Andrew Leider

New York Times , June 3, 2007, writer Peter Applebome wrote "Receipe for a Museum" published in the Our Towns section of the paper, with photographs by Nathaniel Brooks.  Peter Applebome wrote that our work was "...paying homage to a vanished industrial America where small companies cranked out models of elegance and utility..."  http://select.nytimes.com/2007/06/03/nyregion/03towns.html?_r=1

Times Herald Record, July 6, 2009,  columnist Donna Kessler reviewed the local chapter muster held at my future museum site in her column, and included her own
photographs.  She is the columnist of the best part of the paper, My Ride, which is the heartbeat of the Times Herald Record: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090706/LIFE02/307069973

Times Herald Record, June 5, 2009,  Chris Farlekas reported on his interview of Marvin H. Cohen, 82, Middletown historian and author, about on Marvin's just-published book, "The Proud and the Brave: A 150-Year History of the Middletown Fire Department."  Marvin Cohen is one of the main reasons I am here in Wallkill with my hopes for a museum, because he is an active member of the local chapter of vintage fire equipment, the Catskill Fire-Cats, that I belong to.  This chapter is part of the nationwide organization, the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAMFAA).   The last sentence of Chris Farlekas's article, however, is a surprise, as young Chris incorrectly describes me as a "Wall Street financier" !  So that you have the accurate facts:   I have never worked in the securities, stock, or finance business industry, the business of intangible assets of paper, the business of Wall Street financiers!   I am a small businessman and I have joined together with a few other small investors in real estate, handling the deeds, verifying title insurance,  attending closings; I  work as the managing agent arranging repairs;  and I work as a general contractor for a restoration or repair  needed for  older buildings.  I've invested my earnings in another small business, the Staten Island Towing company, which also does some heavy hauling, such as moving large windmill parts.  In this way I have made a profitable living for myself and my employees, in concrete investments that one can touch and feel.  I've no experience in intangibles.   http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090605/COMM/906050329

Times Herald Record article by Simon Shifrin with photo by Tom Bushey published on May 29, 2007.  This article caused great interest worldwide, increased by the Record Online's video report also in 2007 (see video gallery for the link) and as a result I was contacted by many enthusiasts who helped me find more local trucks that could be saved for future restoration and inclusion in the museum. http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070529/NEWS/705290314    

Associated Press article on January 4, 2007 that was picked up and published in the Times Herald Record about one of our trucks:  http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/NEWS/701040327

New York Times writer Lois Smith Brady, covering my marriage to Avery in February 2001.  We were married in the historic 7th Regiment Armory in New York City.  http://www.nytimes.com/2001/02/11/style/weddings-vows-avery-mcconnell-and-andrew-leider.html?scp=1&sq=Andrew+Leider+and+Avery+&st=nyt

New York Times writer James Barron covering the conflict over the historic artifacts in the 7th Regiment Armory.  While this conflict waged, the articles fell into increasing decay, unnecessarily because of delay in attending to these historic artifacts while the arguments and lawsuits waged on for years.  This experience was meaningful to me because it showed me how political conflict can cause priceless history to be lost. I don't want to see that happen to our vintage fire apparatus here in Wallkill.   http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/nyregion/06regiment.html?scp=2&sq=Andrew+Leider&st=nyt

Links to photos of the collection:

Photos by Fire Apparatus Journal photographer and active firefighter Michael Martinelli:

http://www.fdnytrucks.com/files/html/otherstates/Privately Owned/Leider Collection.htm

Photos by fire buff Tom Aurnhammer:

http://www.buffaloheadfire.com/gpage64.html

Photos of my Haz-Mat certified equipment and personnel at the Orange County Fire Training Center on October 6, 2009:

Firefighters training with foam.

October 17, 2009

The Saturday Night Cruisers and the Catskill Fire-Cats had a Antique Car and Firetruck show at the grounds of my warehouse on State Route 302.  We set up a tent and candidates for office - including myself - met and talked with residents who came.

Lou Heimbach, myself, and Ed Diana.  When Lou Heimbach and Ed Diana were in elected office in Town government, our Town of Wallkill services were running well, our Town employees were cherished, and we had a sensible budget.  With their advice, I hoped to restore the town to that good position so it would better serve its citizens.  Although I did not get elected, many good people worked positive changes that helped the Town of Wallkill for the better as a result of my efforts.

Lou Heimbach, myself, Dan Tulp, Mark Coyne, and Ed Diana.   I, Dan Tulp, and Mark Coyne ran for Town Council men positions for the Town of Wallkill in 2009. We three had never run for any political office before.  The incumbents that we ran  against were all endorsed by the Democrat Party.  Mark Coyne was the first one to announce that he was running.  Mark had  good ideas for how to run the Town government more effectively, but if he won and we have no other changes to the Board, then his voice would be a minority and of little effect.  Dan and I decided to run also, in hopes that if we won, also, against the incumbents, that we three together would be a majority voice for efficient and improved Town government, and we could work as a team to accomplish this goal.    Dan Tulp ran for Ward 4 as a Conservative and a Republican and he won.  Mark Coyne ran for Ward 3 as an Independent, a Conservative, and a Republican and he lost by only a handful of votes.  I ran for Ward 1 as a Republican and as an Independent, and I lost.  My competitor was endorsed by the Conservatives, and this was key to his success.