Mystery Friday Foto #39 solved: Henry Austin Clark, Jr’s Sandy Hollow Fire department captain badge
The Walter McCarthy Archives challenged you to solve this weekend's Mystery.
- What is this item? Who was the original owner? Kudos question- Is this the only one?
Walter McCarthy 7/21/2010: "Austin Clark had 50 Captains' badges made for his friends by a fire department badge supply company. He also had one chief's badge made for himself. He mentioned that the company called and questioned his order and said that there must be a mistake as the only department ever ordering such a large number of Captain's badges was the FDNY, and they were not familiar with the Sandy Hollow Fire Department. I am the lucky owner of a badge with its many memories."
- What other items are associated with this Mystery Badge?
Cast aluminum vehicle badge.
Comments (13)
Congrats to Ron Ridolph, David Miller, George Spruce, Earl Gandel, Art Kleiner, Ed Labounty (Henry Ford) in "Men who built America"), Al Prete, Steve Lucas, George Philippides and Dick Gorman for identifying Henry Austin Clark Jr.'s captain badges.
Kudos to Art Kleiner, Al Prete, Steve Lucas, George Philippides and Dick Gorman for knowing that Clark made 50 of these captain badges.
Enjoy,
Howard Kroplick
Sandy Hollow Fire Department vehicle badge
Sandy Hollow Fire Department at the Long Island Automotive Museum, Southampton
Comments
Hi All: Cut to the chase and take a look at the 7/21/2010 ‘s edition for about
90 % of today’s mystery photo. It is quite the story in anyone’s lifetime
Nice memories of the past go with this and thanks !!!
Be Well and Be Safe, Ron Ridolph
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This badge is from the Long Island Automotive Museum in Southampton. These badges were owned and some were subsequently handed out by Henry Austin Clark Jr., so there were probably at least a few dozen in existence. There were also cast aluminum vehicle badges associated with this badge. An old fire truck at the museum tied it all together with the “Sandy Hollow Fire Department” painted on the side of it. The truck was originally from Islip Terrance then bought by Sleepy Hollow and then returned back to Islip Terrace again. So I guess the name “Sandy Hollow” is a combination of the sandy beaches of Southampton and Sleepy Hollow.
Austin Clark’s badge for his fantasy fire department named for the museum’s locality
Hi all
I’ll take a guess at this one. Is it a badge from a Captain of the Sandy Hollow Fire Department in Sands Point Long Island? it’s time for bed and take care. Ted
Henry Austin Clark, captain of the non-existent Sandy Hollow Fire Dept.
From material provided by Walter McCarthey in a July 21, 2010 post on vanderbiltcuprace.com:
One of 50 captain’s badges ordered by Austin Clark Jr. to give to friends. Clark’s LI Automobile Museum had a section devoted to fire engines. The museum was located on a section of Southampton called Sandy Hollow.
Our good friend Walt Godsen also noted he had one.
Aluminum car badges also were made for Clark.
Article from the Southampton Press of Aug. 2, 1979.
Interesting, on one of my last visits to the museum (July 13, 2019) a current fire truck was stationed next to one of the original buildings. Not sure what it was doing there.
The badge is from the imaginary fire department located at the Long Island Automotive Museum. The Chief was H Austin Clark who appointed many Captains and gave them each a badge. There are many badges out there. He had them made at a badge making company.
I found the information right here on this website. It’s one of 50 captain’s badges that Austin Clark had made for his friends by a fire department badge supply company. He also had a chief’s badge made for himself, and a number of aluminum car badges.
Rather than pretend I actually did some research, I’m attaching Walt McCarthy’s original blog post from July 21, 2010 which answers all the questions.
Hi Love the newsletter. I think this is the old badge for the now North Sea Fire Department which is in Southampton Town. The old Southampton car museum, mentioned in this issue, was it this fire house’s district. Thanks
This is a badge made by Austin Clark, the founder of the LI Automotive museum in South Hampton
I assume he was the original owner.
Apparently, he made over 50 other Captains’ badges for his friends and a Chief badge for himself
The badge is from an officer ( Captain) from the Sandy Hook FD. The badge was from the kate 1o00- 1910s
Mystery Foto #39…This is an honorary Fire Captain’s badge awarded to his friends by Henry Austin Clark back in the 50’s or 60’s. This one may have belonged to Walter McCarthy. Austin had 50 captains badges made up for his pals and one Fire Chief badge for himself. Clearly, the one shown here is not the only one.
Austin Clark’s in his Chief T 1953
HOWARD: EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON THE HILL CLIMB AND AUSTI’E CLARKS PLAY TOYS. I WAS THERE ONCE A A KID, AND STILL REMEMBER IT. AND STILL HAVE MY MODEL A AFTER 60 YEARS. GREAT ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK. ARTIE.
Sandy Hollow Fire Dept—
I remember that from when I was a little boy—
Really neat !!!