 |
| CLICK here for daily flag status |
|
| AUGUST 2021
.
Important updates will be posted immediately.
.
Last update: Friday, August 27, 2021 - 1047 hrs
.
2021 marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of
Hamden's first fire company, Highwood Pioneer Hose Co. No. 1.
|
 |
| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
The Hamden Fire Department's 1941 Diamond-T city service ladder truck is the focus of Bob Vaccaro's article in this month's issue of Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment magazine. Check it out!
|
 |
| ** 1957 photo taken by Chan Brainard - CLICK image to read Bob Vaccaro's excellent article |
|
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
"Henri" is headed here, please keep posted
on the weather - and stay safe!
|
In preparation for the landing of Hurricane Henri sometime during Sunday:
If you have not done so already, it is important to ensure that you:
- · Check your family’s emergency supply kit – make certain you have food, water, medications, and other necessities to sustain you, your family and family pets for at least 72 hours.
- · Follow the direction of local officials –evacuation orders may be issued by officials, so follow their guidance. When it comes to swimming, follow local warnings as well. Even the best swimmers can fall victim to the strong waves and rip currents caused by storms.
- · Keep up to date with local conditions – follow TV and radio reports from your area, or visit accuweather - new haven (accuweather for iPhone) for the latest forecast.
- · Remember food safety – power outages and flooding may happen as a result of a tropical storm or hurricane, so have a plan for keeping food safe. Have a cooler on hand to keep food cold, and group food together in the freezer so it stays cold longer.
- · Have an adequate communication plan - be sure friends and family know how to contact you. Teach family members how to use text messaging as text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call can’t get through.
Keep in mind, hurricanes bring heavy rains, storm surges, and possible flooding events. Avoid walking or driving through any flooded areas – it takes only six inches of fast-moving flood water to knock over an adult and two feet to move a vehicle. Remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
For those who may be in the path of Henri, you can get hurricane safety tips right on your phone by downloading these useful apps:
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
A good friend of the website texted us this morning with the following message, which will be of interest to many Hamdenites:
.
"1220-AM is back on the air! WATX, broadcasting from [a farm] on Calamus Meadow Road. The signal is very weak, they’re looking to put up a 70’ tower. You can stream the station on 1220watx.com."
.
With the new WATX call letters, the 1220 AM frequency has been signified by at least a half-dozen call letters since the 1960s. You you remember WDEE, WCDQ, WSCR, WOMN, and of course WQUN? And were there any others? (We kinda lost track.)
.
When the station was WDEE, and again when it was WCDQ, it sustained devastating fires that destoyed their Denslow Hill Road quarters. The first was in January 1965 - click here.
Posted 8/20/2021
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Last year the COVID-19 pandemic put a damper on visits to our homebound members. Tom Doherty recently paid a visit to fellow retiree Gil Spencer, who has been regaining strength in his limbs for more than a year.
.
Tom and Gil have been close friends since they both were in grammar school, so much of the inevitable reminiscing centered on some of the stunts those two were part of back in those days.
.
Both came from families with a strong fire department connection. Tom's dad, Everett Doherty, joined the department in 1927 and retired as a deputy chief shift commander in 1966. Gil's dad, Raymond K. Spencer*, joined Co. 5 in 1925 and remained an active member for nearly six decades more. Gil's son, John, is currently battalion chief of Platoon 1.
.
Tom and Gil both joined the Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Co. as teenagers and both worked part time for Public Works in the 50s. When Tom went off to college in Oklahoma, Gil joined "the paid department." Tom followed in 1961, the first rookie under newly-appointed Fire Chief V. Paul Leddy.
.
Both earned promotions to lieutenant in 1970, then came captain. And they both concluded their lengthy careers as shift commanders before retiring in the 1990s. During their careers, both made significant contributions to the safety and efficiency of department operations. Gil was one of the earliest, if not the very first company officer to begin drawing and distributing pre-fire plans of hazardous and other problematic occupancies. As a company and chief officer, Tom was a notable proponent and practitioner of individual company training. The department is a better and safer place to work because of them and firefighters like them.
.
The amount of fire department lore these guys have stored in their brains would make for a classic film. And there are lots of classic non-HFD stories to share, too. How about an early 1950s caper, starring Spencer and Doherty, involving a spooky remote Hamden cemetery, a set of chains, a shovel, a smoke bomb, and two hapless teenage girl friends? Ah, the things they did for entertainment before video games.
.
The department has been fortunate to have had these two guys among its ranks. Undoubtedly there are young department members on the job today, who, someday in their 80s, will look back on truly amazing careers just like Gil and Tom can today. Let's hope so.
