Westford Historical Society 2005 - The Fire Companies of Westford, MA - John Edward's Hose Company #3 won the firemen's muster trophy in about ...
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Westford Historical Society
2005
The Fire Companies of Westford, MA
John Edward’s Hose Company #3 won the firemen’s muster trophy in about 1913Edward M. Abbot Hose Co. #1
In 1908, the Edward M. Abbot Hose Co. #1 was formed. It was the company that served Westford Center. The town then voted to rent the
wheelwright shop of Nelson Tuttle for $5 per month for use as a fire station. There was an old hose/ ladder house behind the town hall
which the town voted to move in 1909 to the lot at the Parkerville School.
“Work has been started on the new home of Miss Ruth P. Tuttle on Boston road. The building, which was used for so many years by Miss Tuttle’s
father as a wheelwright shop and later to house the town fire engine, is to be moved back and remodeled.” (From the newspaper writings of Hilda
Bosworth, April 7, 1938)
Nelson Tuttle in front of his wheelwright shop at Miss Tuttle’s house (now Drinkwater’s) greatly expanded at
14 Boston Road in 1904 16 Boston Road in 2004. The left portion is the old
wheelwright shop.The Edward M. Abbot Hose Company #1 Left to right: Leonard Wheeler, William Millis, William E. Wright, Edward Clement, John Greig (behind E. Clement), Oscar Spalding, Ben Prescott (rear), Sebastian Watson, Peter Clement, Alfred Tuttle, Clarence Hildreth (rear), Robert Prescott, Arthur Walker (rear), Herbert Fletcher, Alex Fisher, Alonzo Sutherland. Photographed by Charles L. Hildreth in 1929 beside the fire “cottage” at 4 Boston Road. In 1920, Clarence Hildreth was the first to occupy the “cottage” as dispatcher for the fire department. Next, Leo & Yvonne Connell would take up residence, to be followed over the years by Perley & Jessie Carkin, George & Jeanne St. Onge, Don & Nancy Grant, Geoff & Marilyn Hall, Pete & Linda Dennechuk, and lastly, Steve & Audrey Ducharme. In 1987, the cottage was turned over to the Westford Historical Society.
The original Academy remodeled into a 3-bay Fire Station at 2 Boston Road.
Westford Academy opposite west end of Left to right: Pontiac ambulance, Engine 1 B-Model Mack, and 1954 Ford
Town Common before move (Photo by Douglas J. Cook, Westford Fire)
Henry O. Keyes bought the old Academy building in 1911 from the Trustees of Westford Academy and moved it to what is now 2 Boston Road. In
1916, the town bought the property from him and converted the academy building into the center fire station. It remained in use as a fire station
until 1974 when the new Center station was built at 51 Main Street.
In 1941, a new fire horn complete with an air plant and transmitter, was installed in the center by Norman E. Day Electric Co.The Albert R. Choate Co. #2 In 1913, the town bought 3,583 square feet of land on 4 Cross Street Cross Street from the Sargent estate to build a fire station in Graniteville. The Westford Wardsman of January 17, 1914 reported, “The new firehouse is rapidly nearing completion.” (Legion Hall is visible in background) In 1948, a new fire station was built on Broadway for $2,751 and the old station at 4 Cross Street was sold to the highest bidders – J. Austin and Arthur L. Healy. Soon they resold to the Bolducs. It was remodeled into a private residence and is still at 4 Cross Street. The station at 54 Broadway closed in 2001 when the George P. Rogers fire station opened on Town Farm Road. Westford Parks & Recreation Dept. then moved into the old 54 Broadway Street Broadway station.
John Edwards Hose Co. #3,
Forge Village
Side of fire house
13 Pleasant St.
In 1871, a fire station was built at the corner of
Pleasant and Oak Streets in Forge Village on Abbot
Worsted land.
A new fire station was built in 1941. In 1942, the
selectmen sold the old station for $111 and it was
moved to 72 Concord Road. It was destroyed in 2000.
John Edward’s Hose Company #3 proudly showing the silver trophy
cup won in a hose laying contest in about 1913.
Back row: Fenimore Morton, Billy Hosmer, James Whigham, John Flynn, John W. Catchpole, Cornelius Precious,
John Sullivan and Frank Lowther
Center row: George Weaver, John Spinner and George Sanborn
Front row: Joe Bennett, Richard Prescott, Edward Hanley, Walter Previous, possibly Thomas Panneton and Fred Drolett
At that time, all were employed by the Abbot Worsted Company except for George Sanborn who was a station agent.Forge Village Fire Station
A new, brick fire station was built in 1941 on E. Prescott
Street in Forge Village. It closed in 2001 when the new
George Rogers Fire Station opened on Town Farm
Road. Westford’s Management Information Systems
(MIS) Dept. now uses the building.
