The families of firefighters John C. Russell, chief John F. Cox and fire captain Donald W. McGeever joined members of the Binghamton Fire Department and City of Binghamton Mayor Jared Kraham Sept. 29 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rockbottom Dam tragedy that claimed their lives.
On Sept. 28, 1975, two rafters on the Susquehanna River were swept over the dam and trapped by the current. The ensuing two-day rescue mission resulted in the deaths of three Binghamton firefighters.
“We will never forget, I think today is a tribute to fifty years later, we have not forgotten,” said retired firefighter Bill Newland, who opened the ceremony. “Fifty years from now we will still not forget. We remembered the tragedy of that day, fifty years ago, and we will continue to remember it.”
A wreath was placed at the memorial at 115 Conklin Ave., which overlooks the dam.
Kraham said the tragedy shook the community and the department, but “we draw strength from the family members of the men who died here, who have visited us some fifty years later.”
Generations were shaped as they “learned what true heroism looks like,” Kraham said, “but in our grieving, today’s anniversary gives us strength.”
City of Binghamton Fire Captain David Holleran, who is also Local 729 President, described the tragedy as “the two worst consecutive days of the Binghamton Fire Department.”
During one of the rescue attempts, firefighters pulled one of the rafters from the water. When they returned for the other rafter, the boat carrying the firefighters capsized and they were pulled under. While two firefighters and the rafter were able to break free, Russell drowned. In an attempt to recover Russell’s body the next day, the boat carrying Cox and McGeever capsized and they also drowned.
One of Cox’s three daughters, 67-year-old Mary Francis who now lives in Chicago, said she remembers those two days vividly.
Living with the chief of the fire department, she said, it was common to have the fire radio on in their home.
After the first rescue boat capsized, Francis remembered her father saying, “I have a good team, I have a good crew. I’m confident things will be taken care of.”
Later, around 10 p.m. on Sept. 28, 1975, Francis was in bed when her father came in to tell her, “I’m heading down to the river now.”
At the memorial service, Francis said it was “heartwarming, to see that it has not been forgotten.”
The ceremony closed with the ringing of the bell — a tradition honoring firefighters who die in the line of duty — for each of the fallen firefighters and the reciting of the firefighter’s prayer.
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at kcgrant@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: 50 years later, Binghamton remembers firefighters killed at Rockbottom Dam
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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