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| 1982 - Capt. Jack Laffin during ground ladder training behind Station 7. Jack retired Jan. 1, 1990 and now lives on Cape Cod. (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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| 1953 - Gil Spencer with his WWII era Jeep. The black-on-silver CT license plates were phased out in 1957 in favor of the white-on-blue plates that lasted until 2002. |
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| Newest HFRA Honorary Member, Mrs. Letitia Flagge, flanked by former Chief Jim Leddy and former Marshal Mark Barletta |
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| Honorary Member Letitia Flagge
Until the late 1970s, those of us who had occasion to visit the Chief's Office will always remember Letitia Flagge, a cheerful and dedicated lady who, starting in the 1950s, served as receptionist and secretary for Chief R.C. Spencer and Marshal Al Purce, and later for Chief V. Paul Leddy and Marshal Bob O'Donnell. At our July 12th meeting, the members were very pleased to elect Letitia Flagge to Honorary Membership in the Hamden Fire Retirees' Association.
HFRA President Mark Barletta and former Chief Jim Leddy recently visited Mrs. Flagge at her home. "I think of the firemen all the time," said Mrs. Flagge after being presented with her Honorary Member certificate. "You were all wonderful guys to work with. This is one of the most wonderful things that could happen."
Mrs. Flagge retired in 1978. Now 98, she still lives in her Centerville home and attends weekly Mass at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church.
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Fire Marshal School Grads - Twenty-Five Years Ago
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| 1986 - L-R: Firefighter Michael Ambrisco, Fire Marshal Bob "Bubby" O'Donnell, Chief John Tramontano, Dep. Fire Marshal Bob Westervelt, and Lt. Dave Strawhince. |
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In this 1986 photo, Lt. Dave Strawhince and Ff. Mike Ambriscoe had just completed the very lengthy fire marshal certification training program conducted by the State of Connecticut, in preparation for working part-time in the Marshal's office as fire inspectors. Eventually, their ranks would be increased by the addition of Firefighters Jim Hagerty and Mark Barletta. Barletta, now the HFRA president, would go on to become Hamden's fourth uniformed fire marshal following the retirement of Westervelt. Unfortunately, the four part-time Inspectors' positions disappeared due to "fiscal considerations" after a relatively short run.
Photo by Dave Strawhince
Posted 7/8/11
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| 1960 - Nozzleman, Firefighter Burt Hillocks, with Vol. Co. 5's R.K. Spencer and Vol. Co. 8's Bill Hindinger. Fire Chief R.C. Spencer, in white helmet and bunker gear, can be seen emerging from doorway in background. Location unknown. CLICK to enlarge. |
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| Joe Rahl and Tom Doherty at Co. 5's Centennial Field Day on June 5th. They were among more than a half dozen HFD retirees in attendance who got their start at Co. 5. CLICK for more photos. |
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| May 29, 1978 - Ray Reilly and Guy White in front of Engine 3, the 1973 Maxim Telesqurt (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| April 1982 - Supt. Richie Lostritto and Bob Mordecai outside the Shop at the rear of Station 2 (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| All of us remember working with these guys. - CLICK to enlarge |
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| 1982 - Ffs. Charlie Esposito, Frank Critchett and John Corbett training with foam on Sherman Avenue, approximately where the parking area for the Canal Line Trail is now. - CLICK to enlarge - (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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| Plenty of retirees were on hand as the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, I.A.F.F. honored three veteran firefighters at the local's Annual Retirement Dinner on Saturday evening, March 5th, at Laurel View Country Club. CLICK for more photos of the Annual Dinner. |
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| Bobby Kelo was in town for the Annual Dinner and treated three former colleagues to lunch at the Athena Diner on Route 5. Bob lives in Midlothian, VA. Thank you, Bob! |
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Walt Macdowall's Roast
November 1991
Many of Deputy Chief Walt Macdowall's friends and colleagues gathered at Laurel View Country Club in November 1991 to "roast" him. Walt retired from the Hamden Fire Department after 26 years of service to take command of the LaGrange Fire Department in Illinois.
Posted 3/8/11
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| Walt with son, Scott, and daughter-in-law, Barbara. |
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New Work Schedule for Hamden Firefighters
Starting Wednesday, December 1st, the fire department's four platoons will begin a new schedule of 24 hours on and 72 hours off. The work week will remain unchanged at 42 hours.
Members of Local 2687 voted earlier this week to try the new schedule for one year, after which there will be a final vote to either retain it or return to the old schedule. The 24-hour schedule is seen as a cost-saving move by both the Town and the Local.
Platoon One will start on the 1st, Platoon Two on the 2nd, and so forth. Each shift will begin and end at 0800 hours.
