| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013
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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March 1987 - Lots of Future Brass in this Class
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| Wolcott Fire Training School - March 3, 1987 (CLICK to enlarge) |
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The final phase of Fire Fighter I certification training for these six HFD recruits was live firefighting at the Wolcott Fire Training School. Pictured here with three other personnel are Hamden's newest firefighters, which included one future chief of the department, two future battalion chiefs, and two future captains (so far), one of whom is now fire marshal.
Four more recruits would join the department six months later. 1987 would be the last year that fire certification training for new Hamden firefighters would be carried out "in-house." When the next set of recruit firefighters joined the department seven years later, there was no training division and fire certification training for Hamden recruits was conducted through the state. When the position of training officer was restored and combined with EMS in 1999, after a nine year absence, the job was ably filled by 1987 recruit Bill Fitzmaurice, who is now B/C of Platoon 2.
Pictured L-R - Ff. Tim Sullivan, Ff. Dennis Harrison (standing), Ff. Ron Desroches, Asst. Supt. Mike Murray, Ff. John Spencer, Ff. Kevin O'Hare, Lt. Doug Yocher, Ff. Bill Fitzmaurice and Capt/Training Off. Dave Johnson. Behind them is Rescue 3, a spare, which was equipped with a cascade air system. Engine 6, the 1959 Maxim, was the pumper used that day.
Posted 1/25/13
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| HFD Class of March '87, the only member of which who can be identified in this photo is Kevin O'Hare. One of the large air tanks for the cascade system can be seen in the open compartment of Rescue 3 in the background. |
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| Station 3 - March 16, 1987 |
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The clock says it's 5 o'clock. Ff. George Edwards, Lt. Doug Yocher (seated) and Lt. Howie Hurlburt, Jr. are getting ready for the night shift to come in. Doug is reviewing some photos taken earlier in the month when the training officer and he conducted live fire burns at Wolcott Fire Training School as part of the Fire Fighter I certification for six HFD recruits.
Posted 1/25/13
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| At headquarters alarm room, Ff. Ralph Dievert spells Platoon 4 Dispatcher Ace Callahan in this c. 1975 photo by Joe Rahl. |
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Following up on our "Popeye" thank-you message article in last week's Friday update (immediately below), we received word earlier this week that the Miller Library this month is featuring a great display of Popeye memorabilia from the collection of Hamden resident George Wildman, who has been drawing Popeye for decades. Visit this outstanding website! www.georgewildman.com
When we contacted George's son, Karl, to learn more about the display, he replied, "Ironically, whats on display was boxed years back because of ... you guessed it - the fire. The cleaning crew that came in wiped down and boxed the collection to protect it while the house got painted. The decision to keep it wrapped and dust-free was out of convenience."
The Popeye memorabilia display case is right by the main staircase in the Miller Library. Karl is working on a second, smaller case with a bio of his dad and some of his original pages of art.
Karl Wildman has served as a Hamden volunteer firefighter and has contributed much of his own talents to several town projects over the years, including designing the T-shirts for the annual Hamden Volunteer Firefighter Fireworks and the annual town Christmas ornaments. In 2011, the ornament honored Hamden's three volunteer fire companies; in 2012 it was the new police headquarters.
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George Wildman "Popeye" Display
at Miller During January
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It must be in the Wildman DNA, because Karl's oldest daughter, Kelsea, worked on the Veterans' tribute (three surrounding squares) in the middle school and also has a painting hanging in the Bd. of Ed. building on Putnam Avenue.
Posted 1/25/13
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"Thank-you" Messages Come in Many Forms
Hamden can boast of many distinctions: The home to world-famous author and playwright Thornton Wilder, the birthplace of Eli Whitney's interchangable parts for firearms, and the place where Charles Goodyear first vulcanized rubber, among other things. But how many folks out there know that Hamden is also home to a very well-known artist, George Wildman, who has been drawing Popeye for decades? After Platoon 3 quickly extinguished a fire at Mr. Wildman's home in October 1995, the Department received a unique message of appreciation from the world's most famous vegan. (CLICK to enlarge)
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| Courtesy of Tom Doherty - CLICK to enlarge |
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| Grateful citizens often send notes of appreciation to the Department, sometimes in a very public forum. One of the earliest such letters we came across was published in the Novemnber 6, 1952 edition of The Hamden Chronicle.
