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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, NOVEMBER 6, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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| Firefighter Sam Jones |
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Firefighter Sam Jones
(1925 - 2015)
We deeply regret to announce the passing of our brother retiree and HFRA member Sam Jones on Thursday, October 29th, in Knoxville, Tennessse, with his wife, Elaine, and son, Ken, by his side. Sam's 90th birthday would have been two days ago, on November 4th.
Samuel Augustus Jones joined the Hamden Fire Department in May 1961, the department's first African-American career member. Following his appointment, Sam was assigned on old Platoon 3. When the 42-hour work-week was adopted in 1970, Sam was assigned to Platoon 4 until his retirement twenty-five years ago this month. Sam will be remembered as a fine firefighter - and an amazing chess player.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Sam's wife, Elaine, his son, East Point [Georgia] Firefighter Ken Jones, and the rest of Sam's family.
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Sam's funeral, scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday), is in the care of the Unity Mortuary of Knoxville, TN.
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54 Years Ago Sam Jones Led the Way
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| 1982 - Firefighter Sam Jones, assigned to Truck 1 |
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| The appointment of Samuel Augustus Jones to the Hamden Fire Department in May 1961 was a very big deal (see the news article below). Not only was Jones one of Hamden's first college educated career firefighters, he also was Hamden's first African-American to serve on the Hamden Fire Department.
Compared with today, and in the context of civil rights progress, 1961 was eons ago. Yet Jones' son, Ken, an East Point, Georgia career firefighter, recently noted that, like all new guys on the job, his dad was unconditionally accepted by his fellow firefighters. He told his son that he never experienced any harrasment or animosity.
Sam Jones served from May 8, 1961 until his retirement on November 30, 1990. He passed away just over a week ago, on October 29th, only six days shy of his 90th birthday.
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| Sam's son, Ken, is an East Point [GA] career firefighter. |
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Sam Jones remained Hamden's sole minority career firefighter until the 1978 appointment of Firefighter Wayne Lowry. Now, fifty-four years after Jones joined the Hamden Fire Department, minority personnel comprise approximately 14% of Hamden's line firefighting forces.
Posted 11/6/15
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| The New Haven Register, May 9, 1961 (Courtesy of Jones and Trower Families) |
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50 Years Ago
The "Great Northeast Blackout"
November 9, 1965
"Where were you . . . "
When the lights went out all over the northeast on November 9, 1965, the event became one of life's "snapshot" moments that is so memorable that you will never forget what you were doing when it happened. Platoon 2 was just about to end the day shift when the lights began to flicker. At around 5:20 in the afternoon the entire electrical grid in the northeastern U.S. and part of Canada went dark, although the were some rare exceptions (like the city of New Haven).
According to The Hamden Chronicle (see below), the loss of power caused a fire alarm malfunction at Sacred Heart Academy on Benham Street, resulting in the dispatch of Engine 4 and Rescue 2 out of Station 4. That was apparently the only fire department incident recorded during the outage, which only lasted about two hours in Hamden, but as long as thirteen hours in the New York City area.
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| CLICK ON THE NEWS ARTICLE TO ENLARGE |
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The above article notes, "Though unable to serve hot food, the Friendly Store nearby [in the Hamden Mart] plied a number of customers with ice cream and cold orders." If you were looking for some great hot food that night you could have gone to the Glenwood, as did the author and his brother. They were open during the blackout, preparing their famous dogs and burgers on their gas fed grille for scores of customers.
Less than two years later another Friendly's would open directly across from "the 'wood," but it closed on March 26, 2000. The Glenwood is still going strong after 60 years in business.
Posted 11/6/15
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1908 - Humphrey Hook & Ladder Fire Association
Here is a "new" photo of the Humphrey company's new ladder wagon, purchased in 1908. What makes this photo especially significant is that the wagon is parked in front of the barn that was the Humphrey Athletic Club, their first quarters.
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| Photo from the archives of the Humphrey Volunteer Fire Association, courtesy of D/C Gary Merwede |
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From the minutes of regular meeting of the Hunphrey Hook & Ladder Fire Association held on July 10, 1908, "Mr. Flight reported the order for the wagon had been placed with Mr. Lewis. Wagon to be grey with gold lettering, 2 brass lanterns, 1 - 24 ft., 2 - 12 ft., and 1 9 ft. ladders, brass railing run all around the wagon. $75 was ordered paid as 25% of the payment of the wagon."
The $300.00 wagon was delivered on November 27, 1908. It is configured to be horse drawn (note the driver's perch), but anecdotal accounts from oldtimers indicate that all non-motorized Hamden fire apparatus were hand-drawn.
Posted 11/6/15
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Spark Time
The fourth of seven images from the mid-1960s Maxim fire apparatus catalog is an "open" version of the S model Maxim pumper featured on the website three weeks ago. This pumper has the same "nose" as Hamden's two 1968 S Models, but with a somewhat longer wheelbase.
