Chester Hose Company Inc.   P.O. Box 214    Chester,   Connecticut     06412

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HISTORY

HISTORY OF THE CHESTER HOSE COMPANY INC.

    At the turn of the century, fire protection generally consisted of an unorganized group of volunteers and neighbors manning a bucket brigade. If a fire was not stopped at the onset, the home or building was ultimately lost. Although the business district of town had a hydrant system, fire fighting equipment was limited and personal resources poorly trained. The need to develop a better fire protection plan for the town became more evident to the residents of Chester. At an annual town meeting in October of 1911 the townspeople voted to create a Volunteer Fire Department. Early in 1912 Walter Clark became the first Chief with Norman Edwards 1st assistant, and with ten volunteers they set forth the task of organizing, equipping and training the Company. This was the first step toward the creation of the Chester Hose Company. On Sept.18 1912 the Fire Department received their first major piece of fire fighting equipment, when the town purchased a hand drawn hose cart with 1200 feet of hose, 4 nozzles, 1 gate valve and 2 siamese connections, a total cost of $444.43. This first piece of equipment was initially located in a building near the Town Hall, commonly known as the shed. This building was later removed and the hose cart relocated at the Bishop and Watrous Factory on Maple Street, where it could be manned by the employees of the factory.

     As the town grew, so did the Fire Department. In 1925, the town purchased the department's first motorized fire truck, a Brockway Cosmopolitan. The Fire Department did not have a fire station during the 1920's and 30's so the fire truck was housed at Christianson's Garage on Middlesex Turnpike (L&I Garage). This fire truck served the town well for 30 years and was eventually sold around 1955. While being transported by the new owner, the motor failed somewhere around Portland. The truck was eventually sold for scrap.

     In 1927 the Fire Department filed papers with the State of Connecticut to become a non profit corporation known as the Chester Hose Company Incorporated, with a limit on capital assets of $25,000. Shortly after, the Hose Company became a member of the Conn. State Fireman's Association.

      Around 1940, the town voted to purchase the old Christianson property on Middlesex Turnpike (presently the Community Center), which became the town's first Fire Station. This building had been used as a freight and storage building for the many business ventures of the Christianson's. Extensive work had to be done to the super structure of the building in order to carry the weight of the fire engines. The firemen spent many nights renovating the inside of this building, installing a kitchen, meeting and drill rooms, and a radio control center. As many of the firemen belonged to the Old Coon Hunters Lodge, a rifle range was set up in the basement  for entertainment during the long winter nights. The rifle range was removed in the early 1950s in order to make room for the town highway truck and equipment. For a period of time, this building housed both the Hose Company and Highway equipment.

     On Feb. 27, 1942 the Hose Company received delivery of a second fire truck, a 1941 American La France. This truck was retired in 1974. The town donated it to the Hose Company who restored it through donations. (see photo)

     On July 23,1955, a new Ford American La France 500 G.P.M. fire engine was picked up by the company in Elmira, N.Y. This engine was sold in 1988 . On Nov.2, 1955, the company purchased an International step van from Richard Berdency for $100. This van was to be the Company's first Emergency truck. With three large pieces of equipment and accessories, the firehouse was no longer big enough. A committee was formed to study a proposed addition, and approval was given by the town on March 11, 1957. The addition of one bay upstairs and a garage below on the southern side of the Fire House was completed on Nov. 5, 1957.

     At a town meeting on Sept. 8, 1958 it was voted to form a Board of Fire Commissioners, consisting of five members to oversee the operation of the Fire Department.

     On April 6, 1963 the Hose Company purchased a 1953 Chevy panel truck for $85.00 for use as an emergency truck from Herbert Standard of Branford. This replaced the International step van which had a bad engine. Also, the town acquired a 1953 Ford pick-up through civil defense and converted it into a brush truck. Communications and alerting systems were on the rise in the early sixties, with the introduction of several plectron home tone alerting devices, the installation of a new fire siren at Cedar Lake, and the purchase of a new 60 watt GE base radio at Headquarters.

