City Has Had It’s Share Of Tragedy

Destruction by fire during the first century of the New Haven Fire Department in recorded losses staggering in figures, heartbreaking in death and injury.

The art of firefighting has been developed to a most honored profession, but one accompanied by danger. Loss of life has been recorded in the history of the New Haven Fire Department – Six firefighters at the jail fire of April 13, 1910; four in the Judson Packing House fire of February 14, 1901; seven residents dead and eighty injured in the Rialto Theater fire of November 2, 1921; ten persons in the Franklin Street fire of February 5, 1941; fifteen in the Franklin Street fire of January 24, 1957.

Prior to the organization of the Fire Department in 1862, the growing community of New Haven experienced major conflagrations.

Fourteen decades ago, it was recorded, the number of alarms increased, “which may be attributed to the fact that our citizens are growing more careless than ever, and that the torch of the incendiary has visited our city, though not in a very destructive manner. Still the incentive and malicious spirit of such demons, if allowed their full sway and gratification, would not be satisfied until half of the city was laid waste.”

Firebugs Caused Department Woe

Through the early years of the department’s century, numerous fires were attributed to the “fire bug” or incendiary urge. Arrests were made. Court action was severe. No action could be taken in fires attributed to hot ashes, candles, cigarettes, fat boiling over, firecrackers and rats with matches.

In 1896, the quarters of the English and Mersick Co. , 72 Crown Street fell in flames with loss estimated at $84,503. That was followed six months later by the $46,767 loss to the Henry F. English property, 424 State Street.

But previously, the city had not been immune from severe fire. Less than a year after formal organization of the department, J.P. Bunce’s factory, a church and five homes went up in flames. Durham and Booth’s carriage factory experienced a $57,000 loss August 30, 1865, followed September 28 by the $30,000 blaze at the Steam Saw Mill on Chapel Street.

In 1866, fire losses soared to $477,121 for the year, starting January 8 with a $13,000 fire on State Street, and two days later a $27,000 fire at Newhall’s carriage factory. On April 30, the works of the New Haven Clock Company went up destroying or damaging some thirteen dwellings with the loss set at $126,000. On November 23 fire hit the Melodeon Factory on Kimberly Avenue $60,000 and December 7 Plant’s Manufacturing Company on Grand Street $186,000. The heavy toll continued in 1867 with it’s $139,853 total loss by fire, including an oil refinery on January 16; Booth’s Chapel Street store on May 14, both $20,000 dollar losses. Seaward’s factory on Bristol Street, May 26 for a $15,000 loss; and the $45,000 fire at C.H. Sparks and Company factory on October 11.

The figures for the year 1869, totaling $197,322, included the $157,000 fire January 1 at the New York and New Haven Railroad machine shops. Other fires occurred that same year, including the September 21 blaze that damaged the F.S. and J. Parker’s Building on State Street and the Tuttle, Morehouse and Taylor printing office.

1870’s Produced Heavy Losses

Heavy fire losses continued in the 1870’s involving famous names in the industrial and business world of the era. The Owen W. Smith factory on Hamilton Street; Baumgarten Organ Company, Park Street; Keg and Can Company., Ferry Street; Benjamin and Ford, Chapel Street; Bigelow and Co., River Street; Kellogg and  Ives; New Haven Wheel Company., damaged to the extent of $115,295 loss; Wooster Place Baptist Church; $124,059 fire at Sperry and Barnes plant, Long Wharf; and L. Candee and Co., November 19, 1877 a half-million dollar fire.

While fighting a fire May 14, 1878 Hoseman Harry M. Brooks of Steamer Company 4, was killed when a wall fell on him at S. Peck and Company, 81 Day Street.

The same decade fire visited the Malley property on Chapel Street, returned again February 28, 1882, to inflict a loss of $182,555 in the Chapel and Temple Street structure. February 17, the Calvary Baptist Church, Chapel and York Street, was damaged.

On July 4, 1888, Edwin Hubbell, a call man with Company Number 2, was killed in a fall from a ladder.

