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SEPTEMBER 26th UPDATE →


Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc.
CLICK here for daily flag status
 
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014
 
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary

CLICK to monitor HFD radio
More goodies for "Sparks" this week.  Enjoy!

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CLICK HERE: Maxim Fire Apparatus FB Page
 
Hamden's Fifteen
1915-1974
 
From 1915 to 1974, the Maxim Motor Company of Middleboro, Massachusetts supplied Hamden with a total of twelve pumpers and three ladder trucks, including Maxim's first motorized pumping engine in 1915 and the first Maxim "cab-forward" apparatus in 1959.
 
Posted 9/19/14
 
All Maxim photos below were taken by and/or provided by
Chan Brainard, Joe McDermott, John Mongillo, Jr., Daryl Osiecki, G. Donald Steele, and Frank Wegloski

Maxim's first pumping engine on Thomas Flyer chassis e/w a 500 GPM rotary gear pump - Delivered June 1915
1926 Maxim e/w a 500 GPM rotary gear pump - Delivered March 1926
This truck was totaled in 1940 when it was struck by a trolley car at the corner of Dixwell Avenue and Mather Street.  The driver was not seriously injured.  (Photo by G. Donald Steele)
1926 Maxim city service ladder truck - Delivered March 1926
1928 Maxim e/w a 750 GPM rotary gear pump - Delivered February 1928
1930 Maxim e/w a 600 GPM rotary gear pump. Delivered January 6, 1930
Hamden's First Postwar Apparatus - 1951 Maxim e/w a 750 GPM centrifugal pump - Delivered August 1951
1952 Maxim e/w a 750 GPM centrifugal pump - Delivered August 1952
1954 Maxim e/w a 750 GPM centrifugal pump - Delivered October 1954 - Civil Defense paid for 50%
1958 Maxim 75' "Junior" Aerial - Delivered December 1958
1959 Maxim "Cab-forward" (their first) e/w a 750 GPM centrifugal pump - Delivered August 1959
1968 Maxim 1000 GPM "S" Model (Serial #2686) - Delivered October 1968
1968 Maxim 1000 GPM "S" Model (Serial #2687) - Delivered October 1968
1970 Maxim 100' Aerial Ladder - Placed in service at Station 3 on September 11, 1970
1973 Maxim 1000 GPM "Foam" - Placed in service at Station 4 on February 7, 1974
1973 Maxim 1000 GPM "Telesqurt" - Placed in service at Station 3 on April 1, 1974
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Other Connecticut Maxims
 
Below is Chan Brainard's pre-delivery factory photo of a late-1940s or early 1950s West Haven Maxim pumper with an open cab. (Does anyone know the exact year? The six lugs on the front wheels suggest that it's pre-1954.)
 
More of Chan's Maxim factory photos will be posted here in the weeks ahead.
 
Posted 9/19/14

Photo courtesy of Chan Brainard
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Hamden Professional Firefighters Local 2687 Annual Golf Tournament
Wednesday, October 22nd.
New and improved ONLINE REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT!
 
 Click here: Hamden Professional Firefighters Local 2687 Annual Golf Tournament - Event Details

This year's tournament is being held at
Laurel View CC
310 West Shepard Ave.
Hamden
8 AM registration and breakfast
Shotgun start at 9 AM
18 holes of golf with cart
Lunch on the course $85 per person
Registration Deadline 10/15
Donation and Sponsorship
opportunities available!
 
ALL PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT HAMDEN PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS CHARITABLE FUND SIGN UP TODAY!!!
 
Any questions call KP Martin (860)420-8133

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35 Years Ago

September 17, 1979 - Hamden Firefighters Protest Town's Intransigence

Paul Petrillo, Bill Coppola and Harry Cubbellotti were among dozens of Hamden firefighters picketing town hall. (Dan Satran photo from the New Haven Journal-Courier courtesy of Paul Petrillo) - CLICK to enlarge
Frank Kafka, John Corbett, Bob Macauley, Dave Johnson and Wayne Lowry on the picket line at town hall. (New Haven Register staff photo by Patricia G. Barnes) - CLICK to enlarge
The Era of "Stagflation"
 
It's hard to imagine today, but in the late 1970s with a stagnant economy, inflation was running at a crazy annual rate of 14%. Many private sector employees were getting annual raises in double-digit percentages. Municipal public safety employees, however, were getting raises in the low single digits - if they got any raises at all.
 
By late September 1979 Hamden firefighters hadn't received a raise in over two years and were well into their second year without a contract.  Despite the union's attempts to negotiate in good faith, the current administration was not "into" negotiating.
 
On Monday, September 17, 1979, armed with picket signs, dozens of members of the newly-organized Hamden Professional Firefighters, Local 2687, IAFF, hit the sidewalks in front of Memorial Town Hall.  When the town hall closed at five o'clock, picketing resumed in front of the mayor's new campaign headquarters in Highwood, which opened that night.  November saw the election of Hamden's fourth mayor, Richard Harris.
Originally posted 9/14/10

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Old Station 3 Days Remembered
 
The website received an email the other day from Greg Schwartz who, with his friends, was a frequent 1960s visitor to the basement bowling alley at old Station 3 on Putnam Avenue.  A portion of Greg's "thank you" message, copied below, was directed at the Hamden firefighters who worked at old 3's in the sixties.  Fortunately, Greg, many of these guys are still with us.  Your message will be delivered and, no doubt, appreciated.

Hi -
 
I have such wonderful memories of you guys letting us neighborhood kids use the bowling alley and getting to know some of the firefighters.  I wanted to thank you for making Hamden a great place to grow up in the sixties.
 
Thanks and I hope we were not a nuisance.
 
Greg Schwartz

The Whitneyville Bowling Alleys in the basement of the Putnam Avenue fire station was a recreational asset to Whitneyville and surrounding neighborhoods.  In 1948, members of the Hamden Junior Chamber of Commerce contributed their time and talents to renovate the facility for another 20 years' worth of use.
Posted 9/19/14
 
The Hamden Chroncile article and advertisement below are courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society

Hamden Chronicle - August 26, 1948 (CLICK to enlarge)
Old Whitneyville Station 3 - Putnam Ave.
September 2, 1948 Chronicle ad for the Whitneyville Alleys (CLICK to enlarge)
From the 1955 Hamden Town Report
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50 Years Ago!

Thge New Haven Register, Thursday, September 24, 1964 (Chan Brainard)
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