It started out as an inquiry to find out how long Bridgeport Fire Department has been located on Main Street. But it started a steady stream of memories and photos just too good not to share.
Vietta Hawkins said she and her husband were married in 1953 and thereafter came to Bridgeport. She remembers the fire department well, including the great group of firemen who occupied it.
Bryn Calfee Tomaro said her mom remembers the department being built by her dad – Bryn’s grandfather Tom Harris – along with Marty Root, John Diamond and Bill Dunn, among others.
“She thinks she was 7 or 8 (years old) and she was born in 1936, Bryn said. “She remembers hanging out there and going with my grandfather to buy card tables for it.”
Joe Deegan, son of former Mayor Joe Deegan, said he’s pretty sure the department was established shortly after 1935.
“Twenty years ago when my family put the rock and plaque at Deegan Lake for my dad’s 100th birthday in 1995, Carl Furbee, some other city officials and I went to the fire department,” he said. “They opened the safe and brought out an old wooden apparatus where firefighters would sign in. …My dad’s signature was on the first sheet, signing in new members. His first term of mayor was in 1935.”
After some extensive conversation, Michael Salvio provided the picture proof that the department was established in 1945. Salvio – whose dad served the department - said he believes the building which housed the department during that era has since been rebuilt.
Mike Freeman said the old fire department was replaced in 1994. The Bridgeport Fire Department, Salvio said, has been located in that same spot since the 1800s and during the century before, it was just across the street. Salvio provided some of the attached photos, taken during the 1940s and ‘50s when he was a little boy growing up in the city. He said at that time, Bridgeport Police Department was located just next door to the fire department. It looks like the Chandler Building. Was it?
The tradition of the Bridgeport Fire Department stocking Hinkle and Deegan Lakes with fish dates back to this time period. And as is still the drill, the lakes were closed for a period of time after the stocking.
Tomaro’s dad also served our city’s fire department. He was Fire Chief Bud Calfee. The conversation also brought up the topic of old school city ambulances. In the mid-1960s, they used Pontiacs, then went to Cadillacs. But the very first ambulance predates those, Calfee said.
“I believe this was the picture that my dad told me was of the city’s first ambulance which was bought after the drownings at the lakes,” she said about the tragic 1953 event during which Oscar Leonard Jeffers lost his life in attempt to save two young boys who had fallen into the freezing waters.
Thoughts of the general area brought other memories to mind. Susan Northey Owen recalls C & H Market across the street. Jim Quinn remembers that next door to C & H, there was a barber shop owned by Bill Diamond. According to Terri Payez, a barber named Kenny Wise also cut hair there at one time. Vietta adds that Place of Fashion eventually moved into the block.
She thinks the Bridgeport Pool was built around 1960; but then, that may be another conversation and who knows? Maybe another blog.
This all started just to determine an establishment date of the fire department, calling attention to the great work presently being done by staff in collecting flood donation relief items. And the conversation which resulted – as well as the photos in the gallery below – confirm that this great work has been going on for years, decades, centuries. Here’s to you Bridgeport firefighters, paramedics and other staff – and to their families who are obviously still very much a family.
See below a collection of photos inspired by the conversation which took place on the “I Remember Bridgeport When” Facebook page.
Feel free to offer your own memories and photos.
Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter. More "It's Happening" HERE.
Steve,
Great memories. I never knew dad made you a lieutenant. I know he enjoyed his days serving the city as a policeman and as a fireman.
Take care,
Bryn Calfee-Tomaro
P.S. I have the chili recipe.
