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Articles and photos added during June 2009
Regular weekly Friday website updates commenced on April 1, 2011.
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WELCOME!
On May 11, 2009, twenty-two retired members of the Hamden Fire Department met to begin organizing an association that will enable all retired Hamden firefighters to stay connected socially and fraternally, and to promote the history of the Hamden Fire Department.
At the second meeting, held June 9, 2009, the retirees approved the establishment of this website to keep retirees informed on events. This website will eventually allow retirees to contribute photos, videos, and stories relating to their experiences on the Hamden Fire Department.
It is hoped that retirees will contribute scans of their own personal fire department photos and recollections. There are a lot of good stories out there.
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| 1965 - Engine 2 and Ladder 1 training on Waite Street |
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Hamden Fire Department
1925 - 1942
From June 1925, when the Hamden Fire Department was created under the General Statutes of the State of Connecticut, until April 1942, the Hamden Fire Department was managed by the Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners under the direction of Fire Chief Charles Loller, who was also the Town's Building Inspector.
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| Hamden Fire Department - 1939 - CLICK to enlarge |
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| Hamden Fire Department - 1939 - CLICK to enlarge |
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Standing: Roland Ruwet, Arthur Norman, Edward Kromer, Robert Reutenauer, 1st Asst. Chief Raymond C. Spencer, Ralph Rosson, Asst. Chief Thayer Jones, Everett Doherty, Joseph Marchitto, Albert Purce and Julius Norman.
Seated: David F. Howe, Albert Molleur, Joseph Dukat, Frank Nolan, Chief Charles Loller, Ralph Rosson, Clem Kammerer, Joseph Marchitto and Joseph Hromadka.
Charles Loller (1867-1961), seated in the white bell cap, was appointed fire chief when the Hamden Fire Department was created in 1925. Loller, who was also Hamden's Building Inspector, had been Chief of Highwood Co. 1 since 1898.
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Standing: Roland Ruwet, Arthur Norman, Albert Molleur, Edward Kromer, Frank Nolan, Robert Reutenauer, Joseph Dukat, 1st Asst. Chief Raymond C. Spencer, Ralph Rosson, Asst. Chief Thayer Jones, Clem Kammerer, Everett Doherty, Joseph Marchitto, Albert Purce and Julius Norman.
Seated: David F. Howe, Fire Alarm Supt. Elton Wetmore, Asst. Chief August Ball, Commissioner Albert H. Ruwet (Chairman of the Bd. of Fire Commissioners), Chief Charles Loller, Commissioner Thomas Miller, Commissioner Leroy L. Jackson, Benjamin Bamford (Clerk of the Bd. of Fire Commssioners) and Joseph Hromadka.
Posted 6/16/09
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Hamden Fire Department
1942 - 1965
In April 1942, the Hamden Fire Department was reorganized under a paid fire chief, Raymond C. Spencer, and four paid line officers: Captains Joseph Hromadka and Albert Purce, and Lieutenants Everett Doherty and Roland Ruwet.
The Board of Fire Commissioners still made all the big decisions until a charter revision took effect on January 1, 1966, which put the Chief in charge of running the entire Department. The Commssion's main responsibilities thereafter were limited primarily to making appointments and promotions from civil service lists.
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| 1942 - Stations 2, 3 and 6 Personnel (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| 1942 - HQ and Station 5 Personnel (CLICK to enlarge) |
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Front Row: Daniel Hume, Joseph Marchitto, Frank Nolan
Middle Row: Clement Wetmore, Albert Moeller, Capt. Joseph Hromadka, Lieut. Everett Doherty, George Thatcher
Back Row: Stewart Keeler, James Strain, Arthur Norman
| Front Row: Julius Norman, Clem Kammerer, Joseph Dukat, Walter Thomas
Middle Row: David Howe, Sr., Ralph Rosson
Back Row: Capt. Albert Purce, Emil Strain, Robert Reutenauer, Lieut. Roland Ruwet
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(Not pictured:
Mario “Bucky” Serafino, Ed Kromer and V. Paul Leddy. Leddy had joined
the department five weeks before Pearl Harbor and was on leave from the department for service
in the armed forces.)
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| October 10, 1950 - Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Assn. Annual Dinner at Headquarters (Photo by Lewis R. Berlepsch) - CLICK to enlarge |
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| Back Row (standing L-R): Ed Bevins, Russ Norman, John McKee, Art Amith, Larry Bellemore, Sid Trower, Bob "Whitey" Williams, Lt. Roland Ruwet, Dave Hermann, Dave Howe, Jack Laffin, Frank Nolan, Al Ramelli, Ken Harrington, Warren Blake, Thomas Cummins, Ralph Rosson, Fred Fletcher, Sal "Cookie" Ferraro, Hugh McLean, Clem Kammerer, Dan O'Connell, Rich Lostritto, and Julius Norman.
Middle Row (standing L-R): Lt. James Strain, Ray Vreeland, Francis Leddy, Capt. Everett Doherty, Burt Hillocks, Bill Hines, Frank Eitler, Mario "Bucky" Serafino (holding station mascot "Blackie"), Capt. Joe Hromadka, Bob O'Donnell, Bill Bossoli, George Reutenauer, Vinnie Roth, John Hoffman, Joe Dukat, Art Norman, Robert Reutenauer, and Marshal Al Purce.
Front Row (seated - L-R): Supt. Clem Wetmore, Howard Hurlburt, Sr., Lt. Dan Hume, Paul Rosadina, Wilbur Baker, Third Selectman Albert H. Connolly, Lt. V. Paul Leddy, Rev. Joseph Peters (Chaplain), Chief Raymond C. Spencer, Fr. Bernard Miller (Chaplain), Commissioner Oscar Lampe, Commissioner Herbert Hume, Commissioner Hudson Weigold, Commission Secretary Benjamin C. Bamford, Lt. Emil Strain, Ray Carofano, Walt Thomas, and Luke Tobin.
At the time this photo was taken the Hamden Fire Department consisted of 55 career members. Not pictured: William Esposito and Edward Schreck.
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| CLICK to see everyone identified |
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| Weather Vane Restaurant - December 7, 1964 (Photo by Joseph Pettits, © 1964 - New Haven Register) |
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| Sports Night - February 1962 - Hull's Rathskeller (photo courtesy of Tom Doherty) |
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Standing (L-R): Warren Blake, Ray Bantz, "Cookie" Ferraro, Mickey Cantarella, Hugh McLean, Gerry Wolf, John McKee, Stan Brown, Joe McDermott, Vinnie Roth, Dick Stacey (on chair behind Vinnie), Luke Tobin.
Seated (L-R): Emil Strain, Larry Bellemore, Francis Leddy, Joe Hromadka, Unknown, Unknown, Dick Carney, Joe Rahl, Dave Herrmann, Clem Kammerer, Carmen Amarante, and Tom Doherty.
Joe McDermott says that not all of the guys in the picture were Hamden firemen, which may account for the unknowns. Any corrections or additional identifications would be appreciated.
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