The 24-on/72-off schedule is commonly employed by fire departments nationwide. In fact, the 3-day-on/3-day-off schedule, in effect in Hamden since October 1970, is now in the minority among Connecticut fire departments.
Posted 11/20/10
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| From The Hamden Chronicle - November 17, 1949 - CLICK to enlarge |
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| June 1961 - Harry Cubbellotti and Richie Lostritto at Station 6 - CLICK to enlarge |
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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| Retiree Bob Slater recently received the photo at left from Deputy Fire Marshal Brain Dolan, who reported that Bob's old boots, marked "Slater," are still in service with the Hamden Police Dept.
Bob's grandson took the photo at right when the two of them visited Station 4 in 2002. No one was home when they stopped by, so Bob shinnied up the pole for a great photo op.
A department member from 1966 until 1981, and a former president of the early bargaining units, Bob has worked at Walt Disney World Security for nearly 30 years. He says he may finally retire from Disney early next year - but, hey, you never know. Thanks, Bob!
Posted 3/1/11
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| CLICK to enlarge |
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| 1969 - Lt. Joe McDermott (Photo by Ed Doiron, Sr.) CLICK to enlarge |
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| Dep. Chief Francis Leddy receives BP check from Ff. Ralph Dievert. Lieut./Paramedic John Tramontano is standing in back. (Photo courtesy of Hamden Historical Society) CLICK to enlarge |
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| Sept. 1995 - Hal Prescher, Dave McDermott (in his new "Lolita" sunglasses) and Johnny Longo doing some needed landscaping at Station 3. |
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| Dave, the Stylish Landscaper! |
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| Dave ("What can I fly at next?") and John ("Put down the camera and get over here!") |
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Station 3 offered its own unique set of work details. In the early days there was Purgatory Hill in the backyard, or washing all ten thousand windows every Wednesday. On this particular day in the late summer of '95, Harold, Dave and John decided to clear a path to the flagpole - for whatever reason cannot be recalled. But they were a great crew who always knew how to have some fun while tackling a mundane chore.
Posted 10/3/10
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| Bill Bossoli - HFD (1950-56) |
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October 3, 2010 - Recently, former Hamden firefighter Bill Bossoli stopped by the Hamden Historical Society room at Miller Library, where he ran into a couple of HFD alumni doing their usual Thursday afternoon research.
Bill, now 91 with a memory like a steel trap, was able to assist the researchers by providing some missing details about the Hamden Fire Department of the early 1950s. Gil Spencer was there when Bill stopped by. Gil noted that Bill was driving Engine 5, the 1930 Maxim, when he had his first ride on a piece of fire apparatus. Naturally, a lot of good stories and a few laughs followed.
Bill was sworn in 60 years ago this week with Larry Bellemore, Tim Cummins, Burt Hillocks, Richie Lostritto, and Bob "Whitey" Williams. He has lived in Mt. Carmel all his life and hopes to attend our next meeting on Oct. 12.
Posted 10/3/10
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| HFRA Chairman Mark Barletta presents BC Dave Strawhince with his HFRA membership card |
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Dave Strawhince Retires After 32 Years
August 30 - Many present and former colleagues gathered at Station 3 this evening to wish Battalion Chief Dave Strawhince well on the final night of his 32-year career with the Hamden Fire Department. On behalf of the members of Platoon 4, Capt. Ron Desroches presented Dave with a plaque and a group picture of his shift. After being congratulated on his milestone by several retirees, Dave was enlisted as the HFRA's newest member.
Dave joined the department September of 1978. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1984, captain in 1998, and battalion chief in 2005.
Dave and his wife Molly will soon relocate to Anthem, Arizona. We all wish Dave many happy and healthy years of retirement.
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| Capt. Ron Desroches says a few words on behalf of Platoon 4 . . . |
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| . . . and then presents Dave with this plaque and a photo of Pl. 4. |
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Photos by Daryl Osiecki
Posted 8/31/10
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| June 1982 - Lt. Bill Coppola at Station 4 - CLICK to enlarge (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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| June 1982 - John Corbett - CPR Training - CLICK to enlarge (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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| November 1984 - Retired Fire Chief V. Paul Leddy poses next to one of the two new Pierce Dash pumpers when it was on a driver training exercise in his Cumpstone Drive neighborhood. CLICK to enlarge. (Photo by John Tramontano) |
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| June 1982 - Photo by John Tramontano (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| Gerry Dinneen joined the department in 1980. His contributions to the department during his brief career were considerable.
In 1982, before the advent of personal "camcorders," Gerry purchased his own video camera with a portable shoulder-pack VHS cassette recorder. He began taping various department-related activities, the first being a 1982 Halloween party at Co. 7.
