Stamford Fire Apparatus - Stamford Fire Department

Year
Month / Day
1844
Name
12/1 “The Rippowman” 1
Details
In December, 1844, "Rippowam Fire Engine Company No. 1" having
been formed with Sands Seely as foreman, the new engine was placed
in its charge. The cost of this machine was $500, and the committee James B. Scofield, Edwin Bishop and Enos B. Waterbury -- also
purchased 197 ft. of hose for $118.20. According to H. H. Easterbrook*,
a fire historian, this engine was a "goose-neck" model, hand-drawn,
hand-pumped. The new fire company soon petitioned the State for a
Charter which was granted in the 1845 Session.
*H. H. Easterbrook wrote a letter on June 9, 1911 to H. W. Parker, Chief
of the Stamford Fire Department in which he gave many details of the
early Stamford fire engines. This letter was published in the Stamford
Advocate June 24, 1911 and also quoted in Sherwood. The original is at
the Fire Department.
7/4/1855: H. H. Easterbrook, in the Advocate Jun 24, 1911, refers to "the
old [1844] gooseneck, now at the plant of the Stamford Manufacturing
Co." (The Cove Mills.) Cove Engine was organized by one of the Leeds
Family, owners of Stamford Mfg. Co. after a bad fire at the mills. It would
be natural for the mills to sponsor the Cove fire company, and it would be
natural for the ancient engine to rest there until its removal to Central
Station's relic room. (ca. 1919?)
An updated picture (Advocate?) shows a small gooseneck engine
captioned: "First hand-drawn pumping engine: Rippowam Engine No. 1,
purchased for $500 with 197ft. of hose for $118.20 - Sands Seely
foreman." A photo in the Advocate's Tercentenary (1941) shows it in front of the
South End firehouse, titled: "...a hand-drawn pumping engine used by
volunteer firemen in 1844 and for 12 years thereafter." A zipatone
drawing in the vertical file is merely tracing of this engraving.
Programs of the "Grand Ball of the Stamford Fire Department" (1923-29)
show it sitting in the 3rd-floor Relic Room at Central Station, titled: "one
of Stamford's first fire engines." [R.D. Towne remembers seeing there
ca. 1930]
A Photo of this engine at a parade was in the Advocate May 15, 1931,
titled "1856 hand pumper" which the text calls "the old hose wagon of
1856 known as "Cove No. 1."
1854
1859
5/16 "Stamford No. 2" or "The Stamford."
9/1 “The Rippowman” 2
"The engine purchased for the No. 2 engine company was made by the
Hunneman Company of Boston. It was a 5-1/2" engine, maker's number
504, and was shipped to Stamford May 16, 1854…This may be the
engine located [in 1911] at the Stamford Foundry, [formerly J. D. Warren
Co.] where tradition says an old engine resting in innocuous desuetude."
[Orig. source H. H. Easterbrook letter]
[During its short career here it was named "Stamford No. 2" or "The
Stamford."
Per Dunshee, it may have been an end-stroke engine, Hunneman's
specialty.
In September, 1859 the Rippowam company purchased a used engine,
the "Good Intent No. 13" of Troy, [N.Y.] [It likely was a Button built just
across the river from Troy.] Rebuilt and modernized, it took the old name
"Rippowam."
Writes Easterbrook in 1911: "It probably had folding brakes similar to
those of the "Gulf Stream" and probably has not been destroyed."
As to the first "Rippowam," the older model 10" Button, it "may have been
one of the original stationary-brake engines, and...may have been
demolished."
11/18/1857: On Nov. 18 and Dec. 2 1857, No. 2 Engine Co. held
meetings to discuss purchase of a larger engine. The Jeffers company in
Pawtucket, RI offered one for $1700 with a $200 trade-in of the
Hunneman. After much comparison, a 10" Button engine was decided
on, an improved version of the "Rippowam" in town.
1862
10/9 Horse Drawn Button Hook & Ladder
“ARRIVAL OF THE HOOK & LADDER TRUCK” (Advocate headline Oct.
