Amogerone History
The Amogerone Volunteer Fire Company #1, Inc. is the oldest fire company in Greenwich and the 7th fire company in the State of Connecticut. There are reports of the Company’s existence as early as 1872 but the Amogerone Hook, Ladder, and Hose Co. #1 was established on June 7, 1876. The name is in honor of Chief Amogerone of the Asamuck Indian tribe.
The original members included Henry Fitzgerald, D.K. Allen, R.J. Walsh, George E. Schofield, Victor H. Russell and Thomas J. Ritch. The Company purchased a “jumper” which consisted of a hose cart on wheels, with water buckets on hooks. The “jumper” was hand propelled.
On Monday, June 9, 1879, the Warden and the Board of Burgesses of the Borough of Greenwich met in the Selectman’s office “to elect officers for and perfect the organization of a properly organized fire department.” Mr. John Voorhes, Esq. occupied the chair. The results of the elections were Chief Engineer, Henry M. Fitzgerald; 1st Asst. Engineer, George E. Schofield; 2nd Asst. Engineer, Thomas J. Ritch; Foreman, Victor H. Russell; Asst. Foreman, William Talbot, Jr.; Secretary, R, Jay Walsh; Treasurer, Charles E. Merritt. The officers of the company in 1893 were Washington Marshall, Forman; Jesse D. Ritch, 1st Asst. Foreman; William S. Boswell, 2nd Asst. Foreman; Fred J. Reeves, Secretary; Charles E. Merritt, Treasurer.
The Amogerone Fire House was constructed on the west side of Greenwich Avenue across from what is now Amogerone Crossway. The Company moved in on January 29, 1880.
A handsome carriage was purchased in 1881, after the introduction of water into the Borough. Another new truck arrived on October 21, 1899. Horses were used to pull the apparatus.
On May 16, 1901, the Ray Store and Warehouse was involved in a very big fire. Most of the building was saved. A 1900 LaFrance steamer was donated to the company by the citizens of the Borough showing their gratitude for a job well done at the Ray fire.
On September 12, 1910 an auto chemical hose wagon arrived. It was rated as a 40HP automobile, fitted for fire fighting, and carried a 235 gallon chemical tank, 1,000 feet of 2 ½ inch hose, two 16 foot extension ladders, a siren alarm gong and a powerful search light. The “wagon” could reach the speed of 50 miles per hour. Tire chains were used year round due to the muddy dirt roads.
In 1976 the apparatus serving the Amogerone Fire Company along with its companion company, Volunteer Hose Company were two 1,000 GPM pumpers, one 85 foot ladder truck and one 100 foot ladder truck.
Isaac M. Hubbard played a large part in the further growth and development of the Amogerone Fire Company and the Greenwich Fire Department. He joined the company on September 11, 1894. He served the company in various officer roles until October 1, 1912 when he was appointed 2nd Asst. Chief of the Greenwich Center Fire Department by the Warden and Board of Burgesses of the Borough of Greenwich. He was appointed Chief of the Department effective midnight, January 1, 1932. At that hour, the Borough government went over to be controlled under the Town government under the Board of Selectmen as Fire Commissioners. The Board of Selectmen at that time was 1st Selectman O.D. Tuthill, 2nd Selectman Harold W. Allen, and 3rd Selectman Thomas J. English. Chief Hubbard served as Chief of Department, Fire Warden and Fire Marshall until 1938.
After 10 years of discussion and debate, the 1937 Greenwich town budget created funds for a full-time paid Fire Chief and 15 paid firemen. They would occupy the new Central Fire-Police building at the intersection of Havemeyer Place and Mason Street on February 10th, 1939 along with the Amogerone Fire Co. #1, Volunteer Hose Co. #2, the Greenwich Fire Police and the Police Department.
Chief Stuart M. Potter served as the first paid Chief of the new combined Greenwich Fire Department from May 1, 1924 until June 1, 1962 when he retired. William H. Dawson, who had served as Deputy Chief under Chief Potter was appointed Chief in 1962 and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1973. On November 11, 1973 Amogerone Fire Chief John H. Titsworth, Jr. was appointed as Chief of the Greenwich Fire Department.
