Station No. 1 will celebrate its centennial with an open house on Aug. 15.

Photo of East Side Fire District personnel and apparatus taken circa 1928. Courtesy of Capt. Steven Winter

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford’s most historical fire station will open its doors to the public for an open house on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015, as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of operation and service at its 561 Prospect Ave. location.

According to Capt. Steven Winter, what was originally the East Side Fire District began operation on Nov. 22, 1909, as West Hartford’s first formally-established fire company. According to Winter, the history of organized firefighting in town dates back to the formation of the West Hartford Hose Company on July 24, 1879.

The land on Prospect Avenue was purchased in 1912 and the East Side Fire District moved into the three-story brick building – today the home of West Hartford Fire Station #1 – on Aug. 22, 1915.

Present day Engine 1 – a 2013 KME pumper – outside Station #1. Photo courtesy of Capt. Steven Winter

The station was designed by noted Hartford architect William T. Marchant, and original architectural drawings of the building dating back to 1914 will be on display at the open house. Marchant also designed West Hartford Town Hall (formerly Hall High School) as well as many of the estate homes in Hartford’s West End. According to Winter, the only fire station Marchant ever designed is the one on Prospect Avenue.

Winter said that most of the building’s original features dating back to 1915 remain in place today, including all of the original woodwork, the brass fire pole, and swinging fire doors.

Winter said that an addition was built in 1926 to accommodate a ladder truck and a kitchen was added downstairs sometime in the 1950s. “That’s about all that’s changed,” Winter said. The floor tiles in the bathrooms and some of the pedastal sinks are original, he said.

West Hartford Fire Department officials will kick off the event with a brief ceremony at 10 a.m., and visitors will be able to enjoy a self-guided tour of the historic building. The open house is family-friendly.

A 1915 American LaFrance Ladder Truck courtesy of Prospect (CT) Volunteer Fire Department, will be on display at the WHFD Station #1 open house. Courtesy photo

Also on display, courtesy of the Prospect, CT Volunteer Fire Department, will be a restored 1915 American LaFrance fire truck similar to the first fire truck ever assigned to the Prospect Avenue station.

The equipment in use by the station today is much more modern, and includes Engine #1, a 2013 KME pumper. “With all the medical calls we get, we’re now the busiest company in town,” Winter said.

“If anyone has an interest in architecture, fire service, or history, this event holds something for everyone,” Winter said. The station will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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Courtesy of Capt. Steven Winter