10, 1862) “Yesterday afternoon, the handsome truck, manufactured in
Waterford, N.Y., arrived in this village. The Engine Companies
assembled at the depot, where a procession was formed of firemen and
citizens; and its advent in Stamford was the occasion of appropriate
ceremonies. In the evening there was a collation at the engine house.”
3/1/1916: Old horse drawn Aerial Truck No. 1 sold.
1883
2/1 Button Fire Engine
1889
10 Horse Drawn Aerial Ladder Truck
1892
9 American LaFrance Steam Fire Engine
1905
Button Engine Purchased
First Aerial Ladder Truck purchased.
American LaFrance Steam Fire Engine purchased.
5/1 First Chemical Apparatus
First Chemical Apparatus purchased.
1/28/1930: Old Locomobile Chemical discarded (First motor piece of fire
apparatus purchased).
1906
1906
3/6 Chiefs Buggy
Chief's Buggy purchased.
10/3 Horse Drawn Amoskeag Steam Engine
Amoskeag Steam Fired Engine purchased.
12/26/1951: Old Horse drawn Steam Fire Engine station in
the garage in the rear of #2 Sta. sold to Rubino’s Junk Yard
for $325.00
1907
1910
10/29 Combination Ladder Truck
Combination Ladder Truck No. 2 purchased.
5/9 Locomobile Combination Chemical and Hose Car
First motor driven apparatus
1911
12/2 American LaFrance Combination Hose and
Pumper
First motor drive purchased ( Engine No. 2).
1913
8/19 American LaFrance Triple Combination Hose, Pumper
purchased (Engine No. 3).
and Chemical Equipment Car
5/4/1937: American LaFrance Type 12 Triple Combination Engine Reg.
No. 351 Purchased August 19, 1913 broke crank shaft responding to an
alarm from Station 325. this machine was discarded July 17, 1937
7/30/1938: The old #3 Engine (Reg. No. 351) was towed to Fire Hdqtrs
and dismantled and all of the parts that could not be used was sole to
Rabino Bros. Inc. for junk ($60 received)
1913
11/25 Pope Hartford Chiefs Car
Chief's Automobile purchased. (Pope Hartford).
1
Assignment
History
Photo
Year
Month / Day
1915
1916
Name
Assignment
History
5/21 American LaFrance Aerial Ladder Truck
(motorized)
Details
Ladder TruckNo. 1 purchased.
5/9 American LaFrance Combination Hose and Pumper
9/14/1939: The Old American LaFrance Aerial Ladder Truck
that was purchased in 1915 was sold to John A. Ferro Inc
($100) and was taken down to his junk yard at 1:37 P.M. by
Mechanical Supervisor Charles B. Krom (Driving) and Asst
Mech. Sup. Walter F. Seely (Tillering)
American LaFrance Combination Hose and Pumper purchased (Engine
No. 1).
E1
2/9/1935: Old Pumping Engines Reg. No. 65 purchased December 2,
1911 and Reg. No. 1165 purchased by May 9, 1916 was sold to Casimer
DeMott (Post Road Wrecking Co.) for $75.00
1916
5/31 American LaFrance City Service Truck
(Motorized)
American LaFrance motor City Service Truck with chemical
equipment purchased (Truck No. 2).
T2
1/8/1942: The City Service Truck at #3 Station put in
commission at 8:00 A.M. (Purchased May 31, 1916)
///////////6/16/1951: 1916 American LaFrance Service Truck
know s #3 Truck sold for $175.00 to Theodore Hoisington of
Kirby Lane, Rye, N. Y. The sale was negotiated by Mr.
William Heming, Purchasing Agent for the City of Stamford,
Conn. Letter of Confirmation to Chief Veit may be found in
“Purchasing Agent” file. It left Headquarters at 9:50am
6/26/51 being driven by its new owner./////////
9/23/1955: American LaFrance City Service Truck, known
as #2 Truck left Fire Headquarters at _______ with
_______ driving going to Manchester, Conn. to be
scrapped.