On October 18, 1985, Gerry recorded the first Hamden Fire Department awards ceremony held during John Tramontano's tenure as chief, which inspired the department to acquire its own video equipment for making training videos and to preserve department events.
Gerry was a good firefighter and a great guy who was well liked by all. The department was stunned and saddened by Gerry's sudden death on Christmas Day 1985.
Posted 6/14/10
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| September 27, 1991 - Bob Macauley, Bob Anthony, and Jim Dunlop (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| May 1978 - Eddie DeFrancesco at Station 5 |
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| December 1968 - Supt. of Alarms and Apparatus Clem Welmore retired. He is pictured in front of Box 158, on the newly dedicated West Woods Fire Station No. 9. |
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| St. Patrick's Day 1985 - Don Buechele, Jim Moore and John O'Dea in the uniform of the day at Station 4. |
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| Local 2687 Dinner Honors Capt. Dennis Baker - CLICK to view photos |
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| New Deputy Chief - CLICK to view photos |
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| CLICK to view the new Photo Album page. |
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CLICK on any of the three photos below and they will now enlarge to their full size.
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| "Alarm Readiness!" (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| 1986 Hamden Bicentennial Parade |
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| Who dat? (CLICK to find out) |
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CLICK on any of the three photos below and they will now enlarge to their full size.
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| April 5, 2000 - Kevin O'Hare and Capt. Bob Viglione |
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| Ray's Last Day |
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| c. 1990 - Jim Dunlop next to Engine 5 while filling in at Station 4 |
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CLICK on any of the three photos below and they will now enlarge to their full size.
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| Lt. Bill "Salty" Marak |
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| February 15, 2001 - Going for a ride! |
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| Summer 1983 - Ff. George Patten |
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| It's that time of year . . . |
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| December 31, 2000 - Performing a usual post-snowstorm activity, Paul Turner shovels out a hydrant on Hartford Tpke. on the final day of the 20th Century! |
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| Twenty-Fifth Annual Ball Committee - 1960 |
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The Hamden Firemen's Benevolent Association began holding their annual Thanksgiving Eve Firemen's Ball in 1936. The organization became the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association in 1948, and the annual late-November firemen's ball continued to be held well into the 1970s.
This picture of the 1960 Ball Committee was scanned from a copy of the ball program that was a gift to our archives from Chan Brainard. L-R: Firefighters Robert "Ace" Callahan, John O'Hare (Co-Chairman), Dick Carney, Eugene Maturo (Chairman), and Raymond Carofano.
The 1960 ball was held at the West Haven Armory on Saturday night, November 19th, the day after Chief Raymond C. Spencer's last day on the job. Two days later, V. Paul Leddy reported to Headquarters as fire chief, for a tenure that would last more than twenty-three years.
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| March 1987 - Six New Recruits (New Haven Register photo by Ann DeMatteo) |
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ABOVE - March 6, 1987 - Fire Chief John R. Tramontano congratulates six new firefighters upon their completion of Fire Fighter I certification. L-R: Firefighters Kevin O'Hare, Timothy Sullivan, Dennis Harrison, William Fitzmaurice, Chief Tramontano, Firefighters John Spencer and Ronald Desroches.
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60 Years Ago
Hamden Firefighters Start a 56-Hour Workweek
| 40 Years Ago
Hamden Firefighters Start a 42-Hour Workweek
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| October 5, 1950 |
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| October 6, 1970 |
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October 5, 1950 - Fire Chief Raymond C. Spencer congratulates two newly promoted lieutenants and six new firefighters upon their appointments. Front row (L-R): Firefighters Lawrence Bellemore, Robert Williams, and Burton Hillocks, Lieutenants Daniel Hume and Emil Strain, and Chief Spencer. Back row (L-R): Firefighters Richard Lostritto, William Bossoli and Thomas Cummins.
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| July 8, 1969 - Swearing In |
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July 8, 1969 - Seven new firefighters were appointed in conjunction with the expansion for the 42-hour work week to be implemented the following year. A total of 40 new firefighters were hired between November 1967 and July 1970.
Pictured L to R: Fire Chief V. Paul Leddy, Commissioner Ted Baroncini, Bob Macauley (inside cab), Greg Shammett and Rick Kenyon (on running board), Bob Viglione and Ralph Tomaselli (up top), Commissioner Irving Saslow, John Reilly, and Doug Yocher. Dep. Chief Training Officer Daniel Hume on rear step. (Photo by Vaccaro)
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| CLICK on the photo to read a Meriden Record-Journal article about Doug Yocher's 50+ years in the fire service. |
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| CLICK to go to the Photo Album Page for new and previously posted photos. |
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| CLICK on the photo to read about Chief Raymond C. Spencer |
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Through the decades Hamden firefighters have supported M.D.A.
