The History of The Stamford Fire Department The digitization of these records has been made possible by donations from Retired Firefighter Rich Gillespie, Captain Phil Hayes, Firefighter Chris Brennan and Retired Firefighter Tony Calka These records are a compilation of the following documents. Recorded Historical Events Ledger of The Stamford Fire Department A Partial Listing of Interesting and Major Fire In Stamford, CT Compiled by Robert D Towne, Stamford Historical Society, July 23, 1993 Stamford Fire Department Records of Historic Origins and Events Compiled by Robert D Towne, Stamford Historical Society July 24, 1993 Historical Events Recorded by Captain Philip Hayes, Stamford Fire Department The full and complete version of this document also has reference and source notes. January 22, 1869 Rippowam Engine Co. No. 1 and Gulf Stream Engine Co. No. 2 have held meetings fro the purpose of reorganization. A new set of officers have been elected for Rippowam. [Names were announced in Advocate Feb. 5, 1869.] Present officers of No. 2 will remain until their annual meeting in May. On February 19, the Advocate announced much hose repaired and inspected. January 29, 1869 The carpenter shop of I.& H. Woodman, the blacksmith shop of Wm. A. Lockwood and the old Academy Building (on the site of the two later town halls on Atlantic Sq.) were destroyed. All available water was consumed at the end. Losses: Woodman, $2,500; Lockwood, $2,000; Combs & Provost, $1,200; James Daniel, $350.00. Only Woodman carried insurance, for $1,000. July 4, 1869 The Hook & Ladder Company and the Hose Company were in the parade. December 3, 1869 “We now have at least one good fire company in Stamford. A few months ago a group of young men…formed the…strongest company in years. Gulf Stream Co. No. 2 now has 70 members…meetings well attended…discipline excellent.” December 20, 1869 Odd Fellows Hall suffered a gas explosion, possibly the first such accident in Stamford. Wooden gas mains were laid only four years earlier. December 24, 1869 “…re the fire at Waterside, the No. 2 Engine was quickly ready for operation. As for No. 1, two men and boy were seen tugging at her half an hour after the alarm was given. We hope our young men will be encouraged to take hold and reorganize the old “Rippowam.’ “ Seven weeks later, the editor wrote: “The old Rippowam company seems to have gone to the bad.” May 7, 1870 On this date the $50,000 steamer "Shippan" arrived, the first to use the enlarged canal. That evening the elderly engineer, his wife, the cook and the chambermaid stayed aboard while the rest of the crew went off to the circus. About 9:00 P.M. fire broke out forward of the engine house. nobody sounded an alarm; the firemen were probably at the circus, too. all on board escaped, but by the time the No. 2 engine arrived two hours after the fire started, the ship had burned to the water line, taking a freight house on the dock with it. June 1, 1870 Lease of site for Rippowam engine house, June 1, 1870: “…the Stamford Foundry Company…doth hereby lease unto…the Borough of Stamford a certain lot… to be occupied by a Fire Engine House.” Bounded northerly 59 ft. by Canal St.; easterly 50ft and southerly 20 ft. by land of lessors, and westerly 64 ft. by land of Isaac Quintard, for the term of 10 years at he yearly rent of $60.00 plus any taxes, assessments and impositions…also to build a close fence not less than 7 ft. high on easterly and southerly sides. [This lot is the same, or very close to one of the three listed by committee Aug. 6, 1866 “opposite J. D. Warren Co.” Warren had changed its name to Stamford Foundry Co. Aug. 20, 1869.] June 3, 1870 On June 3, 1870, the Stamford Advocate wrote: “The old [Rippowam No. 1] engine house which has so long been a landmark on Atlantic Square is removed to a location near the canal.” (See also deed to this land, June 14, 1873.) July 6, 1870 The Charters of the Rippowam Engine Co. and the Gulf Stream Engine Co. No. 2 were both amended to allow 80 members. November 11, 1870 The Stamford Advocated reported on two (or three) firemen’s balls. Engine Co. No. 2 had a ball in Hoyt’s Hall Friday, Nov. 11, 1870. Atlantic Hose Co. “are to give a ball Thanksgiving Eve.” On Dec. 30, the Advocate reported on the Gulf Stream Engine Co. No. 2 Ball, given by honorary members. It stated: “Gulf Stream…of which Richmond A. Leeds is Foreman, is the model fire company of the village. It has a full complement of 80 members.” Sherwood, pg. 