Death continued to stalk the firefighters, claiming the life of Assistant Engineer Joseph P. Robert August 7, 1906, when he was thrown from a wagon on Water Street. On May 2, 1906 Lt. Frank Conlon was injured when a heater exploded at the Wallace Street firehouse. He died the next day.

Six Firemen Die In Fire At Jail

The residents viewed with concern growing Unrest in Europe and saw fire destroy on December 10, 1911, the Minor, Read and Tullock building at 91-115 State Street resulting in $176,724 loss. On July 23 of the same year, two of the department’s horses were killed when struck by a train while answering an alarm. The railroad paid $600 for the loss.

Firefighter James Weldon lost his life May 11, 1918, in the ruins of a fire that swept the old railroad depot at the foot of Meadow Street. Influenza claimed the lives of four other firemen. The fire marshal ordered the removal of 42 wooded ash holders from city buildings.

The nations decade of prosperity was just around the corner in the 58^th year of the fire department, a period in which two men fist fighting caused a destructive fire and the Chamber of Commerce building burned on January 15, 1920, resulting in a $77,323 loss. Officers of the department of 1921 went to fires in Cadillacs, Chandlers, Pope-Hartfords and a Locomobile to fight a series of blazes that brought the city’s fire loss to $1,306,193, the first time the figure went over the million mark.

It was a disastrous year, with 1,045 alarms, including the Mendell Freedman fire on January 24, a general alarm conflagration that netted damage to the five-story brick store of $314,008.

Six Die, Eighty Hurt In Rialto Fire

The year brought death once again to a fire conscious city. On the evening of November 21, 1921, a standing room audience was viewing Rudolph Valentino in “The Sheik” at the Rialto Theater, 86 College Street. Suddenly the two-story brick and wood building was the scene of panic.

Prior to the flickering movie, the audience, including 200 Yale students, had witnessed a stage show in which an incense burner was used, apparently to create “atmosphere,” for the Valentino movie. A blaze erupted back stage, then shot out onto the stage.

Memory of the catastrophe was still fresh, and the year was not out when fire hit a two-story wood building at 882 Whalley Avenue, just five months after the Westville Fire District came into the city. Two days later, on December 1, 1921, at 9:27 p.m., a spark reportedly ignited rubber cement at the Seamless Rubber Company, Hallock Street, resulting in a loss of $145,136.

Three-Alarm Fire Wrecks Arena

Death and destruction hit hard in 1924. At 12:42 p.m., when youngsters were just returning to near-by schools on a pretty June 18, firemen were summoned to 598-600 State Street. Three minutes later a second alarm sounded, following at 12:54 by a third. The old Arena was on fire, and completely destroyed in a half-million dollar fire.

Five months later, firefighter Frederick Cofrancesco was killed on November 21, 1924 at Congress and Howard Avenues when his company was responding to an alarm. On October 24, 1925 Substitute Fireman Thomas Durkin was suffocated in a fire at Davenport Avenue and Ward Street. Death was to hit again October 3, 1927, claiming the life of Henry Eckert, four days after he was injured in service at a fire.

The year witnessed a three-alarm, $296,434 fire in the railroad yards at spring street, one of 1,370 alarms recorded resulting in a years fire loss of $677,334.

Firefighter George Porter died July 10, 1925, after suffering a shock while on duty.

The stock market had crashed, apples were on corner street sale and jobs were at a premium when the city advanced into the 1930’s. W.D. Richardson was killed March 27, 1931, on duty fighting a fire. William Cleary lost his life when overcome by ammonia fumes in the Schoenberger Market on State Street January 8, 1930.

Crash Injuries Kill Lieutenant

November 21, 1932 saw the return of death to claim Lieutenant William Langan, who died at 3:40 p.m. from injuries received when thrown from apparatus responding to Box 227 at 2:39 p.m.

A stubborn November 27, 1936 fire hit the East Street Candee Rubber Company, netting a $284,000 loss. Employees died in the fire.

