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In the 1950s In
the late 1940s there were a series of suspicious fires in Greenland.
The Greenland Veterans Organization (GVO), led by Roger Caswell, organized a
fire department. In September of 1949 they purchased a "tank-truck", a
1946 Ford for $225. It had an 800-gallon tank and could pump up to
500-gallons per minute.
When the GVO presented the concept of having a town
fire department, it was well received and supported by the town's citizens.
However, it did not officially receive town support. Since the
GVO had limited membership and was without official town support, it was
decided to operate as a volunteer fire department.
The first meeting of the Greenland Volunteer Fire
Department was held on December 13, 1950 at the Greenland Central School.
Roger Caswell became the Chief and Robert Arey became Recording Secretary.
There was an active membership of 30 men.
In January 1951, the volunteer fire department was
incorporated to protect members against possible lawsuits.
In 1952, the
fire department received its second truck. Chief Arey donated a 1931
Studebaker bread truck. This was converted into a brush fire truck
with a 500-gallon pump in the front, a 250-gallon per minute midship pump
and 125-gallon water tank.
1950s Membership
Rosters
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Muster Team circa 1952
Left to right:
Dick Sweetser, Bob Arey, Bill Brackett, Bob Boivert, Dan MacKay and Ken
Young |
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Members circa 1952
Back row left to right:
Junior Durgin, Bill Brackett, Roy Chisholm, Nelson Lovering, Chief Bob Arey,
Matt Merrill. Front row: Frankie Durgin and Jimmie Rolston
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| In August 1951, a building committee was formed to
plan a new fire station. In the March 1952 Town Meeting, a warrant
article requesting $8,500 for the building's construction was passed.
Frank Richards, a local contractor, supervised the construction, the firemen
volunteered labor. Other contractors donated their services: Phillip
David (heating system), George Browning (plumbing), William Page (wiring)
and Stephen Vickery (bulldozing and fill). In February 1953 the
department hosted an open house at the new fire station at 445 Portsmouth
Avenue. The picture above is circa 1960.
The three fire trucks you see are from left to right are; a1960 Farrar
on a Ford chassis (the first piece the town bought), a 1946 Ford, and
the 1931 Studebaker. |
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