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| Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society - CLICK to enlarge |
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| June 1984 |
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Full Assignment
Whenever a fire alarm was received from an elderly housing occupancy, it was customary to send three engines, both trucks and both rescues. Chan Brainard sent us this June 1984 photo, taken from the sixth story window of his parents' apartment at Whitney Center on Leeder Hill Drive. Some burnt toast in another apartment had apparently tripped the fire alarm, resulting in the dispatch of the apparatus seen in this photo.
The 1958 Maxim and 1970 Maxim aerial ladder trucks are staged at the driveway apron. Engine 3, the 1973 Maxim Telesqurt, and Engine 1, a 1968 Maxim S, model are at the far corner of the building. Engine 2, the other '68 Maxim S model, and Car 3 are at the lower left, near the main entrance.
Posted 1/18/13
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| 1965 Stan Brown photo of Howie Hurlburt, Sr. at Station 2 (Courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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| Photo by Bob Mordecai |
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Frank Wegloski took this photo of Engine 4 around 1973. At that time it was one of the two 1968 Maxim S model 1000 GPM pumpers that were delivered in October 1968. When the 1973 Maxim foam truck was placed in service as Engine 4 in 1974, this 1968 Maxim and its twin, formerly Engine 3, were placed in service at Station 2 as Engines 1 and 2. Behind Engine 4 is the modular bodied Rescue 1, on a 1971 Ford chassis, which remained in service until 1979.
We want to thank Ff. Daryl Osiecki for acquiring this photo and several others from the 1970s and 80s from photographer Frank Wegloski, who has generously permitted the reproduction of his photos on our website.
Posted 1/14/13
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| Firefighters John O'Hare and Bill Davin (Photo by Joe Rahl) |
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Every morning "before coffee," the guys in all the stations and on all the shifts were expected to maintain their cleaning stations. In this mid-1970s photo by Joe Rahl, Firefighters John O'Hare and Bill Davin on Platoon 4 are seen taking care of the apparatus floor at Station 3. John, Bill and Joe were among the 30 attendees at last Tuesday's quarterly HFRA gathering at the Hamden Elks Hall.
Posted 1/14/13
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At last Tuesday's quarterly gathering, the members of Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. welcomed newest member, retired Capt./Training Officer John O'Dea, who joined the Hamden Fire Department exactly 32 years ago this week. John was among seven other new recruits, including Dep. Fire Chief Bob Surprise and Firefighter Jay Connolly, who are still on the job, and retirees John Longo, Tim O'Flynn, Harold Prescher, Bob Stacy and Paul Wetmore, Jr.
Posted 1/14/13
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50 Years Ago
January 15, 1963
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| This newspaper article, dated January 15, 1963, is courtesy of Chan Brainard |
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Station 2 Hits Century Mark!
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| CLICK on this photo for more on Station 2 |
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| Humphrey Station Opened
January 1, 1913
According to a brief history published in the June 10, 1934 program for the Second Annual Hamden Firemen's Memorial Service, "On Jan. 1st, 1913, [the Humphrey fire company] moved into the present building which was built on a lot given to the Association by Mr. Mayo."
The Humphrey volunteers gave the building to the town in 1949, provided they would have exclusive use of the second floor in perpetuity. Station 2 underwent extensive renovations in 1951, converting it into a three-bay facility with the repair shop in the rear. It is presently undergoing yet another facelift.
Although the Humphrey fire company has not fought fires in over six decades, it continues to meet regularly as a social group on the second floor of the building.
Posted 1/1/2013
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A Rare Look at the Upstairs at Station 2
The key to the second floor was always available to the Station 2 officer in case of emergency. In April 1988, the officer at Station 2 conducted a quick tour of the upstairs "Volunteers' Room" at Station 2. A lot of history there!