Westford Fire bought this truck from Ted McElroy in
Littleton who had used it to spray fruit trees. Westford
had the engine rebuilt, bought new tires, Bud Hill did
the lettering and the truck was converted into
Westford’s muster truck, pictured below.
E. Prescott Street
Ted Greenslade standing in cab, George Young, Jr., standing in
back. On the running board, David and Stephen Balfour.
Kenneth Greenslade says, “Dave Balfour, Sr. and my dad, Ted
Greenslade, Jr., were both firefighters in Forge Village. George
Young, Sr., was a firefighter in Westford Center but because of his
location, he could also hear the Forge Village alarm and usually
responded. The three men were all close friends at that time.”Engine #9, a “Bull-Nose” Chevy Truck
Plaque is all that is left from the
old Brookside hose cart. (Photo
courtesy of June W. Kennedy)
This was Leo Larkin’s Forestry truck.
The body for it was built by Donald
Whitney. In 1954, the Forestry
department was merged into the town
Fire Department.
Photo by Douglas J. Cook, Westford Fire
In 1907, $250 was appropriated to build a fire house at Brookside. A. H. Sutherland was paid $84 for building and Adams Hardware & Paint Co.
was paid $54.30 for pumps, ladders, etc. In 1921, the ladder house at Brookside was moved and built over by the Abbot Worsted Company without
charge to the town. Later, the town would rent garage space at the Brookside Mill.
In early 1955, the Nabnasset Fire Company 4 was formed. Land was taken from the old Nab school in 1962 on which to build the new fire station
at 14 Oak Hill Road. The station, which cost $30,000 in 1963, became manned full-time in 2001.Cinder
1987-2001
(Photo by Dick Kenyon)
51 Main Street
(Photo by Bob Shaffer in 2003, courtesy of Town Hall)
The stately home of Dr. Benjamin Osgood once stood on this site. Last
owned by Ed Sullivan, it was demolished in 1971 in order to build a
new fire and police station complex which opened in 1974. This 2003
photo shows the new police station, in back, which opened in 1999.George P. Rogers Fire Station George P. Rogers (“Yogi”) retired 39 Town Farm Road built in 2001 and dedicated in May 9, in 1995. He was the first full-time 2002. (Station photo by Bob Shaffer, courtesy of Town Hall) Fire Chief in Westford.
1947 Cadillac – first town ambulance (Published by
permission of the Trustees of the J. V. Fletcher
Library, Westford, MA)
Photo by Douglas J. Cook, Westford Fire
(Top right) On Labor Day in 1945, a fund drive was begun to raise money
for a town ambulance. By 1947, the purchase price of $5,200 had been
raised through public subscription and on March 9, 1947, the new
ambulance was placed in service. It was a sage green Cadillac, holding
two stretchers, complete first aid equipment and built-in first-aid cabinet.
On January 5, 1963, the Westford 4-H presented a new, completely
equipped ambulance to the town of Westford. In one year, the organization
had raised $10,000 to pay the entire amount.
At the Apple Blossom Festival on May 17, 1969, the 4-H again presented
another new ambulance to the town. It was the Pontiac pictured above.
On February 24, 1974, the 4-H presented the town with its first modular Photo by Douglas J. Cook, Westford Fire
ambulance. This Chevy “modulance” would meet new state requirements.Engine 1, a 1964, B-Model Mack Co. 1 Station, now
Westford Museum (Photo by Douglas J. Cook,
Westford Fire)
Engine 5, a 1954 Ford Co. 1 Station,
now Westford Museum (Photo by
Douglas J. Cook, Westford Fire)
Engine 3, Westford Fire Dept. (Photo from Apple Blossom Parade, Main Street after 1989
David P. Christiana, Westford Fire) (Photo by Dick Kenyon)“Volunteers for a Junior Fire Department in town first appeared in
the Forge Village Company. First class training was given to 13 and
14 year olds. This 1930 photo features the youth aboard the truck.
Standing from left to right: Joseph Lefebre, Reginald Blowey,
Captain, and Ed Rogers, chief.”
(Photo and text from Westford Recollections, by June W. Kennedy)
In 1954, Edmund Rogers, Fire Chief and Fire Engineer resigned.
He had been chief for 13 years and a member of the Westford fire
department for 30 years. (1954 town report)
Harry L. Nesmith
Forestry Warden
1914-1941
(Photo loaned by daughter Ruth N. Hall)
Outside Co. 1 Station, now the Westford Museum
(1929 photo by Charles L. Hildreth)This new truck, Engine 2, replaced a 1933 Chevy truck and could hold five times as much water.
(Newspaper article provided by Arline Perkins)Daniel W. Harrington Richard T. St. Onge
1879-1909 1941-1970
Family members gathered on May 19, 2002 at the
dedication of the Memorial to Fallen Westford Firefighters
located at 51 Main Street. (Photo loaned by Mona
Harrington)2020 slideshow created by Alina Jeng
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