From the Mount Vernon newspaper:
Death of C.E. Van Fleet
The International Municipal Signal Association, lost a prominent and pioneer member when Clifford E. Van Fleet, supt. of fire alarm at Mount Vernon, N.Y., since 1930, suddenly passed away from a heart attack at his home in Mount Vernon, the evening of February 22, at the age of 59. Mr Van Fleet, or "Van" as he was known to his friends in the IMSA throughout the country, was a past president of the Association, and had much to do with the plans and work which led to its present form of organization and to the strong position of the Association today. He had suffered a heart attack 7 years ago, but had long recovered and had been working regularly and was at his office at fire alarm headquarters the date of his death.
A crowd of almost 300, among them many IMSA members from both the So. New York and New Jersey Sections, and Mount Vernon city officials paid tribute to him at the funeral services. His personality, character and ability won him friends in every walk of life who were proud to honor him in death, as they had in life. An indication of the esteem in which he was held by his officials and fellow citizens was the editorial reproduced below from the Mount Vernon "Daily Argus" and the letter from Mayor Hussey of Mount Vernon, it read:
Mount Vernon has lost on of its most popular and loyal public servants in the sudden death of Clifford Van Fleet. Superintendent of the city's fire alarm system since its creation in 1930, Mr. Van Fleet took a unique interest in his job. Not only was he host to thousands of school children who were fascinated by the equipment in his offices on the top floor of City Hall, but over the years he built up a museum which contained many curios of old-time fire alarm systems.
Among the oddities were two small keys once uned to unlock fire boxes. In olden days, one key was kept at a department store at 4th Avenue and First Street, the other in a cigar store midway between first and second streets on 4th Avenue. If fire broke out, one had to run to either of these places, grab a key, then dash to the alarm box, unlock it and pull the lever.
Himself, an active volunteer fireman for many years, Mr. Van Fleet was prominent in many branches of the city's municipal and fraternal life, having served as first President of Competitive Civil Service Employees' Association. We join with his legion of friends in mourning the passing of one whose devotion to duty and whose ingratiating manner will long be remembered.
City of Mount Vernon, Office of the Mayor
February 25, 1946
Dear Mrs. Van Fleet
May I extend sincere sympathy and regret of myself and the citizens of Mount Vernon on the passing of your husband. I was out of the city over the weekend, and was shocked to hear that Cliff had passed away. Clifford Van Fleet has bequeathed to his family a heritage of renown, not only in Mount Vernon, but throughout the country. He was a loyal, active and aggressive public servant who not only did his work, but looked to the future and gave us he present fine fire alarm system in Mount Vernon.
My personal sympathy goes to you and the members of your family. If there is anything I can do at any time to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me.
Very truly yours,
Wm. Hart Hussey, Mayor Mount Vernon, NY
Death of C.E. Van Fleet
The International Municipal Signal Association, lost a prominent and pioneer member when Clifford E. Van Fleet, supt. of fire alarm at Mount Vernon, N.Y., since 1930, suddenly passed away from a heart attack at his home in Mount Vernon, the evening of February 22, at the age of 59. Mr Van Fleet, or "Van" as he was known to his friends in the IMSA throughout the country, was a past president of the Association, and had much to do with the plans and work which led to its present form of organization and to the strong position of the Association today. He had suffered a heart attack 7 years ago, but had long recovered and had been working regularly and was at his office at fire alarm headquarters the date of his death.
A crowd of almost 300, among them many IMSA members from both the So. New York and New Jersey Sections, and Mount Vernon city officials paid tribute to him at the funeral services. His personality, character and ability won him friends in every walk of life who were proud to honor him in death, as they had in life. An indication of the esteem in which he was held by his officials and fellow citizens was the editorial reproduced below from the Mount Vernon "Daily Argus" and the letter from Mayor Hussey of Mount Vernon, it read:
Mount Vernon has lost on of its most popular and loyal public servants in the sudden death of Clifford Van Fleet. Superintendent of the city's fire alarm system since its creation in 1930, Mr. Van Fleet took a unique interest in his job. Not only was he host to thousands of school children who were fascinated by the equipment in his offices on the top floor of City Hall, but over the years he built up a museum which contained many curios of old-time fire alarm systems.
Among the oddities were two small keys once uned to unlock fire boxes. In olden days, one key was kept at a department store at 4th Avenue and First Street, the other in a cigar store midway between first and second streets on 4th Avenue. If fire broke out, one had to run to either of these places, grab a key, then dash to the alarm box, unlock it and pull the lever.
Himself, an active volunteer fireman for many years, Mr. Van Fleet was prominent in many branches of the city's municipal and fraternal life, having served as first President of Competitive Civil Service Employees' Association. We join with his legion of friends in mourning the passing of one whose devotion to duty and whose ingratiating manner will long be remembered.
City of Mount Vernon, Office of the Mayor
February 25, 1946
Dear Mrs. Van Fleet
May I extend sincere sympathy and regret of myself and the citizens of Mount Vernon on the passing of your husband. I was out of the city over the weekend, and was shocked to hear that Cliff had passed away. Clifford Van Fleet has bequeathed to his family a heritage of renown, not only in Mount Vernon, but throughout the country. He was a loyal, active and aggressive public servant who not only did his work, but looked to the future and gave us he present fine fire alarm system in Mount Vernon.
My personal sympathy goes to you and the members of your family. If there is anything I can do at any time to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me.