1921
7/25 Cadillac Chiefs Car
1922
6/12 American LaFrance Triple Combination
American LaFrance Triple Combination Hose, Pumper and
Hose, Pumper and Chemical Equipment Car Chemical Equipment Car purchased (Engine No. 4).
6/21/1924: Engine No. 4, an American-LaFrance, was
wrecked. It skidded off the road while responding to a fire at
Stamford Hall above Bull’s Head.
4/11/1941: #4 Engine --- American LaFrance Triple
Combination – purchased June 12, 1922 --- Broke down
August 30, 1948 – Mechanics started to dismantle this
entire machine at #3 Station on April 11, 1949. Equipment
and parts usable by Chief to be stored away for the future.
Tires and tubes turned over to Mr. Case of the Service
Dept. on Nov. 8, 1949.
1925
5/22 American LaFrance Combination Hose and
Pumper
Chief's Cadillac Car purchased.
purchased (Engine No. 2 Chemical).
11/10/1955: Old #1 Chem. & Hose Wagon (American
LaFrance 1925) out of Comm 2:1xpm.
2/7/1956: Old # Chemical and hose wagon (American
LaFrance, 1925) sold to Rubino Bros. Inc., 560 Canal St.,
Stamford, Ct. on bid for $125.00. This machine was
purchased May 22, 1925 for the City of Stamford and saw
many years of active service in this department. This
apparatus left fire headquarters at 3:15pm driven by Mech.
McAuliffe and was delivered to RUbino’s Junk Yard.
1929
4/7 Buick Chiefs Car
The Chief's new Buick car was purchased and put in commission April 7,
1929. The first alarm it responded to was from Box 142 April 9, 1929
with Chief V. H. Veit, Deputy Chief L. Y. Krom, Mechanical Supervisor C.
B. Krom, Electrician F. F. Veit and J. R. Murray driving.
1930
3/4 Reo Chemical & Foamite Car
Reo service car made over and put in commission as a chemical car to
cover grass, chimney and automobile fires.
2/10/1939: Reo Chemical & Foamite Car discarded as unfit for further
use
1935
4/25 Seagrave Pumping Engine
The new 1250 gallon Seagrave Pumping Engine arrived
here at Fire Headquarters at 1:29 P.M.
9/21/1955: #2 Engine (Seagrave 1250 GPM Pumper) out
of service at 10:15am
10/22/1955: 1935 Seagrave Pumper bought by CD – Chief
A. McCarthy took machine to Lockwood Ave. Fire Station.
1937
1938
1938
10/18 600 gallon Triple Combination Engine
8/12 Ahrens-Fox 1000 Gallon Pumper
2/1 Pontiac Chiefs Car
The New 600 gallon Triple Combination Engine Reg. No. l-926
E2
arrived here and was unloaded, Underwriters Test – November 5,
1937, Purchased November 8, 1937, Put in commission at #2
Station at 3:40 P.M. November 16, 1937.
Arrived at Headquarters at 10:40 A.M. it was marked for #2
Station but was too wide for the doors so it was put in commission
at Headquarters at 10:52 A.M. Aug. 17, 1938.
A New Pontiac Sedan purchased for a Chief’s Car, Put in
commission at 11:00 A.M. February 21, 1938 First alarm
responded to was from Station 442 on February 25, 1938 (Grass
Fire)
1938
8/17 Engine 4
#4 Engine (Reg. No. 3847) placed in service at 11:15 A.M. First
Alarm responded to was Station 147 at 8:10 P.M. August 27, 1938
(43 Cedar St)
1939
2/10 Brockway Chemical & Foamite Car
Brockway Service Car put in commission as a Foamite Car
2
Photo
Year
Month / Day
1939
Name
8/26 Peter Pirsch Hook & Ladder Truck
Details
Assignment
History
The new 85 Aerial Peter Pirsch Hook & Ladder Truck put in
commission at 2:00 P.M.