197, called the Ball “one of the largest social events ever in Seely Hall…really the social event of the season. November 12, 1870 The Historical Society has in its files programs of many of the lavish firemen’s annual banquets, starting with Nov. 28, 1855. The early balls mixed grand marches, singers, and orchestral numbers with six or eight vaudeville acts, leaving time for 20 to 30 dance sets. The dancers would form for each set at the sound of a fire bell. The programs show how social dancing progressed over the years from Quadrilles, Schottishes, Mazourkas and Virginia Reels through Waltzes, Two-steps and Rag times, finally reaching the One-step and the Foxtrot in the lat ‘teens and early 20’s. March 10, 1871 The annual meeting of Relief Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1 was held at their house on March 1. F. E. Skelding was elected foreman. April 12, 1871 The Union Fire Brick and Drain Pipe Works of Charles Anness at the Waterside just north of the foot of Atlantic St. Fire was discovered at 4:30 AM Wednesday morning. Though the firemen arrived promptly, the whole building was destroyed. Loss was $23,000. the laboratory of B. Keith & Co. was also damaged. May 5, 1871 A meeting of Gulf Stream Engine Co. No. 2 was held at their firehouse Friday the 5th. R. A. Leeds was elected Foreman. On Tuesday May 7, 1871 Atlantic Hose Company held their annual meeting and elected Wm. D. Nolan Foreman. !11 June 2, 1871 A glance at the Roll Call registry of No. 2 Engine Company/Gulf Stream Company for the years 1866 to 1885, during the peak of the volunteer period, shows a very high turn-over of members. Many were expelled for non-attendance. Apparently some men wanted the glory and excitement, not the day-to-day work. Barn fires were frequent in the center of town. “Totally destroyed” was a common entry in the logs. False alarms were rare. June 10, 1871 On Saturday morning the bell in the Congregational church signaled a fire in the storehouse of Lyman Hoyt & Sons at Canal St. the engines and hose carriages were prompt, but the cistern in the park gave out so neighbors' wells were tapped. Damage was $2,000, much of it caused by overly enthusiastic young "helpers" - not firemen - who threw furniture carelessly. [Note: the Methodist bell, rung by A. M. Horton, was usually the official alarm.] June 10, 1871 In the Advocate for June 16, 1871, it was reported that Rippowam Fire Co. was reorganized and Henry Mollett elected foreman. “They propose to have a live company of young men” and expected the Borough authorities to do their part. They pointed to the many good works done by “we of old No. One.” June 30, 1871 The Gen’l assembly issued a charter for a Stamford Water Co. as early as 1856, [but] actual incorporation…did not occur until 12 years later. Not until 1870 was stock offered and not until 1871 did water, piped from lakes 12 miles north reach Borough mains. March 3, 1872 P. Devine's stables south of the depot, at 4:00 AM. The horses and carriages were saved, but the building and two cats were lost in a two-hour fire. A fire hydrant was used for the first time in Stamford, saving adjacent buildings. (See also March 17, 1888) May 19, 1873 The Long Ridge Congregational (Union) church, a 31-year old wooden structure on Old Long Ridge Rd., burned to the ground. The fire had been set by the demented son of the pastor. The building was quickly replaced. The "new and better" Greek revival church, dedicated Feb. 23, 1874, still stands in 1993. Chances are several fires in the outlying villages are not reported in this list. Often overlooked by the Advocate and other sources, they would not be found in the sweep made when assembling this list. February 19, 1874 A large boarding house in Henry St. belong to Burr Lockwood was totally destroyed. The firemen used only a two-wheeled, hand-drawn hose carriage called a "Jumper". December 13, 1874 A barn in Meadow St. owned by Matthew Fagan, a contractor, was totally destroyed with a relatively high loss of $1,000. -- Skiddy's bar on Atlantic St. totally destroyed. March 12, 1876 Deacon Adams' barn on Broad St. was totally destroyed, and on April 12 of the same year his too-house was a total loss. In a third fire on Broad St that year, Knapp's bar was destroyed. And then: February 1877 Edgar Studwell's barn on the south side of Broad St. west of the bridge was set on fire. Alarmed by dogs barking, local men formed a bucket brigade and prevented spread to other buildings.