Cookbook celebrates Honesdale firefighting history

By SANDY LONG

HONESDALE, PA — If the community cookbook’s title doesn’t catch your interest—“From Pumps and Ladders to Plates and Platters”—the unique selection of local lore related to firefighting in the Honesdale area is sure to.

The concept for the book was dreamed up by Deby Kominski, a 13-year firefighting veteran, as a means of raising money for Protection Engine Company No. 3 in Honesdale. The company needs to replace its 17-year-old fire truck, a daunting challenge, as new vehicles typically range upwards of $300,000, according to Kominski.

Fire police captain Chris Sietz and fire chief Stan Pratt were also instrumental in completing the two-year project. Local illustrator Tim Gillmer heard about the effort and asked if he could illustrate the attractive publication.

And while many others assisted in various ways, a special thank you acknowledges the contributions of Joe Hessling, a life member of Texas No. 4 Fire Company, who shared his printing expertise and pictures of Honesdale gathered in his publishing of five pictorial books on Wayne County. Hessling died before the cookbook was completed, but his memory is honored in its pages.

A “recipe” accurately describes the 336-page book this way: “Blend some pictures; Stir in a few stories; A pinch of fire facts; A sprinkle of local history; Gently folded around recipes from 1853 to present.”

Readers will enjoy a festive mixture of favorite local recipes. In addition to learning how “Syllabub Pudding” was made in 1855 (including this line: “Milk a cow into it, that it may become very frothy”) readers can see a list of famous Americans who served as firefighters, such as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Recipes from the Civil War are included, and local fire history is traced from its early days of bucket brigades and hand pumpers to the present.

The cookbook is available for $19.95 at the Wayne County Historical Society, Sweet Eden Bakery, Wallflower, Signal One, the Kitchen Center, Jenz Café and other Honesdale locations, or see order form on page 12. Contact Kominski at deby@ptd.net for more information.