| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2017
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
Next regular update is Friday, September 15th.
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| CLICK TO ENLARGE POSTER |
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2017 (46th Annual) Engine 260 Muster
was held Saturday, September 9
at Milford's Eisenhower Park
This year's featured apparatus was
West Ridge's (North Haven)
1925 American-LaFrance.
The photo below was taken at Hamden's 1969 Memorial Day Parade. See next week's update for photos of the outstanding restoration of this 92-year old pumper, along with other fire apparatus featured at the 2017 Engine 260 Muster.
Revised 9/10/17
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| West Ridge's 1925 American-LaFrance in Hamden's 1969 Memorial Day Parade (CLICK to enlarge) - Photo by Ed Doiron, Sr. |
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19th Century Hamden Helmet Brought to Station 2
A few weeks back, an anonymous gentlemen stopped by Station 2. He had found this 1890s metal "HAMDEN" Cairns fire helmet and wanted to donate it to the department. The gentleman did not know where the helmet came from, but the "1" on the leather ID suggests that it was from Highwood Co. 1, Hamden's first fire company, organized in 1896.
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| "1897" is the most recent patent date on the tag inside the helmet. |
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| 1950: Fr. Bernard Miller and Rev. Joseph Peters |
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AHA! Could the mystery helmet be one of these two helmets? (The one of the right looks like a possible candidate.) Could be.
Father F. Bernard Miller (left) of St. Rita's Roman Catholic Church and Rev. Joseph Peters of the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church were sworn in as the department's first two chaplains at the annual dinner of the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association at fire headquarters on October 10, 1950.
The helmet that was brought to Station 2 may very well be the one sitting atop Rev. Peters' head in the photo.
The question is, were these helmets assigned to these good men of the clergy, or were they merely props for the 1950 photo op at HQ? And just who provided them?
The helmet is on display in the Fire Chief Office. Is is undoubtedly the earliest surviving example of a piece of Hamden turnout gear.
Posted 9/8/17
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Bassett's Getty Service Station
3050 Whitney Avenue
Wednesday, September 9, 1987
Mechanic touched off blaze that enguled service station,
then blamed department for "not doing more" to save building.
On Wednesday, September 9, 1987, a mechanic using a torch underneath an automobile ignited a gasoline fire in Bassett's Getty Service Station at 3050 Whitney Avenue. The building was fully involved within minutes. Miraclulously, no one was injured.
CLICK on the photo at right to view more photos of the incident, as well as news articles about criticism that was leveled against the department by a Legislative Council member whose brother's torch caused the fire.
Originally posted 9/21/12
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| CLICK to see more photos and articles |
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| The Hamden Chronicle, September 4, 1952 |
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Chief Spencer and His Cigars
When we spotted this item in a 1952 edition of The Hamden Chronicle, we knew it was time to finally relate a true story - yes, it is TRUE! - about Chief Spencer, a cigar, and a guy named Fred. Enjoy!
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Joe Rahl had just finished his night shift at Headquarters. He was relieved by Fred, who was coming in to work on the day shift.
Just before leaving the station, and ever the prankster, Joe handed three special cigars to unsuspecting Fred.
Fred carefully slipped Joe's gift cigars into his breast pocket, saving them for after lunch.
Chief Spencer, a well-known cigar lover himself, arrived at Headquarters just before lunch to deliver the weekly paychecks.
Never missing an opportunity to ingratiate himself to the boss, Fred pulled one of Joe's cigars from his breast pocket. "Here, Chief, have one of these."
The Chief smiled and graciously took Fred's cigar, lighting it up in the car as he pulled out of Headquarters on his way to Station 2.
They say that Chief Spencer was puffing away on Fred's cigar at the traffic light in front of the high school when . . .
BANG!!!
We've been told that the Chief was pissed off, mostly because he had to get out of his car to brush the hot ashes off his uniform in front of a bunch of kids waiting for the bus.
Originally posted 9/6/13
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National Organizations Accepting Donations to
Help Victims of Harvey Flooding
AmeriCares provides emergency supplies and medical care.
Team Rubicon “unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to rapidly deploy emergency response teams.”
Posted 9/2/17
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Non-Members May Subscribe to HFRA archived web pages.
For a $10 annual subscription, non-HFRA members may access
all HFRA archives, except the "Members Only" pages.
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NEVER FORGET!
We will always remember our brother firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice, and the thousands of other innocent victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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