Hampton Fire Department: History, Photographs and News Stories

Hampton, New Hampshire



General History of the Hampton Fire Department

History of the Hampton Fire Department
Special supplement to the Atlantic News & Advertiser , January 10, 1984
Hampton Fire Deptartment Rules & Regulations, 1920s
"Fighting Fires": Peter Randall's History of the Hampton Fire Department
From Hampton, A Century of Town and Beach, 1888-1988 ,
Chapter 11, including photos from the book
Timeline History of the Hampton Fire Department, 1885-2005
by retired Hampton Firefighter Thomas P. Andrews, Jr.
Brief History of the Hampton Beach Fire Department , - (1906 thru 1936)
Hampton Union , August 13, 1936, "A Souvenir Edition"
Fire Chief Perley George Recounts Early Days Of Fire Departments
Hampton Union , November 13, 1958
New Aerial Fire Truck Arrives
The Beachcomber , July 1, 1959
Some photos of Hampton's two fire stations
Hampton and Hampton Beach Fire Alarm Box Locations and Street Directory, 1969
HFD Personnel after 1999
Courtesy of Fire Chief Chris Silver & Capt. Justin Cutting
Hampton Fire Department Personnel Roster, 1907 - 2008
Courtesy of Fire Chief Chris Silver & Capt. Justin Cutting
Farewell to the Hampton Beach fire house
Photos taken of the interior and exterior before its demolition in November 2013

