| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 2018
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
Next regular update is Friday, April 6th.
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Trooper First Class Kevin M. Miller
Connecticut State Police
Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut to be lowered to half-staff beginning immediately in honor of Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Kevin M. Miller, who was killed Thursday afternoon in a motor vehicle accident while on duty. Trooper First Class Miller served with the Connecticut State Police for 19 years and was assigned to Troop C in Tolland.
Posted 3/30/18
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50 Years Ago
Saturday, March 30, 1968
Childrens Center, 1400 Whitney Avenue
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Fifteen children were displaced when fire broke out in their dorm room at the Childrens Community Center in Whitneyville just before 11 p.m. on Saturday night, March 30, 1968. Gil Spencer vividly recalls that he and Firefighter Art Heriot on Engine 4 searched for extension throughout the building. "Art worked fast. He was all over the place. I could hardly catch up to him. And the heat was very intense."
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| New Haven Register, April 1, 1968 (Gil Spencer) |
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The unidentified firefighters in news photo above are Fiore "Frank" Cubbellotti (left) and Harold Mangler, who were both assigned to Station 6 on Platoon 2.
Revised 4/14/2018
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The Childrens Community Center started as the "New Haven Orphan Asylum" in May 1833.
In 1925, it moved to its present site at 1400 Whitney Avenue.
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| Courtesy of Phil and Judy Cronan |
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During the 1950s and 1960s, the Greater New Haven Junior League sponsored an annual fair at the Childrens Community Center on the third Saturday of May. One of the big attractions each year was an antique fire engine that provided rides for twenty-five cents. Some years it was an ancient right-hand-drive Seagrave (quite possibly Hamden's 1919 model). Other years it was this 1928 Maxim, formerly of Branford.
Kids were herded into the hose bed then driven all around on a circuitous route through the Childrens Center. One lucky kid or two was allowed to ride beside the driver.
On May 21, 1955, the kids' rides at the Childrens Center Fair were provided by this former Branford Engine 2, a 1928 Maxim pumper. The driver is unknown. Any ideas?
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This 1928 Maxim 500 g.p.m. pumper served until 1948 as Engine 2 at the M.P. Rice Hose Company in Branford. It is very similar to Hamden's Maxim 500 g.p.m. pumper that was purchased for Highwood Co. 1 in 1926 and served until it was traded in to O.B. Maxwell in 1954.
These photos, from a private collection, were taken at the May 21, 1955 Junior League Fair at Hamden's Childrens Center. The former Branford pumper is about to take on a load of kids for an exciting 25-cent ride all around the Childrens Center.
Posted 3/30/2018
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The annual Communion Breakfast, a tradition at the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church, was attended by several members of the Hamden Fire Department on Palm Sunday, March 29, 1953. Those Hamden fire personnel who could be recognized from this Hamden Chronicle photo are Ff. Bill Hines (#1), Lt. Emil Strain (#2), and Lt. James Strain (#3). Rev. Joseph Peters (#4) was a Hamden Fire Department chaplain from 1950 until his retirement in 1970.
Originally posted 3/29/13
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| L-R: Ff. Carl Backus, Ff. John O'Dea, Ff. Paul Reutenauer and Ff. Clark Hurlburt (Photo courtesy of Dep. Chief Bob Surprise) |
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In August 1983, Hamden Firefighter/Paramedic Clark Hurlburt and Firefighter/EMTs Paul Reutenauer, Carl Backus and John O'Dea saved the life of retired Hamden police sergeant Louis Boyce, who was in anaphylactic shock following numerous bee stings. The four Hamden firefighters were subsequently presented with the Mayor's Award by Mayor Peter Villano.
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Snapshots in Time - 2000s
CLICK on photos to see the captions
(Photos by Bob Mordecai)
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| August 12, 2002 |
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| June 21, 2000 |
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| October 16, 2003 |
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| FDNY Lt. Michael Davidson |
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FDNY Firefighter Michael Davidson
New York City firefighters this past week said goodbye to another of their own. Firefighter Michael Davidson of Engine Co. 69 was nozzleman of the first interior attack line in a 5-alarm fire basement fire in a Harlem apartment building that was being used as a movie set. He died early Friday as the result of smoke inhalation incurred when he apparently got disoriented while attempting to exit the building. The fire is still under investigation.
FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro announced over the weekend that Davidson, who was on the current list for promotion, was being posthumously promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Davidson's 69-year old father, Robert, is a retired 26-year veteran New York City firefighter and his 34-year old brother, Erik, is an 11-year veteran firefighter assigned to FDNY's Engine Co. 88.
Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York City conducted Davidson's funeral Mass on Tuesday at St. Patrick's Cathedral, where an estimated 10,000 members of the fire service throughout the region gathered to pay their respects.
A fifteen-year veteran of the FDNY, Lieutenant Davidson is survived by his wife, Eileen, and four young children. The thoughts and prayers of the active and retired members of the Hamden Fire Department go with the Davidson family and the FDNY at this sad time.
Posted 3/30/2018
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Lieut. Davidson's casket is borne on Engine 69, in a solemn procession up Fifth Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral, where Timothy Cardinal Dolan conducted his funeral Mass last Tuesday.
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HFRA Spring Quarterly Meeting
Wednesday, April 11th, NOON
Hamden Elks' Lodge, 175 School Street
Meeting Agenda
Anything for the Good of the Association
Menu
We're sending out for PIZZA!
All retirees and active HFD welcome!
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2018 dues of $15 must be received by (or at) this meeting.
Current members to receive NEW web password Apr. 15th.
Dues checks may be sent to HFRA, PO Box 185605, Hamden, CT 06518
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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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