Andover Volunteer Fire Department
Andover, Connecticut
A History of the Andover Volunteer Fire Department  1938 - 2013
by Scott Yeomans
Page 5
In January of 1966 the new tanker was ordered. It was delivered in September. This truck was built by Farrar Company on an International chassis. The new tanker had a 750 GPM front-end pump and a 1,200-gallon water tank.  1200 gallons is a lot of water to carry on a single rear axle, but the fire commission decided not to go with a tandem axle at an additional cost of $2,500. The fire commission did decide that a sycho transmission and ;power steering were worth an extra $250 each.  The cost of this vehicle was $16,000, $15,000 from the town and $1,000 from the Association.  The old 6x6 was sold to Andover Sand and Gravel for $600
In service from 9/1966 to 9/1983
High Expansion Foam Demonstration - Howard Bidwell on ladder, Mike Horn in box, Jack Fisher
In early 1967, the association decided to hold a 30th anniversary celebration (a year early by my calculation).  They allocated $500 for the activities, set July 2nd as the date for a parade and muster and named a committee to coordinate it all..  The committee consisted of;  Bill Covell, Ed Keisler, Howard Bidwell, Bill Breadheft, Bill Goss, Dave Hudak, Terry Gumlaw, and Franklin "Butch" Reed. The parade began on Long Hill Road and proceded up to Route 6, then to Hebron Rd, up Hebron Rd. to School Road and culminated at the upper level of the school grounds.  Following the parade, and the awarding of parade trophies, many of the attending fire department participated in a muster, seeing which department could pull water out of a tank and get it on a target the fastest.

The parade and muster were followed with a Fireman's Ball that was held at Fiano's in Bolton in February, 1968.
State Police Color GuardFrank Schatz, Honorary Chief and Parade Marshall George Nelson, Ethel NelsonSonny Covell, Elsworth Covell, ? CovellChief J. Russell Thompson watches Deputy Chief Joe Armstrong present the ward for Best Musical Unit to a Representitive of the Colonel John Chester Fife and Drum Corp.Chief J. Russell Thompson watches Deputy Chief Joe Armstrong present the ward for Best Appearing Apparatus to a representitive of the Dayville DepartmentChief J. Russell Thompson watches Deputy Chief Joe Armstrong present the ward for Best Appearing Auxiliary to a representitive of the Bolton unit
30th Anniversary Parade - 7/2/1967    To see the full size image, click on the thumbnail
30th Anniversary Muster and Post Parade Gathering                    To see the full size image, click on the thumbnail