Simsbury portion of Route 185 dedicated as 'Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Memorial Highway'
- jfitts0
- Jul 26, 2024
- 5 min read
By John Fitts
Staff Writer
SIMSBURY – It might just be two signs designating the Simsbury portion of Route 185 as the
“Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Memorial Highway,” but those markers symbolize so much more.
“Over the past 80 years of service the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company has been blessed by the unselfish dedication of its residents to volunteer and be trained as emergency first responders for fire and rescue services,” said Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company Chief James A. Baldis. “During this time, 657 residents have stepped up as Volunteer Firefighters in addition to over 100 auxiliary members who have supported the Volunteer Fire Company for these 80 years.”
Those remarks came during a recent dedication and naming ceremony held at the Simsbury Fire House headquarters on Hopmeadow Street. The designation runs on Route 185 (Hartford Road) from Route 10 to the Bloomfield town line, made possible by SB. No. 904, a 2023 bill that incorporates many transpiration initiatives.
Among those speaking at the event, and presenting a General Assembly citation for the occasion, were state Rep. Melissa Osborne and state Sen. Lisa Seminara.
It was Baldis who originally suggested such an honor after seeing the Avon Volunteer Fire Department designation on Route 10 a few years ago. He brought the idea to then state Sen. Kevin Witkos and then state Rep. John Hampton. With both of them now retired from the legislature, the work to secure the dedication was continued by state Rep. Melissa Osborne and state Sen. Lisa Seminara, fire officials said.
“I am so pleased to be here tonight to honor the brave men and women who have given so much and dedicated so much to the safety and well-being of each and every resident of Simsbury,” Osborne said at the ceremony. “The fire company has represented the best of community spirit and public service. Each and every member dedicates long hours to training in every kind of condition, challenge and weather to ensure they stand at the ready in each and every moment to deliver lifesaving and often daring rescues of their neighbors.
In addition to their bravery in action, our fire company, led by incomparable chiefs and officers, have carefully curated and built a fleet of incredibly top-flight apparatus needed in almost every conceivable situation. Whether it be rescue, special operations, tank, tower engines or marine, our crew and equipment stand at the ready to serve and to save.”
"I couldn’t have said it any better myself – so happy to be here with you this evening to celebrate this auspicious occasion,” Seminara added. “I was talking to the chiefs earlier this evening. I represent 11 towns and Simsbury is the only town that doesn’t have issues with retention and recruitment, and I think that is incredibly impressive. Obviously everyone here is doing their job well and doing it right and keeping their volunteers safe and happy and willing to serve their community. So, I can’t congratulate you any more than Rep. Osborne has said and we look forward tonight to the ongoing program and the official unveiling of the road and dedication to you all. Thank you so much for your service and thank you for your ongoing service that will continue in the future.”
First Selectman Wendy Mackstutis thanked the past and current state legislators as well as the fire company and auxiliary volunteers, officers and others.
She also noted the placement of the signs is a great one that many will see when traversing to and from town or through it, and noted the locations near the town line and where Route 185 meets Route 10.
“As you drive into town now over the mountain, you will see the sign now that says Simsbury Fire Company Memorial Highway. I noticed it the other day and it was a welcome addition to Route 185 because it’s in a great place to acknowledge that you’ve crossed the line into Simsbury and it gives a nod to the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company who’ve been keeping us safe for 80 years. It’s a main thoroughfare in and out of town, coming down the mountain over the bridge by the Pinchot sycamore and it seems like the perfect place to have a sign.”
She also noted that the volunteers being honored are friends and neighbors.
“These volunteers provide us with a feeling that we are in good hands as it is our friends and neighbors who will be coming when we call 9-1-1 for a fire-related issue, or potentially, if we have a cat up a tree.” Baldis confirmed that the company still responds to such calls.
Prior to 1944, Ensign Bickford provided fire coverage for most in town, while the Tariffville Volunteer Fire Company had also formed in 1939 to protect the village in a timely fashion.
In the early days of 1944, Ensign Bickford stopped fire service in town because many of its resources, supplies and manpower were being diverted for the war effort.
The Fire District was created in early June of that year with approximately 26 volunteers in a town of some 4,000 – incorporating the Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company later that month. In 1983, the Tariffville Volunteer Fire Company was dissolved into the SVFC.
“Eighty years ago this month early on a Sunday morning, Simsbury’s Ensign Bickford Company delivered to the newly formed Simsbury Fire District and Simsbury Volunteer Fire Company its 1935 American LaFrance fire engine, which was then purchased and used by the Ensign Bickford Company to protect their business and also to protect the town of Simsbury from fires,” Baldis said. “Due to the impact of World War II on Ensign Bickford they could no longer provide the town this fire protection, so residents of Simsbury formed the Volunteer Fire Company, which provides the emergency first responder labor required to protect its citizens, along with Engine 1 provided by Ensign Bickford.”
He noted how that engine was stored in a garage at the current site of Benny’s until the main fire station was built. That engine was in service until 1974 before it was later restored.
Today the town has approximately 24,000 residents and nearly 100 active volunteers.
“We are grateful to the residents of Simsbury who support the Simsbury Fire District, which fund the buildings, equipment and training required to keep us well trained and most importantly safe as we provide these critical emergency services to town,” said Baldis. “I am honored to be able to stand here as one of our volunteers and to again thank the state of Connecticut and especially our legislative Senator Lisa Seminara and Rep. Melissa Osborne for this deserved recognition of our Volunteer Fire Company and its 80 years of service.”
Fire District President Gary Wilcox expressed his appreciation for those involved and the volunteers who made it all possible.
On behalf of the entire fire district I would like to express our thanks to all the people who have made this happen - number 1 chief Baldis. Jim initiated this a number of years ago and no one more than he knows first-hand the level of dedication, professionalism, training and sacrifice this group of men and women have shown over the last 80 years to be worthy of this honor. Number 2 – the people on the state level – our state Sen. Witkos and Rep. Hampton to start the effort and Sen. Seminara and Rep. Osborne to see it to its fruition also at the state level, our friends at DOT for their supportive role in making this become a reality. Last, but certainly not least, are the hundreds of fire company and auxiliary members… [They] are the true definition of volunteers and are the individuals that have been dedicated and professional with thousands of hours of training and sacrifice at all hours of the day and night to consistently ensure the safety of all of our citizens.”
Below are photos from the ceremony.
