KENT, Conn.—The sun beat down on the grounds of the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association Saturday, Aug. 9, but it did not stop a large group of firefighters from getting together to have some fun.
Local firefighters, including those from Kent Volunteer Fire Department, participated in the first annual Firefighter’s Muster held on the grounds of CAMA.
KVFD provided equipment for many of the challenges, as did the New England States Veterans Firemen’s League, which brought old-fashioned tubs to the grounds for competitions.
Ellen Corsell, vice president of the Kent Chamber of Commerce, which co-sponsored the event along with Kent Park and Rec and other local businesses, said the KVFD worked with Park and Rec “to have fun challenges for the kids, who won fire hats for their efforts.”
Advertisements
KVFD will receive more than $1,000 in prize money.
A mix of Kent Volunteer Fire Department and members of the New England States Veterans Fireman’s League pump an antique bath in one of the competitions held at the first annual Firefighter’s Muster, a benefit for the town’s firefighters and first responders held on the grounds of the Connecticut Antique Machinery Association in Kent Saturday, Photo by Deborah RoseA volunteer with Projection 1 of Newbury, Mass., receives the signal for those on the pump line to pump for one of the competitions at the first firefighter’s muster. Photo by Deborah RoseKent Volunteer Fire Department members and volunteers dig in as they compete against visiting members of the New England States Veterans Fireman’s League in tug of war. Photo by Deborah RoseRon Batchelder, with Quansigmog in Bath, Maine, leads the team at the front of the line as he and other visiting firefighters from the New England States Veterans Fireman’s League compete against the Kent Volunteer Fire Department in tug of war. Visitors won the round of tug of war, defeating KVFD members. Photo by Deborah RoseAt the conclusion of the first muster in Kent, members of Kent Volunteer Fire Department, from left to right, in back, PJ Haviland, Taylor Christian, John Christian, Alex Limbos, Captain John Russell, Chief Alan Gawel, Bill Smith, Ben Soule, Assistant Chief Wendell Soule, Captain Tim Sneller, Carter Sneller, and Lieutenant Lou Dingee, joined muster coordinators, in front, from left, Kent Parks & Rec Director Matt Busse and Kent Chamber of Commerce Vice President Ellen Corsell, and two of the event sponsors who served as judges, Jack Hayward, president of Connecticut Antique Machinery Association, and Rob Schur of High Watch Recovery. Photo by Deborah Rose
Deborah Rose is a lifelong writer, photographer, poet and award-winning journalist. As assistant editor of the Kent Dispatch, she brings us more than 25 years in community journalism and, as a lifelong...
More by Deborah Rose
Join the Conversation
1 Comment
This was not the first Kent Firemen’s Muster. They were held every summer in the ‘60s on Convoy Field on Route 7 South. Fire Departments from eight or nine surrounding towns, including from New York State, participated. All part of the annual Firemen’s Fair.
This was not the first Kent Firemen’s Muster. They were held every summer in the ‘60s on Convoy Field on Route 7 South. Fire Departments from eight or nine surrounding towns, including from New York State, participated. All part of the annual Firemen’s Fair.