formed. This organization was chartered under the Kingston Volunteer Fire Company #1 and continues to be a vital part of the Kingston community today. The primary purpose of the auxiliary to is be a support system to the firefighters whenever the need is given. Throughout the seventy-two years of existence, the ladies have always been involved in fundraising efforts to help the fire company with needs necessary to maintaining a safe and equipped department.
Fundraising for the Fire Company
Many women saw this gathering as a time to get out of the house and meet with other women of the community. It was very much a place where neighborhood women, mothers, daughters and friends got together to formulate different types of functions to raise money. Annually, the auxiliary would present the firemen money to purchase new equipment for the firehouse. This tradition stills exists today, with the ladies presenting the chief of the fire company with a check at the annual banquet.
It was the ladies auxiliary that first introduce the famous minstrel shows held at the firehouse. Community neighbors would come for an evening of entertainment and refreshments. Musical talents of all kinds would blossom on the stage of the firehouse hall. Among their other fund-raising events included card parties, tricky-tray auctions, and rummage sales. This was the ideal time to clean basements and attics and sell your old treasures to someone else.
A mighty profit was always made! Bingo was the social evening every week at the firehouse. The ladies would prepare and sell refreshments weekly from the kitchen. As the community grew the need was also to reach out to the new folks moving into the area. The Halloween Parade has been a very popular gathering for town people. November always bring the traditional holiday bazaar with the ladies preparing and selling refreshments from the kitchen. Lunch with Santa always brings a smile to the children’s faces as Santa joins them for lunch and a friendly chat.
Aiding the Fire Company During Long Incidents
The auxiliary continues to meet the second Monday of the month with meetings beginning at 7:30pm in the firehouse. They continue to follow the rules and by-laws set forth, keeping the primary function to assist and support the firefighters when called upon. Our fire brigade continues to prepare and serve food during fires and emergency situations such as power failures, or major storms. In March of 1997, the auxiliary stood by at the firehouse for 5 days and nights as the firefighters spent numerous hours at the Iron Mountain Warehouse fires.
We continue to work together as friends resulting in one family of volunteers. The ladies encourage other women to join us as we continue to uphold a tradition that has been going strong for seventy-two years. We are grateful to those women who had a vision and continued to pursue it.
Past Ladies Auxiliary Presidents
The following is a complete list of the women who have served as Presidents of the Kingston Ladies Auxiliary.
- Mrs. Edward Engelke
1927 - Mrs. Edward Engelke
1928 - Mrs. Nelson Anderson
1929 - Mrs. Nelson Anderson
1930 - Mrs. Wilbur Potts
1931 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1932 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1933 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1934 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1935 - Mrs. Arthur Heckman
1936 - Mrs. Arthur Heckman
1937 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1938 - Mrs. Ed Rey
1939 - Mrs. Harry Tobin
1940 - Mrs. Adam Wesp
1941 - Mrs. J. McDonald
1942 - Mrs. J. McDonald
1943 - Mrs. J. Brabson
1944 - Mrs. J. Brabson
1945 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1946 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1947 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1948 - Mrs. Catherine Brian
1949 - Mrs. Rudolph Rey
1950 - Mrs. Catherine Brian
1951 - Mrs. Catherine Brian
1952 - Mrs. E. Hingher
1953 - Mrs. Kendall Foster
1954 - Mrs. C. Petrillo
1955 - Mrs. Charles Petrillo
1956 - Mrs. Charles Petrillo
1957 - Mrs. Charles Petrillo
1958 - Mrs. Charles Petrillo
1959 - Mrs. Charles Petrillo
1960 - Mrs. Mary Briggs
1961 - Mrs. Mary Briggs
1962 - Mrs. Doris Luck
1963 - Mrs. Rose Haskins
1964 - Mrs. Rose Haskins
1965 - Mrs. Dorothy Slovinsky
1966 - Mrs. Dorothy Slovinsky
1967 - Mrs. Helen Luck
1968 - Mrs. Helen Luck
1969 - Mrs. Patricia Breece
1970 - Mrs. Patricia Breece
1971 - Mrs. Betty Mertz
1972 - Mrs. Betty Mertz
1973 - Mrs. Mary Slovinsky
1974 - Mrs. Mary Slovinsky
1975 - Mrs. Helen Luck
1976 - Mrs. Helen Luck
1977 - Mrs. Helen Luck
1978 - Mrs. Rose Haskins
1979 - Mrs. Betty Mertz
1980 - Mrs. Marie Luck
1981 - Mrs. Marie Luck
1982 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1983 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1984 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1985 - Mrs. Lorelei Zupp
1986 - Mrs. Lorelei Zupp
1987 - Mrs. Catherine Wolf
1988 - Mrs. Catherine Wolf
1989 - Mrs. Catherine Wolf
1990 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1991 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1992 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1993 - Mrs. Maxine Mathis
1994 - Mrs. Maxine Mathis
1995 - Mrs. Maxine Mathis
1906 - Mrs. Susan Vik
1997 - Mrs. Susan Vik
1998 - Mrs. Carol Luck
1999 - Mrs. Carol Luck
2000 – 2002 - Mrs. Joan Eisenmann
2003 – 2005 - Mrs. Carol Luck
2006 – 2008 - Mrs. Sarah Luck
2009 – 2011 - Mrs. Karen Emmons
2012 – 2015 - Mrs. Sarah Luck
2016 – 2019 - Mrs. Marie Luck
2020 – 2022 - Ms. Anne Luck-Deak
2023 – Current