Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc.

With the transition from khaki to dark blue work uniforms in 1972, the Hamden Fire Department adopted a shoulder patch design for all work shirts, dress shirts, blouses, and reefers,  The cardboard prototypes (above) were found many years ago in a filing cabinet in the chief's office.  The designs are believed to have been those of Deputy Chief Daniel Hume, department training officer from 1956 until his retirement in 1973.

The original patch design was green and gold, the official town colors.  A mid-1990s modification added more colors.  "FIRE DEPT" became red on a white background, surrounded by a dark blue border.

Retired Dep. Fire Chief Clark Hurlburt wrote regarding the patch story:

During the early 70s while working a summer job as a relief janitor at the town hall, I spotted Chief Leddy and Dep. Chief Hume heading for the rotunda with a polaroid camera.  Ever the nosy one where the FD was concerned I tagged along.  Their purpose was to photograph the seal on the center of the Town of Hamden flag on display in order to obtain a template for the new patch.  Chief Leddy and I held the flag out straight while D/C Hume took a couple of polaroids.  "So now you know the rest of the story"

We found those polaroids in the cache of patch prototypes.  The one at the left is most likely the photo that was copied for the patch prototypes.

Posted 4/15/11