Andover Volunteer Fire Department
Andover, Connecticut
A History of the Andover Volunteer Fire Department. 1938 - 2013
by Scott Yeomans
Page 2
In April of 1939 the Works Projects Administration approved the Department's request for aid with the firehouse and recommended that a new building be constructed rather than the old one remodeled. The membership voted to go on record as favoring a new building as well provided the cost was reasonable. Apparently the cost was too high as the membership spent the remainder of 1939 and the spring of 1940 remodeling the existing building. The remodeling project evidently ran over budget as the town allocated an additional $1,300 for the renovations in 1940.
Early in 1940 a committee was appointed to investigate the purchase of an auxiliary truck and was empowered to purchase it for an amount not to exceed $50. A suitable truck was purchased and the membership voted to turn it over to the town. This vehicle was acquired from the Groton Fire Department and was known as the Kelly car.
In the spring of 1940 the department was able to move into the freshly remodeled firehouse. The May meeting was the first to be held in the new quarters. All prior meetings had been held in the Old Town Hall.
The late fall of 1941 brought the approval of a plan to admit boys between the ages of 16 and 18 to membership. These youths were designated "Junior Members" and were restricted from driving any fire equipment. Also at this time, ten of our men graduated from a First Aid course given by the State Police. This was the beginning of a long tradition of Andover's people investing large amounts of personal time in First Aid certification classes.
In April 1943, due to a lack of communications equipment that would allow firemen responding to the siren sounding to know the location of the request for assistance, it was voted to equip our trucks with red flags. These would be used to mark the direction to the call at road intersections. This eliminated the need for a fireman to continue to the firehouse to find out the location of the call. If he passed a flag dropped at an intersection, he would turn to follow the apparatus to the scene.
In 1944, Mutual Aid, as well as communications equipment, was very different than it is. Some towns did not have their own equipment. When they called for help, they would be billed by the town rendering the aid. This led to many problems. Bills were at times contested. A general air of ill-will surrounded the whole situation as is illustrated by this entry in the minutes - "John Yeomans made a motion, seconded and carried, that it be recommended to our Fire Commissioners, to notify Columbia Selectmen, that we do not respond to fires in that town under existing conditions of notification. At the present time, residents of Columbia are not allowed to notify our department direct. But must inform their First Selectman, who in turn, determines whether it is desirable or necessary to call the Andover Department, resulting in a considerable loss of time." This problem was soon ironed out without aid to Columbia being stopped. As more towns established fire departments and bought equipment, mutual aid evolved to where it is today, with help being started without it having to be asked for and at no charge to anyone.
George Nelson was elected Chief and L. Edward Whitcomb was elected Deputy Chief in 1946.
In 1947, as a gesture of appreciation for his many years of service, past Chief George Merritt was made a Lifetime Honorary Chief of the Andover Volunteer Fire Department. George remained active for many years and passed away in October 1961.
In the spring of 1948, in an effort to enhance their skills and broaden their knowledge, the membership set up a ten-week fire school. This course was given once a week in Andover by a professional firefighter from the Willimantic Fire Department. When the class was completed, it was felt that this had been a valuable experience. Since this early success, many more courses have been brought to town to supplement the in-house training given every week.
George Nelson
Chief 1946 - 1962
Kelly Car - in service 4/1940 - 2/1949
Percy Cook and ?
1944 - the Kelly and the Maxim head to a brush fire.
