The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Fred Langdon’s lifetime of service
Fred Langford: Former firefighter, telephone technician proud of community commitment
VERNON >> Fred Langford has seen a lot of changes in his more than a half-century with the Vernon Volunteer Fire Department, and one of the biggest improvements has been in updating their firefighting safety gear.
When he joined the department back in 1951, they didn’t have all of that firesafe apparel of today, Langford recalled. Often, they would battle blazes in their street clothes, or even his pajama bottoms if he was in a real rush to get to a fire. Once, he even nearly left the house in such a haste to answer a call that he was even less prepared.
“I was hurrying out the back door and saw my wife holding my pants, asking, ‘Do you want to put your pants on?’” Langford remembered.
Now 102 years old, although still with a memory that would be the envy of a person half his age, Langford looked back on his family life and his successful and longlasting careers with both the fire department and with the Vernon Telephone Company last Friday.
Born in 1914 and raised on a farm not too far from his current Vernon home, Langford moved away from the family home in 1934 to find work on his own. He started in the familiar business of farming, worked at a gas station, and then a machine shop in Rome where he made ammunition during the early days of World War II.
That job left him feeling ill, however, so he was recommended to get a job working outdoors for some fresh air. He ended up leaving that position in the shop with his bosses’ promise to always have a job for him if he ever wanted to come back.
Also in 1934, his brother set him up on a date with the former Margaret Chandler. Langford recalled he was actually “second fiddle” in that arrangement, as he was asked
only after another brother was unavailable to go. After the date, he was asked if he would see Margaret again and he hedged a bit, saying he didn’t want to travel all the way to Rome to see her.
The couple were married the following year.
“She was the only girl I ever went with,” Langford said, before slyly adding, “I wasn’t going to support more than one.”
Margaret passed away in February 2001.
Their daughter Sharon Sprague now lives with Langford in the same Vernon home where she grew up, while her twin sister Shirley Ludwikowski is in Sherrill and their sibling Joyce McMinn is in Verona. They all take turns keeping an eye on dad, although Langford admits it is hard for him to keep them all happy.
Langford said he took a job with the Vernon Telephone Company in 1943, starting as a linesman and initially the only man on the company’s crew for his first 12 years there.
He recalled back then they didn’t have bucket trucks and modern digging equipment, forcing him to dig the holes by hand.
That job was often rewarding, and he was occasionally treated to cookies by appreciative customers after a successful telephone installation, Langford remembered.
One time, it was Armistice Day, and he was on the telephone pole at the appointed time when Americans were signaled to bow their heads in respect for veterans.
As he did so, a photographer got a picture of the touching scene of Langford showing his solemn support for the vets, and that photo ran in a local newspaper.
He retired from the phone company after 36 years, proud that in all of that time he never lost a paycheck.
They gave him a gift for his service on his retirement, Langford said, by letting him choose any new car that he wanted with the telephone company picking up the tab for his new vehicle.
Langford started with the fire department in 1951, when they were based at their Peterboro Street former station. Langford said he held the posts of captain and president over the years, but mostly he was content to be one of the firefighters helping the folks in need.
He recalled especially the Burton Livestock Exchange fire of December 1966, when he worked all night battling the blaze, went home to change his clothes, and then went back the next day to work on their phones.
When his 100th birthday was approaching a couple of years ago, he asked that in lieu of gifts that donations be made either to the fire department or the church. Those donations came in generously in his honor, and now the Vernon firefighters have a new pickup truck, one which is adorned with Langford’s name on the side in recognition of the donations made in his name as well as his years of service.
Today, he doesn’t even turn on his scanner any more, but he does attend special fire department meetings like their annual banquet earlier this month. Events like that are some of his fondest memories with the department -- he especially enjoyed their social activities like their annual clam bakes, he recalled. His main pleasure in fighting fires was knowing that he was helping somebody in need, Langford added.
Langford said the secret of his longevity is living a healthy lifestyle … and monogamy.
“I didn’t smoke, I didn’t drink, and I met one woman, married her, and raised a family with her,” he said. “I never went into a bar room, unless I had to fix their phones.”
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