8/13/1939: Received a prize of a cup for the best appearing
Truck (New Aerial Ladder Truck – Peter Pirsch) in the
parade at Bridgeport, Conn. (State Firemen’s Association
convention)
1940
2/19 Deputy Chiefs Car
A new 4-Door Dodge Sedan was purchased for a Deputy
Chief’s Car
1942
4/17 Mack Triple Combination (Hose, Pumper &
Booster)
New arrived here at 7:30 P.M. Purchased and in
commission April 3, 1942
1951
3/1 Mack 65’ Aerial Ladder Service Truck
Arrived from the Mack Factory, Long Island, N.Y.
April 13, 1973: 1951 65’ Mack Ladder Truck transferred to
Belltown Fire Dept.
1951
3/22 Mack 750 GPM Pumper
Arrived from the Mack Factory at Long Island, N.Y.
April 6, 1972: 1951 Mack Engine put in reserve at 4:30pm
at Central Fire Headquarters.
1951
3/30 Mack 65' Aerial Ladder Truck
New 65 ft Mack Aerial Ladder Service Truck arrived from
the Mack Factory, Long Island, N.Y.
4/5/1951: The City’s new 65-foot Mack Aerial Ladder Truck
and 750 Gallon-per-minute Mack Pumper were officially
accepted today with a picture of both machines being taken
in front of the Central Fire Station. The Pumper will be
housed at the Central Station and the Truck will be housed
at either #2 or #3 Station. Those shown in the picture were:
Reading from left to right: Edward Spellman, District
Representative of the Mack Co., Safety Board Members
Paul T. Osterby, Michael J. Drotar, Mayor George T. Barrett,
Safety Board Chairman Nathan E. Martin and Fire Chief
Victor H. Veit.
1951
4/5 Mack 750 GPM Pumper Engine
1951
Mack
1951
Mac Pumper
1954
1955
The City’s new 750 Gallon-per-minute Mack Pumper were
officially accepted today with a picture of both machines
being taken in front of the Central Fire Station. The Pumper
will be housed at the Central Station and the Truck will be
housed at either #2 or #3 Station. Those shown in the
picture were: Reading from left to right: Edward Spellman,
District Representative of the Mack Co., Safety Board
Members Paul T. Osterby, Michael J. Drotar, Mayor George
T. Barrett, Safety Board Chairman Nathan E. Martin and
Fire Chief Victor H. Veit.
8/9 Maxim 85’ Aerial Ladder
at Garsge
New 85’ – 4 Section Aerial Ladder – Maxim – arrived.
8/19 Maxim 750 GPM Pumper Engine
New 750 G.P.M. Engine for #4 Station arrived at
Headquarters at 4:30pm. This machine is to be #4 Engine.
Factory mechanic C. N. Gifford and Mr. Russell
Bartholemew, of O. B. Maxwell, sales representative for
Maxim Motors accompanied the machine.
9/8/1955: Officially assigned as #4 Engine and put in
service at #4 Station at 10:18am.
1955
9/19 Maxim 750 GPM Pumper Engine
Arrived at Headquarters at about 3:00pm with Factory
mechanic C. N. Gifford and Mr. R. Barthoemew, of O.B.
Maxwell, sales representatives for Maxim Motors.
9/20/1955: New Maxim #2 Engine to Mill River for pumping
tests with C. N. Gifford and Mechanics McAuliffe and
O’Brien. This makes the second new Maxim Engine to be
delivered this month. Assigned drivers from #2 Station
being instructed in driving and pump operations.
9/21/1955: New #2 Engine (Maxim 750 GPM Pumper) in
service at #2 Station at 10:15am.
2/12/1957: #2 Maxim Engine returned from Maxim Motor
Co. at 9:00pm. While at the factory they raised front of
pump 5/16” with shims installed new bearings on pump
drive and new drive flange on front of pump.