Posted 1/1/2013
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| CLICK image to enlarge |
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A Pre-Christmas Visit to Station 3
The doors of Hamden fire stations are always open to those of us who once worked there. The folks on the job today welcome all alumni. They genuinely appreciate those of us who came before them. Members of Platoon 4 recently invited retired B/C Tom Doherty and a fellow retiree to visit Station 3 for lunch. They were joined by another much better looking veteran of the HFD, our own Jeanie Aceto. Prior to her August 31 retirement, Jeanine had served as a secretary in the fire chief's office longer than anyone else.
Firefighter Dave Beaton, VP of Local 2687, gave the visitors a thorough tour of the new Smeal tower ladder. Retired B/C Tom Doherty was truly impressed at the techological advances of the past sixteen years since his own retirement as shift commander of Platoon 3.
We want to thank Dave and all the other Station 3 personnel who extended such a warm welcome that Thursday a few weeks ago. They want all retirees to know that they are welcome anytime.
Posted 1/4/13
The photos below may be enlarged by CLICKING on them.
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| Ff. Dave Beaton, retired B/C Doherty and Jeanine Aceto |
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| Lt. Paul Kobbe, Ff. Doug O'Rourke and Capt. Gary Couture |
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Dep. Marshal Brian Dolan observes as Tom checks out the driver's perch of the new Tower 1. When he was a firefighter, Tom was a driver of the 1958 Maxim aerial ladder out of Station 2.
| Welcome to the 21st Century! Ff. Beaton demonstrates the television screen mounted above the windshield that provides a full rear view for the driver.
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When someone retires after decades in the fire service, it is not necessarily the end of his or her interest in what was once a fulfilling career. Many people on the job today appreciate that fact, and seem to take a special delight in sharing the newest developments in fire service technology with their earlier counterparts.
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| Beaton, Dolan and Doherty |
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| And as we were leaving . . . |
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30 YEARS AGO!
Treadwell Industrial Park Fire
Tuesday, January 4, 1983
Two news accounts of the January 4, 1983 general alarm fire at the Treadwell Industrial Park. Interviews with Chief V. Paul Leddy and several occupants. See quick glimpses of pump operator Paul Frodel and Art Heriot.
Click on the photo at right to watch the YouTube video.
Originally posted 8/6/09
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| CLICK photo to view video |
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| 1968 - Car fire on Whitney Avenue across from St. Mary's Cemetery. Ff. Dave Howe is assisted by two vollies from Co. 5. Dep. Chief George Reutenauer, wearing his dress hat, can be seen in the left rear. The classic 1963 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible will need some TLC. (Photo by John Mongillo, Jr.) |
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To our brothers and sisters who continue to serve in the fire, police and EMS services in Hamden and elsewhere, the members of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. wish you and yours a very Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year.
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Remembering Art Heriot
(1933-2009)
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| 1975 - Firefighter Art Heriot at Station 4 (Photo by Joe Rahl) - CLICK to enlarge |
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| Everyone who knew Art Heriot knew that he was one-of-a-kind. An excellent firefighter, Art possessed a monumental sense of humor and the uncanny ability to imitate certain movie legends, as well as high-ranking department officers, on the telephone.
All of the firefighters who worked at Station 4 were expected to fill in for the dispatcher, whether he was having lunch or on vacation. When Art acted as dispatcher, the morning radio test was sometimes conducted by John Wayne or Marlon Brando (think "Godfather").
Art was known to bamboozle näive fire department newbies (and even some old-timers) on the phone, convincing them that he was actually Chief V. Paul Leddy, often with hilarious and unprintable results. Sometimes Art's natural comedic talents didn't pan out too well. One Sunday morning Art answered the alarm room telephone with a flawless imitiation of Chief Leddy's unique and distinctly reedy vocal qualities, "Hamden Fire Department, Chief Leddy speaking." The caller was Chief Leddy. Fortuntely for Art, the Chief also had a sense of humor.
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Art served on the department from 1957 until he retired in 1993. He passed away April 17, 2009.