Historic Fires

Photos of some of Hampton's worst fires
1733 -- Widow Leavitt's Tavern
From Joseph Dow's History of Hampton
1767-8 -- Multiple fires at Jonathan Moulton's house and barns
Extracted from old newspapers and other sources
1851 -- Hampton Academy
The Exeter News-Letter , September 1, 1851
1854 -- The Winnicumet House Hotel at Boar's Head
The Exeter News-Letter , July 24, 1854
1876 -- Granite House hotel
The Exeter News-Letter , May 10, 1876
1881 -- Destruction of several beach cottages
The Exeter News-Letter , April 13, 1881
1885 -- Ocean House Hotel
The Exeter News-Letter , May 8, 1885
1893 -- The Boar's Head Hotel
{Unknown newspaper}, October 1893
1899 -- Stacy Towle home
The Exeter News-letter , August 18, 1899
1900 -- Leonia Hotel
The Exeter News-letter , July 20, 1900
1901 -- Hotel Radcliffe
The Exeter News-letter , April 19, 1901
1903 -- Washington House, Dudley & White's studio and restaurant, the Home Nook Hotel, and the Sea Verge Hotel
The Hamptons Union , October 30, 1903
1907 -- Exeter, Hampton & Amesbury Street Railway car barn
The Hampton Record , March 8, 1907
1908 -- New Boar's Head Hotel
The Hamptons Union , October 30, 1908
1909 -- Hotel Radcliffe
The Hamptons Union , November 4, 1909
1911-12 -- Pentucket Hotel
The Hamptons Union , November 16, 1911 and June 6, 1912
1912 -- The Mason House & several other buildings near the center of town
The Hamptons Union , September 12, 1912
1913 -- The Echo House
The Hamptons Union , August 21, 1913
1913 -- Ashworth Hotel
The Hamptons Union , November 20, 1913
1915 -- FIRST CONFLAGRATION AT HAMPTON BEACH
Hampton Beach Fire of 1915 , The Hamptons Union , September 30, 1915
1915 Fire Photo postcards
1915 Fire Photos taken by William H. Snowman
Great Fires Of 1915 and 1921 , "Our Town" By James W. Tucker, Hampton Union , January 31, 1952
Reminiscences Of Conflagrations , "Our Town" By James W. Tucker, Hampton Union , February 7, 1952
When Fire Lit The Sunny Skies Of Hampton Beach .... , Hampton Union , July 9, 1986
The Year Of The Fires: 1915 -- (And It Wasn't To Be The Last), Rockingham County Newspapers , March 22-24, 1989
Out Of The Ashes: A History of Hampton Beach Fires , Foster's Sunday Citizen , June 20, 1999
1917 -- Whittier Hotel
The Hamptons Union , January 18, 1917
1921 -- SECOND CONFLAGRATION AT HAMPTON BEACH
Story from The Hamptons Union , June 30, 1921
Great Fires Of 1915 and 1921 , "Our Town" By James W. Tucker, Hampton Union , January 31, 1952
Reminiscences Of Conflagrations , "Our Town" By James W. Tucker, Hampton Union , February 7, 1952
When Fire Lit The Sunny Skies Of Hampton Beach .... , Hampton Union , July 9, 1986
The Year Of The Fires: 1915 -- (And It Wasn't To Be The Last), Rockingham County Newspapers , March 22-24, 1989
Out Of The Ashes: A History of Hampton Beach Fires , Foster's Sunday Citizen , June 20, 1999
1921 -- Boar's Head home of William D. Hannah
The Hamptons Union, November 10, 1921
1923 -- Bristol Garage, Wilbert Hotel and two cottages
The Hamptons Union, , June 28, 1923
Rockingham County Newspapers , March 22-24, 1989
1929 -- Carnival Dance Hall
Hamptons Union , November 28, 1929
1930 -- Hampton Academy
Hamptons Union , January 30, 1930
1940 -- First Congregational Church in Hampton
Fanatic Is Sought For Church Fire (Nov. 24, 1940)
Officials Conducting Rigid Investigation Of 3rd Church Fire (Nov. 28, 1940)
Officials Determine Origin of Church Fire After Investigation (Dec. 5, 1940)
1943 -- Foley's Restaurant
Hampton Union , February 18, 1943
1948 -- Downer Block at Hampton Beach
Hampton Union , September 16, 1948
1949 -- The Hampton Town Hall
Hampton Loses Historic Town Hall In Fire (1797 -- 1949); By John M. Holman, Contributing Writer
A collection of photos from the fire
Special Town Meeting April 7, 1949 To Discuss Rebuilding of Town Hall , Hampton Union , March 24, 1949
Letter Box: New Town Hall Subject Of Interest , by Willard E. Nudd, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Hampton Union , March 31, 1949