3
unknown
Photo
Year
Month / Day
1955
Name
Assignment
History
9/21 Maxim 85’ Aerial Ladder
Details
New Maxim 85’ Aerial Ladder truck arrived from factory at
4:24pm with company engineer Fred Haskins and R.
Bartholemew sales representative. This truck officially #4
Truck.
9/22/1955: #4 Maxim Aerial Ladder Truck after testing and
breaking drivers went in commission at #4 Station as #4
Truck.
#2 Maxim Aerial Ladder Truck which had been serving as
#4 Truck out of commission at #4 Station and returned to #2
Station and put in commission as #2 Truck at #2 Station at
3:15pm
Old American LaFrance #2 Truck out of commission at
2:42pm and all equipment removed. This machine to leave
Stamford.
12/31/1963: Box #32 @5:46AM - #4 Truck involved in
Accident with Sealtest Milk Truck @ Elm St. & North
Frontage Road. Fireman Arthur Betz – Injured Right arm &
Shoulder, Back & Shock
Fireman Walter Donovan – Injured Right Shoulder, Back &
Shock
Nelson Van Popering-Driver of Sealtest Milk Truck was
admitted to St. Joseph’s Hospital with a possible
concussion. An estimate of $17,000.00 damage done to #4
Truck.
1959
4/7 Mack 750 GPM Pumper
1962
10/2 Mack 750 Gallon Pumper
New 750 Gallon Mack received to replace #3 Engine
1962 Mack 750 Gallon Pumper replacing 1942 Mack
Pumper. Arrived at Central Fire Station at 11:00 A.M.
QUALIFIED DRIVERS: Albert Marsden, George Heinlein,
Frank Maciolek, Julian Nosenzo, William Mocher, Italo
Tamborino, Martin McNamara, Thomas Conklin, Barcaly
Berg, Harry Gluz, William Densky, Jr., Thaddeus Zurkowski,
Robert Davidson, Michael Coppola and James Williams.
10/19/1962: First Still Alarm for the New 750 GPM Mack.
Tel. Alarm #62 Location-Rear of Stamford High School On
Fri. Oct. 19, 1962 At: 6:22PM – Returned: -6:35PM
Owner-City of Stamford Occpt. – Same Fire Orig. Rubbish
Extended to-Same Cause-Children & Matches Ex. ByBrooms Time worked-13 min. Miles Traveled-1.5 Running
Miles-7.7 Apparatus Present-$1 Mack Driver-Marsden
Firemen Present-Salatino, Wood, Wetmore, Officer in
Command-Lt. Bienkowski First Box Alarm for the New 750
GPM Mack. At Alarm #116 From Box #153 at 9:34 PM
Recall-9:36PM Friday Oct. 19, 1962 Street-Dyke Lane
Owner-Hart. Electric Light Co. Occupant-Vacant Land Fire
Originated-Brush Ext. to Same. Ext. by-Water CauseChildren with Matches. Road Mileage-2.5 Running
Mileage-4.7 Damage-None #1 Co. & #2 Co’s. responded
to this Box.
1964
8/31 Pitman 85’ Snorkel
This machine will replace #4 Truck which was wrecked in
an accident on 12/31/63.
T4
10/27/1964: #4 SNORKEL – The First Snorkel In Service In
The Stamford Fire Department, Effective October 27, 1964
at 8:00 A.M. in place of #4 Truck.
1965
5/25 Maxim 100’ Tractor (Tiller?) Ladder Truck
NEW MAXIM LADDER TRUCK (100’ Tractor Trailer Aerial
Ladder) purchased from Maxim Motor Co., Middleboro,
Mass. on Purchase Order #A39252 – June 7, 1965. Price
$58,780.00 1st Diesel Truck for Stamford Fire Department
Trade In $7,000.00 Amount Due $51,780.00 Delivered @
4:05PMon April 4, 1966
T1
Detroit Diesel Model 6 171N – Eng 138804 Serial 2519
Shipping Weight 32,900
Radio Installed 4/19/66
In Commission on May 25, 1966 @ 2:00 P.M.
