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July 2021
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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September 28, 1875
New Haven Web Company
Whitney Avenue at Mill River
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| This article was transcribed from an image obtained online from ProQuest Historical Newspapers |
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| This 1868 map of lower Centerville (CLICK to enlarge) shows the small building where, from the newspaper description, the fire likely got started. It communicated with the larger wood-framed buildings through a 50' long wood-lined shaft. The entire complex, built around 1840, was destroyed and replaced with a rambling mill-style factory building which remained on the site until 1940. (1868 Hamden Map courtesy of D.G.J.) |
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The New Haven Web Company
"The Web Shop"
March 1, 2013 - Today marks the 38th anniversary of one of the most famous, or infamous, fires in Connecticut history - the March 1, 1975 Shelton Sponge Rubber Co. Fire. So this week it seems oddly appropriate to feature an 1875 Hamden conflagration that destroyed a manufacturing complex that was of great importance to Hamden's economy exactly one century earlier.
One of the most notable Hamden fires of the 19th century for which there is a newspaper account occurred on Monday, September 27, 1875, when several buildings owned by the New Haven Web Co. burned on the east side of Whitney Avenue at the Mill River (see 1868 map above), approximately where the Route 15 overpass crosses over today.
According to an article (at left) published the following day in the Hartford Daily Courant, the fire began in a small building at the rear of the complex and spread through a wooden shaft to other, larger buildings which were all part of the New Haven Web Company factory.
Hamden had no organized firefighting forces or apparatus in those days. The entire complex was destroyed. It was replaced shortly thereafter by a rambling brick factory, which remained on the site until it was razed around 1940 to make way for the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
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HFRA member Tom Doherty recalls that his grandfather and namesake, Thomas Doherty, was a dyer in a cloth factory in Taunton, Massachusetts, where he settled after arriving from Ireland in the late 19th century. Around 1900, the elder Doherty settled in Centerville with his wife and their ten children, which included Tom's father, Everett, who served on the Hamden Fire Department from 1927 until his retirement in 1966. While working as a dyer at the Web Shop, Mr. Doherty developed a process for making a permanent dye.
Hamden's first full-time fire marshal, Albert Purce (1903-1978) and Hamden firefighter Mario "Bucky" Serafino (1909-2001) both worked at the Web Shop prior to coming on the fire department. Centerville Co. 4 volunteer firefighter, Edward D. Meegan, was employed at the Web Shop at the time he was killed in the line of duty in December 1927.
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CLICK on the photo below to view several more classic images of this impressive complex which, in its sixty-five years, provided jobs for hundreds of Centerville residents.
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| The Web Shop - c. 1910 (Photo courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
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| Former Site of the Web Shop (Photographed in March 1976 by DGJ) |
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| Summer 1978 - Firefighter Guy White at Station 3 on Platoon 3 is pictured here in the process of consuming a giant sundae following a Friendly's "bail out." Guy, who lives in Florida, joined the HFRA in December. The planter behind the couch is long gone (and definitely forgotten, too). |
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| 1986 - Firefighter Dave McDermott was in the driver's seat of Engine 5 as Frank Wegloski shot this photo of the 1968 Maxim, which was specially packed with 1800 feet of LDH for the north end. |
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"Don't forget to wear your spats!"
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| The Hamden Chronicle, Thursday, February 19, 1953 (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
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Many a Hamden fireman was a customer at the Sleigh House over the years. Sadly, about forty years after this ad appeared in The Hamden Chronicle, the Sleigh House building became one of OUR customers.
Posted 3/1/13
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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Servoss Street
Friday, May 20, 1988
This minor fire on Servoss Street was only the beginning. Platoon 2 would get hammered this week!
(Photos by Ed Doiron, Jr.)
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Platoon 2 fought this relatively minor fire in one of the satellite buildings at the old Board of Education complex on the corner of Servoss Street and Whitney Avenue. No one was hurt. (Two months earlier a major fire did considerable damage to the vacant main building on Whitney Avenue that was once Larson/Quinnipiac College.)
The next day, Platoon 2 responded to a fire in an apartment at Hamden Village on Treadwell Street took the life of an elderly woman who was smoking in bed. Four days later, on Platoon 2's first night, Commander Joe McDermott and his personnel would tackle a fire with the greatest potential for mass loss of life in the history of the Department, the Davenport Apartments at 125 Putnam Avenue. Hundreds of elderly residents were quickly evacuated through a massive effort by Hamden firefighters and mutual aid, and no lives were lost.