In three consecutive years, Firefighter Richard Lyons (November 18, 1936); Eugene Sullivan (September 26, 1937) died in the performance of duty; and James McCurry on February 6, 1938, several hours after he was thrown from a firetruck while answering an alarm for fire at 47 Miller Street.

In the early morning hours of February 5, 1941, a flash fire swept the war-time busy workroom of the New Haven Quilt and Pad Company, Franklin Street. Ten employees perished. Three others were injured jumping to safety from the third floor.

The year was not out before death struck again. On October 16, Captain Sylvester McNerney was hit by a car while directing traffic around a Kimberly Avenue dump fire.

$2 Million Blaze On Olive Street

Firemen of 1943 battled for 25 hours a fire that broke out September 24 at Yale Cold Storage Corporation, at the rear of 25 Olive Street. Damage to stored items was set from $2 to $2.7 million. Eleven persons died in fires – all separate blazes – during 1944. Firemen on November 18 drew nationwide acclaim for methods used to quell a blazing 10,000 gallons of gasoline. The fire broke out when a freight train crashed in the railroad “cut.”

Death came on March 10,1943, to firefighter Ernest Koelle.

The fire loss for 1946 soared  to the highest point in a decade, with $1,076,000 recorded, the result of four major blazes, including the Halprin Lumber yards; the Tower Company and three-alarmers at the Chamberlain Furniture Company, and the Frank Kenna factory at Bradley and Williams Streets.

Deputy Chief William Killoy on duty for six hours at the four alarm lumber fire suffered a heart attack and died December 12, 1946.

Two major fires hit in 1948, one March 12 at the Russian Baths, 176 Oak Street, bring death to one man. The Cohen and Powell Warehouse, 33 Olive Street, sustained $100,000 loss by fire on November 3.

Firefighter Anthony Kuziel, working a four alarm Chestnut Street blaze, was fatally injured November 23, 1952 when he fell four stories from a ladder.

Chief’s Vehicle Engine Collide

In December 1953, Captain Edward Turbet was killed, Deputy Chief George Lynch and nine other firemen were injured in the collision of a chief’s vehicle and Engine Company 4 at Grand Avenue and East Street. The men had been responding to a 9:22 a.m. alarm at the National Folding Box Company. Chief Lynch died June 1, 1954.

Earlier in 1953, two men had been killed and four hurt in an explosion March 9 at a Whalley Avenue auto agency.

The year 1954 – the final day of January at 5:49 p.m. – was to be the last for four residents of a three story building on Munson Street at Sherman Avenue. With a roar, the house erupted in explosion in the early Sunday hours. To locate the bodies fireman were forced to virtually rip the remainder of the structure apart by hand. A break in a 12-inch gas main was blamed for the explosion that destroyed the house, shattered windows over a wide distance and moved other houses off foundations.

Three days later, firemen fought a stubborn, smoky fire at the Seamless Rubber Company, using 73 bottles of compressed air in their breathing apparatus while in the building.

The Fire Department had been “on the job” through many past catastrophes – hurricanes, blizzards – but in 1955, now under the command of Chief Collins it won statewide acclaim for it’s work in the August floods that hit the Naugatuck Valley region. Mayor Richard C. Lee’s flood disaster relief crew in Ansonia included 55 men. 

Fire claimed six citizen victims. The department installed a radio-controlled traffic light system for testing, and survey was under way to provide centralized emergency communication center for police and fire.

Franklin Street Fire Takes 15 Lives

Seven women and two men died on the premises. Six other women were later to succumb, a heart-tending total of 15 persons. The city’s new fire emergency communications system was given a severe test, only 19 days after it had been placed in operation.   

With many area residents assisting in the raising of funds to replace the destroyed St. Joseph Cathedral in Hartford, fire hit St. Mary’s Church in New Haven in 1958, resulting in considerable damage to the historic structure and severe injury to firemen. At New Haven Municipal Airport, on March 1, five passengers and crew of three escaped injury in the crash of an American Airlines Convair.

