Hotchkiss Hose to mark anniversary in Derby

DERBY - Hotchkiss Hose Company 1 will celebrate its 175th anniversary June 9 at Grassy Hill Lodge, 77 Sodom Lane.
Firefighters and members of the public are welcome to attend this memorable celebration. Tickets are $25 which includes appetizers, dinner and open bar. Tickets may be obtained by calling Capt. Gloade, 203-823-3758; 1st Lt. Fitch, 203-395-8902; or 2nd Lt. Stanis,  203-518-1333.

In June of 1837 it was authorized by the General Assembly that the first fire company of the Village of Birmingham be named the Hotchkiss Hose Company No.1 of the Derby Fire Department.
The first fire engine was of the larger hand pump variety which was equipped with long handles on both sides and running the length of the machine being manned by about 12 firemen.
This engine was called the “Boston Tub.” It was a low-wheeled affair which required a large amount of hard pulling to get to a fire and a large amount of hard pumping to force a small stream from a well or the river into a burning building.
Part of the company equipment in its first days consisted of a number of leather buckets and when no water was convenient, a line formed to the nearest well and these buckets put into use.
In the early days the old company which Julius Hotchkiss, Ephraim Curtiss, Edward Shelton and Edmund Lewis started was housed in a barn at the northwest corner of Third and Caroline Streets.
To this day the Hotchkiss Hose motto has remained the same: “ To Do Good Is Our Intent.”


The above information was provided by Hotchkiss Hose Company firefighter John Saccu.