Many thanks to the 1976 Centennial Committee for all of their research.
The Amogerone Hook & Ladder Co. #1 leaving by New York - New Haven flat railway car for the State Convention Parade in Bridgeport, Ct. The photo was taken at the old railway freight yards on Railroad Avenue.
1st row(seated): Frank Lockwood, Albert Mead, Robert Talmage, Frank Mead, James Sullivan, Isaac Hubbard, William Lally, Walter Close, Harry Talbert. 2nd: Samuel Lally, Leonard Alcorn, John Wilson, James Sheridan, Joseph Lewis, Joseph Clarke, Benhamin Kelly, William Peck, William Wilson, John Neville. 3rd row: D.A. Bird, Harold Clopse, John Cullen, Joseph Brennen, John McDonnell, James Fogg, William L. Smith, D. Wallice, Thomas Hamilton, George Marshel, Lester Haggerty
1st row left to right: Mike McFadden, Bruce Funston, Peter Koziel, Thomas Tiska, Charles Trichert, Rocco Santoro, Walter Forest, Donenick Sarica, Joseph Bucci. 2nd row: Kenneth Penn, Joseph D’Autilio, Gary Schmitz, Goeff Tatton, John Cullen, Gene Cullen, Earl Cullen, Donald Migliardi. 3rd row: William Walters, Louis Panone, Gary Texiere, Thomas Kennedy, Robert Williams, Ronald Stover, Alan Carlo, William Crawford, Steven Rupp, Frank Moran, Charles Brown, Anthony Sarica, Steven Hoffkins, Lawrence Spann. 4th row: Frank Clarke, Philip Catalano, William Ek, Walter Newton, Jeffrey Boyette, John Slusarz, Robert Texiere, James Weeks, Thomas Mason. missing members: George Pera, John Titsworth, Robert Bridge, Cameron Brown, Kevin Bohacs, Patrick Clarke, Edward Cofone, Donald Cassano, Peter Cassano, Richard D’Autilio, John DeWaal, George Gazso, William Herbert, William Johnston, Lloyd Hubbard, Peter Cartoun, Stewark Kay, Leonard Mingo, Robert Lehn, Jack McEnany, Edward Risden, William Schmitz, Anthony Tiska, Robert Underwood, John Sorrento, Frederick Whalen, Sr. Frederick Whalen, Jr. Leslie Newton, Frank DeLeo.
Amogerone Centennial Committee:
1st row: Peter Koziel, Thomas Tiska, Charles Teichert, Rocco Santoro, Dominick Sarica. 2nd row: Lawrence Spann, Donald Migliardi, Gary Texiere, Joseph Bucci, Michael McFadden, Tom Mason. 3rd row: Bruce Funston, James Weeks, Robert Williams. missing: Walter Forest, George Gazso
The first motorized fire truck in Greenwich, an “auto chemical hose wagon”. The truck was delivered on September 12, 1912 and cost $5,000. The Amogerone Fire Company raised all but $442.40 which was provided by the Burgesses of the Borough. The driver is John “Skinny” Cullen who was the first paid driver in town. The truck is in front of the original Fire House located adjacent to Amogerone Crossway. The Amogerone Fire Company occupied this fire house from 1882 until 1937.
Ladder truck at the far left, a steam driving pumper, and two hose carts
Amogerone Hook & Ladder Truck on Milbank Avenue driven by John Neville and Joe Whelan.
