At a Fourth of July picnic in 1926 several north end neighbors started to talk about organizing a fire department.  The conversation revolved around taking over for the defunct fire district known as “Center Hose Co.”  The organizers consisted of several of the town’s tobacco farmers, foreman and skilled machinists from the William’s Brothers Silver Company, along with other local businessmen and neighbors.  The group acquired the Packard hose wagon from the defunct Center Hose Company and made the necessary repairs to get it operational once again.  In addition, the group acquired a used Reo fire truck along with additional firefighting equipment.

Naubuc Fire Department stored its equipment in a three car garage to the rear of 256 Naubuc Avenue.  The garage was located on a parcel that was also improved with a general store known as Pagani’s and the Muccio residence.   Mike Muccio, who at the time was the town’s Chief of Police, was appointed Fire Chief.  Chief Muccio served the department until he lost his life in an automobile accident ten years later.

Funding of the Naubuc Fire Department was done through private donations by neighbors and local businesses such as Roser’s Tannery, Consolidated Tobacco Corp, William’s Brothers Silver, J.B. Williams Soap Co. and Joe Katz’s store.  Members of Naubuc Fire were required to pay dues and the department also charged for its services.  Charges for service ranged from $25.00 for a grass fire to $50.00 for a structure fire.  This as it turned out was a public relations nightmare and soon ceased to be policy. The District taxes, for water, electricity and now fire services were also short lived, lasting about 15 years. 

With the passing for Chief Muccio, William “Bill” Connery became the next Fire Chief for Naubuc Fire Department.  In 1937, by a popular vote of the department’s growing membership, Chief Connery assumed the top spot.  Chief Connery served as Fire Chief through the conclusion of World War II.  During his tenure, Chief Connery was faced with two major events, the 1936 flood and the 1938 hurricane.  Both storms severally impacted the northern section of town. 

The flood of 1936 occurred in March and is considered to be the deepest flood of the Connecticut River within a 300 year period.  The Connecticut River rose an estimated 38 feet, reaching the second floor of the firehouse and essentially flooding all of Naubuc Avenue, Pratt Street and Main Street.  Many businesses and homes were severely damaged or destroyed.  In addition to the flooding in the northern section of town, the same was being experienced in South Glastonbury along Tyron Street, Ferry Lane, and the low lying section of Main Street.  Naubuc members were called upon to help so many, including itself when the department was forced to vacate the fire house and move to higher ground. 

Two years later, the Naubuc Fire Department was once again faced with a second natural disaster.  In September 1938, the Connecticut River rose an estimated 34 feet, but what makes this storm different from the flood of 1936 is the fact that it was accompanied by a hurricane.  Wind speeds were estimated to be as high as 125 to 150 miles per hour.  Several days of heavy rain saturated the ground, which allowed for the monstrous winds to uproot hundreds of trees.  In addition, several of the town’s bridges along the Salmon Brook were washed out, as well as the dam at Shoddy Mill Pond and Fishers Pond, which is now known as Eastbury Pool.  

The storm destroyed numerous tobacco sheds throughout town.  The destruction of the sheds couldn’t have come at a worst possible time for the local farmers.  The farmers had already harvested their tobacco crops, which were hung inside the sheds to cure.  The conditions not only had a negative financial impact to the town, but travelling was dangerous, communications was extremely difficult and both the police and fire department were overtaxed.  The storm also claimed the life of George Henry, who was a member of Naubuc Fire Department.  During the storm Henry was attempting to make repairs and secure a chimney to a building in East Hartford when he was blown off the roof and subsequently died from the injuries he sustained. 

These two natural disasters had a lasting impact on the town’s two fire departments and it became evident that the department needed to revamp its infrastructure.  It was at this point in time that the Town’s selectman established a Fire Commission.  It became the Fire Commission’s role to facilitate combining the Naubuc Fire Department and the South Glastonbury Volunteer Fire Department into one entity.

The first steps towards establishing the Glastonbury Fire Department occurred in 1940.  The Fire Commission acquired the Naubuc District School building, at the corner of Main and Pratt Streets.  The town contracted with Works Progress Administration to make the necessary improvements to the building and transform it from a school to a fire station.  The cost for the improvements was reported to be $1,500 and in 1940, the Naubuc Fire Department relocated to the new site.

In 1943, when the Glastonbury Fire Department was formally established by merging the town’s three independent fire departments into one agency, the Naubuc Fire Department became the Glastonbury Fire Department's Company 1.

The station at Main and Pratt Streets was replaced in the 1970s and the site still serves as the Glastonbury Fire Department’s headquarters and is one of four fire stations in town.

Back to History