Company 4 History

In the early sixties several meetings were held, and the ultimate decision to come out of those meetings was the establishment of Company 4. As the town grew, especially to the southeast, and east, it was decided to build 2 new firehouses, a relocated new Company #3, (on then Hopewell Rd – now Chestnut Hill Rd), near Bucks Corners and a newly established Company #4 on Manchester Rd. near the intersection of Hebron Avenue; that’s the intersection of Rt’s 83 & 94. Identical buildings were designed, bids went out and occupancy was scheduled for late ’64 or early ’65.

The 1952 LaFrance engine previously assigned to Company 3 was transferred to Company #4.

When the "split" of Company 3 occurred Bernie Dennler, Sr. was appointed Captain of Company #3 and William Bailey the Captain of the new Company #4 (October 24, 1963). At this point GFD Company’s new “1st due” areas were roughly cutting the map of Glastonbury into 4 quarters geographically.

Recruiting was difficult in the lst few years at Company #4, but Captain Bailey, with his few veteran firefighters and the ongoing training of his newer people, managed to survive and become a viable, working company.

A 1967 FMC/Bean pumper was added a few years after they started.

Thus the Buckingham Volunteer Fire Department, (the name of their social club), was born.