New Britain herald., 1922-03-10
" 5. r. D. Holds Place Among
 Most EMcient m Connecticut

called combination chemical m, hose apparatus.
 Another One Bought
 As the town officials later realized the need of more auto chemicals an other one was purchased and place, at No. ls II is there 10 this day The next one was bought for No. station It was n bumper and hos truck, As years passed, the o1 Hart Amoskege steamer was fount almost uslcas ana sold to the Tower, Brick Co., where it was pressed into service draining the water from tn, clay pits
 old Aerial Tim.i.
 An aerial truck, long desired by tho nromen in the "9o's" was purchased IL had a reach of about 6o feet anC was raised by hand, It was horse drawn. This truck is now in Nc station The ladders were first usec on the disastrous Booths Block fire Many Of the older residents will re member that it was found cXcellen for reaching the higher stories whcr
 stream of water was necessary {, S'inguish . blaze in the third am 5urth floors. It was not very safe ecording to some Of the firenen.
 Equipment Today.
 Today, the fire fighting apparatus . he local stations is considered of tn, est, all being equipped with La rance trucks with the exception 0
 bumper at No. ?, which is Maxim lade in Middlebury, Mass. Statiol 'o. 1 has a bumper, the new aeria rucli with a ladder extension of [, get, which is raised by compression
 combination chemical and host ragon; No. ?, has the Maxim pumpe nd the city service truck; No alst ,as a bumper apd the old aeria ruck; No. has a bumper anc n old La France horse draw, tcamer, and No. and each hay,
 combination chemical and hos ruck.
 Personnel of Department.
 Chief William J. N oble was ar iointed to succeed Chief RohSrt N Dame, following the veteran fireman. death in March of 1920. He ha. served on the local department fol many years and since his appointment has had opportunity to show his ex- cellent fire fighting judgment at man, big fires in this city.
 Deputy Chief Eugene F. Barnes was appointed March 21. 1920, to succeed Chief Noble in that capacity. Deputy Chief Barnes is among the oldest of the firemen in point of service, having entered the ranks on October 26 1886.
 Captain William J. Watts. of Engine Co. No 6, stationed at one of the latest fire houses to be erected, was appointed captain in 1907. He was the first permanent fire captain to be appointed in the local department. He was callman at the time. Cap tain Watts has been in the service in New Britain for 36 years, having entered in 1886 at the same time Deputy Chief Barnes did. He also served on the New York fire depart ment for about eight years.
 The other captains are as follows: No. 1, Geoerge Hoffman; No. 2, Will liam H. Porter; No. 3, Michael Butler; No. 4, James Grove, and No. 5, Michael Souney.
 The Lieutenants at the various stations are: No. i, John Souney; No. 2, William Hartnctt; No. 3, Thomas Hinchey; No. 4, Prank GiI- Iigan; No. 5, Thomas Higgins, and No. 6, John c. Connolly.
 Edward Woods is captain of the aerial ladder truck; Fred smith is captain of the city service trucks; Fred Linn is lieutenant of the aerial ladder and Victor Davis is lieutenant of the city service trucks. Edward G. Burke is master mechanic of the 
 Some Big Fires.
 One of the most disastrous fires re- corded at the fire bureau is that of the North & Judd Go. plant, February 29, 1888. The factory, built of wood. was almost completely de- stroyed Booths Block was one of he worst in the history of the de- partment and then came the old Tack Shop. This small plant, owned Dy the Sldnley WoTES, WHICH Will Dc by older residents of the ,ity, was burned down entirely. The Y. NJ. c. A. was a bad fire: St. Mary's church, Russell X Erwin s, Torbin's factory foundry and many among the later ones being he Herald plant, which gave the de- oartment d hard fight.
 N Uircrnru'S flo There are but few people in ~any ,ity who are really acquainted with he life of a fireman Most of them