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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Uplift Mobility / Beirne's Home Medical
April 15, 2002
Major Conflagration on Sherman Avenue
The HFRA website wishes to thank Lieut. Jeff Pechmann for these remarkable images of a nasty Sherman Avenue multiple alarm fire he photographed when he was an off-duty firefighter thirteen years ago. The fast moving blaze destroyed two medical supply businesses at 805 Sherman Avenue. Two firefighters were injured and Hamden's Truck 1 was damaged by intense radiant heat generated by the flames. A huge column of smoke and flames that shot more that fifty feet in the air could be seen for miles around.
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| Intense heat damaged the tip of the aerial and the windshield of Truck 1 |
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| Aftermath |
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| The New Haven Register, Tuesday, April 16, 2002 (Courtesy of Gil Spencer) CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE |
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As seen from the rear deck of a home in the Honor Hill section off Ann's Farm Road, about 1,000 feet east of the fire. Note the flames reflected from within the large column of smoke.
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60 Years Ago
Thursday, November 17, 1955
Fatal Fire at 24 Brookhaven Road
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| The New Haven Evening Register, Thursday, November 17, 1955 (Courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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Spark Time
The fifth of seven images from the mid-1960s Maxim fire apparatus catalog is a "closed-cab" cab-forward 85' aerial ladder truck, very similar to Hamden's 1970 one hundred footer.
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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65 Years Ago
Sunday, November 26, 1950
HURRICANE!
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On Sunday, November 26, 1950, a hurricane with winds of 70 m.p.h. hit southern Connecticut. In an article published on the front page of the November 30th edition of The Hamden Chronicle, Fire Marshal Albert Purce opined that this hurricane "was far more destructive than the fabled 1938 hurricane." Indeed, for Hamden it was. The majority of damage to Hamden in 1938 was in the form of about 400 fallen trees. The 1950 hurricane damage was far more severe. The photographs published in that edition of the Chronicle convey the magnitude of destruction that affected some Hamden areas.
The practice of naming hurricanes began in 1954, the year Hurricane Carol hit southern Connectricut. The last significant hurricane to hit Hamden was Hurricane Gloria in 1985.
Originally posted 9/3/10
CLICK ON NEWSPAPER IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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| CLICK to enlarge - Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society |
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Click on any aftermath photo below to enlarge the image.
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| Garage at 844 Dixwell collapsed on auto |
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| 2416 State Street |
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| These five drying shacks were destroyed at the Connecticut Brick Co. on State Street. |
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| 1140 Whitney Avenue, just north of Hamden Hall |
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| 2804 Whitney Avenue (Today the parking lot for Whitney Manor) |
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| 2330 Whitney Avenue (A two-story commercial building is located there now) |
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| 2341 Whitney Avenue (torn down in 1983) |
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| The Jensen home on Still Hill Road burned to the ground because downed wires delayed alerting the fire department. In addition, all routes leading to the scene were all blocked by fallen trees. |
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New Kitchen for Station 5!
Old Walls Became Accidental Time Capsule
The building, built and paid for by the Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Co., opened in 1926. Career personnel have been stationed there ever since. But it wasn't until the late 1970s that one of the upstairs bedrooms at Station 5 was converted into a real kitchen. Now, after nearly four decades, it was clearly time for a new kitchen, also paid for by the volunteer company.
Some relics of historical interest were revealed during demolition of the old kitchen/bedroom walls two weeks ago. First, was the discovery of many old newspapers dating from 1935 to 1937 tucked away within the exterior walls, presumably an attempt at insulation. Second, was the discovery of a doorway, long since covered up, that once connected the kitchen area (when it was a bedroom) with the adjacent bedroom, which was expanded into a much lareger bunkroom when the kitchen was built in the late 1970s.
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| The finished product! |
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The old kitchen was transformed into this new facility between Friday, November 6th, when "tear-down" commenced, until the job was completed earlier this past week. Below are examples of a few of the ancient newspapers that were discovered within the exterior walls. (Wanna buy a new Chevy for about $700?)
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Old newspapers were discovered crammed between the exterior studs of the kitchen. A small alcove to the left of the window, hidden for years, was probably a closet for "paid men" stationed at Mt. Carmel in its earliest days. This photo was taken during demolition of the old kitchen on Saturday, November 7th, two days before new drywall was installed. The entire project was completed by early this past week.
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| The wall opening to the left of George allowed the firefighter in the lefthand bedroom to reach out to answer the house phone at night. |
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This 1978 photo of Firefighter George Edwards talking on the PBX phone to the Alarm Room, was taken just before the inner bedroom (background - right) was converted into the kitchen. To the left of that room was another bedroom of about the same size. The opening in the wall behind George allowed the firefighter in the outermost bedroom to reach out to answer the house phone at night.
