How it all Started

In the spring of 1932, East Berlin, the smallest and most rural of Berlin’s three districts, was submerged like the rest of the country, in the Great Depression.

One very local issue, however, also concerned the residents of town-the problem of adequate fire protection.  The previous year (April 1931) the city of New Britain had agreed to extend water mains to the Kensington and East Berlin fire districts.  The town still depended on New Britain for fire protection, which meant a considerable lapse of time between a call for help and the arrival of New Britain’s fire equipment in East Berlin, there being some eight miles between the two communities.  In addition the cost for New Britain’s fire protection was $100 per hour,  plus $50 for every hour thereafter, the charge being made from the time of departure from New Britain to the time of return.  Viewed in the context of the Depression, such charges were considerable.

With the extension of the water mains, the necessary sources of water supply were immediately at hand, and the idea of a local fire department, independent of any other community, at last seemed feasible. 

The town event that turned the town’s concern from talk to action was a fire on March 10, 1932 at a house on Cottage Street owned by John P. Lewis.  The house was undergoing repairs and was vacant when an overheated furnace started a fire.  The New Britain department was summoned moments after the blaze was discovered.  Meanwhile, the fire protection unit at Stanley Chemical Company, located nearby, sent men and some hose to the scene.  Serval men living or working in the area also responded.  The fire was Quelled, but not without considerable damage to the interior.  Fortunately, the adequate supply of water from the newly installed mains helped prevent damage to surrounding properties. 

The Lewis fire proved to be the motivation necessary to get things underway.  Within two weeks, an article appeared in the New Britain Herald inviting all men 18 years old and over to join the proposed fire company.  Plans for an organizational meeting were made, and New Britain fire officials offered help in getting started.  A committee was appointed to investigate costs of purchasing fire equipment.  It met at the home of Harold Clark, who was elected chairman.  Other names were: Vice Chairman, William H. Nye; Secretary, James Holigan; Treasureer, Jarvis Dowd.  The committee to draft the first set of by-laws included Max Sugenhime, John P. Lewis, and James Holigan.

Subsequently two general meetings were held, one on April 19, 1932 and a second on April 25, 1932 when the fire-fighting officer were named.  George Skene was to serve as Fire Chief, James Holigan Assistant Chief, Foreman Leonard Cistare, Assistant Foreman James Sokolowski, Stewart Max Suginhime, Auditors Robert Cole and J.A. Williams, Trustees Royal Homes (three years), Frank Potts (two years), and Fred Werdelin (one year).

East Berlin Volunteer Fire Department was now virtually a reality, but incorporation would be needed to legitimize the organization.  In May it was decided to proceed with incorporation as soon as necessary funds were available.  On July 16, 1932 Articles of Association were singed by Harold Clark, William Nye, James Holigan, George Skene and James Dowd. 

The first alarm on record occurred May 5, 1932 when a call for help went out and fire men answered with their only piece of equipment, a borrowed 50 foot ladder.  The call was to rescue a kitten stuck in a tree.

The fire company was still without a firehouse or meeting place.  Those first meetings were held at John Lewis’ house, the same one that was damaged by fire back in March.  Royal Holmes was appointed chairman of a building committee, but a firehouse was obviously a long way off.  So it was that the new department gratefully accepted the offer on one of the town’s leading businessmen, R.O. Clark, owner of Eastern Brick Company, who made available a barn located on what is now Commerce Street.  In front of the barn stood a small building, which once served as the brick yard’s office and it was utilized as a meeting room for the firemen.  Later, meetings were held in the Community House located on Grove Street.

February 10, 1944 – A regular meeting is called to order at the Community House located at 223 Grove Street. As much of the work was complete on the new firehouse, the members move to close the meeting and reopen it in their new quarters at 80 Main Street in East Berlin.

1960 – The new addition is completed and dedicated to Corporal Thomas O’Connell who died in the line of duty in Korea. O’Connell was an active member of the company at the time of his death on June 6, 1953. (The firehouse was expanded in 1970 and 1991)

Our dedicated volunteers take pride in providing services to the Town of Berlin, surrounding communities when requested and keeping the legacy of our founders moving forward.