We are in the process of archiving all weekly updates by the month. All of the weekly updates for this month are on this page.
Just scroll down to locate the desired update.
July 2021
|
| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
 |
| CLICK here for daily flag status |
|
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
|
 |
| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
February 1, 1961
Two Structure Fires on One Very Cold Night
__________
Cat is Family's Smoke Detector as Fire Destroys Whitney Ave. Home
|
 |
| Chief V. Paul Leddy directs firefighters at one of two structure fires to hit Hamden on February 1, 1961. (Photos from HFRA Archives) |
|
|
Fifty-two years ago this week, Hamden firefighters struggled with extremely cold temperatures to fight two structure fires at almost the same time. The first and more serious fire destroyed the 3070 Whitney Avenue home of a Mt. Carmel family. Fire Marshal Al Purce later determined that the cause was chimney sparks emanating from an unscreened fireplace.
The first home smoke detectors wouldn't arrive until the 1970s, so this family was fortunate to have a pet cat that woke them while they could still escape the flames. The fire was through the roof by the time the first apparatus arrived.
The second fire, at 218 Skiff Street, was reported by a watchman for the New Haven Water Company, which had a branch office on the south side of Skiff directly opposite #218. Engine 3 was returning from the first fire and arrived first, and was joined by Engines 1 and 2. Damage was limited to the roof (see artricle below).
| |
 |
| From The New Haven Register, February 1, 1961 (News articles courtesy of Chan Brainard and Gil Spencer) |
|
|
HFRA Website Assists Japanese Author
Last September we received the following email from Japanese author, Norimasa Nishikori, regarding an article published on our website about the 1932 Edwards Fishing Rod Co. fire on Home Place:
My name is Norimasa Nishikori, a fly fishing enthusiast in Japan. Now, I am contributing articles on fly fishing history to the Flyfisher, a leading fly fishing magazine in Japan. Please see one of my article attached on this mail.
I currently am writing about Edwards Fishing Rod Co. For this purpose, I would like to ask you to use some photo images listed on your excellent website . . .
|
 |
| From Flyfisher Magazine - Japan - CLICK to see article |
|
|
We were pleased to learn that Edwards' bamboo fly rods, made here in Hamden but long out of production, were so valued and appreciated worldwide. CLICK on the photo to view Mr. Nishikora's article in the March edition of Flyfisher. Although few of our website visitors read Japanese, the images should interest those fishermen and historians among our readers. We were glad to help.
Posted 2/1/13
|
 |
| CLICK to enlarge |
|
|
 |
| CLICK to enlarge |
|
|
These two photos of the Maxim Telesqurt, taken years apart by fire photographer Frank Wegloski, show how Engine 3 was when it was delivered in 1974, and again about a dozen years later after the body was rebuilt by Pierce. Note the newer highside compartments and the repositioning of the hard suction atop the compartments. Beginning with the 1984 Pierce Dashes, the tops of the cabs of all new and rebuilt Hamden apparatus were painted white.
These photos also clearly show before and after views of the front of Station 3, which was remodeled in the late 1980s when the middle bay door was unexpectedly enlarged due to a motor mishap. The later photo of Engine 3 appears to have been taken before it was washed down following a run.
The Maxim Telesqurt was sold to a private buyer in the early 2000s. We have been told that this piece of apparatus is still around and in good condition, in a storage facility in a neighboring town. (Photos courtesy of Daryl Osiecki)
Posted 2/1/13
|
 |
| Badge Presentation (CLICK to enlarge) |
|
|
 |
| CLICK TO ENLARGE |
|
|
HFRA President Mark Barletta and Dep. Chief Bob Surprise visited Mr. and Mrs. Philip Shea of Mt. Carmel last Friday. Dep. Chief Surprise presented Mrs. Shea, nee Inez Meegan, with an official Hamden Fire Department retirement badge in memory of her uncle, Volunteer Firefighter Edward Meegan, of Centerville Co. 4.
Ff. Meegan was fatally injured when Engine 4 overturned in a freak accident while responding to Box 57 at Newhall and Morse on Dec. 10, 1927. Mrs. Shea, who was also Ff. Meegan's goddaughter, had donated his Co. 4 badge to the HFRA archives ( Click here: HOME Page for Dec. 14, 2012. ).
|
The HFRA has allocated funds to honor Firefighter Meegan with a memorial plaque that will hang permanently at Station 4, where he had been a member. We'll keep you posted.