Very truly yours,
Wm. Hart Hussey, Mayor Mount Vernon, NY
From the Mount Vernon newspaper:
Death of C.E. Van Fleet
The International Municipal Signal Association, lost a prominent and pioneer member when Clifford E. Van Fleet, supt. of fire alarm at Mount Vernon, N.Y., since 1930, suddenly passed away from a heart attack at his home in Mount Vernon, the evening of February 22, at the age of 59. Mr Van Fleet, or "Van" as he was known to his friends in the IMSA throughout the country, was a past president of the Association, and had much to do with the plans and work which led to its present form of organization and to the strong position of the Association today. He had suffered a heart attack 7 years ago, but had long recovered and had been working regularly and was at his office at fire alarm headquarters the date of his death.
A crowd of almost 300, among them many IMSA members from both the So. New York and New Jersey Sections, and Mount Vernon city officials paid tribute to him at the funeral services. His personality, character and ability won him friends in every walk of life who were proud to honor him in death, as they had in life. An indication of the esteem in which he was held by his officials and fellow citizens was the editorial reproduced below from the Mount Vernon "Daily Argus" and the letter from Mayor Hussey of Mount Vernon, it read:
Mount Vernon has lost on of its most popular and loyal public servants in the sudden death of Clifford Van Fleet. Superintendent of the city's fire alarm system since its creation in 1930, Mr. Van Fleet took a unique interest in his job. Not only was he host to thousands of school children who were fascinated by the equipment in his offices on the top floor of City Hall, but over the years he built up a museum which contained many curios of old-time fire alarm systems.
Among the oddities were two small keys once uned to unlock fire boxes. In olden days, one key was kept at a department store at 4th Avenue and First Street, the other in a cigar store midway between first and second streets on 4th Avenue. If fire broke out, one had to run to either of these places, grab a key, then dash to the alarm box, unlock it and pull the lever.
Himself, an active volunteer fireman for many years, Mr. Van Fleet was prominent in many branches of the city's municipal and fraternal life, having served as first President of Competitive Civil Service Employees' Association. We join with his legion of friends in mourning the passing of one whose devotion to duty and whose ingratiating manner will long be remembered.
City of Mount Vernon, Office of the Mayor
February 25, 1946
Dear Mrs. Van Fleet
May I extend sincere sympathy and regret of myself and the citizens of Mount Vernon on the passing of your husband. I was out of the city over the weekend, and was shocked to hear that Cliff had passed away. Clifford Van Fleet has bequeathed to his family a heritage of renown, not only in Mount Vernon, but throughout the country. He was a loyal, active and aggressive public servant who not only did his work, but looked to the future and gave us he present fine fire alarm system in Mount Vernon.
My personal sympathy goes to you and the members of your family. If there is anything I can do at any time to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me.
Very truly yours,
Wm. Hart Hussey, Mayor Mount Vernon, NY
Death of C.E. Van Fleet
The International Municipal Signal Association, lost a prominent and pioneer member when Clifford E. Van Fleet, supt. of fire alarm at Mount Vernon, N.Y., since 1930, suddenly passed away from a heart attack at his home in Mount Vernon, the evening of February 22, at the age of 59. Mr Van Fleet, or "Van" as he was known to his friends in the IMSA throughout the country, was a past president of the Association, and had much to do with the plans and work which led to its present form of organization and to the strong position of the Association today. He had suffered a heart attack 7 years ago, but had long recovered and had been working regularly and was at his office at fire alarm headquarters the date of his death.
A crowd of almost 300, among them many IMSA members from both the So. New York and New Jersey Sections, and Mount Vernon city officials paid tribute to him at the funeral services. His personality, character and ability won him friends in every walk of life who were proud to honor him in death, as they had in life. An indication of the esteem in which he was held by his officials and fellow citizens was the editorial reproduced below from the Mount Vernon "Daily Argus" and the letter from Mayor Hussey of Mount Vernon, it read:
Mount Vernon has lost on of its most popular and loyal public servants in the sudden death of Clifford Van Fleet. Superintendent of the city's fire alarm system since its creation in 1930, Mr. Van Fleet took a unique interest in his job. Not only was he host to thousands of school children who were fascinated by the equipment in his offices on the top floor of City Hall, but over the years he built up a museum which contained many curios of old-time fire alarm systems.
Among the oddities were two small keys once uned to unlock fire boxes. In olden days, one key was kept at a department store at 4th Avenue and First Street, the other in a cigar store midway between first and second streets on 4th Avenue. If fire broke out, one had to run to either of these places, grab a key, then dash to the alarm box, unlock it and pull the lever.
Himself, an active volunteer fireman for many years, Mr. Van Fleet was prominent in many branches of the city's municipal and fraternal life, having served as first President of Competitive Civil Service Employees' Association. We join with his legion of friends in mourning the passing of one whose devotion to duty and whose ingratiating manner will long be remembered.
City of Mount Vernon, Office of the Mayor
February 25, 1946
Dear Mrs. Van Fleet
May I extend sincere sympathy and regret of myself and the citizens of Mount Vernon on the passing of your husband. I was out of the city over the weekend, and was shocked to hear that Cliff had passed away. Clifford Van Fleet has bequeathed to his family a heritage of renown, not only in Mount Vernon, but throughout the country. He was a loyal, active and aggressive public servant who not only did his work, but looked to the future and gave us he present fine fire alarm system in Mount Vernon.
My personal sympathy goes to you and the members of your family. If there is anything I can do at any time to be of assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon me.
Very truly yours,
Wm. Hart Hussey, Mayor Mount Vernon, NY
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