Posted by bryn tomaro Jul. 06, 2016 at 4:04 PM EST
I've said it before and I'll say it again...how very fortunate we are to live in this wonderful "little" city. Thanks Julie for putting this up. What a rush of memories. I can't help with the establishment date of the BVFD as it was once known but I can touch on a few points... We have had a great many men and women help build what is now the Bridgeport Fire Department. I see several of them in the photos posted. John Diamond, Bud Calfee, Chester "Peachy" March, Bob Dunn, Marty Root, Jumbo Reed, Chuck Wilson, Kelly Blackwell, Tom "Mooch" Harris and so many more. I wish I could name them all. My dad, Jim Alfred was a volunteer fireman as well as serving on city council. I'm pretty sure he was serving when the new city building was built. His name is on the plaque which was on the or is on the front of that building. Also the building pictured beside the fire house I don't believe is the Chandler building. I do seem to remember being told that Jumbo Reed would take calls in that building for all city affairs after hours. That's Jumbo in the top picture, second from the right. That building was raised to make space for the building which stands there today. The "new" City Building which had the Police Department located in one little office in the back. It had an attached garage to park our "only" police cruiser in. That was later converted into a locker room and detective office..."look at us now". The C&H market was across the street as well as Micks Barber shop. "Plug" Wise had his shop down Main Street around the entrance to Taylors trailer park. I remember those old Pontiac emergency cars, as I was also a member of that fine fire fighting force :) When Bud Calfee was chief he made me a line officer, Lieutenant. Oh the times we had. I mentioned the women and in one of you photos the concession stand is right there. At fair time that was the place to be for some darn good hot dogs. Someone surely still has the chili recipe. Every one pitched in and worked hard for that week in the summer to raise the money to buy trucks and equipment..."look at us now". I only wish I had the time and space to tell all the stories but alas and probably for the best I don't. It is these memories and moments in the history of our fair city that are truly important and should not be forgotten. They are part of what has and will continue to make Bridgeport a great place to live and raise a family.
Posted by Steve Alfred Jul. 06, 2016 at 10:06 AM EST
Steve, Great memories. I never knew dad made you a lieutenant. I know he enjoyed his days serving the city as a policeman and as a fireman. Take care, Bryn Calfee-Tomaro
P.S. I have the chili recipe.
Posted by bryn tomaro
Jul. 06, 2016 at 4:04 PM EST
I've said it before and I'll say it again...how very fortunate we are to live in this wonderful "little" city. Thanks Julie for putting this up. What a rush of memories. I can't help with the establishment date of the BVFD as it was once known but I can touch on a few points... We have had a great many men and women help build what is now the Bridgeport Fire Department. I see several of them in the photos posted. John Diamond, Bud Calfee, Chester "Peachy" March, Bob Dunn, Marty Root, Jumbo Reed, Chuck Wilson, Kelly Blackwell, Tom "Mooch" Harris and so many more. I wish I could name them all. My dad, Jim Alfred was a volunteer fireman as well as serving on city council. I'm pretty sure he was serving when the new city building was built. His name is on the plaque which was on the or is on the front of that building. Also the building pictured beside the fire house I don't believe is the Chandler building. I do seem to remember being told that Jumbo Reed would take calls in that building for all city affairs after hours. That's Jumbo in the top picture, second from the right. That building was raised to make space for the building which stands there today. The "new" City Building which had the Police Department located in one little office in the back. It had an attached garage to park our "only" police cruiser in. That was later converted into a locker room and detective office..."look at us now". The C&H market was across the street as well as Micks Barber shop. "Plug" Wise had his shop down Main Street around the entrance to Taylors trailer park. I remember those old Pontiac emergency cars, as I was also a member of that fine fire fighting force :) When Bud Calfee was chief he made me a line officer, Lieutenant. Oh the times we had. I mentioned the women and in one of you photos the concession stand is right there. At fair time that was the place to be for some darn good hot dogs. Someone surely still has the chili recipe. Every one pitched in and worked hard for that week in the summer to raise the money to buy trucks and equipment..."look at us now". I only wish I had the time and space to tell all the stories but alas and probably for the best I don't. It is these memories and moments in the history of our fair city that are truly important and should not be forgotten. They are part of what has and will continue to make Bridgeport a great place to live and raise a family.
Posted by Steve Alfred
Jul. 06, 2016 at 10:06 AM EST
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