.
One more thing: Gil will be observing a significant HFD anniversary in October. We'll keep you posted.
Posted 8/15/2021
* Not to be confused with Raymond C. Spencer, Hamden's first paid fire chief (1942-60), although the two Raymond Spencers were distant relatives.
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Please keep our brother retired Firefighter Ray Dobbs in your thoughts and prayers. Ray has been quite ill the past couple of months, having spent eight days in Yale-New Haven in July.
Ray's wife Niki reports there's no diagnosis as yet, but he has an appointment at Smilow this coming week. We'll keep everyone posted.
We're thinking of you, buddy.
Posted 8/13/2021
|
Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff in Honor of Burlington Firefighter Colin McFadden
Posted on August 13, 2021 - 1249 hrs.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff in honor of Burlington firefighter and EMT Colin McFadden, who became suddenly ill while responding to a fire in New Hartford early Tuesday and passed away [Thursday] morning.
“It is with a heavy heart that we mourn the passing of Burlington Firefighter Colin McFadden, who responded early Tuesday morning to a tragic fire out of a courageous sense of duty and compassion to protect the lives of others,” Governor Lamont said. “This is a terrible reminder of the dangers that firefighters put themselves in each time they respond to an emergency. My deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and fellow firefighters from the Burlington Volunteer Fire Department.
Flags should be lowered immediately and remain lowered until sunset on the date of interment, which has not yet been determined. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time. The Office of the Governor will send out a notification when flags should be returned to full staff.
CLICK HERE to read the Governor's complete proclamation.
|
Spark Time!
Second Factory Photo!
Hamden's 1926 Maxim City Service Ladder Truck
|
 |
| * Photo courtesy of Walt McCall and Matt Lee |
|
|
The Hamden Fire Retirees Association thanks renowned fire apparatus authors Matthew Lee and Walter McCall for the outstanding pre-delivery photo of Hamden's 1926 Maxim ladder truck that appeared on our website for the first time on January 15, 2016.
|
In our correspondence with Mr. Lee in 2016, we were informed of the officer's side view of the truck (above), but he was unable to find it at the time he sent the driver's side view (top right).
The website just received a copy of Mr. Lee's A Pictorial History of the Fire Engine, Volume 2, The Decade of the 1920s, an outstanding follow-up to Volume 1, which did contain the officer's side view pictured above.
The 1926 Maxim ladder truck was delivered along with a 500 GPM Maxim pumper in March of that year, for a grand total of $12,500. Both pieces were assigned to Highwood Station No. 1 at Dixwell and Morse. The pumper replaced Highwood's 1918 Stewart chemical truck that was then reassigned to Mix District Volunteer Co. 7. The ladder truck replaced the Highwood company's hand-drawn ladder truck, built by the company in 1907-08.
Until now, the only known photos of the 1926 Maxim ladder truck were the 1926 factory photo of the driver's side received five years ago and two others, both taken in 1939, showing the truck on the ramp of old Station 3 and parked on Putnam Avenue. There are also news photos of the truck following the 1941 trolley accident that totaled it.
You can't do any better than a factory photo and we are very pleased to have this other one. Thank you Matt, Walt and, of course, Chan Brainard for bringing the photos to our attention in the first place.
|
Matthew Lee's A Pictorial History of the Fire Engine, Volume 2, The Decade of the 1920s is readily available on eBay and from Abe Books.
--------------
HFRA website visitors may be interested in these books by Matt Lee and Walt McCall. CLICK on the photo below to visit Amazon for more information on how to purchase these and other books by these gentlemen.
|
 |
| ** |
|
|
Richard Ferraro
(1954 - 2021)
The website has been informed of the July 17th passing of Richard Ferraro (67), son of our late HFRA member and brother Firefighter Sal "Cookie" and our late Honorary Member Caroline Ferraro.
Richard grew up in Hamden, attended Hamden High School, and Southern CT State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in Microbiology. He worked as a lead tool maker and fabrication coordinator for United Technologies Research Center, participating in the creation of innovative helicopter and jet engine part prototypes. A highlight of his career was the invention and patent of an actuation system for a helicopter rotor blade at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp in 1999.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service Saturday August 14th at 11 A.M. in the Peter H. Torello & Son Funeral Home, 1022 Dixwell Ave., Hamden. Calling hours will be from 10-11 A.M. Saturday morning.
|
 |
| "Cookie" Ferraro (1915-2009) |
|
--------
Please keep the Ferraro family in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time. Richard's father, Sal "Cookie" Ferraro, a charter member of the HFRA, passed away twelve years ago this week. He was one of the nicest guys to ever wear an HFD uniform.
