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
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
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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July 1973
Forty years ago last summer an unknown photographer took this photo at Station 5. John O'Hare provided the original 8x10 photo so that it could be rescanned at a much higher rez than the version published on the website several years ago.
Left to right are Firefighters John O'Hare and Joe Mulligan. Standing by Engine 5, the 1951 Maxim 750, is the late Steve Blennerhassett, a Mt. Carmel volunteer. On the back of the engine are Co. 5 volunteers Bill Chalmers, Paul Moody and Hamden's future deputy fire chief Clark Hurlburt, who had joined the fire company a few months earlier. This was two years before the annex was built onto the Mt. Carmel station.
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| July 1973 - Station 5 |
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A portion of the oldest section of Mount Carmel Elementary School, built in 1921, can be seen in the background of the above photo.
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| Mt. Carmel School |
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The photo at right shows the Mt. Carmel School in the 1930's. A kindergarten and combination gymnasium and auditorium were added in 1939. In 1954, a modern wing with a principal's office, clinic, cafeteria and five classrooms was added to the west side of the building. A second addition at the south end of the complex was added in 1963. The school closed at the end of the 1973-74 school year.
The last time the school was used by town employees was in May 1981, when several different fire department training evolutions were conducted there. The 1921 building was razed later that year, but the 1954 and 1963 wings still stand today as part of the Mt. Carmel Congregate Housing, now located on the site of the old school.
Posted 2/7/14
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40 Years Ago!
Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association
Officers Elected February 12, 1974
(Bargaining Unit Before Local 2687)
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| February 1974 article published in The New Haven Register |
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Laying Supply Lines Before LDH
July 1982
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| Engine 4 - 1973 Maxim 1,000 GPM |
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Before the department adopted large diameter hose (LDH) in 1986, Hamden's pumpers had split hose beds with 3" on one side and 2-1/2" on the other. Depending on the pumper, you could fit approximately 1,000 feet of each size in the hose beds - somewhat less on the Telesqurt.
In July 1982, then-Deputy Chief/Training Officer John Tramontano produced an in-house slide presentation demonstrating both forward and reverse methods of laying supply lines.
Long before home computers and PowerPoint presentations, Tramontano's slideshows permitted every one of the department's 120 line personnel to remain familiar with department procedures, especially during winter months when outdoor hands-on training was neither desirable nor practical.
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| Engine 4 Firefighters Bob Surprise and Don Buechele stay well clear of the couplings as 3" and 2-1/2" supply lines drop from the moving pumper. |
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70 Years Ago!
February 9, 1944 - Belle's Blessed Event at Station 3
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| February 9, 1944 article from The New Haven Journal-Courier (G. Donald Steele) - CLICK to enlarge |
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| Belle was born in May 1942. She is shown here in this 1947 photo sitting between Lt. Everett Doherty and Larry Spahr of Co. 3. Bob O'Donnell is sitting in the driver's seat of Engine 3. |
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| One of several of Belle's dog licenses that were saved at old Station 3. They were issued by the Town Clerk, Walter D. Connor. Mr. Connor remained the Town Clerk until the mid-1960s. |
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50 Years Ago
February 9, 1964
This photo appeared in The New Haven Register on Sunday, February 9, 1964. The department was conducting home inspections to help homeowners identify and eliminate common household fire hazards. Capt. Paul Rosadina and Firefighter Harry Cubbellotti are at the front door of a Bagley Avenue residence. (Some of us older "boomers" may remember the date of that article for another reason.)
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| (Newspaper article courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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Website thanks to former HFRA president Mark Barletta, who shared this photo of his U.S. and State of Connecticut flags flying from the new flagpole at his home last week. The palm tree provides a hint as to its location (and it ain't Connecticut).
Mark, who is a flag historian, will be flying his Civil War Era 33-star flag during February to honor President's Day, and specifically our 16th president.
All former official U.S. flag designs are still considered official U.S.flags.
Posted 2/7/14
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2014
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 HUGH McLEAN, JR.
1924 - 2014
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It is with deep regret that we announce the passing on February 10th of retired Hamden Firefighter Hugh McLean, Jr.
A World War II and D-Day Veteran, Hugh proudly served in the US Navy from 1942 to 1945 in North Africa and in the Allied invasions of Sicily and Normandy.
