TAFTVILLE FIRE COMPANY #2



vILLAGE OF TAFTVILLE FIRE HISTORY



Prior to 1866, the land in which the Village of Taftville would be constructed on was primarily farm land. When the Ponemah Cotton Mill was constructed in 1866 on the banks of the Shetucket River, it was the start of a village that would quickly develop into a self sufficent village of Norwich that would employ over a thousand employees. Those employees would live in houses built by the mill, buy goods from the mill store and from that point Taftville was born. As with any increase in population, brought on risk of fire. The culture and ways of living back then did not promote a fire safety culture and the threat of fire was real. So real that the Ponemah Mills Company had their own fire company which would consist of a hose cart that would protect mill assets. It would not protect private properties. This type of fire protection was the traditional bucket brigade which as it was not the best fire protection, it was the best available. As time evolved and the risk of fires increased, the village worked to provide the best fire protection for the village.


Listed below is a chronological list of the history of fires in Taftville and the evolution of fire protection. It should be noted that until 1922 when the 1st fire horn was installed, notification of a fire was done by word of mouth or telegraph to the central fire station. Some fires had huge head starts before fire protection arrived or in some cases the Taftville fire company were not notified of a fire but the central station was, bring confusion that the fire could not be controlled. Back then the city units had to get permission from the selectman to leave the city for fires.



BIG A Fire



1915 Cadillac



1944 Seagrave



Hunters Ave Fire 1915



Hose cart



1800 Fires


These fires were fought by volunteers from the Ponemah MIlls Fire Co (PFD), Norwich Fire Dept. or Bucket Brigade

March 29, 1880 - Ponemah Mill Fire

January 14, 1881 - Chapelaine Bakery & Tenement Fire

November 16, 1883 - Ponemah Mills Barn Fire

1888 - Sacred Heart School Fire - School St

May 5, 1889 - Chapelaine Dwelling & 2 Barns

May 7, 1890 - Ponemah Mills Horse & Cattle Barn #2


Early 1900 Fires


Month and Day unknown 1900 - Kelly Hall Fire

December 25, 1905 - Miantonoino Hotel Fire on Norwich Ave

March 3 1909 - Taftville Village starts fire department

March 19, 1910 - Merchants Ave Chimney Fire

July 19, 1909 - South B St Stove Fire

November 18, 1909 - Ponemah Adds hydrants lines for fire suppression

June 20, 1910 - Dwelling Ave, Norwich Ave from Lightning strike

June 29, 1912 - Fire Chief has men testing hydrants and hose

June 14,1913 - Gladue Dwelling Fire - Norwich Ave

September 5, 1913 - Truck fire on a back road

November 25, 1914 - Merchants Ave Chimney Fire

May 31, 1915 - Hunters Ave Major Conflagation

June 1, 1915 - Bolduc Lane Dwelling Fire

July 2, 1915 - Smoke from the Tetreault dwelling on Providence St

December 5, 1916 - Ponemah Company Icehouse Fire

February 15, 1917 - Grants Undertaking Palor Fire

August 9,1917 - Meeting for better Fire Protection

August 10, 1917 - Approved Fire Protection for Taftville Village

August 16, 1917 - Garage Fire - Slater Ave

November 6, 1917 - New Merchants Ave Firehouse

April 23, 1918 - New Hose House completed

April 26, 1918 - Ponemah Company purchases new fire engine

July 1, 1918 - The Ponemah and Taftville fire companies demonstrate abilities

Feburary 1, 1919 - Dentist Office Fire

March 1, 1919 - Shagbark Farm Fire - Harland Rd

September 17, 1919 - Taft Station Railroad house - Norwich Ave

July 26, 1920 - Gladue Dwelling Fire South A St

October 13, 1920 - Fire Company promotes house numbering

October 19, 1920 - Prentice Roller Shop Fire - South C St

November 9, 1920 - Cotton waste Truck Fire - Jewett City Rd

Novenber 10, 1920 - Fire Company receives money from city for fire protection

April 17, 1922 - Dwelling Fire on Norwich Ave

May 15, 1922 - Ponemah House - Front St - Grass Fire

November 13, 1922 - Taft Station Fire

November 14, 1922 - Selectman purchase fire truck for Taftville

December 28, 1922 - New Fire Horn installed on South 2nd Ave

January 19, 1923- Truck Fire Blissville Rd

January 19, 1923 - Ponemah Mills Picker Room Fire

March 2, 1923 - Chemcial truck protected from freezing

May 19, 1923 - Canterbury Turnpike Dwelling Fire

June 5, 1923 - Garage Fire - North Second Ave



Early 1800's Fire News



Ponemah Mill Fire March 29, 1880 - The mill fire company used over 8 fire streams to contain a fire in the boiler room. Aid from the Shetucket Steamer Company and 2 hose cart were used to control the blaze.



Chapeline Bakery Fire - October 14, 1881 - A fire destroyed a bakery and tenement building.



Ponemah Barn Fire - November 16, 1883 - At 10 pm the Ponemah Company barn #1 caught fire and was completely destroyed. It is believed that the mill fire company fought this fire as the fire company was for mill assets only.



Sacred Heart School Fire -1888 - The Sacred Heart School on School St was completely destroyed and the convent next door was badly damaged in a fire. This photo is the School before the fire. it was built in 1886



Sacred Heart School Fire -1888 - The Sacred Heart School on School St was completely destroyed and the convent next door was badly damaged in a fire. as there was no fire protection for the village, a small bucket brigade fought the fire until a Steamer Engine from Norwich coulkd arive but it was too late for the school.



May 6, 1889 - A fire destroyed the Chapeline dwelling and 2 barns. No injuries were reported.



Ponemah Company Horse and cattle barn which was located on Cow Hill caught fire on the night of May 7, 1890. This Barn is located where the Taftville Community Apartments at 91 South 2nd is located.



Ponemah Barn Fire - May 7, 1890 - The Ponameh Horse and cattle barn burned. Iit is believed that the mill fire company fought this fire as the fire company was for mill assets only