Art was survived by his widow, Noreen, who is an Honorary Member of the HFRA, and by his children Arthur and Joyce Heriot of Hebron, David and Marybeth March of Griswold and Michael and Paula Heriot of Columbia and his much loved grandsons Jonathan and Seth March. He was also survived by his sister Judy Dwyer of Hamden and many nieces and nephews. A brother, Paul Heriot, predeceased him.
Posted 12/28/12
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New Year's Eve 1992-93 at Station 4
A camcorder documented a brief, typically irreverant, and heavily edited slice of firehouse life at Station 4 on Platoon 2 twenty years ago, during the final minutes of 1992. The whole crew was there that night - no extras, except for hydrant maintainer Larry G, who was our guest for a gourmet swordfish dinner prepared by Jim Dunlop in the old, old downstairs kitchen. The festivities included some family members and Dick Clark. An added treat is a brief tour of the upstairs sleeping quarters 17 years before they were finally renovated. Enjoy - and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Posted 12/28/12
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| 1978 - Ff. Guy White on Truck 2 |
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June 30, 1853
Here is the earliest newspaper account yet uncovered of a fire in Hamden, from the New Haven Palladium of July 1, 1853. The exact location of the building was not given, but some further investigation may reveal the site.
Apparently this "fire proof" building wasn't so fire proof. Forty-three years before the organization of Hamden's first fire company, the result of even a small fire was usually the total loss of those portions of a building and its contents that were combustible.
Posted 12/28/12
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| Photocopy provided by Julie Hulten (see article below) |
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A Year-End Thank-You to HFRA's Friends at the Hamden Historical Society
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| Hamden Historical Society Archivist Joe Pepe |
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| Julie Hulten |
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| Gil Spencer - HFD B/C (Ret.) |
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| Sandy Marenholz (always in a bad mood!) |
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With the close of yet another year, we thought it about time to finally acknowledge some of the Thursday afternoon regulars at the Hamden Historical Society's history room on the upper level of the Miller Library. These folks have been enormously helpful with our HFD preservation efforts by providing many leads and lots of encouragement over the past three-plus years.
We are especially grateful to the Society's archivist, Joe Pepe. Joe is a retired school teacher who has so generously allowed us to reproduce many irreplacable fire department photos and manuscripts from the Society's archives. Julie Hulten, also a retired school teacher, was a librarian in the Wallingford school system for the last twelve of her twenty-eight years as an educator. Julie is an avid hiker and frequent lecturer on the history of the Sleeping Giant. Our own Gil Spencer has been a member of the HHS for decades. Gil contributes many suggestions for HFRA website stories that he finds among the hundreds of individual Hamden files. If there is anything Gil doesn't know about Hamden's history and the Sleeping Giant, it's probably not worth knowing. Sandy Marenholz grew up in Mt. Carmel and has been researching several Mt. Carmel history projects lately. As her photo attests, Sandy is a frequent and unabashed pushover for the photographer's stupid jokes.
Thanks, gang!
Posted 12/28/12
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| December 1984 - Mayor Peter Villano and Chief John Tramontano with Hamden's two new 1000 GPM Pierce Dash pumpers that went in service in January 1985. The pumper on the left was placed in service as Engine 4, not Engine 1, as the designation plate on the door indicated. The last of these two pumpers, which were standard shift, was removed from service in 2010. |
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| Hamden Elks's Community Service Awards Night.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Elks Lodge #2224, 175 School Street
Social Hour 6–7 p.m. - Dinner at 7 p.m.
Cash Bar - Program to Follow
Citizen of the Year - Arthur I Erickson
Outstanding Police Officer - Angela Hall
Outstanding Firefighter - Kevin P. Martin
Outstanding Volunteer Firefighter - Russell A. Olson
Donation: $20.00 Tickets Purchased after January 15th $25.00
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The HOME page contains postings from the past FOUR weeks only.
All previous weekly updates, from April 1, 2011 on, may be viewed by going
to the menu tab "HOME (Archived)."
Articles about fires and other major incidents can be retrieved from the "Action!" tab.
Other articles may be retrieved by going to the "Past Articles" tab.
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| CLICK here to visit the official website of the Hamden Professional Firefighters, Local 2687, I.A.F.F. |
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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 eleven years ago on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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