Hugh joined the Department in October 1949 and served with distinction for 38 years until his retirement in 1987. In 1973, Hugh received the Department's Alfred Ramelli Award, and in 1982 he was named Fireman of the Year by Hamden's Civitan Club.
Hugh is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jeanne, and sons Hugh Scott McLean (Susan) of Pennsylvania, and Brian McLean (Judi) of Clinton. He is also survived by his three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery. Calling hours are Friday (TODAY) from 4 to 8 p.m. in Sisk Brothers Funeral Home, 3105 Whitney Ave., Hamden.
Donations in Hugh's memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 2075 Silas Deane Highway, Suite 100, Rocky Hill, CT 06067. Our thoughts and prayers are with Hugh's family.
Click here to view Hugh McLean's obituary in The New Haven Register
Some of the above information was excerpted from The New Haven Register obituary for Hugh McLean.
Revised 2/14/14
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Friday, July 31, 1987
Superior Printing Ink Co.
750 Sherman Avenue
While leafing through some old training reports last week, we found 26 black and white photo negatives dated July 31, 1987. The photographer is not identified. The photos were taken at an acid spill at the loading dock of this Sherman Avenue manufacturer of printing inks.
Engine 9, Engine 5, Rescue 3, CP-2 and Car 2 responded. Lt. Bob Kelo and Firefighters Joe Rahl and Ed Doiron were on Engine 9. According to hazmat protocol, Lt. Dave Strawhince and Ff. Ray Dobbs responded "special call" from Station 3 with Rescue 3. Firefighters Art Heriot and Rich Maybury responded on Engine 5, when it was manned by only two firefighters.
Rescue 3 was equipped with a cascade air system for refilling Scotts on site. CP-2, the Civil Preparedness vehicle, was equipped with material to absorb spills and 55-gallon metal drums to take away the waste for proper disposal.
Posted 2/14/14
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| Crew of Engine 9 with CP-2 |
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| Ff. Ray Dobbs assists with Scott Air Pack |
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| Ff. Rahl and Lt. Strawhince |
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The support firefighters were well out of the hot zone.
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| Brooms help to spread the absorbent to soak up the product. |
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Crew of Engine 9 pours a SpeedyDry-like absorbent onto the affected areas.
(Note the fully "enveloped" firefighters, and then the guys in the overhead doorway.)
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| Brooms help to spread the absorbent to soak up the product. |
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| Shoveling the absorbent into the barrel |
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Ff. Rich Maybury, Neil Gorfain of Civil Preparedness, Lt. Dave Strawhince and Assistant Chief Walt Macdowall
are beside Engine 9. Car 2 and Rescue 3 can be seen in the background.
Asst. Chief Macdowall was also Director of Civil Preparedness at the time of this incident.
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| Firefighters Art Heriot, Rich Maybury, Ray Dobbs and Lt. Dave Strawhince. Engine 5 can be seen in the background. |
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60 Years Ago!
Very Busy Firefighters
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The New Haven Journal-Courier and New Haven Evening Register reported that Hamden firefighters were quite busy on Monday afternoon and evening, February 15, 1954. Around 3 p.m., a small fire activiated the sprinkler system on the second floor of the Moose Hall, 961 Dixwell Avenue. Fire damage was minimal, but water damage to the business on the floor below was "extensive." (Ed. Note: Thirty-nine years later the building was extensively damaged by a multi-alarm fire. Transients believed to be living in the vacant building may have started the fire. The building was razed shortly thereafter.)
The second fire, reported shortly before 7 p.m., destroyed a three-car garage at 622 Newhall Street. According to accounts in the Courier, quick actions by Hamden firefighters under the command of Capt. Paul Leddy prevented more serious damage to the house at that address as well as two adjacent houses. Engine Companies 1 and 2 and the ladder truck from the Circular Avenue station, and the Squad out of Headquarters responded.
In February 1954, Engines 1 and 2 were the 1938 Seagrave and 1952 Maxim, respectively. The 1941 Diamond-T was the ladder truck and the "Squad" was a 1938 Diamond-T.
Posted 2/14/14
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| New Haven Evening Register, Tuesday, February 1954 (Sid Trower Collection) |
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Only six days later, on Sunday, February 21st, another Newhall Street fire claimed the life of a 44-year old woman. It was Hamden's first fire fatality in fire years. The cause was attributed to smoking in bed.
