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Fire Log
2005

"Hello Boys, Let Me Tell You About..."
by Jay Pozark

On August 3rd, 2005, James G. Leavey, firefighter, EMT passed away. He passed away after a period of illness from injuries sustained in the line of duty. Jimmy was a member and Past President of the Box 41 Associates.

Jimmy’s roots were in the West End of Boston proper. The son of an MDC Police Officer the family moved to Medford and later to Stoneham. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served in Viet Nam. Corporal Jim was proud of his service, but he didn’t speak about it much.

He spoke mostly about his first love, the fire service. He saw many changes in his lifetime. When Jimmy was young and the fire whistle would blow, he would go down to the station in Stoneham. On brush fire days he would help out. This was when they still used soda & acid extinguishers to fight brush fires. One of the rigs had a bunch of these cans on it. He liked to tell of the jig that the firemen had mounted to the wall to loosen the tops of the extinguishers so they could be recharged more quickly. This was the heyday of “Sweetheart and Anniversary” Seagraves in Stoneham. He remembered how the police and fire departments had to share a radio system. When he was old enough, he joined the Auxiliary Fire Department. He spoke about how when an inhalator call would come in, the resuscitator would have to be removed from the Hook & Ladder truck and strapped to the back of the odd job Engine that was used for still alarms.

After he returned from Viet Nam, Jimmy initially worked for the Telephone Company before he was appointed as a fire fighter. It was a busy time in the early 70’s. Jimmy was appointed to the North Reading Fire Department and worked the tragic Stoneham Laundry Co. fire in 1976. He liked to tell the story of how the North Reading Engine Co. working the Chelsea Conflagration of 1973 removed the propane tanks from the gate tenders shanty at the railroad crossing. 

In 1978. he left North Reading and was appointed a Fire Alarm Operator in Lynn. Two years later he was appointed as a firefighter in the Lynn Fire Dept. Jimmy served on Engine Companies # 1-3-5-7, Rescue #1 and Aide to District Chief, West Lynn. Whether pushing a line up a gasoline soaked tenement stairway on Surfside Road. or delivering a baby, Jimmy was always there. 

His skills went beyond firefighting however. One day when no one had brought lunch, Jimmy saved the day. “Leave it to me boys”, he said, “Today we eat Woolworth’s!” A short time late he called the curious members to the kitchen and presented each member with a plate of sliced turkey breast over sandwich bread covered in canned gravy with canned peas and instant mashed potatoes. Just like the lunch counter at Woolworth’s.

While a chief’s aide he looked out for his boss. Hours into a long stand at a multiple alarm fire, the District Chief complained to Jimmy, “Jeez, my feet hurt” To which Jimmy replied “Chief, why don’t you try putting your boots on the right feet?”

At the end of his career, Jimmy was assigned to the Fire Alarm Office. Jimmy was a firm, kind, and guiding hand to new operators. However, if anyone started to get too self-involved or distracted he would point out, “We ain’t delivering pizzas here.”

Jimmy was a firefighter, yes, but he was a Fire Buff too. He was a veteran of fried clam strips and french fries at the Howard Johnson’s at Mass. Ave. and Southampton Street we all called “The Lot”. He would welcome any buff in and sit down to a conversation with them. His knowledge of area fire history was extensive. He would travel to the banks of the Hudson River for three of his favorite things, the FDNY, the FDJC and New York Deli’s. He had a great interest and knowledge of the Chicago Fire Department. Often, as we would send Lynn companies out on still alarms, Jimmy would tap out 5-5-5 on the top of the radio console as an imaginary key on the Joker Circuit.

Not too long ago, at the Center House of the Pearly Gates Fire Department, there was the sound of feet on the kitchen floor. A meaty hand reached up and pulled a house mug from the rack on the wall. A quivering coffee mug dripped it’s contents to the table as it was set down. A new face looked at the other firemen around the big table. A new back stepper had reported for duty at the “Big House”. . . 

“Hello boys let me tell you about . . . . ."