HISTORY

THIS WEBSITE WAS LAST UPDATED ON: May 3, 2009

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DAN OLDS

STEPHEN FORWARD

WEBSITE DESIGNED BY FAST FORWARD GRAPHICS 2008-09

During the 1940’s and 1950’s Hinsdale participated in many musters using their original 1929 Buffalo 500GPM rotary gear pumper. Many familiar names were participants in this era, such as Allyn Smith, Jim Fox Sr., Walt Vincent, Nick Chilson, and Cliff Fraley. Some of these men who ran in this time are still with us, such as Jack Lott, Ralph Marshall, Tom Fox, Bruce Cornwell, and Bob Galliher. In the years leading up toward the 1960’s Hinsdale used a 1932 American Lafrance rotary gear pumper.

In 1958 the Franklin County Fair in Greenfield, MA sponsored a sweepstakes trophy for New England Muster teams. The team collecting the most points in a season got to hold onto the trophy for a year. A team winning three consecutive championships retired the trophy permanently to that team. The point system at this time was 3 points for a 1st place finish, 2 points for a 2nd place finish, and 1 point for a 3rd place finish. The best appearing fire department in the parade also counted for 1 point. This trophy was won and held by Amherst Fire Department in 1958. The Hatfield Fire Department succeeded Amherst by winning the trophy in 1959. The Lee Fire Department won the trophy in 1960 and 1961. The Hinsdale Fire Department won the New England Firemen’s Muster Association points championship in 1961, 1962, and 1963 thus retiring the trophy. Hinsdale still displays this trophy in our showcase and it is a treasured part of our fire department and town’s history.

The ’62, ’63, and ’64 teams were led by captain’s Ed Richards and Dick Greb. In early 1963 the team decided to switch from rotary pumping to centrifugal pumping and purchased a 1937 Buffalo from Palmer, MA with a 500 GPM centrifugal pump.

Some of the highlights of this period was a record time in rotary gear pumping with a time of 27.4 seconds at the Greenfield Fair in September 1962 with the American Lafrance. During these 3 years most of the entire fire department would go in full dress uniform to each parade and march to get the 1 point for the best appearing fire department, to help out the muster team. They succeeded in winning several best appearing fire department awards during this time and contributed to the success of this team.

In 1963 the original Waukesha engine was removed from the ’37 Buffalo and replaced with a 302 GMC engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. This constituted a 3 second penalty in all truck events. The team was able to overcome this penalty and remained the New England Champions for 1963 and 1964. The ’37 Buffalo was sold to Bennington, VT in 1966, where it remained until 1974 when 10 young firemen purchased it. In 1975 the pump was changed to a 500 GPM rotary gear pump purchased from the Becket Fire Department. The ’37 Buffalo with its 500 GPM rotary gear pump remains a treasured part of the archives of the Hinsdale Fire Department and is actively used by our present muster team.

Coincidentally the 40th anniversary of the three consecutive championships (1961-1964) falls in the same year as the Town of Hinsdale’s 200th Birthday. In recognition of this monumental triumph the Hinsdale Fire Department and the Hinsdale Muster Team would like to take this opportunity to honor all the men who participated in this great achievement, both living and deceased.

- Written by David Olds Sr.