First Box Alarm for new #1 Truck – Box 616 @ 9:52 AM
-5/26/66
9/26/1976: On this date #1 Truck was picked up from
Middleboro Conn after having a automatic transmission
installed.
1965
1970
Mack B Pumper Engine
8/6 Cadillac Ambulance
1960’s
Put in Commission @ 1:41pm. Purchased from Eastern
Coach Sales, Inc. 115 Edison Ave. Mt. Vernon, N.Y. Price
$18,700.00 - Trade In, 1966 Miller Amb. Cadillac$8,200.00 – Balance -$10,500.00
1972
2/14 Maxim 1000 GPM Pumper
arrived at Central Fire Headquarters at 4pm from The
Maxim Motor Division of The Seagrave Corp. 170
Wareham St. Middleboro, Mass. (Diesel Fuel)
1973
1/17 Maxim 100’ Aerial Ladder
New 1973 Maxim 100’ Aerial Ladder Truck arrived at
Stamford Fire Department 1pm. from the Maxim Motor
Division, 170 Wareham St., Middleboro, Mass. Model
#FCC-82L-100 – Serial #3071 (Diesel Fuel)
4/13/1973 Put into service at Station 3
4
T3
Photo
Year
Month / Day
1973
Name
11/6 Maxim 100’ Aerial Tiller Ladder
Assignment
History
Details
Put into commission at Station #2
T2
1973
Maxim 100’ Aerial Ladder
Mid-mount
T3
1974
Ford Welch Box Rescue
Acquired from TORFD as a used vehicle
1974
Duplex/Oshkosh/Pierce Tele-Squirt
E4
1975
Maxim Pumper
E2
1977
Maxim Pumper
E3
1979
Pemfab / Hamerly Tele-Squirt
E5
1980
American LaFrance/White 1000 GPM
Pumper
Squad 1
S1
1983
Mack / Maxim Tiller
Rebuilt back-end
T1
1985
Mack / RSI Pumper 1000 GPM Pumper
1986
Macl RSI Pumper 1000 GPM Pumper
1988
Pierce Tele-Squirt 1000 GPM Pumper
1988
Mack CF / Ranger 1000 GPM Pumper
1988
Mack Tele-Squirt 1250 GPM Pumper
1990
Mack Rescue
1993
Mack / Ranger MR 1250 GPM Pumper
1993
General / Spartan 1500 GPM Pumper
1996
Sutphen 100 Tower Laddder w/ 1500 GPM
Pump
1997
Sutphen 75’ Aerial Laddder
1997
Sutphen 75’ Tower Ladder
1999
Freightliner / Hackney Rescue
2001
Sutphen 104’ Aerial Laddder
2004
HME Silver Fox
2004
HME Silver Fox
2004
HME Silver Fox
2005
HME Silver Fox
2005
HME Silver Fox
2005
HME Silver Fox
2006
HME Rear Mount 109’ Aerial Ladder
2007
HME Arsenal 2000 GPM Quint
2007
HME Silver Fox
2008
HME Ahrens Fox 75’ Quint
2009
HME Silver Fox
2009
Sutphen 100’ Tower Ladder
2010
HME Rescue
2013
KME Severe Service Predator
E4
E3
E4
Features include a 2000 GPM, 600 gallon water tank, 30
E6, T1
gallon foam tank, 75' RK Aerial, 10 kw Onan Hydraulic
generator, Stainless Steel pump house, rear body, & piping.
HME Ahrens Fox 75'/2000/450
E5
E9
5
Photo
Year
Month / Day
Name
Assignment
History
Details
2014
KME Severe Service Predator
1500/1000/30 (Foam)
2014
KME Severe Service Predator
Engine 1
E8
Maxim 1000 GPM Pumper
Mack / Ranger MC 1250 GPM Pumper
Mack / Hahn 106’ Aerial Laddder
T3
41’ Fire Boat
6
Photo