Last month’s column highlighted how helpful the cadets of the Lost Acres Fire Department were in building the July 3 bonfire that celebrated our nation’s 250th anniversary.
Those cadets are taught by a dedicated group of volunteers at the Lost Acres Fire Department, which is celebrating its 90th year of service. Prior to 1936, Granby had no active fire department. There was, however, a fire department in East Granby, and the Ensign-Bickford Fire Department in Simsbury, whose members would come to Granby to help fight fires.
There had been an earlier attempt to form a fire squad in Granby. In 1922, an effort was made to organize a fire squad in the First District. Fred Colton served as fire chief, Robert Powers as first lieutenant, and August Elander as second lieutenant. Arthur Clark, Kenneth Avery and Frederick Devnew, were custodians of the equipment. A committee consisting of James Lee Loomis, E. B. Goddard and Henry G. Viets was appointed to assist in organizing the fire squad. Unfortunately, the effort never fully materialized, probably because the necessary manpower and training were not available.
Fire can be one of the most devastating forms of destruction to homes, businesses and fields. Over the years, fires have been a sad part of Granby’s history. Addie Holcomb’s diary from the 1860s contains several entries documenting local fires: Feb. 4, 1860, “The old mill has been on fire.” Feb. 18, 1862, “Mr. Fanchier’s shops burned down.” July 23, 1862, “Powder mill burned down.”
Other major disasters followed. In 1877, the Loomis Brothers Building burned down, destroying many of the town records stored there. In 1899, the Bissell Brook Brush Fire covered hundreds of acres. The fire traveled along the edge of Stony Hill and along the ridge toward the McLean Game Refuge before eventually burning itself out.
On Aug. 4, 1916, the Floydville Plantation warehouse on Floydville Road burned to the ground. A clambake was being held down the street, and when the men attending it ran to help, it was too late. With no local fire department available, they could do little but watch the building burn.
On Jan. 27, 1921, a house owned by Charlie Holcombe at the corner of North Granby Road and Day Street caught fire. The tenants living in the home were left homeless by the devastation. On Dec. 19, 1930, Frank Laughlin had just purchased an 11-room house on Hungary Road. Tragically, the house caught fire, probably as a result of a woodstove. His wife’s grandfather, who was sleeping inside, died in the fire.
In January 1934, Clarence Messenger’s icehouse caught fire. The icehouse was his means of making a living selling blocks of ice during the summer. Approximately 8,000 blocks of ice were destroyed. Then came 1935, a year when three major fires seemed to bring Granby to a breaking point. Fortunately, the arrival of Horace Clark would make a tremendous difference.
In 1935, the Manitook Hotel, located where State Line Oil is today, burned to the ground. The three-story hotel was unoccupied, and by the time the East Granby Fire Department arrived from eight miles away, the building had already been destroyed. That same year, Dr. Pendleton’s house and former hospital caught fire and suffered severe damage, and the Salmon Brook Country Club’s clubhouse burned to the ground.
Horace Clark, the retired commissioner of the Fire Commission Board in Hartford, moved from Hartford to his farm, Lost Acres, in Hartland in the early 30s. He knew a lot about fires and fire safety and brought his own firefighting equipment along and arranged for men from Hartford to train local people to fight fires. Clark knew a brush fire could break out on his property, and he wanted to be prepared if one did. He built a firehouse and asked for volunteers. Twenty-five men became the charter members of the Lost Acres Fire Department in 1936.
The original officer corps included Horace Clark, commissioner, Vernon Jenkins as fire chief, Francis Allen as assistant fire chief and drill sergeant responsible for training, and Merrill Clark as secretary.
At first, these men were the Lost Acres Fire Department. In decades to follow, the department maintained a full complement of 50 firefighters ready to save homes, businesses and fields from fire. They not only trained to fight fires, but also helped educate the public about fire safety.
The years of training proved valuable. In 1945, the department had a record low of only 22 calls for the entire year.
The training protocol Clark and Allen used to teach the firefighters continues today. Members of the Lost Acres Fire Department meet every Tuesday night to train, plan and coordinate department activities. They work with ladders, hoses, ropes and other equipment needed to fight fires and respond to emergencies.
Before the days of 911 for emergency calls, residents telephoned the fire station directly. At that time, a firefighter would stay at the firehouse in case a call came in. Newton Lyons would stay at the North Granby firehouse, and in 1950 the telephone number for that station was Simsbury 809-J1.
Today, a new generation of leadership guides the Lost Acres Fire Department. Tim Weber serves as fire chief and Erik Davis is the assistant fire chief. They know the history of the department and are part of a proud and dedicated group of volunteers. Many of these firefighters have been with the department for decades. There are also families whose service spans generations, including four generations of the Davis family, three generations of the Christensen family and three generations of the George family.
For 90 years, the volunteer members of the Lost Acres Fire Department have trained to protect the citizens of Granby from fire and other emergencies. They get up in the middle of the night to rescue someone they may not even know because they care deeply about their community.
The Lost Acres Fire Department has a remarkable history of service, dedication and volunteerism. For 90 years, its members have answered the call when their neighbors needed them most. Granby is fortunate to have such a dedicated group of men and women willing to give their time and energy to protect our community.
To learn more about the history of the Lost Acres Fire Department, join the Salmon Brook Historical Society. Call 860-653-9713 or visit the society online.