Posted 3/8/13
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| Cmdr. Joe McDermott can be seen at the right hand side of this photo, as firefighters prepare to "Scott up" and advance a line into the building. (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| OUT! |
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| Lt. Bob Viglione and Firefighter Mike DiStefano |
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| Lt. Bob Viglione, Ff Jimmy Dunlop, Capt. Dave Johnson, and Lt. Clark Hurlburt - Blue helmets were worn by paramedics. Red helmets were worn by personnel assigned to truck companies. |
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| November 30, 1999 - Firefighters Bob Kenney and Eddie DeFrancesco refueling at Public Works (Photo by Bob Mordecai) |
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| March 1988 - The New Haven Register (Courtesy of Jim Koutsopolos) - CLICK to enlarge for easier reading |
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| Car 55, later "Brush 5", on the ramp at Station 5. This 1960 GMC with four-wheel-drive was bought by the members of Co. 5 in 1969 from the Town of Woodbridge for $800. The members added Indian tanks, brooms, a booster reel, a 150 gallon tank and a small pump powered by a two-cycle engine. The result was a vehicle perfect for fighting ground cover fires, especially on Sleeping Giant, where it could easily traverse the gravel trail to the Tower. (Frank Wegloski photo) |
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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| Sunday, March 17, 1985 - Uniform of the Day - You'll definitely see this guy on Saturday night if you're at Laurel View. |
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Hamden Firefighters Honored for Below Grade Rescue
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| March 16, 1965 - CLICK to enlarge (Photo by I.A. Sneiderman) |
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On March 16, 1965, Hamden Post 88 of the American Legion honored each of four Hamden firefighters with their Meritorious Award for the below grade rescue of a trapped workman following a road collapse on Skiff Street a few months earlier.
Honored were Lieut. Luke Tobin and rookie Firefighters Charles Carlson, Harold Mangler and Ed Doiron (not pictured), all three of whom began their careers on the Department the previous November.
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American Legion Post 88 Meritorious Award recipients (L-R): Michael Iezzi, HPD Lieut. Daniel Liston, Frank Gamache, Ff. Charles Carlson, Ff. Harold Mangler, Lieut. Luke Tobin, Betsy Wollensack, and Comm. Charles Noonan. (Photo by I.A. Sneiderman)
Posted 3/15/13
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1956 - Ff. Bill Hines Presents Prize to Poster Winner
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| c. 1955 - Ff. William S. Hines and Prize Winner (CLICK to enlarge) |
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Sally Hines Rowe sent this newspaper clipping of her dad, Firefighter William Hines, presenting a $15 prize to eighth grade poster winner, David Carlson, of Margaret L. Keefe School grammar school.
The exact date of the photo is unknown, but it was mostly likely shot sometime during the 1955-56 school year - after the November town election. First Selectman Herbert Hume, one of the judges of the poster contest, was elected in November 1955. And June 1956 marked the end of the 7th and 8th grades at Margaret L. Keefe and all other Hamden elementary schools. That was also the last time the high school would have "freshmen" until the 1980s. In September 1956, all Hamden 7th, 8th and 9th grade students began attending the new Michael J. Whalen Jr. High School (later the Hamden Middle School) on Newhall Street.
Also in 1956, Ff. Hines became Lt. Hines. A really great guy with a keen sense of humor, Bill served on the department from 1946 until his passing in 1979.
Posted 3/15/13
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15 Years Ago: The End of an Era
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| Very early example of Gamewell street alarm box |
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| The New Haven Register, March 16, 1998 (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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FIREFIGHTER CHARLES "CHAZ" CARGAN
1941 - 2013
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| Charles "Chaz" Cargan |
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| It is with deep regret that we announce the passing on March 17th of our brother retiree, Charles "Chaz" Cargan. He was 71.
Charlie was a United States Army veteran, serving in the 225th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War era. He joined the Hamden Fire Department on October 8, 1968 and served for 33 years. Charlie was a dedicated and hard-working firefighter. A frequent attendee at HFRA meetings, he was well liked by all.
Funeral Services with Military Honors took place at the North Haven Funeral Home on Friday, March 22nd. A large contingent of active and retired department members stood honor guard.
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association extend their condolences to Charlie's wife, Bonnie; his children, Chris, Keith and Reid; and the rest of the Cargan family.
Posted 3/20/13
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Local 2687 Annual Dinner Honors Capt. John O'Dea
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| Retirees Bob Slater, John O'Dea and Mark Barletta |
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Local 2687 honored Captain John O'Dea at their Annual Dinner last Saturday night at Laurel View Country Club. John retired last November 30th after serving nearly 32 years with the Department, and had been serving as the department training officer at the time of his retirement.
It is hoped that someone in attendance may have recorded John's farewell remarks, because they were among the best ever delivered. In a sometimes humorous, sometimes emotional address to his former colleagues, John praised and thanked those with whom he served during his 32 years on the job. Among the many he praised were two firefighters who, on separate occasions, were responsible for saving his life. You could have heard the proverbial pin drop.
