Stamford Volunteer Fire Department Marks 65 Years
STAMFORD, Vt. — A barn fire at Paradise Farm on a September evening in 1951 would spark the creation of the Stamford Volunteer Fire Department.
When a neighbor called North Adams, Mass., at 10:35 p.m., he was told to contact Clarksburg (Mass.) Fire Department. Three minutes later, James H. Hunter himself called North Adams "requesting that men and equipment be sent to his estate to help quell a raging barn fire."
Both Massachusetts companies drove post haste to the farm to battle the blaze for more than three hours.
Stamford had just that year organized a fire company, but had no equipment and no station. The Paradise Farm fire would illustrate the need for the town to have its own Fire Department.
"We're probably the youngest one I believe," said Chief Paul Ethier. "As far as departments go, we really are the baby of the bunch."
The company, celebrating its 65th year on Saturday night, recalled the highlights and history of its six decades, and read a resolution from Gov. Peter Shumlin congratulating it on its anniversary. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and the governor also sent letters of congratulations to some of the longtime members: Ethier with 30 years, Deputy Chief Bob Costine (32 years), Deputy Chief Glenn Ethier (28 years) and Capt. Stan Lawrence (25 years). State Rep. Laura Sibilia also attended the event.
It might be the "baby," but the fire company has become an integral part of the regional mutual aid network, working with other Vermont companies to the north and crossing the border south to back up Northern Berkshire County.
"I commend them for their dedication to the fire service," said North Adams Fire Director Stephen Meranti, whose son, Mitchell, has been a Stamford firefighter for eight years. "We know we can always count on them and any time they've ever provided assistance to us, they've always been professionals."
The company now has a fire house, trucks, modern equipment and 25 volunteers, but it started out with nothing but a portable pump for Clarksburg to use to fight fires in Stamford.
But in 1951, it began making plans for the purchase of a 600-gallon pumper, aided by funds raised from what would become the annual three-day fall bazaar run by the Ladies' Auxiliary.
"It's a great group of people," said Pauline Sweet, a longtime member of the Auxiliary whose late husband, Gene Sweet, had been fire chief from 1966 to 1972. "They were working all the time -— the horse shows, the bazaars, the carnivals. We were raising [money] all the time."
The truck arrived in October 1953 but the fire station on Stebbins Lane wasn't built until 1959.
"All of our equipment was kept in barns around town until we got we finally got a fire station in 1959, so we were six years with no home," said Ethier. "It really was blood, sweat and tears because a lot of effort has gone into keeping things going."
For the Ethiers, it's become a tradition to keep things going. The late Leo Ethier, the longtime principal of Stamford Elementery School, joined the department in 1976 when his sons Paul and Glen were barely toddlers. Both boys would follow him into the department beginning as junior firefighters.
"A friend of ours asked him to join the Fire Department but he didn't have time," said Carol Ethier Kipp of her late husband. "And then there was a fire at his house up at Sportsman's Club Road and, of course, Leo couldn't do anything because he wasn't a fire man."
There were only three firefighters in town who could respond to the fire as well. That was enough for Leo, Ethier Kipp said. He told her, "I'm in town all day, every day. I better join the Fire Department."
He was a member for 21 years and served in a number of offices including as chief.
"What it was like living with three firemen when the alarms would go off, when the pagers would go off, and they'd head out the door together," said Ethier Kipp, shaking her head. "It was tough, but they did it and they all loved it. ... It's been a family thing."
The fire chief said it's been harder getting firefighting volunteers. People don't seem to have time, are busy volunteering with their children's activities or aren't motivated to do something without compensation.
"I don't think society puts a lot importance toward volunteering anymore," he said. "When I grew up, my dad did, so is second nature to me to do it ... there's very few tangible rewards for people
"If you just want to go to work and help people, the volunteer fire department is for you, if you want to get compensated for it, it's not for you."
Sweet joked volunteering gave her husband "something to do. He loved every minute of it."
"I never worried about him because the whole group worked so good together and they protected each other," she said. "I dont know if the town appreciates all these volunteers."
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