HARVARD FIRE DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT HISTORY
The Harvard Fire Department is a call fire department, which was founded on March 9, 1921. There were originally 8 members and the first chief was Wallace F. Bryant. Today the department consists of a full time Chief and 25 call firefighters. The full time chief's position was established on February 1, 2001. In the history of the department there have been 8 chiefs. They are Wallace F. Bryant, Emery Perry, John O. Burdick, Paul V. Johnston, Alex McCurdy, Stephen Perry, Peter E. Warren and Robert J. Mignard. The department serves the community of Harvard Massachusetts, a rural community of approximately 5,600 residents and is approximately 32 miles west of Boston at the junction of Routes 2 and 495. The community is a combination of agriculture and residential homes.
When the department was first founded the Engine company was housed in the rear of the town hall, shortly there after a two bay station was constructed across the street from the town hall with a second floor meeting room, at a cost of $6000. This building is still used by the department today. The engine room now houses the rescue boat and the other stall is the town vault. The second floor is the office of the S.A.F.E. committee, which is involved, with the education of the school population and the public in fire life safety training. In 1948 the Still River station was build by the firemen and is a two bay station, the cost for materials was $3600. Today Engine 1 is housed in this station as well as the 1930 Seagraves pumper and the 1947 Maxim pumper, which is the departments muster truck. The center station was built in 1976 and is the main station of the department. It has 5 bays, the department meeting room, a dispatch room, kitchen, bunkroom and the chief's office.
The Department has always been an intricate part of the community. The original members sponsored monthly town dances and the in the 1960's the department held an annual bean suppers and over the last thirty plus years the annual turkey raffle during November. The department has a history dating back into the 1930s of participation in the Wachusett Truck Muster League and in the 1960s to mid 1970s the Massachusetts Muster League.
The Harvard Fire Department responds to approximately 175 calls for emergency services. The department currently operates with 4 engine companies, a tanker, a brush truck, a hazardous materials basic spill containment trailer and a 16-foot Rescue One boat. The department does have marine and cold water/ice rescue capabilities.