Posted 2/1/13
|
 |
| 1962 Ball Committee - John O'Hare, Ray Carofano, Wayne Butterworth, Joe Rahl and Al Ramelli (Courtesy of Joe Rahl) |
|
|
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
|
| CLICK here for daily flag status |
|
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
|
|
| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
35 Years Ago!
Daw Packing Co.
School Street and Washington Avenue
Friday, February 3, 1978
February 8, 2013 - As we anticipate what meteorologists tell us may be one of the worst blizzards of the 21st century, we are reminded that 35 years ago, just three days before one of the worst blizzards of the 20th century, a multiple alarm fire on a freezing cold night gutted the Daw Packing company at the corner of School Street and Washington Avenue. CLICK on the photo to read more.
Originally posted in 2009
|
 |
| © The Hamden Chronicle - February 10, 1978 |
|
|
 |
| September 1950 - The Hamden Chronicle (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
|
|
34 Years Ago Hamden Firefighters Took Steps to Join the I.A.F.F.
Since collective bargaining for guardian services personnel was permitted in the 1960s, the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association, established in 1948, had been the bargaining unit for non-management Hamden Fire Department personnel. This created a problem. The Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, the four Deputy Chief shift commanders, and the Deputy Chief training officer, all management positions at the time*, were also members of the Sick Benefit Association and could attend meetings during which negotiation strategies were discussed - although this seldom happened.
In 1978, Hamden's non-management fire personnel formed the Hamden Firefighters' Association and successfully petitioned the state to designate the new association as the sole bargaining unit for Hamden firefighters and fire officers below the rank of deputy chief. The Hamden Firefighters' Association was fairly short-lived, however. In early 1979, more than 90% of all non-management fire personnel signed to join the International Association of Fire Fighters, thus establishing the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, IAFF.
The Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association continued to provide members with limited medical, retirement and death benefits, but membership was optional. The Sick Benefit Association was dissolved in late 1995, and its assets donated to Hospice.
__________
*The Marshal and five Deputy Chiefs joined the union in 1982.
Posted 2/8/13
|
 |
| The New Haven Register - February 13, 1979 |
|
|
 |
| February 7, 2013 - 4th Platoon at Station 3 - (L-R) Engine 3 Crew: Ff. Mike DeLine, Jr., Ff. Doug O'Rourke, Lt. Paul Kobbe - Tower 1 Crew: Capt. Ron Desroches, Ff. Dave Beaton and Ff. Daryl Osiecki. |
|
|
 |
| 1963 - Fire training at the Winchester Powder Farm off Putnam Avenue. These buildings were located approximately where the Davenport-Dunbar Apartments are today. (Newspaper photo courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
|
|
Hamden's First Aerial Truck
(1958 - 1990)
|
 |
| A tidy sum in 1958, but mere pocket change when compared to what Tower 1 cost in '12. |
|
|
 |
| 1958 - Maxim factory photo of Hamden's brand new white 75' Junior aerial ladder truck just before delivery. This was Hamden's first open cab apparatus since the 1930 Maxim 600 GPM pumper that was Engine 5 until 1953. It would also be its last. (Photo courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
|
|
 |
| c. 1980 - Truck 1 is parked on the ramp at Station 5, where it was assigned from 1976 until 1984. A soft top was added when the truck was painted red in 1971. It kept the driver and rider fairly dry, but did little to protect them from frigid temperatures. (Wegloski photo) |
|
|
 |
| 1986 - Now designated "Truck 2," a spare, the '58 Maxim sports a white soft top to conform with the Department's new color scheme for apparatus. The truck remained a spare until 1990, when it was sold to a private buyer. It was eventually junked for the value of its metal content. (Wegloski photo) |
|
|
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
|
| CLICK here for daily flag status |
|
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
|
|
| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
HFRA Honorary Member Helyn Callahan Ramelli Barbato
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing on February 9th of honorary HFRA member Helyn Callahan Ramelli Barbato, mother of our brother retiree, Ray Ramelli.
Helyn was wife of the late Pasquale Barbato. She was predeceased by her first husband, Hamden firefighter Alfred Ramelli, brothers Robert "Ace" Callahan, also a Hamden firefighter, and John Callahan, and sister Joyce Moulter.
A Private Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc., 26345 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1263.
To read Helyn's complete obituary, published in today's edition of The New Haven Register:
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ray and the Ramelli, Callahan and Barbato families.
Posted 2/17/13
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
The Blizzard!
With 40 Inches of Snow, Hamden Got the Worst of It!
Unless you've been hibernating this past week, you are undoubtedly aware that Hamden received the heaviest snowfall - 40 inches - of a major blizzard that struck the northeast last Friday into Saturday.