When the station was a two-man house, each firefighter had his own room. Once Truck 1 was transferred to Station 5 in 1976, two firefighters occupied each bedroom. Two bunks can be seen in the bedroom behind George.
The obvious need for a kitchen and more room for additional bunks for personnel resulted in the late '70s conversion of the inner bedroom into a kitchen and the expansion of the outermost bedroom into a four-bunk facility. Today, the south wall of the bunkroon is right about where George is standing.
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| Old doorway revealed during wall demolition |
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The alarm bells on the wall and the red "house phone" on the shelf behind George were moved to the south wall of the "new" bunkroom. The old 3-slot pay telephone that was mounted on the wall to the left of the calendar (just out of view), was removed and a regular residential rotary dial telephone was installed.
An old doorway to the adjacent bedroom area can been seen to the right of the kitchen door. This doorway was long gone by the 1950s. It was probably removed during the late 1930s when the newspaper "insulation" was crammed in the bays between the studs of the exterior walls.
Also discovered inside the walls were two modest storage areas that may have provided a minimum of closet space for the early personnel.
When the station opened in January 1926, Al Purce was the driver. He was succeeded by Everett Doherty. They both worked a 168 hour workweek. Time off for early paid firefighters was courtesy of call men, or "substitutes," who were qualified to take their places when they wanted a day off now and then.
The workweek was cut to 84 hours in the 1930s and remained so until 1948, when it was cut again to 67.5 hours. In December 1950, firefighters achieved a 56-hour workweek that lasted until October 1970 when the current 42-hour workweek was adopted.
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| January 1954 view of the Alarm Room at Station 4 (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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Spark Time
The sixth of seven images from the mid-1960s Maxim fire apparatus catalog is a "closed-cab" cab-forward pumper. This is a slightly different model than the one featured in the October 23rd update.
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Honorary Member Caroline Ferraro
We regret to report the passing on November 20, 2015 of Hamden Fire Retirees Association honorary member Caroline (Carol) Ferraro, 92, widow of our brother Hamden firefighter, the late Salvatore "Cookie" Ferraro (1915-2009).
Carol's funeral was held Tuesday, November 24th, at 9:45 a.m. from the Peter H. Torello & Son Funeral Home, 1022 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, and at Blessed Sacrament Church (Circular & Church) at 10:30. Interment in All Saints Cemetery.
Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Memphis, TN 38101.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Carol's family.
Revised 11/26/15
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| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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These hi-rez photos of Hamden's 1941 Diamond-T "Hook and Ladder," taken in 1957 by Chan Brainard, were scanned by Connecticut fire apparatus chronicler Rob Palmer from the original negatives provided by Chan during Rob's recent visit to the West Coast. More new scans coming in future weeks.
Posted 11/27/15
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| Chan Brainard photo (Courtesy of Rob Palmer) |
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| Chan Brainard Photo (Courtesy of Rob Palmer) |
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Posterity Project
Platoon 1 - Station 2
The website is celebrating today's future HFD retirees with the HFRA "Posterity Project," a collection of photographs of every current active member of the department, line and staff. A new photo will be posted here each week. Kicking off the Posterity Project, this week's photo features Station 2's crew of Platoon 1.
Posted 11/27/15
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Platoon 1 - Station 2
Left to right: Lieutenant Daryl Osiecki, Firefighter Larry Bowden, Firefighter Tim Doyle,
Firefighter/Paramedic Pete Lynch, and Firefighter/Paramedic Zach Criscuolo.
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65 Years Ago
December 3, 1950
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| New Haven Sunday Register, December 3, 1950 (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society and the Strain Family) |
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| THOSE WERE THE DAYS! The photographer was in "alarm readiness" in the dayroom at Station 3 when snapping this 1978 photo. Notice the ancient cable TV controller atop the equally ancient console TV set. (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| Memorial Day 1978 - Some schmoozing after the parade. Lt. John Tramontano and Dep. Chief George Reutenauer at left, and Ff. Howie Hurlburt, Jr. and a guy who looks like it might be Ff. Ralph Dievert at right. (CLICK to enlarge) |
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Spark Time
The final image from the mid-1960s Maxim fire apparatus catalog is this "open-cab" cab-forward tractor trailer aerial ladder truck. These three axle ladder trucks, with a tillerman to steer the trailer around tight corners, can be found in both large cities and small towns with narrow streets. The truck featured in the catalog photo is almost identical to a three-axle Maxim aerial truck purchased by the Bristol [Connecticut] Fire Department in 1962.
Hamden's only three axle ladder truck was Volunteer Co. 9's "parade piece," a 1929 Seagrave aerial truck that was purchased new by Wellesley, Massachusetts, but was never an active piece in Hamden. Hamden's Volunteer Co. 9 (1956-88) owned the truck from 1963 until the mid-1970s. The present location of the truck is not known.
Posted 11/27/15
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