Communications is key!

Cornwall, a little History . . .

At a social event in 1951, several community members decided it would be a great benefit to start their own fire department. On January 29, 1951, the Cornwall Fire Department was chartered.

$743 bought the department it's first pumper in 1952. In 1959 a 1941 Buffalo Pumper was added. This served along with a pumper as the main apparatus until the town purchased a new pumper in 1974.

In 1985 members felt establishment of a Medical First Response group could better serve the community. Cornwall's First Response group assists with medical emergencies until the arrival of the Middlebury Ambulance. Many of the fire departments members are emergency medical certified and half of the department's annual calls are medical related.

For more than 35 years the department functioned out of a four bay garage in West Cornwall with no running water or meeting facilities. In the late 1980's the department raised nearly $200,000 in order to renovate a building to serve as a second fire station. The new station featured a meeting room and running water.

Over the past 46 years the Town of Cornwall and it's fire department have seen some drastic changes, but the goal of the department has remained the same -- 'to help out residents in time of need'.

Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department joined the ACFA in January 1952.see ref (1)

Check back for more information and photographs to be added soon . . .

(1) Historical data from the booklet: '1944-1994 50th Anniversary, Addison County Firefighters Association, Inc.' and was edited for use on this page. The booklet was researched and prepared by: Herbert Jackson, Ray Davidson, Sheila Turpin. Credit also goes to those un-named individuals in departments who contributed to their effort. A copy of the booklet is available from: ACFA, Attn. Terry Farr, P.O. Box 92, Bristol, Vermont 05443. Cost $3 plus 1.50 postage.