By now Retired Firefighter Joseph F. Lombardo I July 28, 1918, was a warm summer day in the City of Stamford and the weathermirrored the mood of the people. World War I was drawing to a close, the ImperialGerman Army was driven back in their last desperate gamble to seize [...]
An artists vision of the Stamford Mills Factory in Stamford, CT Source: Stamford History Center (edited by Captain Philip Hayes) At 7:00 in the evening of February 19th, 1919, a small fire started in the acid storage room of the huge Cove Mills, a complex of about 25 "fireproof" buildings [...]
With the end of World War I, just barely six months behind them, the organizers of Stamford's Memorial Day Parade wanted to show their appreciation to those who gave their lives for their country. So they invited every veteran to the parade and made it as big as possible. The [...]
Served as Fire Chief (1920 - 1954) Fire Chief Victor H. Veit, Chief of the department for 33 years, got his start in 1896, just around the corner from his job at Yale & Towne. "It was a little old barn," recalled the Chief. George Walton was Captain, and nobody [...]
The horse, drawn carriage, and steamer pumpers at Stamford Fire Station #3 on Fairfield Avenue, replaced by motorized equipment around 1920. In this phot, dated 1933, we see truck driver, Edward Gleason, and seated beside him is Henry Dugdale. Standing from left to right are Michael Donovan, John Solomon, [...]
The Stamford Fire Department has grown to fifty-eight personnel in 1922, staffing three fire stations. Chief Victor Veit is in charge. During the previous year, 1921, the Department received and responded to 94 Bell Alarms, 140 Telephone Alarms and 18 verbal calls, for a total of 252 Alarms. This is [...]
On February 4, 1922, a massive explosion of a railroad tank car carrying mixed acids was felt as far away as Sound Beach. The tank car was located at the canal waterfront factory of Richards and Co., today's address is 845 Canal Street. The explosion destroyed one of Richards & [...]
Stamford Fire Department receives its new American LaFrance Triple Combination Hose, Pumper, and Chemical Equipment Car. It went into service as Engine No. 4 after the acceptance testing was completed on the Broad Street bridge.
In a shocking turn of events, the east and north walls of the former Masonic Hall building on Atlantic Street collapsed on April 24, 2023. The incident, which sent shockwaves through the community, was under the supervision of the Metropolitan Wrecking Company at the time of the disaster. [...]
On the morning of June 21, 1924, Stamford Fire Department Engine No. 4 skidded off the road at Bulls Head during a strong thunderstorm, throwing Firefighter William McCarthy from the rear step of apparatus and onto the rocks, The fall caused a significant laceration to his head. Three other firefighters [...]