Posted 2/14/14
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| Active HFD Members at a Recent Retirement Dinner (Bob Mordecai photo) |
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| Annual Local 2687 Retirement Dinner
will take place
Saturday Night, April 5th
Laurel View Country Club
Cocktail Hour 7-8, followed by Dinner
Music provided by Ff. Doug O'Rourke
Honoring:
Deputy Chief Robert Surprise
Firefighter/Paramedic Roberta Angiletta
Firefighter John Bradbury
Invitation letters to retirees will be mailed soon.
Revised 2/25/14
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Patches to Trade?
Toronto Firefighter Jeff Gayman contacted the website during this past week hoping to obtain an HFD patch. The website does not have them, but we were certain there were patch collectors out there among our web visitors who might. Jeff wrote that he has many patches to trade. Here is Jeff's contact information:
Jeff Gayman, Toronto Fire Dept, 74 Barton Lane, Uxbridge, ON, Canada L9P 1W2
His email address: heat@powergate.ca Please type "Patch Trade" in the subject line.
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2014
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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70 Years Ago
Fire Sweeps Through Church Street School Classrooms
February 20, 1944
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For the second time in a generation, the meeting rooms at the Humphrey fire station (Station 2) served as temporary classrooms for Hamden grammar school students who were displaced by fire.
La Mesa, California resident Lil Larsen Peters, formerly of Hamden, was a 4th grader at Church Street School when the fire occurred. Lil recalled attending classes at the Circular Avenue fire station until repairs were completed at Church Street School.
The original Church Street School building, erected around 1920, was razed and replaced with the present building in 1990.
Posted 2/21/14
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Check out this news story posted on AOL. An ad may play first.
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Laying Supply Lines Before LDH - Pt. 2
July 1982
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| A typical "caption" slide used in Dep. Chief Tramontano's training presentations. Rather primitive by today's standards, it was the best way to do it in 1982. The lettering was typed on a 3x5 card and shot with a close-up lens attached to a 35mm camera. |
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Following up on the training photos featured two weeks ago, here are a few more views that then-Dep. Chief Tramontano shot to demonstrate just how, and in what order, the tools were attached to the female end of the 3" supply line. Featured was Ff. Bob Anthony, who went on to serve as Local 2687 president from 1993 until his retirement in 2005 after 25 years of service. CLICK on the smaller photos to enlarge them.
Posted 2/21/14
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| 1. A rubber strap is tied just above the female coupling. |
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| 2. A hydrant wrench is slipped onto the loop. |
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| 3. Then a spanner wrench is slipped on. |
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| 4. A carabiner is attached to the end of the strap. |
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| 5. The carabiner is connected to a 2-1/2" hydrant gate. |
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Hamden's first new postwar pumper dedicated to
the memory of Commissioner William D. Daymon
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This memorial plaque honored William D. Daymon, who passed away suddenly during his term on the Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners. It was mounted on the 1951 Maxim, the first new piece of Hamden fire apparatus purchased after Commissioner Daymon's death in 1945.
Other pieces of Hamden fire apparatus also had similar memorial plaques mounted in addition to the dedication plaques that listed the Town officials who were in office when the apparatus was purchased. (CLICK to enlarge)
Posted 2/21/14
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The memorial plaque honoring Commissioner William D. Daymon
can be seen just aft of the righthand-side discharge port of the 1951 Maxim.
(Frank Wegloski photo courtesy of Daryl Osiecki)
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| Courtesy of the the family of Sid Trower |
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February 18, 1954
60 years ago this week, The Hamden Chronicle reported that the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association donated a pair of sterilizers to the Visiting Nurse Association of Hamden. The HPFSBA frequently made these types of donations to benefit local health agencies.
The HPFSBA, organized in 1948, was the bargaining unit for all non-management fire personnel until The Hamden Firefighters' Association was formed in 1978, the latter association being replaced the following year by the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, IAFF. The HPFSBA continued as a benefits association for those Hamden firefighters who chose to belong, but was finally dissolved in 1995.
Posted 2/21/14
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014
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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52 Years Ago Hamden Firefighters Gathered at Hull's Rathskellar
February 28, 1962
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| February 28, 1962 gathering of old Platoon 1 at the Hull's Brewery Rathskellar (Photo courtesy of Tom Doherty) |
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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Until it closed in 1977, the Hull Brewing Co. at 820 Congress Avenue in New Haven made their Rathskellar available for private parties.
