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URL last
updated on:
01/02/2010 |
HISTORY
| February 3, 1916 |
A group of 17 men received permission from the warden and
Board of Burgesses of the Borough of Bantam to establish the Bantam
Fire Department. The first chief was Robert Currie who held
the office for 9 years. |
| October 13, 1916 |
Bantam Fire Dept. joined the Connecticut State Firemen's
Association. The first president was Wilbur Anderson. |
| April 3, 1917 |
The first firehouse was a converted storage shed owned by St.
Paul's Episcopal Church. It was repaired and painted by
members of the fire department. The total cost was $47.00,
plus $3.50 for locks and keys for the doors. The first
articles of apparatus were on 30 ft. extension ladder, three
buckets, and two fire axes. |
| June 28, 1918 |
A decision was made to purchase hats to wear as a type of
uniform for parades and other functions. |
1st Fire Apparatus
Hand-drawn
Pictures taken 07/04/1918 (Parade at Litchfield)
(click to enlarge)
| April 15, 1921 |
Upon incorporating, Bantam Fire Department became Bantam Fire
Company Inc. |
| July 1921 |
The first Bantam Fire Company "Fair" was held with a profit
of $1,100.00. |
3rd Fire Truck
circa 1921
Chief Robert Currie in driver's seat
Charles Deno in passenger seat
Harry N. Kilbourn standing
(click to enlarge)
Bantam Fire Company
circa 1921
(click to enlarge)
| July 2, 1940 |
Instruction in fire fighting at the State Fire Fighting
School was made mandatory for all members of the company. |
| January 13, 1942 |
First Aid instruction was given by members of the American
Red Cross. |
| January 6, 1953 |
Borough and town officials met with members of the fire
company to discuss the possibility of obtaining the right of way
through the property of the Bantam Fire Company for the proposed
school to be built in the rear of the firehouse. |
| February 5, 1963 |
It was voted to hold a parade with the Bantam Fire Company
Carnival running July 31, 1963 to August 3, 1963. |
| May 4, 1966 |
It was voted to dissolve the carnival and parade. A
raffle took its place. |
| August 19, 1975 |
A special meeting was held to discuss and act upon a proposal
to host a carnival and parade in the summer of 1976. The
motion was passed, and the first carnival committee was created:
Chas. Alteri, Robert Baker, Dick Dauphinais, Doc Edwards, Ted
Schafer, and Robert Usher. |
| October 5, 1976 |
Treasurer, Chas. Alteri, reports a profit of $7,302.59 made
from the carnival. It exceeded the set goal of $5,000.00.
It was voted to hold an annual carnival and parade, rather than a
bi-annual event that was discussed in the meeting of 1975. |
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