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
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