History

THE BEGINNING

1942 - 1992

In mid-December of 1917, a large barn and house owned by Anton Koletchig burned. The barn was situated 1/4 mile beyond the Charles Belden farm on Sumner Hill Road. In early January of 1918, Keith’s Mill, Cat Walk and Drop Forge Buildings on both sides of Still River burned (now the site of Bowen’s Used Car Lot). In mid-January of 1918, Juliette Chapman’s house burned (currently the home of Spencer Bowen). These events caused a great deal of concern about buying some firefighting apparatus.
At an adjourned Town Meeting, held in the Chapel at 2:00 p.m. on November 3, 1919, the following business was transacted: that the town pays 1/2 the cost of a chemical fire apparatus - $187.50, and that it is kept in the Village of Eastford. The meeting convened to Friday evening, November 7, 1919 at 7:30 p.m. At this meeting, it was voted that the town pay $50.00 on the fire apparatus, that it be available for inspection by the Selectmen at any time, and that it be ready to respond to a call from any part of Eastford.
Subsequently, the “Auto Tree Sprayer” that was manufactured by J.E. McWilliams Company of Hubbardston, Massachusetts was acquired. It was stored on the north side of Tatem’s Mill in a shed for a number of years. In 1927, it was moved to beneath the porch of the General Lyon Inn Dance Hall. Here it stayed until the 1938 hurricane removed the porch. It was then moved to the basement of Bartlett’s Blacksmith Shop, rediscovered some time later, restored by the present fire department and is now used for parades and displayed at social functions.
Following the regular town meeting of March 7, 1938, a special town meeting was held, at which time Mr. Lewin Newth, First Selectman, spoke of the desire to provide adequate fire protection for the town. It was voted that the Chair appoint a committee to make an investigation and report its findings at the next regular meeting. The committee consisting of Lewin Newth, Chairman, Alfred Warren and Harry Tatem was appointed.
On October 3, 1938, Alfred warren presented a report on fire apparatus. The report was tabled for consideration.
At a special town meeting on May 22, 1939, the committee made the following recommendations: 1. to spend $5,000.00 for equipment; 2. to form a fire department.
Both recommendations were rejected, causing some hard feelings.
In 1941, Stanley Symanski loaned his garage and support to many men who undertook the job of building a pumping unit to fight fires from the original 1 1/2” pump, with an Austin engine and a GMC panel truck to carry it in. In late 1941, a series of informal meetings were held to see if there was enough interest to form a fire department. On April 7, 1942, Edward Trepal, Acting Chairman, called to order the first formal meeting.

The officers elected were:
President: John Smith
Secretary: Harold Carpenter
Treasurer: Harold Barrett
Chief: Joseph Symanski
Assistant Chief: Alfred Warren
Engineer: Michael Matwyko

During the winter months, meetings were held in members’ homes. All other meetings were held in the Town Hall.
The name of the fire company would be the “Eastford Independent Fire Company #1.”. Because of the rejection at the town meeting, many members were adamant that the word “independent” be in the name. It was many years before the town was officially asked for financial support.

At the May 5, 1942 meeting, the records showed that the following were designated CHARTER MEMBERS:

Irving Andert, Frank Aurilio, Harold Barrett,

Philip Buehler, Robert Buell, Ralph Bunnell,

Wayne Bunnell, Michael Caron, Harold Carpenter,

George Chilkott, Ellsworth Day, Henry Latham,

Darwin Lewis, Keith Lewis, Michael Matwyko,

Herbert Merrill, Earl Newth, William Nieminen,

Victor Piecyk, R. Jack Sanga, Karl Siskonen,

John Smith, Henry Day, Stanley Dominick,

Versal Drown, Alexander Fabian, Robert Froelich,

Merton Green, Otto King, Walter King,

Fred King, Emil Klee, Harvey Spink,

Joseph Symanski, Stewart Tatem, Edward Trepal,

Frank Vaida, Archa Walker, Kenneth Walker,

Stowell Walker, Alfred Warren.