Interest Runs High Among Citizens For New Town Hall , The Hampton Union, April 7, 1949
Wood-burning Furnace Took Out the Town Hall By Horace Hobbs, Hampton Union , (date unknown)
Citizen Remembers The Hampton Town Hall Fire , By Dorothy Spear, Atlantic News , (date unknown)
Odd Fellows and Town Hall Blazes Changed Landscape , The Hampton Union - Herald Sunday , December 15, 2002
1950 -- THIRD CONFLAGRATION AT HAMPTON BEACH
Beach Rebuilding Program Gets Underway Following 1950 Fire , Hampton Union , July 20, 1950
Photographs of the 1950 Hampton Beach Fire
Time For Action , an editorial, The Hampton Union & Rockingham County Gazette , July 20, 1950
Out Of The Ashes: A History of Hampton Beach Fires , Foster's Sunday Citizen , June 20, 1999
1953 -- Floktex company shoe fabric plant on the Exeter Road
Hampton Union , April 9, 1953
1961 -- Fire at the Old Grist Mill near the beach end of High Street
Hampton Union , August 24, 1961
1962 -- Hotel Allen
Hampton Union , January 18, 1962
1962 -- Penobscot Motel
Hampton Union , February 1, 1962
1964 -- Glen Haven apartment house
The Portsmouth Herald , January 27, 1964
1974 -- Tides Hotel
Hampton Union , October 9, 1974
1975 -- Ocean Squire Motor Inn and Giovanni's Restaurant
Hampton Union , September 3, 1975
1981 -- Spindrift Motel
Hampton Union , December 12, 1981
1985 -- Rock Harbor Inn
Hampton Union , October 2, 1985
1986 -- Holiday Shores condominiums
Hampton Union , January 15, 1986
1990 -- Odd Fellows Building
Seacoast Loses Piece Of History , Hampton Union , January 30, 1990
Cause Of Blaze Still A Mystery To Investigators , Hampton Union , January 30, 1990
Origin of fire at Odd Fellows "suspicious" , Hampton Union , February 16, 1990
Odd Fellows and Town Hall Blazes Changed Landscape , The Hampton Union - Herald Sunday , December 15, 2002
1990 -- Town and Beach Motel
Hampton Union , May 11 - June 8, 1990
1990 -- Beacon Hotel
Hampton Union , June 12, 1990
1994 -- Knowles Homestead
Hampton Union , March 25, 1994
1999 -- Smith & Gilmore Fishing Pier
Atlantic News , April 15, 1999
1999 -- Old Salt Restaurant, Springfield Motel, and other businesses
Numerous articles on the fire
2001 -- Apartment Building at 707 Ocean Boulevard
2002 -- Apartment at 7 F Street
Homeless On Christmas Eve , Hampton Union , December 27, 2002
Fire Inspector Says Residents Can Help Selves Remain Safe , Hampton Union , December 31, 2002
After the Fire, Healing , Hampton Union , December 31, 2002
2003 -- Hampton Marina
Building At Hampton Marina Destroyed By Fire , The Portsmouth Herald , December 30, 2003
Fire Rips Marina , Hampton Union , January 4, 2004
Officials Probe Hampton Blaze , Hampton Union , January 4, 2004
2004 -- Olde Hampton Village Apartments
Hampton Union , May 11, 2004
2007 -- Epping & Dover Streets, Hampton Beach
Valentine's Fire , Hampton Union , February 16, 2007
Neighbors: 'This Is Unbelievable' , Hampton Union , February 16, 2007
Family Plans To Rebuild , Hampton Union , February 16, 2007
2007 -- The Walk-In Closet
The Walk-In Closet , Atlantic News , May 11, 2007
2007 -- Funarama at the Casino
Cause of Beach Fire Unknown , Hampton Union , July 6, 2007
Fire Cause May Be Announced , Hampton Union , July 10, 2007
Funarama Fire Investigation Continues , Atlantic News , July 13, 2007
2007 -- Foss Manufacturing
Hampton Firefighters Douse Two Blazes , Hampton Union , September 14, 2007
Firefighters Field Calls After Foss Boiler Blows , Hampton Union , September 18, 2007
2010 -- 548 Lafayette Road
Fire Leaves Family of 14 Homeless , Hampton Union , Janury 23, 2010
2010 -- Surf Motel, Happy Hampton Arcade, Mrs. Mitchell's, Surf Sweet Shop
Numerous articles on the fire
2012 -- O'Leary's Grille
Articles and photos on the fire from the Hampton Union and the Hampton-NorthHamptonPatch
2014 -- Condominiums at 19 Atlantic Avenue
Hampton Union, April 22, 2014

