| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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| CLICK here for daily flag status |
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to monitor HFD radio |
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Hamden Firefighters Assist New Haven
After Trench Collapses on Four at SCSU
At around 9:15 last Tuesday morning, October 14th, four workmen were working below grade outside of an SCSU building on Wintergreen Avenue when the trench they were in collapsed around them. Two of the victims were able to get out on their own. A third was able to get out with some assistance. New Haven Fire Department called for Hamden's Technical Rescue Unit to assist with the extrication of the fourth victim, who was trapped up to his waist in dirt.
The Incident Commander, NHFD Battalion Chief Bill Gould, described all four as very, very lucky. According to sources at the scene, it appeared there were some OSHA violations. A spokesman for OSHA noted that excavating is recognized as one of the most dangerous construction activities.
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| Hamden's Tactical Rescue Trailer at the Wintergreen Avenue scene |
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Sixties Station Scenes Served as Student's Snapshot Subjects
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| CLICK to enlarge (Picard Photo) |
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It was 1968. Photography student Gerry Picard aimed his camera at Capt. Paul Rosadina and snapped the shutter. The result was this back lit and perhaps intentionally overexposed image of the captain standing beside the 1958 Maxim 75' aerial ladder truck at Station 2.
Several of Mr. Picard's photos are in the HFRA collection. The piece of apparatus pictured next to the ladder truck is the 1938 Seagrave canopy-cab pumper, which was designated as Engine 1 when the photo was taken.
According to retired Supt. of Alarms Richie Lostritto, Picard attended the Paier School of Art, which is still located up the street from 2's at the corner of Gorham and Circular Avenues.
The year was almost certainly 1968. Another of Picard's photos is of Hamden's brand new 1968 Maxim (below) and we know that the Seagrave was disposed of right after the '68 Maxims arrived.
Capt. Rosadina became Dep. Chief Rosadina in 1972, following the retirement of Dep. Chief Joe Hromadka. Rosadina's captain's slot on Platoon 3 was filled by HFRA member Tom Doherty, who went on to earn his third trumpet and gold braid in 1984. Chief Rosadina joined the department in 1946, retired in 1985 and passed away eleven years ago last week.
Posted 10/17/14
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| Gerry Picard Photo |
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This is the aforementioned photo of one of two new 1968 Maxim pumpers taken by photography student Gerry Picard. The glass bay doors in the background and the trees beyond suggest that this photo was taken up at Station 9. If so, then it was most likely around the time the new station was dedicated in December of 1968.
The arrival of the new Maxim pumpers coincided with the completion of the fire station. It is quite likely that the new apparatus were stored there temporarily prior to being placed in service.
Posted 10/17/14
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| Gerry Picard Photo |
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Company 7's 1939 Diamond-T pumper, as viewed looking up from the rear step. The top of the portable pump that was stored on the tailboard is barely visible at the bottom edge of the photo. Mr. Picard probably shot this in the Repair Shop while the engine was in for routine maintenance. Note the spare helmets and the overhead ladder mount that was typical of the Diamond-T pumpers manufactured by Woods Engineering Service.
Posted 10/17/14
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The New American Freedom Train Show is Pulling in to CT! FREE!
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| CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO CHECK IT OUT |
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| House of Heroes - Connecticut
An HFRA member and military veteran contacted the website about this local organization whose motto is "to recognize, honor & serve military and public service veterans for their service & sacrifice."
Check them out, and the "musical and multi-media tribute to veterans and their families" that HOH of CT are sponsoring in Hamden on Nov. 6th.
Posted 10/17/14
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50 Years Ago
HFD Conducts a Fire Extinguisher "In Service" on Skiff Street
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| The New Haven Register, Tuesday, October 20, 1964 (Chan Brainard) |
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For decades, training employees in the proper operation of fire extinguishers was one of the services provided to Hamden businesses by the fire department. In the newspaper photo above, HFD Dep. Chief Dan Hume is seen conducting such an "in service" training session with employees of the Nationwide Insurance Co. in a vacant lot across from their 261 Skiff Street office building, which presently houses the Area Cooperative Educational Services (ACES).
At the time of this photo, a problematic bend in Skiff Street was about to be straightened. This project would lead to a dramatic below grade rescue a couple of months later, which the website will feature on its 50th anniversary.
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| Stan Brown Photo (Courtesy of Chan Brainard) |
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See what's printed on the plate on the front of this nice looking Mack pumper?
"1866-1966 - MIDDLEFIELD CONNECTICUT CENTENNIAL"
Looks like this parade might be part of that event.
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| Laura Cannon has written an article about last week's HFRA Memorial Plaque Presentation, published in the current edition of The Hamden Journal.
Thank you, Ms. Cannon, for an outstanding account of the event.
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