Chronicling Memories For The Historical Record—

Hook & Ladder Life Members Gather To Reminisce

By Andrew Gorosko

Nine Newtown Hook & Ladder Volunteer Fire Company life members, who responded to countless blazes in the past when firefighting was a simpler pursuit, gathered last weekend to reminisce about the organization.

The firefighters’ recollections will provide content for a formal history of the fire company due to be produced late this year, said Mark DeWolfe, Newtown Hook & Ladder’s historian.

During a four-hour gathering held at The Fireside Inn, Mr DeWolfe, with wireless microphone in hand, walked among members of the group soliciting their comments in seeking to form a consensus on significant past fire company events. The comments of the fire company veterans were relayed by the microphone to a bank of audio recording gear for later transcription.

“I tape recorded every single drop of that,” Mr DeWolfe said.

The fire company members, most of whom are now in their 60s and 70s, enjoyed camaraderie as they recalled significant events.

“Some of those guys had not seen each other in 20-plus years…It’s just like putting the family back together again,” Mr DeWolfe said.

“What a warming group they were,” he said.

By the end of 2005, Mr DeWolfe hopes to produce a 100-plus-page history of the firefighting organization. Mr DeWolfe, who also is the fire company’s entertainment chairman, has been a member of Hook & Ladder since 1984.

Two former Newtown Hook & Ladder fire chiefs were among those who attended the February 26 event. They are Lee Glover of Woodbury and Joseph Wupperfeld of South Windham. Both men participated in last year’s Memorial Day Parade wearing the fire company’s elaborate, colorful dress uniform.

Messrs Glover and Wupperfeld joined the fire company in September 1944, during the height of World War II, when they were students at Newtown High School. High school classes were then held in the building on Church Hill Road that now serves as the elementary-level Hawley School.

In 1944, when a fire was reported, a town fire siren sounded. By arrangement with the high school principal, the two youths would then dial the local telephone operator to learn the fire’s location. They would then either dart to the firehouse on Main Street to get on the fire truck that would go to the fire, or would hitchhike directly to the fire.

After the fire was put out, they would make their way back to the school to resume their studies.

Because many men were away at war in 1944, high school students often were pressed into firefighting service.

Beyond the February 26 event, Mr DeWolfe is seeking information on the history of Hook & Ladder from others who served there as firefighters in the past. They may reach Mr DeWolfe at 426-1579.

Newtown is served by five volunteer fire companies. Besides Hook & Ladder, the other fire companies are Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, Sandy Hook, and Botsford.