The above group photo was taken at a February 28, 1962 gathering of Hamden's old 1st "Battalion," with some guests from Platoon 3, as well as one retiree and a couple of unidentified gentlemen, possibly Hamden cops. CLICK on the photo to enlarge and for the names of the attendees.
Billed as the "Second Semi-Annual Beer Party," there undoubtedly were more of these gatherings in the future.
Posted 2/28/14
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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74 Years Earlier
Fire at the brewery!
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| April 15, 1888 - Fresenius Brewery, future home to Hull's. Photo by A. Bowman, courtesy of Bill Celentano, Jr. and Box 22 Asssociates (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| The Hull Brewing Co. was located on the site of a building previously occupied by the Fresenius Brewery. The photo at left shows the aftermath of an April 15, 1888 fire there. The Fresenius Brewery ceased operation in 1920 when the 18th Ammendment kicked in. Hull's resumed brewing operations in the building following the end of Prohibition in 1933. It closed in 1977.* (*Citation: OldBreweries.com)
The HFRA expresses sincere thanks to Bill Celantano, Jr. and Box 22 Associates for permission to use this photo in connection with our Hull's group photo.
Hundreds of other historic New Haven Fire Department photos can be found in Box 22's New Haven Firefighters (2005), in the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. Highly recommended for local history buffs and fire buffs alike, this fascinating 128 page book can be found at Barnes & Noble and other area book stores for $19.99.
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Website fan Bill Celentano, Jr. of New Haven's Box 22 Associates has provided the website with his photos of a 1970s multiple-alarm fire at Hull's Brewery - the same building that burned in 1888. These photos will be posted here in next week's update.
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Some examples of Hull's advertising and a vintage Hull's six-pack.
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| CLICK any photo to enlarge |
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Brand name serving trays like these were commonly found
in restaurants and other establishments that sold their company's beverages.
(Photos by Dan Johnson)
Posted 2/28/14
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Interesting New Fire Districts Proposed 50 Years Ago
New Building Codes Envisioned
The article below appeared in the March 3, 1964 edition of The New Haven Register. It described efforts by Chief V. Paul Leddy and Marshal Al Purce to reduce the possibility of a major conflagration by implementing new building codes for commercial and industrial areas of Hamden. If approved, the new building codes would have prohibited or restricted the construction of wood frame buildings within six specific areas of town. Considering all of the new wood frame construction in the proposed zones since 1964, it is unlikely that the new codes were ever approved.
Posted 2/28/14
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| New Haven Register, Tuesday, March 3, 1964 (Courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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60 Years Ago
Hamden Pee Wee Bowling at Old Station 3
The photo below, scanned from the 1954 Annual Report of the Town of Hamden, was taken at the four-lane bowling alley in the basement of Co. 3's Putnam Avenue fire station. The building was sold over four decades ago to a private buyer, but we understand that the alleys are still there.
Setting the pins was done manually by the "pin boy." When a pedal was depressed at the back of each alley, ten small rods raised up from the floor onto which each pin was placed.
Retired Hamden firefighter and HFRA member Bob Slater wrote, "I was one of the pin boys along with Bob Carangelo and Reuel Belcher, son-in-law of Chief Leddy. The fire department was assigned a given night, and depending who was working the other shifts would be there with their wives. At that time, boys bowled on Friday night and girls bowled on Saturday morning. During the rest of the week there were groups of teachers, postal workers, our HFD men and their wives, and a few others. Those were the good old days!"
Posted 2/28/14
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| "Instructions To A Group Of Pee Wee Bowlers At The Whitneyville Recreation Alley" - 1954 Hamden Annual Town Report |
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Meanwhile, upstairs on the first floor of the fire station . . .
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| Photo by Ed Doiron, Sr. |
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January 1966 - "Alarm Readiness" at old Station 3 on Putnam Avenue. Here in the dayroom are Firefighter Sid Trower, Lt. Joe McDermott and Firefighter Ray Bantz. The members of the career department occupied only the first floor of the station. The meeting rooms of the Whitneyville Volunteer Fire Association were on the second floor.
Posted 2/28/14
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