Hampton's Fire Chiefs

History of Hampton's Fire Chiefs
Lemuel C. Ring, 1911-1916
Hampton 'First' Fire Chief Remembered By Ancestors, Fire Officials , Hampton Union , May 1, 2001
L.C. Ring Named Hampton's First Fire Chief , Atlantic News , May 3, 2001
Alexander H. Brown, 1916-1923
Fire Chief Alexander H. Brown at the Cental Fire House , Hampton Union , September 28, 1999
Homer Whiting, Hampton Fire Chief, is Fired
Hampton Union , April 15, 1937
Chief Homer B. Whiting and The Whiting Light
George Lamott, 1937-1958
Fire Chief Lamott Given Testimonial At Beach , Hampton Union , November 13, 1958
William "Skip" Sullivan, 1987-1998
'Skip' Sullivan Set Standard For Fire Chiefs , Herald Sunday , October 4, 1998
When The Good Guys Step Down , Atlantic News , December 18, 1998
Sullivan To Serve as Rye Fire Chief , Hampton Union , June 26, 2007
Rye Names Sullivan Fire Chief , Hampton Union , December 7, 2007
Chief Skip Sullivan recognized for 47 years of firefighting , Hampton Union, December 1, 2015
Hank Lipe, 1999-2008
Fire Chief Hank Lipe Announces Resignation , Hampton Union , August 1, 2008
Fire Chief Position Posted Internally , Hampton Union , August 5, 2008
Christopher Silver, 2008-2014
Hampton Names New Fire Chief , Hampton Union , September 23, 2008
Silver Named New Hampton Fire Chief , Atlantic News , September 26, 2008
From Paramedic to Fire Chief , Hampton Union , September 26, 2008
Silver Sworn in as Hampton's New Fire Chief , Hampton Union , September 30, 2008
Hampton fire chief terminated , Hampton Union , December 16, 2014
Hampton: Fire chief terminated for lack of 'good conduct,' Hampton Union, March 16, 2015