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| 1969 - L-R: John Tramontano, Mrs. Audrey Manley, Mayor William Adams, and Chief V. Paul Leddy (CLICK on either photo to see video) |
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Since the 1960s, Hamden firefighters have been enthusiastic supporters of the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association fundraising activities. CLICK on either photo to view two 1980s check presentations by Local 2687 president, John Corbett, during the annual Jerry Lewis MDA telethons.
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| L-R: Ray Vreeland, Milner Benham, D/C George Reutenauer, Paul Reutenauer, Gil Spencer, Bob "Whitey" Williams, and Charlie Esposito - CLICK to view MDA video. |
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| Repacking Hose - 1969 |
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| Testing Hose - 1969 |
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| Winter Operations - 1969-70 |
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| Bob Slater at Station 6 - 1969 |
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| Station 3 - 1969 |
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| Crank 'er up! |
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| 2000 Reunion |
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| 2009 Reunion |
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| Trower and Herrmann (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| October 1967 - Pulling Wire (CLICK to enlarge) |
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| October 10, 1950 - Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Assn. Annual Dinner at Headquarters (Photo by Lewis R. Berlepsch) - CLICK to enlarge |
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| The Hamden Fire Department appointed its first chaplains, Rev. Joseph Peters, pastor of the Mt. Carmel Congregational Church, and Father Bernard Miller, assistant pastor of St. Rita's Church (see the article below from the October 12, 1950 edition of The Hamden Chronicle).
Back Row (standing L-R): Ed Bevins, Russ Norman, John McKee, Art Smith, Larry Bellemore, Sid Trower, Bob "Whitey" Williams, Lt. Roland Ruwet, Dave Hermann, Dave Howe, Jack Laffin, Frank Nolan, Al Ramelli, Ken Harrington, Warren Blake, Thomas Cummins, Ralph Rosson, Fred Fletcher, Sal "Cookie" Ferraro, Hugh McLean, Clem Kammerer, Dan O'Connell, Rich Lostritto, and Julius Norman.
Middle Row (standing L-R): Lt. James Strain, Ray Vreeland, Francis Leddy, Capt. Everett Doherty, Burt Hillocks, Bill Hines, Frank Eitler, Mario "Bucky" Serafino (holding station mascot "Blackie"), Capt. Joe Hromadka, Bob O'Donnell, Bill Bossoli, George Reutenauer, Vinnie Roth, John Hoffman, Joe Dukat, Art Norman, Robert Reutenauer, and Marshal Al Purce.
Front Row (seated - L-R): Supt. Clem Wetmore, Howard Hurlburt, Sr., Lt. Dan Hume, Paul Rosadina, Wilbur Baker, Third Selectman Albert H. Connolly, Lt. V. Paul Leddy, Rev. Joseph Peters (Chaplain), Chief Raymond C. Spencer, Fr. Bernard Miller (Chaplain), Commissioner Oscar Lampe, Commissioner Herbert Hume, Commissioner Hudson Weigold, Commission Secretary Benjamin C. Bamford, Lt. Emil Strain, Ray Carofano, Walt Thomas, and Luke Tobin.
At the time this photo was taken the Hamden Fire Department consisted of 55 career members. Not pictured: William Esposito and Edward Schreck.
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| CLICK to see everyone identified |
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| The Hamden Chronicle - October 12, 1950 |
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Newly appointed Hamden Fire Chief, V. Paul Leddy, poses next to the 1958 Maxim 75' Junior Aerial Ladder truck at Station 2 in early 1961. Engine 2, the 1959 Maxim 750 g.p.m. "cab-forward" can be seen in the background. The ladder truck occupied the center bay of Station 2 until April 9, 1976, when it was transferred to the new annex at Station 5.
All new Hamden apparatus and staff vehicles were ordered in white from 1958 until the mid-1960s. By 1971, the two pieces in this photo had been repainted "Maxim Red," and the ladder truck had acquired a new soft top to afford the driver and rider some protection from the elements.
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The January 12th meeting of the Association, held at the Elks Hall, was preceded by an excellent dinner. Here are a few photos of the dinner and the meeting that followed. A total of 23 members attended.
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| CLICK this photo to view slide show |
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Since the beginning, the various Hamden Fire Department member associations have held annual Christmas parties for the children and grandchildren of their members. By 1983, the annual party was still being co-sponsored by the Hamden Professional Firefighters Local 2687 I.A.F.F. and the Hamden Paid Firemen's Sick Benefit Association. CLICK on the photo at the left to view all 15 photos of the 1983 Christmas party we found recently. Do any members have photos from other past Christmas parties?
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