History-6

Andover Volunteer Fire Department

Andover, Connecticut

A History of the Andover Volunteer Fire Department 1938 - 2013

by Scott Yeomans

Page 6

At the 1968 annual meeting, Joe Armstrong became the department's fourth Chief. Maxwell "Buster" Hutchinson was made Deputy Chief. As was done for the previous two out going Chief's, J Russell Thompson was made an Honorary Lifetime Chief of the department.

In August of 1968, a large tank was installed behind the station with a pipe running into the back of the engine floor to be used to top off the trucks booster tanks during the winter and the busy brush fire season.

1968 also saw the departments first drop tank, or portable "waterhole" being placed in service. This consisted of a 1,500 gallon folding tank that was carried on the 1967 Farrar Engine Tank (ET12) . At a fire the scene, it could be set up for trucks to deposit their water in for use on the fire ground.

The 1969 annual meeting included the presentation of plaques honoring the Charter and Honorary members of the department.

9/69 The Martin Sauer Fireman of the Month Award is given for the first time - winner Dep. Chief Buster Hutchinson for his efforts at the Gilead Church fire

1969 ended with Andover putting its first ambulance in service. It was a used 1965 S & S Cadillac that had originally been used in the town of Bethel, Connecticut. This fully refurbished vehicle cost $6,000.

In June of 1970, a portable compresor was put in service. This compressor could be brought to the scence of a fire to fill SCBA tanks and was routinely sent to all calls involving the Tolland County Dive Team. Initially this unit was slid into a pickup truck when needed, but soon was mounted on a trailor for more convenient transportation.