Central Fire Station on Havemeyer Place. The trucks were shared by The Amogerone Fire Co. No. 1 and Volunteer Hose and Chemical Co. No.2
1st row: James Craig, Isaac Hubbard, Bert Mead, Frank Mead, Thomas Hutinson, Tom Sutton, Winfield Mills. 2nd row: Henry Hubbard, John Maher, Peter Rainey, ??, Joseph Doyle, John Neville, John Koerner, ??, Seymour Birch, ? Williams, James Fox, “Snowball” Johnson, ??, ? LaMorte, 3rd row (faces in between 2nd row): Thomas Hamilton, John Wilson, ? Fulton, ? Merritt, ? Peck, ??, ??, BillFinnegan, Fred Hanson, Andrew Mitchell, Herbert Mead, William Carroll. back row: John Cullen, Elmer Barnes, ??, James Fox, ??, Andy Mellon, ??, John Kidney, ? Abrams, Phil Risden, ??, ??, ??, Bill Ferris, ??.
cutting a 350 pound, 4 feet by 8 feet cake at the 100th anniversary celebration of The Amogerone Fire Company. Chief Charles Teichert, Jr., First Selectman Ruppert Vernon, Chief John Titsworth and President Rocco Santoro.
1st row: Steven Bozzuto, Thomas Mason, Peter Koziel, Mark Tiska, Steven Slusarz, Herbert Mead, Robert Texiere, John J. Titsworth, Jr.. 2nd row: Lynda Gador, Drew Nash, Bruce Funston, Jr., Charles Teichert, Jr., Frederick Whelan, Geoffrey Tatton, James Flynn, Gary Texiere, John Slusarz, Dominick P. Sarica, Walter Forest, Jr. Kenneth McCarthy, F. Patrick Clarke, Hilary B. Miller. missing: David Ball, Cynthia Broderick, Stephen Hastings, Leonard Mingo, Mary Tate, Walter M. Newton, William Pollard, Anthony Sarica, Lawrence Spann, William Raynolds, George Skakel, Shasana Dipchand.
Central Fire Station Fire Fighting crew made up of members of the Amogerone Volunteer Fire Co. #1, Volunteer Hose and Chemical Co. #2, and the Greenwich Fire Police. This photo was taken at the State Fireman’s convention in Stamford where Greenwich was awarded “Best Appearing Apparatus”.
Greenwich Fire Department demonstration @ Grass Island
Greenwich Country Club Fire, September 6th.
The new club house was completed December, 1962 at a cost of $2,000,000
Line officers present outstanding “firemen of the year “ awards to three volunteer firemen. from left to right: Capt. Charles Teichert, Jr., Fireman Bruce Funstoin, 1st Lt. Robert Lehn, Fireman Jack McEnany, fireman Robert Underwood, District Chief John Titsworth, Jr.
Amogerone Officers, seated:
Secretary Dominick Sarica, Vice President Michael McFadden, President Rocco Santora, Treasurer William Forest. standing: District Chief Charles Teichert, Jr., Captain Thomas Tiska, 1st Lt. Walter Forest, 2ns Lt. Peter Koziel, Steward Robert Lehn.
FUND DRIVE - Equipment purchased with the donations from the community.
standing: Chief Charles Teichert, Jr., 1st Lt. Walter forest, 2nd Lt. Peter Koziel, President Rocco Santoro. kneeling John DeWaal, Capt. Thomas Tiska.
Amogerone Volunteer Fire Company No.1 Inc.
Central Fire Station, P.O. Box 121, Greenwich, CT 06836-0121
The Chiefs of the Amogerone Volunteer Fire Company #1, Inc.
Chief Isaac Hubbard 1932-1938
Chief John Goldschmidt
Chief John Fax
Chief Peter Graves
Chief Lawrence Daur
Chief Douglas P. Tobin
Chief Rocco J. Santoro
Chief Leonard L. Mingo
Chief Joseph Bucci
Chief Michael McFadden
Chief John H. Titsworth, Jr. 1968-1972
Chief Charles W. Teichert, Jr. 1972-1976
Chief Thomas A. Tiska 1976-1980
Chief Walter T. Forest, Jr. 1980-1982
Chief Robert W. Texiere, Jr. 1982-1994
Chief Peter J. Koziel 1984-1988
Chief Herbert Mead 1988-1992
Chief Steven J. Bozzuto 1992-2000
Chief Mark Tiska 2000-2004
Chief Steven Slusarz 2004-date
