cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

the Volunteer Fire Department as member of “Empire” Engine Company No. 4 in 1847 with its fire house on Division Street. It was
he who suggested, when the Civil War broke out, that the Syracuse Germans form a military company of volunteers to be led by
fellow immigrant Nicholas Grumbach, and he distinguished himself under Captain Grumbach in the Civil War. In this war he
received a gunshot wound in the arm and was taken prisoner at Chancellorville on 3 May 1863. He was thereafter paroled and sent
to a hospital and received a disability discharge on 21 Dec 1863. He was later brevetted a captain. Following his discharge he
served as Chief of the Syracuse Fire Department from 1864 to 1877, Assistant Chief 1877 to 1881, and again Chief in Oct 1891
when Ira Wood resigned.
It was on 1 Jun 1886, while riding on the side of Central City Hook and Ladder No. 1 enroute to a fire on Chestnut Street (South
Crouse Avenue) that Bro. Eckel was fatally injured. The Standard of 2 Jun 1886 vividly described this accident in a conversation
between C. Albert Sherff and the driver. “My God, Al, there’s the train,” as the wagon bore down the steep descent in Chestnut
Street at a terrific burst of speed onto the New York Central Railroad tracks on East Washington Street. There was only one thing to
do; the driver lashed his horses and the truck crossed the tracks just ahead of the train. Unfortunately, the wagon bounced as it
struck the rails, causing Eckel to either jump or be thrown from the vehicle. He was caught between the wheels of the wagon, but
escaped the train. Eckel was still conscious and bystanders carried him into a nearby barbershop
and summoned a doctor. From there, Eckel was transported by ambulance to his home where
lived only five hours. The fire bell then tolled 58 times, the years of his life. A few days later Eckel’s
body was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery. Thousands of mourners lined the route; over 1,000
firemen comprised the cortege.
Masonic funeral services were held at the grave in Woodlawn Cemetery. The newspapers at that
time state that in the number of organizations and bodies, in the extent and value of floral gifts, it
was the largest and most imposing funeral held in this city. He was eulogized at the church by the
Reverend Jeremiah Zimmerman as representing two heroic characters – that of a fireman and
soldier. Further tribute to the family was given in German by Reverend Dr. Oberlander. He was
married in 1864 to Barbara Eckel (11 May 1837 - 7 Oct 1909). A large monument in his memory
was erected on North Salina Street in 1900.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mstone/eckel-p-mon.html
This monument was designed by Carrick Brothers, a Vermont-based firm that opened a branch
office in Syracuse in the 1890's. Carved from granite in Vermont, this memorial was funded by
contributions raised by Syracuse firefighters and policemen.
Old photos show this monument in a different location. At its 22 Aug 1900 dedication it was installed at the corner of North Salina,
Butternut, and State Streets, in the midst of Syracuse's north side German community. Later it was moved to the intersection of
North Salina and Pearl Streets. Construction of Interstate 81 forced its final move downtown. The monument was moved to its
present location in Fayette Park at the same time the park was renamed Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park, on 2 May 1979. In the
last few years all of the monuments in this park and the park itself have been restored to a pristine condition that does Syracuse
proud. Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park also contains the 1905 Hamilton White Monument, the Collins Block Fireman's Memorial,
dedicated in 1939, a bell tower (1979) and a restored antique cast-iron fence. The park, a public green area since 1839, is bordered
by Townsend, Fayette, State and Genesee Streets in the city.
http://home.earthlink.net/~dahoude/from_the_archives.htm
PRESENTATION TO LIEUT. ECKLE. The members of Empire Fire Co. No. 4, of which Lieut. Eckle, of Co. B, 149 th regiment, has
been the foreman for many years, have presented their esteemed chief with a sword, sash, belt and other military insignia. The
presentation took place at Camp White, yesterday afternoon, and was attended by Empire Fire Company in full numbers, who
marched to the camp headed by Samsel’s Band, and also by Capt. Grumbach’s full company. The presentation address was made
by L. W. Hall, Esq., in neat and appropriate terms, to which R. H. Gardner, Esq., in behalf of Lieut. Eckle, made a fitting response.
The affair was witnessed by a large gathering of citizens. The compliment to Lieut. Eckle is richly deserved. (SYRACUSE DAILY
JOURNAL 9 Sep 1862)
Nicholas Grumbach, Jr.
Captain of Company B; Major and Lt. Col. of the 149th Regiment
http://www.149th-nysv.org/Roster/Field/grumbach_nicholas_.htm
Nicholas Grumback, Jr., was born 30 Jan 1835 in Detroit, Michigan. His father, Nicholas Grumbach, was
a native of Alsace who came to Syracuse in 1828. His mother, Mrs. Elisabeth Grumbach, and her father,
Christian Rupprecht, also from Alsace, came with other families to America in the year 1831. During their
journey to Buffalo on the Erie Canal the boat froze and a small group decided to remain and live in
Syracuse. In 1831 or 1832 Nicholas Grumbach married Miss Rupprecht and they subsequently moved to
Detroit where Colonel Grumbach was born. Besides him, they had six other children, of whom, however,
three died. Their other children were Mrs. Brucker of Deerfield, Colonel Nicholas Grumbach, George, and
Johann P. Grumbach, all of Syracuse.
It may interest some to know what Syracuse looked like around that time. Most of the buildings were in close proximity to the canals.
From Lodi Street a brook came down known as "Yellow Brook," which water-way went up to Lemon Street then turned south and
southwest into the area of today’s Harrison Street where it turned north, crossing then in the neighborhood of the Farmer-Blocks at
Warren Street and flowed diagonally by Jefferson Street at Salina Street and along the south of Fayette Street into Onondaga
Creek. Only in the year 1838 was this brook completely filled in.
Between Chestnut Street and Fayette Park there were neither houses nor improvements nor arable country. North of the (Genesee)
turnpike, the trees had been felled to provide firewood for the salt-settlers, but the stumps still stood. On the south side of the great
swamps, trees and brush yet remained as a great wilderness. The swamp was still not passable by wagon. On the west side of
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