Posted 8/8/2021
|
August 2, 2021 marked the 70th anniversary of the delivery of Hamden's first postwar Maxim pumper, which served the department until the 1990s. It was initially assigned as Engine 2, but was reassigned a year later to Station 3 on Putnam Avenue. In 1965 it went to Station 5. Finally, to Station 9 in 1968 as Engine 9, and later as Engine 19 (Vol Co. 9). Spare from 1988 until sold in the 1990s.
|
 |
| August 2, 1951 - (Sid Trower Collection) |
|
|
 |
| 1951 Maxim - 1989 |
|
1951 Maxim: The Final Run
.
When the 1989 tornado hit on July 10th, all off duty career firefighters were requested to report for duty. The calls were made from the Emergency Operations Center by Town Clerk Nancy Hurlburt, making me probably the only firefighter ever ordered to duty by his mother.
.
Instructed to go to the nearest station, I reported to Station 9 along with Dave Strawhince and Paul Durkin. The only apparatus there was the spare 1951 Maxim, formerly Engine 59, once assigned to the now-defunct Vol Co. 9.
.
We jump-started the Maxim off of Dave's pickup truck, checked to see if it would pump and roll, then gave it a quick wash as there was so much dust you couldn't see out the windshield.
|
With a crew of Strawhince as the officer, myself as driver, and Durkin riding the tailboard, we put ourselves in service and were instructed to report to Station 4. From there, as "Engine 59" (as we used the nostalgic call sign) we responded to a few calls including a reported structure fire at Jimmy's in the Plaza.
.
We remained in service until the northend pieces came back in service. We then put the old girl away at 9s. She was sold a short while after. A good way to send her off, sorrily to a poor fate.
.
Clark D. Hurlburt
Asst. Chief (Ret.)
Posted 8/6/2021
|
 |
| 1952 - Engine 3 - at Station 3, from 1952 to 1965 |
|
|
 |
| 1987 - Engine 19 (Volunteer Co. 9) - at Station 9, from 1978 to 1988 |
|
|
. . . and this is how Hamden's 1951 Maxim looked on April 24, 2007, when photographed in Shelton by Daryl Osiecki. (Ouch!) CLICK HERE for more photos, if you think you can stomach it.
___________________
|
Fortunately, several of Hamden's retired fire apparatus have been preserved, including all of the Diamond-Ts, the 1959 Maxim, the 1965 Mack, and the 1973 Maxim Telesqurt (perhaps more), but the whereabouts of only a few of these are presently known.
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| HFRA Pres. Bob Mordecai and Kurt |
|
Lieut. Kurt Vogt Retired after 27 years' service in the HFD
Local 2687 president for ten years
.
August 1 - Last Friday was Lieut. Kurt Vogt's final shift, as he retired from the Hamden Fire Department following twenty-seven years on the job.
.
In 2011 Kurt succeeded then-Lieut. Gary Merwede, with whom he came on the job in September 1994, as fourth president of Local 2687. He stepped down several months ago in anticipation of his upcoming retirement and was succeeded by Firefighter Dave Beaton.
.
Prior to his promotion to lieutenant in 2019, Kurt had held Badge No. 1 as the department's most senior firefighter.
.
HFRA President Bob Mordecai presented Kurt with his 2021 membership card, making him 81 on the current list of members in good standing. The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association thank Lieut. Vogt for his 27 years of dedicated service in the HFD and for his many years of leadership in Local 2687. We wish him a long, happy, and healthy retirement.
.
A reception for Kurt was held at Station 3, to which all retirees were invited. CLICK HERE to view photos of the event.
.
Posted 8/1/2021
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff in Honor of the Victims of the Attack in Afghanistan
.
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont announced that – in accordance with a proclamation issued by President Joe Biden directing flags to be lowered throughout the country as a mark of respect for the U.S. service members and other victims killed in the terrorist attack today in Kabul, Afghanistan – U.S. and state flags in Connecticut will fly at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on Monday, August 30, 2021.
.
Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time.
.
“My prayers go out to the family and friends of the military members whose lives were lost today in Afghanistan, as well as those who were injured,” Governor Lamont said. “They were doing everything they could to get Americans safely home and protect innocent civilians. Our service members are heroes.”
Posted 8/27/2021 - 1045 hrs.
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
 |
| ** |
|
|
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.
|
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
|