Death on duty was recorded within the department again on Valentines Day, 1959, when a spectacular fire truck-auto collision occurred at 7:00 a.m. at Temple and Elm Streets. The engine driver Charles Mauro, was killed instantly. William Carey son-in-law of fireman John McGarry who died in a 1940 fire at Brewery and Wooster Streets was injured and died a short time after the accident.

Firemen answer the call for assistance, and as history has shown, many times the call, is death.

Firemen Made 320 Mile Trek To Fight Great Boston Blaze

New Haven’s Fire Department 110 years ago rendered service to a sister city in distress, a round trip of 320 miles to work the great Boston fire which started November 9, 1872.

 Mayor William Gaston of Boston had asked for help from New England communities. Steamer H.M. Welch Number 2, with it’s manpower of 20 firefighters, was dispatched to fight the second largest fire in America, surpassed only by the Chicago fire of 1870. The New Haven delegation was credited with saving “the largest dry goods store in Boston, that of Jordan, Marsh and Company on Summer Street.”

Hoseman John Richardson of New Haven fell from a roof and suffered a broken arm and leg. Fire Commissioner Lewis Elliot Jr. Reported the incident to New Haven and added “he will be pecuniary assisted by the charitable associations of Boston and New Haven.”

A special train ran from New York to Boston, stopping here to take on the equipment and men of the steamer company. Upon return to New Haven, after seven hours of continuous duty including assistance to six persons from a burning building, the local firefighters were met at the railroad station by a large delegation and escorted to a hotel for dinner.

Only The Robust

Firefighters of 1880 were fined $2 for nonattendance at fires and $1 for not attending special meetings. The department sought healthy and robust men, “for only such can perform first class duty. As the department contains but a few of such, it is intended to continue weeding until all its dead wood shall drift outside its ranks.”

Last Fire Dog Fatally Injured On 1957 Alarm

Remember “Cappy,” “Sparky,” “Vickie,” “Jim.”  

Faithful mascots of the New Haven Fire Department, they were among the Dalmations “on duty” in virtually every station over a period of 15 years from 1942. The first was “Smokey,” the pet assigned to Engine Company 12, the old emergency unit, who with members of the unit answered more than 3,600 alarms during his six years of service.  The Franklin Street Fire would also claim the life of the last New Haven Fire Department Dalmation, "Buff" was struck by responding apparatus.

The Dalmatian and the Fire Service

Many people associate the Dalmatian breed with firefighters and fire trucks. The Dalmatian is a hardy dog known for speed and endurance which probably originated in Dalmatia, a province of Austria, on the eastern shore of the coast of Venice in what is now Italy. Statues, engravings, paintings, and writings of antiquity have been used to claim that this spotted dog first appeared in either Europe, or Asia, or Africa, but without proving the point. Perhaps some of the problem about the original home of the Dalmatian can be accounted for by the fact that the dog was frequently part of gypsy bands, and like them, he was well known but had no sure origin. The breed’s activities have been as varied as its roots. It has been employed during wars as a sentinel on the borders of Dalmatia and Croatia. Used as draft dog, and a shepherd, this breed also excels when sent to kill rats and vermin. It is well known for heroic performances as a fire-apparatus follower and fire-house mascot. As a sporting dog it has been used as bird dog, retriever, or in packs for boar or stag hunting. A retentive memory made it one of the most dependable clown dogs in circuses and on the stage. Down through the years the intelligence and willingness of the Dalmatian have found the breed in practically every role to which work dogs are assigned.

