Information for Town Residents

ESSEX FIRE ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1 CELEBRATES 175th ANNIVERSARY
June 22, 2008 Parade and Festivities Scheduled to Mark Occasion

Essex, Conn. – April 21, 2008

On June 22, 2008, Essex Fire Engine Company No. 1 will celebrate its 175th Anniversary. The Company was incorporated on June 22, 1833 and is the second oldest continually operated fire department in the state of Connecticut. It remains to this day a 100% all-volunteer fire company.

A parade marking the occasion will step off at 12:30 p.m. from the Ivoryton District center, and proceed on Main Street through the Centerbrook District and conclude at fire headquarters, located at 11 Saybrook Road in Essex, at approximately 3:30 p.m. The parade may be viewed anywhere along the parade route. The official review stand will be located in front of Essex Elementary School, located at 108 Main Street in Centerbrook. A large contingent of state and local government officials will be in attendance. In addition to the town’s Selectmen Philip Miller, Norman Needleman, and Vincent Pacilio also expected to attend include Governor M. Jodi Rell, Senators Joseph Lieberman, Christopher Dodd and Eileen M. Daily and State Representative James Spallone. WTNH anchorwoman Sonia Baghdady will be the master of ceremonies.

As many as 70 fire departments from Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Essex, England will participate and compete for 39 trophies that will be awarded at the conclusion of the judging process. The competition will be officiated over by the Connecticut Parade Marshal Association.

Staging of fire apparatus will commence at approximately 8:30 a.m. on the following streets in the Ivoryton District: Summit Street, Chestnut Street, Main Street, West Main Street, Walnut Street, Cheney Street and Ebony Lane. Until the step-off at 12:30 p.m., all streets will be remain open to regular traffic. No residential nor any business driveways will be blocked during staging, and all the areas to be used for staging will be clearly marked well in advance. There will be both portable restroom facilities and garbage containers through the staging and parade route, and parade representatives will be on-hand throughout the area to insure smooth operations and to answer questions or concerns.

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Once the parade steps-off at 12:30 p.m., rolling street closures will occur as the parade makes its way towards its final destination. Street closures will start with both Summit Street and Chestnut Street to through traffic until the parade apparatus clears those streets. The same will occur with other side streets along the parade route. Main Street will be closed along the parade route to all but emergency traffic, including traffic in and out of side streets and driveways which intersect Main Street, until the last piece of apparatus passes those streets and driveways. Signage will be posted to facilitate alternative routing to allow bypass to the parade route wherever possible.

Ambulance and EMS personnel will be located at staging areas and throughout the parade route, and at no time during the day will emergency services, including medical, fire, hazmat or any other essential services to the Town of Essex be impeded in anyway. To insure no loss in fire coverage, both in preparation for the parade and during, the Old Saybrook Fire Department will provide “in-town” fire coverage, beginning Friday night, June 20th.

At the conclusion of the parade, around 4:00 p.m., the public is invited and encouraged to join fire personnel in the celebration that will continue at Essex Fire Headquarters, located at 11 Saybrook Road near the intersections of Routes 153 and 154. The festivities will include free food and beverage, live music, and the opportunity to see a diverse range of fire apparatus from hundreds of year old antiques, to today’s state-of-the-art. Fire apparatus will be parked next-door to fire headquarters at the Clark Corporation. There will also be a “kids area”, including a supervised moon walk, maze and other kid-friendly activities. T-shirts and other memorabilia will be available for purchase. Washing stations and portable restroom facilities will be provided. The event will be crowned by a trophy presentation and recognition ceremony. The event is expected to conclude and visiting apparatus to depart at approximately 7:00 p.m.

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If you would like more information about this event, or to schedule an interview with Chief Fazzino, please contact him by e-mailing chiefsix@snet.net or by calling (860) 662-0681.

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