Recent News Stories about the Hampton Fire Department

Hampton honors retired firefighter Matt Clement
Hampton Union , February 5, 2016
Hampton officials celebrate new beach fire station
Hampton Union , December 13, 2013
Old Hampton Beach Fire Station demolished
Hampton Union , November 19, 2013
Fire Station's Demolition Marks 'End of An Era'
Hampton-NorthHamptonPatch , November 18, 2013
Hampton Firefighters 'Glad' New Station Fully Occupied, Operational
Hampton-NorthHamptonPatch , November 5, 2013
Hampton Breaks Ground on New Beach Fire Station
Hampton Union , December 14, 2012
Fire and Water: Hampton FD Aboard for Ocean Rescue Training
Hampton Union , September 28, 2012
Proud Firefighter Sad About Retirement
Hampton Union , April 10, 2012
New Deputy Fire Chief Chosen for Hampton Fire Dept.
Hampton-NorthHamptonPatch , April 3, 2012
Hampton Beach precinct voters must OK land transfer for new fire station
Hampton Union , March 23, 2012
Hampton Selectmen Want Beach Fire Station Off Historic Registry
Hampton Union , January 17, 2012
Scaled-back $4.65M fire stations project sent to voters
Hampton Union , November 25, 2011
Old court eyed for Fire Deptartment offices
Hampton Union , October 28, 2011
Living the dream: Hampton's new fire prevention officer said the job is what he's always wanted to do
Hampton-NorthHamptonPatch , July 18, 2011
New Fire Station Plans
Hampton Union , January 18, 2011
Public Hearing for Fire Station Projects
Hampton Union , January 11, 2011
Fire Capt. Dave Lang to retire after 30 years of service
Hampton Union , January 7, 2011
Beach Fire Station
Hampton Union , November 13, 2010
Town to vote on two fire stations
Hampton Union , July 30, 2010
John Stevens Keeps Tradition Alive
Seacoast Scene , May 19, 2010
All in the Firehouse
Seacoast Scene , April 28, 2010
Fire House Survey Irks Selectmen
Hampton Union , November 11, 2009
Beach Fire Station in Works
Hampton Union , October 6, 2009
Town Gets Two New Firefighters
Hampton Union , May 29, 2009
Hampton Fire Captain Matt Clark retires
Atlantic News , February 22, 2008
Two Alarms For Firehouses
Hampton Union , February 22, 2008
Open House A Great Success
Atlantic News , October 26, 2007
$7.4M Fire Station Plans to Voters?
Hampton Union , October 26, 2007
Fire Station #2 Hosts First Open House In Years
Hampton Union , October 23, 2007
Hampton Fire Department Honors Bryan Litchfield
Hampton Union , October 16, 2007
Booting Up For the Burn Foundation
Atlantic News , July 13, 2007
In Search of a New Substation
Hampton Union , July 13, 2007
Solution For Summer at the Fire Station No. 1
Atlantic News , May 4, 2007
Lead Paint Won't Close Hampton Beach Fire Station
Hampton Union , May 1, 2007
Hampton Beach Fire Station to Close?
Hampton Union , April 27, 2007
Mobile Classroom A Hot Commodity For Fire Prevention
Atlantic News , Ocxtober 6, 2006
New Rig For HFD
Atlantic News , September 22, 2006
Committee Split On Substation Size
Hampton Union , September 1, 2006
Precinct Rails Against Substation Plan
Hampton Union , August 25, 2006
Training Against the Tides
Hampton Union , July 18, 2006
Beach Station Revisited
Hampton Union , July 14, 2006
Beach Lease Almost Done
Hampton Union , April 28, 2006
Fire Chief Touts Rescue Boat
Hampton Union , February 10, 2006
Board Kills Plan For New Fire Station
Hampton Union , January 3, 2006
Plans For Fire Stations Are Unveiled
Hampton Union , December 16, 2005
Fire Station Location Debated
Hampton Union , November 15, 2005
Seven Step Down in Hampton With 160 Years' Service
The Herald Sunday , October 16, 2005
Beach Seeks Info on Fire Station Deal
Hampton Union , September 30, 2005
Quest for cash: Hampton Seeks Firefighter Funding After Chief's Report
Atlantic News , September 2, 2005
Attic Fire Closes TNT Sub Shop
Atlantic News , August 25, 2005
and an article from the Hampton Union , August 26, 2005
Retiring Firefighters Say Their Goodbyes
Hampton Union , April 22, 2005
Laid-off Workers Reflect On Loss
Hampton Union , April 12, 2005
Scout Renovates Fire Museum at Tuck
Hampton Union , March 11, 2005
Fire Station Plans Presented
Hampton Union , December 7, 2004
Beach Offers Trade Of Fire Station Site
Hampton Union , November 9, 2004
Dispute Brews On Firehouse
Hampton Union , October 15, 2004
Feds To Pay $483K for Public-Safety Pier
Hampton Union , June 25, 2004
SKYWARN: National Weather Service Spotters
Seacoast Scene , June 23, 2004
Fire Chief Participates In Symposium
Also see Chief Lipe Learns More About Leadership
Atlantic News , April 29, 2004
Fire Chief: Money In Budget Can Fund Design Of Station
Hampton Union , March 16, 2004
Firefighters Finish Paramedic Training
Hampton Union , March 16, 2004
Fire Department Docks New Rescue Boat
Hampton Union , July 18, 2003
Where They Were
Atlantic News , May 29, 2003
"9/11 Remembered"
Firefighters' Memorial Is Unveiled At Hampton Station,
Atlantic News , May 29, 2003
Governor Benson Helps Hampton Honor 9/11 Victims
Hampton Union , May 27, 2003
A New Center For Child Safety
Atlantic News , March 6, 2003
Hampton's Fire Safety Is Discussed
Atlantic News , March 6, 2003
Area Firefighters Reflect On The Tragic R.I. Blaze
Hampton Union , February 23, 2003
Local Firefighters Ride to Rescue -- With Toys
Hampton Union , December 31, 2002
Hampton's First Female Firefighter Is A Firefighter First
Hampton Union , December 20, 2002
Seacoast Firefighters Gear Up For The Holiday Season
Atlantic News , November 21, 2002
New Firefighters Come To Hampton
Atlantic News , April 18, 2002
New Fire Engine Rolls Into Hampton
Hampton Union , April 5, 2002
History Rolls Into Hampton
Atlantic News , April 4, 2002
Hampton Beach Precinct and Town of Hampton Join Forces
Atlantic News , April 4, 2002
Fire Department Agreement Benefits Town, Beach
"An Editorial", Hampton Union , March 26, 2002
Historic Fire Pact Finally A Done Deal
Hampton Union , March 22, 2002
The Hampton Beach Village Precinct Fire Services Turned Over To The Town
Atlantic News , March 21, 2002
Fire Chief Promotes Firefighters
Hampton Union , March 19, 2002
Fire Departments Agree To Contract
Hampton Union , March 12, 2002
'In The Best Interest' Of The Town
Hampton Union , March 5, 2002
Giving Neuromuscular Disease 'The Boot'
Atlantic News , August 16, 2001
Pumped Up About Fire Fighting
Atlantic News , July 5, 2001
Steve Benotti Named Acting Deputy Fire Chief
Atlantic News , July 5, 2001
"Unsung Heroes" Are Honored
Atlantic News , June 7, 2001
Fire Causes Major Damage at Beach
Atlantic News , May 17, 2001
Historian Presents Hampton Fire Department With 100-page History
Hampton Union , February 2, 2001
All Fired Up About [Hampton] History
Hampton Fire Department Presented History, Atlantic News , February 1, 2001