The use of the breed as a coaching dog may even go back to the days of the Pharaohs. For centuries the breed has been used with ears entirely cropped away and padlocked brass collar, as follower and guardian of horse-drawn vehicles. It was this that brought the Dalmatian to the fire house as the dog that would clear the way ahead of or around the horse-drawn apparatus. The breed’s build blends speed and endurance. Its gait has beauty of motion and swiftness, and strength. The Dalmatian has vitality and fortitude to keep going until the alarm’s end. Since the breed has a natural instinct for coaching, Dalmatians and horses have a natural affinity. The dog traditionally worked clearing the path before fire apparatus during the horse-drawn era. They frequently ran under the rear axle, the front axle, or, most difficult of all, under the pole between the lead or following horses and chase off other dogs or animals that would bother the horses, thus speeding the apparatus to an alarm. To this day the breed remains the only recognized carriage dog in the world. His love for working (and firehouses) is his most renowned characteristic, but it in no way does it eclipse the breed’s renown for friendship. That is the reason that the Dalmatian found employment in, and now is part of the tradition of the fire service.

Engine Company 12 located on Crown Street since 1942 had served as the Departments Emergency Response Unit. On December 31, 1960 the fabled fire unit which also responded to major fires was deactivated with the closing of the Crown Street Station and replaced by two emergency units. The increase in Emergency Medical Response took the department into a new era.

Big Dates For Firemen

From the department calendar, notes at random:

1941 – All apparatus repainted from traditional red to white. The department noted, “The new color scheme is added attraction value to our equipment and the visibility of the apparatus is greatly improved, especially during the night hours.”

1878 – January 4, men notified they had until 1883 to get new uniforms, caps with cover at a cost of $2 and overcoat, tackcoat, vest and pants at $34.

1876 – Entire department participated in parade marking centennial anniversary of “our national independence.’ Orders noted in case of an alrm of fire no apparatus will be allowed to leave the line without special orders.”

1900 – Fire training school in New York investigated and in may drill tower was erected and completely equipped at rear of old Engine 7 on Water Street. “The result s and advantages,” it was written, “are apparent everywhere – the men are in better health; are better able  physically to perform the duties required of them, and the discipline of the department has been improved vastly.” A tower was later erected at the rear of Dixwell Avenue station. In July of 1950 a new $65,000 State Fire Training School was opened at the foot of Chestnut Street, replaced September 3, 1957 by a $350,000 unit on Hamilton Street.

1917 – Two platoon system recommended for Fire Department. “Under present conditions the men have very little time for recreation and we believe under the two-platoon system the men would be more contented and efficient.” System went into effect at one company on June 1, 1919, and completed November 1, with addition of 56 additional men. At end of year, “so far the system has been a splendid success and has increased the efficiency of the department.” During extreme cold and heavy snow, both platoons kept on duty. Reorganization in the early 1940s placed Deputy Chiefs in two-platoon system and three Battalion Chiefs under three-platoon plan. “Traveling Squad” eliminated in 1946, firemen worked 5 days, off 24 hours, then five nights on and 48 hours off.  City paid half the cost of uniforms. In 1949, firemen urged 56-hour workweek. New schedule approved to start January 1, 1951.

1910 – Appropriation of $65,000 asked for fireproof building to house central alarm system. In 1944, start made on installation of radio system for department, followed in 1947 by two-way service. In 1957, emergency communications center, police and fire communication, replaced old system.

Wearing City Fireman's Badge Was No Empty Honor For A Man

" A Fireman's duty is laboriously performed at the risk of life, and how often the the sad story of the newspapers of a fireman killed, a fireman injured, is read and forgotten!"

" How little their services are appreciated by the majority of people!"

" But they are paid to work, some will remark."

"Yes, but they can never be renummerated fully for risking what they do for the sake of doing their duty."

That is a statement made 140 years ago by Albert C. Hendrick, who served as Chief of the Department for 26 years of service before his retirement January 25, 1892.

In sounding his return to quarters for retirement, Chief Hendrick observed, " In sunshine and in storm, in the severity of heat and cold, has the department succeeded in conquering its greatest foe, and by its greatest reputation its fame extends far beyond your limits. I shall always look back with pride and pleasure to a work of love more than emolument.

" My only desire during my long service has been with one single purpose, and that for the good of our fellow citizens, the public at large, and how best to serve them.

" And bidding and affectionate farewell to all, please bear in mind that to wear the badge and button of the New Haven Fire Department, is no empty honor."