One of John's many gifts is a great sense of humor, which is often self-deprecating. He noted that his unique style of speaking has been imitated often by others, but never as well as by Gary Merwede. Celebrating the often irreverent firehouse humor, John remarked, "I understand there is a video circulating out there of me in an interview," and confessed later that he had hoped it would be shown that evening.
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Of course, John was referring to when Channel 8 interviewed him and fellow firefighter/paramedic Harold Prescher in 1995, after the two of them revived a pet cat following a house fire. The tape of the interview was later "doctored" at John's expense, but he laughed at it along with all the rest of us. That's the kind of guy John is.
John O'Dea will be missed on the job, but we wish him many happy and healthy years as a member of the HFRA.
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association wish to thank Kevin Recca, Dave Beaton and all the other members of Local 2687 who organized this year's dinner for another fine time last Saturday night.
Posted 3/22/13
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| January 11, 1995 - This video is not quite the same as originally recorded off Channel 8 |
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Other retirees (and some "actives") at the Annual Dinner
CLICK to enlarge any photo below
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| Tom Doherty, John's old boss at Station 4 and later his platoon commander, offers his congratulations. |
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| Harold Mangler, Kevin Recca and Mike Mordecai |
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| Mark Barletta, Harold Mangler, Mike Murray and Chickie Manware |
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| Eddy Doiron and Gil Spencer |
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| Tom Doherty, Bob Slater and John O'Hare |
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| Bob Stacy, Dave Johnson, Tom Doherty and B/C Sam DeBurra. |
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| Bob and Pam Stacy |
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| Katie and Mike Murray |
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| The New Haven Register, October 28, 1989 (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| The Bike Rack
Skiff & Whitney, North Haven
Friday, October 27, 1989
From Mill River by the parkway, south to Short Hill Road, the Hamden-North Haven town line runs right down the middle of Whitney Avenue.
The Bike Rack was located on the south side of Skiff Street just east of Whitney, which meant that it was in North Haven. But when the 9-1-1 call was received at Central from a Hamden caller, Hamden responded with Engines 3 and 4, Truck 1 and Rescue 1. North Haven arrived shortly after Hamden and both towns extinguished the fire, which was well underway before the arrival of the first apparatus.
Hamden's Platoon 3, under the command of B/C Tom Doherty, was just finishing its third night. Tom recalled that his company officers that night were Capt. Mike Ambriscoe, Lieut. Don LaBanca and Lieut. Paul Wetmore, Jr.
The 1958 Maxim 75' ladder truck, seen in the newspaper photo at left, was acting as Truck 1 because the ladder on the 1970 Maxim 100' aerial truck had just been inspected and was deemed unsafe. The new Pierce 105' rear-mount aerial truck arrived a few months later.
This fire occurred just as The Bike Rack building was about to be taken by the State of Connecticut through eminent domain in order to widen Skiff Street. Ironically, following the fire the owner's insurance company actually had to pay to have a new building constructed on the site in order for the state to pay the owner a fair value for his property. The new building, apparently never occupied, was then acquired by the state and razed.
Posted 3/22/13
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| April 1962 - John O'Hare (standing 3rd from left) perennial coach of the HFD softball team, poses at the Admiral Street fire station in Allingtown with other fire department softball coaches who were preparing for the upcoming 1962 season. John, who joined fellow retirees at the Annual Dinner last Saturday night, coached and played on the team well into the 1970s. |
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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The Hamden Legislative Council will meet at the Hamden Middle School next Thursday night,
April 4th, at 7 to hear public comments on the proposed budget for 2013-14.
All retirees who live in the area are urged to attend.
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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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.
Posted 3/29/13
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Spring 1972
Platoon 4 at Station 3 - Lt. Danny O'Connell's crew practiced rappeling from the two-year old Maxim 100' aerial ladder truck. The new dark blue work uniforms were just introduced, but khakis could still be worn until the following December 4th. Website thanks to Doug Yocher, who took these photos and many others that will be posted in the coming weeks.
CLICK on any photo to enlarge.
Posted 3/29/13
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| Ff. Bill Davin |
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| Ff. Ray Dobbs |
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| Ff. Ray Dobbs belaying for rappeling Ff. George Patten |
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| Ff. Joe Rahl rappels and Ff. George Patten belays |
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| Any Guesses? |
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| Anyone want to guess who this guy is?
This photo was among about 20 other photos of early personnel acquired a few years back from former Chief Paul Wetmore, Sr., from the collection of his father, Clem Wetmore. Answer next week.
Posted 3/29/13
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| June 1982 - Firefighters Fred Knudsen and Brian Forsyth practice CPR at 3s. (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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