What some of our website visitors may not know, however, is the amazing effort put forth by Hamden Fire Department personnel during this unprecedented winter weather emergency, second only to the legendary Blizzard of 1888, which occurred eight years before Hamden's first fire company was organized.
Throughout what will surely become known as the Blizzard of '13, the Hamden Fire Department, challenged by extreme weather conditions as never before, worked tirelessly to provide emergency services to Hamden residents with utmost dedication and professionalism and, in some cases, in unique and creative ways.
Click on the link below to read the article on the Hamden Professional Firefighters' Association Local 2687 website on how the officers and firefighters of the Hamden Fire Department dealt with the hazards, uncertainties and physical hardships posed by the Blizzard of '13 in order to save lives and property in our town during this very trying week.
|
 |
| Read Susan Campbell's Column |
|
|
And please check out Susan Campbell's spot-on column, published in the February 13, 2013 edition of The New Haven Register. Everyone should read it!
|
 |
| CLICK TO ENLARGE |
|
|
|
 |
| 1965 - Firefighter Gilbert Spencer demonstrating a Rockwood SG-60 nozzle behind the Sleeping Giant Jr. High School, now the Commons at Mill River. (Photo by I.A. Sneiderman) |
|
|
 |
| c. 1967 - Co. 9 Volunteers are checking for hot spots following this stubborn grass fire off Gaylord Mountain Road near the power lines. Co. 9's 1942 Diamond-T 600 GPM pumper can be seen in the background. (Photo by I.A. Sneiderman) |
|
|
35 Years Ago!
Daw Packing Co.
School Street and Washington Avenue
Friday, February 3, 1978
February 8, 2013 - As we anticipate what meteorologists tell us may be one of the worst blizzards of the 21st century, we are reminded that 35 years ago, just three days before one of the worst blizzards of the 20th century, a multiple alarm fire on a freezing cold night gutted the Daw Packing company at the corner of School Street and Washington Avenue. The building was erected in 1923 on the site of Hamden's District No. 5 schoolhouse. CLICK HERE to read more.
Originally posted in 2009
February 15, 2013 - ED. NOTE: The meteorologists were a bit conservative. Hamden got 40 inches of snow, making it the worst blizzard to hit the area in 125 years.
Revised 2/15/13
|
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
|
| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
|
| CLICK here for daily flag status |
|
|
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
|
|
| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| Photo from a 1921 program celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Highwood Volunteer Fire Association. (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
|
|
ICE RESCUE TRAINING
February 2002
February 15, 2002 - Bob Mordecai took these photos of Firefighters John Longo and Seth Patrick in wetsuits during ice rescue training at Clark's Pond on Sherman Avenue in Mt. Carmel.
Posted 2/22/13
|
 |
| CLICK to enlarge |
|
| HFRA Honorary Member Chan Brainard poses next to three 1920s era Ahrens-Fox piston pumpers at the Long Beach (California) Fire Department Museum. Note that each of these pumpers is right-hand-drive, which was common on open-cab American fire apparatus until the early 1930s, ostensibly to make it easier for the driver to "spot" the hydrant (although these pumpers had intakes at the front).
These odd looking piston pumpers, with their distinctive expansion tanks, were capable of supplying great quantities of water from draft. Drafting from the Housatonic River, Shelton's 1938 Ahrens-Fox supplied several pumpers, including Hamden's 1973 Maxim Telesqurt, during the March 1, 1975 Sponge-Rubber Co. fire.
Posted 2/22/13
|
c. 1982 - The 1951 Maxim 750 GPM, Engine 19 of the West Woods Volunteer Co. 9, sits on the ramp at Station 9.
(Photo by and courtesy of Frank Wegloski)
|
HFRA Honorary Member Helyn Callahan Ramelli Barbato
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing on February 9th of honorary HFRA member Helyn Callahan Ramelli Barbato, mother of our brother retiree, Ray Ramelli.
Helyn was wife of the late Pasquale Barbato. She was predeceased by her first husband, Hamden firefighter Alfred Ramelli, brothers Robert "Ace" Callahan, also a Hamden firefighter, and John Callahan, and sister Joyce Moulter.
A Private Celebration of Life will be held for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Inc., 26345 Network Place, Chicago, IL 60673-1263.
To read Helyn's complete obituary, published in today's edition of The New Haven Register:
Our thoughts and prayers are with Ray and the Ramelli, Callahan and Barbato families.
Posted 2/17/13
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
|
