Library and Fire Department

From the firehouse to the library, all is for the community

The Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department is purposely situated on one of the area's main arteries — Hempstead Turnpike. The road is a vital connection point, and quickly accessible to anyone who needs it.

Where Hempstead Turnpike meets Lincoln Road, people will find the Franklin Square Library. Also, the adjacent firehouse.

The Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department has not only served its community, but its members are also heroes of during the massive rescue during the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The department has existed since 1924, making it a cherished relic — just like the hometown heroes. The old firehouse was originally located on Hempstead Turnpike between Madison Avenue and Franklin Street. The volume of traffic on Hempstead Turnpike and the need for modernization resulted in the present-day firehouse shining bright on Liberty Place.

In the 1930s, the firehouse had its own sports tournaments. The Sky Birds and the Night Owls drill teams utilized athletics to sharpen their skills, especially since there were very few fires in Franklin Square at the time. Neighbors wouldn’t be surprised to see firemen playing ball or immersed in hand-tohand exercises in the accompanying lot.

Near the firehouse is the Franklin Square Library. It was formed back in 1937 thanks to the members of the Monroe Street School

Tim Baker/Herald photos Top: Inside the Franklin Square Library, created thanks to the Monroe Street School PTA back at the height of the Great Depression. Bottom: The Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department remembers those who were lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

PTA. The library originated on New Hyde Park Road before its current location on Lincoln Road in 1956. It was renovated in 2002 with an addition of up to 20,000 square feet, making it ahead of its time among many other libraries in terms of space and what it had to offer.

After 2018, it expanded to include services such as enhanced technology and equipment. The initiative was meant to entice people to come to use the library’s services. The coronavirus pandemic caused the library to shift to virtual programming, which provided popular free at-home services such as Zumba and Yoga.

The library is very much a hub for resources, and it has always been even since its time on New Hyde Park Road. Now, in addition to being close to the firehouse, it sits yards away from the Veterans of Foreign Wars building, making it accessible for civic groups to utilize the two arenas. — Brian Pfail

Top: Overlooking the Franklin Square & Munson Fire Department Middle: The Veterans of Foreign Wars and its accompanying fallen heroes. Middle 2: Franklin Square Library at a glance. Bottom: At the receptionist desk of the library.