     As in the past the Hose Company was again faced with the dilemma of building size limitations. On April 6, 1966 a committee was formed with some firemen and the Board of Fire Commissioners to investigate and develop a plan for a new firehouse. The Chester Planning Commission was asked to review the location and physical characteristics of the existing Fire Station on Middlesex Avenue and make a recommendation. They concluded that the location was unsuitable and the structure inadequate to meet the fire protection needs of the town, and that new station facilities were needed. They also recommended that a single centrally located fire station be constructed on West Main Street, preferable near the intersection of Bokum Road or alternately on the old school site on High Street. At a town meeting on Dec. 10, 1968, the town voted to appropriate $120,000 for the construction of a new Fire Station on High Street at the site of the Old Chester School. The new Fire Station, which was completed in 1970, was the greatest single improvement in the history of the Hose Company.

    In 1968 the Town purchased a 1968 American La France 750 G.P.M. fire engine. The fire engine was picked up by the Hose Company in Elmira, N.Y. This engine served the Hose Company well for thirty years. It was donated and delivered to Salem Fire Dept. in Maine on May 2, 1998.

    In 1970, the Hose Company moved into their new Fire Station on High Street.

    In 1972, the Hose Company and the Town purchased a 1972 International Emergency Truck as a joint venture. The Town bought the cab and chassis and the Hose Company bought the body. By 1984, it was decided to replace this truck as it was no longer big enough to meet the Hose Company's needs. It was sold to Bellows Falls VT. in 1985 where it was to be used as a Hazardous Materials Unit.

   The year was 1974 and the Hose Company was situated in their new fire station when a 1974 Maxim 1500 G.P.M. fire engine was delivered. This engine had been purchased by the Town at which time the 1941 American La France was retired. The same year the Hose Company bought a 1974 Dodge Power Wagon, with utility body pump and tank, to be used as a Brush Truck.

    In 1976 the Hose Company bought a 16 foot Star Craft to be used as a Rescue Boat.

    In 1985 the Hose Company received delivery of a 1985 Ranger Rescue Truck to replace the 1972 International. The Town purchased this truck as the Hose Company had specified.

    On May 23, 1988, the Hose Company bought a new Rescue Boat. 

    Later that same year the Hose Company picked up the Town's 1988 Pierce 1500 G.P.M. fire engine from Appleton, Wisconsin. Now it was time to retire the 1955 Ford American La France.

   After a two year search, the Hose Company found and purchased a 1977 oil truck on March 17, 1990. This oil truck was converted into a water Tanker over the next year.

   It was June 1992, and the Chester Ambulance Association bought a 1986 Ford Ambulance. Ambulance Service was being provided by Hunters Ambulance from Middletown at that time. In a joint venture with the Hose Company's Personnel and the Ambulance Association's Ambulance, a new service was provided to the Town on July 1, 1993 until February 1995 when the Chester Ambulance Corps was started. 

   In 1994 the Hose Company purchased a new 10 foot Bombard Inflatable Boat for use in winter and on inland waterways this replaced a used inflatable previously purchased.

    In 1995 the Ambulance Association bought a new Horton Ambulance. This Corps operated as a single entity until July 1, 2000. 

    In November 1996 the Hose Company picked up the Town's 1996 Pierce 2000 G.P.M. fire engine from Appleton Wisconsin.

    On July 1, 2000 the Chester Ambulance Corps dissolved and the Ambulance Association sold their ambulance to the Chester Hose Company, Who is now providing Ambulance service to the Town of Chester.

    On January 22, 2001 the Hose Company received a 2001 GMC Yukon XL. This vehicle was purchased by the Hose Company after extensive fund raising. This will be an incident command / first responder vehicle.

    In June 2001 Car 7 went into service as the Duty Officer vehicle. The GMC Yukon is used by the duty officer on a rotated schedule.

    On September 8, 2001 the Hose Company received a 2001 S&S Tanker.

    On December 10, 2001 the new 7-6-5 S&S Tanker went into service.