| MAY 30, 2008 -- The Winchester Center Fire Department celebrated its 60th anniversary Saturday, May 24,2008 at the Cornucopia Banquet Hall.
Fire Chief Lawrence "Larry" Hurlbut and his brother, Phillip, were honored as the two remaining founding members of the department. Larry has been the department's only fire chief and is one of the longest-running chiefs in the nation.
During the course of the evening, more than 100 attendees celebrated the department's history and its founding members. Winchester Mayor Kenneth Fracasso congratulated the department in a short speech. State Rep. George Wilber (D-63) added a touch of humor to the evening during his presentation of numerous proclamations to the department and to the Hurlbut brothers. One proclamation declared May 24, 2008, Winchester Center Volunteer Fire Department Day in the state of Connecticut.
In addition, the Winsted Fire Department presented the department with a plaque and Chief Hurlbut with a bugle to celebrate and honor their achievements and partnership.
A slide show of photos from 1948 though 1980 was shown and narrated by Hurlbut's wife during dinner. Music and dancing rounded out the night.
History
The Winchester Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1948, after nearly a decade of planning. While it was obvious that a fire department in the center was a necessity, World War II had drained the area of resources, stalling the creating of a new fire department.
Prior to the WVFD's organization, Winsted and Torrington fire departments responded to Winchester Center when a fire was reported, but often the trip took more than 30 minutes of battling the hills and weather.
"Gallant firemen from the Winsted fire companies often found nothing but glowing embers upon their arrival at a fire scene up here in the hills," wrote David Battista, Winchester firefighter and historian, in a historical summary of the department.
After the war, residents, including the Hurlbut family, organized a public meeting to discuss the formation of a new fire company. Held at the Winchester Grange, a long-time supporter of the fire department, the meeting drew more than 100 people. The department was formally organized in April 1948 with 60 people from Winchester and the Newfield section of Torrington becoming the first members. A ladies auxiliary was also formed. Larry Hurlbut was voted in as chief, a position he still holds today at age 89.
The first truck purchased by the WVFD was a 1940s Chevy flatbed. A 500-gallon water tank and pump were attached to the vehicle, creating the department's first fire truck. Fire gear, consisting of a rain coat and boots, was purchased for members from Toplitz men's store on Main Street in Winsted and helmets were ordered from Boston for the firefighters.
"Without question, the early days demanded frugal and pragmatic management, a culture that remains with us today. The membership cobbled together every tool, hose and piece of advice that they could muster at the least possible cost (or less). The boys pitched in to build a one-hole firehouse appended to our gracious host, the Winchester Grange," wrote Battista.
Today each firefighter is outfitted with a pager to notify firefighters of a fire emergency, but that was not the case in 1948. The initial notification of a fire call was made by phone to Chief Hurlbut and Ralph Goodenough, who reside across from the fire house. From there other members were called one by one through a "phone tree." A siren attached to the fire house blared to notify anyone within range.
In the early 1950s, all of the hard work of building the fire house crumbled when a fire burned the Grange to the ground. Thanks to Clyde Bayette, a firefighter, the department's only fire truck was saved. A second truck, a fire-damaged 1951 Mack, was purchased a few years later from Ravena, N.Y. First put into service in 1961, that truck is still used today by the WVFD.
In the late 1960s the WVFD saw a need to replace its original fire truck. After five years of fundraising, the department bought its first and only new fire apparatus, a 1971 Mack diesel pump, for $37,000. That truck remains the department's primary vehicle.
In 1990, outgrowing the space at the grange, the WVFD began making arrangements to build a larger fire house with four bays on the grange's property. In addition to fundraising and creative negotiations for financing and construction, a 20-year contract with the town of Winchester was signed to provide mutual aide to Winsted. The entire project was completed for $250,000.
With room for two additional pieces of apparatus, a 1973 tanker was purchased from Colebrook, as well as a retired engine from Winsted. Both were rehabilitated to meet their needs. In 2001 a 1989 tanker was purchased to replace the 1973 model. After a complete overhaul, the tanker is equipped with a 3,000-gallon stainless steel tank, a portable pump and a 2,500-gallon portable pond.
Today the WVFD has 18 active members and responds to approximately 75 calls each year. For their annual fundraiser, firefighters canvas approximately 400 homes in their immediate service area during the second week of June.
The WVFD is in the process of obtaining a new pumper. Scheduled for delivery in December, the 2009 four-wheel, five-man cab will replace the 1951 Mack pumper and be the second new vehicle the department has ever owned, thanks to a grant and support of the community, said Deputy Chief Peter Marchand.
Anyone interested in making a contribution to the WVFD toward the purchase of the new vehicle or additional equipment may send a donation to Winchester Center Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 20, Winchester, CT 06094.
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