Origin and History
(PDF version of this report HyMar & Hyde)
1944 (Jan 31) Annual Reports and Warrant for 1945
Excerpt from Selectmen’s Report, page 9
One of the outstanding incidents is the fact that Mr. Clarence E. Hyde, has generously provided the use of his power-driven fire pump for any fire which occurs. This town is indeed fortunate to have such an apparatus which is so greatly needed for the protection of our homes, establishments, and summer residences.
1945 Annual Reports and Warrant for 1946, page 5
8. To see if the town will vote to accept a Fire Truck as a gift from Clarence E. Hyde.
a) To raise and appropriate the amount necessary to purchase land and erect and maintain a suitable building to house the fire equipment.
b) To raise and appropriate the sum necessary to organize and support a fire company.
1946 Annual Reports and Warrant for 1947, page 5
9. To raise and appropriate such sums as may be necessary to complete the construction of the Hy-Mar Fire House and provide for the maintenance of same.
a) To raise and appropriate the sum necessary to support the Hy-Mar Fire Company.
(1946 Selectmen’s Report, page 7)
At the Annual Meeting in March, town and school appropriations were routine in nature, with a special appropriation to erect a building to house the new fire truck presented to the town by Mr. Clarence E. Hyde.
Early in the year a piece of land was bought on Corser Hill and work started on the building, but due to severe shortages in building materials it has not yet been completed, although the truck was moved in about November 1st, and a heating system installed.
A series of meetings were held to organize a fire company by a group of interested citizens with the Selectmen. An appointed committee drew up a set of by-laws which were adopted, and a volunteer company formed to be known as THE HY-MAR FIRE COMPANY.
1947 Annual Reports and Warrant for 1948, page 6
8. To raise and appropriate such sums as may be necessary to complete the construction of the Hy-Mar Fire House.
a) To raise and appropriate the sum necessary to support the Hy-Mar Fire Department.
1949 Annual Reports and Warrant for 1950, page 48
REPORT ON HY-MAR FIRE COMPANY
The new fire house built by Mr. Hyde to aid and support the Hy-Mar Fire Company on Courser Hill was completed. This is equipped with a new Bean High Pressure Pumper with K 11 International motor on a K 8 chassis, with a 600 gallon booster tank, auxiliary lighting plant and flood lights, gas masks, boots, rain coats and helmets. In addition to the above are two auxiliary pumpers, one a Goram, the other a Homlite, to pump from wells, fill tanks and for forest fire use, one Jeep Fire Truck with 1200 feet of hose, ladders and axes, and one Maxim Pumper with a V 8 motor and 1800 feet of hose.
The fire house is heated by an oil burner and has been kept warm all winter so that the equipment is ready to go at any time. This equipment, which, with the building, cost well over $30,000, is maintained by Mr. Hyde.
On the back road to the Lake we are unable to make the turn with the new truck on account of the long wheel base. If the Selectmen are able to obtain permission from land owners, Mr. Hyde will build a new road that will do away with the present hairpin turn. This would save much time traveling to Sweatt’s Mills and points beyond with the Lake equipment.
Some attention should be given to preserving the dam at the new water hole at Corser Hill. The several thousand gallons of water now available there would prove invaluable for a bad fire in that section. …
I wish to thank Honorary Chief Clarence E. Hyde, the officers and member of the Company, and the Selectmen for their cooperation.
1957 Annual Report and Warrant for 1958, page 8
16. To see if the town will vote to accept, as a gift, a fire truck from Clarence E. Hyde.
17. To see what action the Town wishes to take in regards to the Housing or Disposal of the fire trucks, and to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary.
1958 Annual Report and Warrant for 1959, page 48
FIRE HOUSE PROJECT
Following the acceptance of the Fire Truck, given to the Town by Mr. Clarence E. Hyde, a committee of nine people were chosen by the voters, to draw up plans for an addition to the Fire House to provide the space needed for the new equipment.
Fortunately for the Town, the land adjacent to the present building on the northerly side was given and deeded to the Town by Mr. Frederick C. Hopewell.
The building committee proceeded with plans to build a three stall addition to the existing building.
Volunteer help cut logs on Town land and then hauled them to Robert Pearson’s sawmill, who gave his time and equipment to saw these and other logs hauled in. James Roberts gave the use of his truck to haul logs and sawed lumber. All labor at the mill and use of machinery and trucks being donated by other local people.
Other volunteers, under the supervision of Mr. Lloyd H. Stone, gave their services to help erect a large portion of the building. Carpenters were hired to complete it, and the fire trucks were housed before cold weather.
Another valuable donation was an oil furnace, given by Mr. Charles Maynard. This was installed and has operated efficiently.
An estimate of total contributions of labor and material amount to $1,500.00.
1961 Annual Report and Warrant for 1962, page 51
REPORT OF FIRE CHIEF
As retiring chief of the Hy-Mar Fire Company I take this opportunity to express my pleasure and satisfaction with the excellent condition in which I leave the Company, and my gratitude to those responsible for it.
When the addition to the fire house was built, firemen and townspeople donated over $1,700.00 in lumber, labor, trucking, and mill work. …
Last, but by no means least, the particular thanks of every resident of Webster is due Mr. C. E. Hyde, whose most generous gifts of engines and equipment has made it possible for us to build a fire department second to that of no other small town anywhere.
L. H. STONE
1962 Annual Report and Warrant for 1969, page 8
21. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum not to exceed $800.00 to purchase a new furnace for the fire house.
1963 Annual report, page 62 (Excerpt from Fire Chief’s Report) – [Plumbing]
It is our hope to install a washbowl and toilet in the fire house within a short time.
1964 Annual Report, page 60 (Excerpt from Fire Chief’s Report)
Also we have the water connected to the sink and the bathroom. For which we are grateful to the church.
1978 Annual Report, Warrant for 1979, page 5
Article 3f. To see if the Town will vote to keep the 1947 International Fire Truck as a parade piece.
Article 3g. To see if the Town will vote to salvage and put to use on other fire trucks the equipment off the 1947 International Fire Truck, and authorize the Board of Selectmen to sell by sealed bids the 1947 International Fire Truck cab, chassis, hose bed and midship pump. or The Board of Selectmen would have the authority to accept reject any bid. Proceeds from sale of the above would go into the General Fund of the Town.
Article
1979 Annual Report, Warrant for 1980
Town Meeting Minutes, page 55
Article 26. Voted to sell the 1947 International Fire Truck to the Society for Preservation of the Old Meeting House, for the sum of $1.00 (one dollar), (The Society agreed to let the fire department use the truck in parades) allowing the fire department to take the pump and large spot-light on a temporary basis and return to the Society (replacing on the 1947 truck) when these items are no longer needed by the fire department. A replica of the old pump is to be obtained for present use on the 1947 truck. (52 – Yes – – – 31 – No).
The Society (Meeting House) agrees to provide a storage building for the truck.
1999 Annual Report, Warrant for 2000, page 5
10. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.) for site work improvements and related expenses to the Fire Station land. This is a Special Warrant Article. This is a non-lapsing appropriation per RSA 32:7,VI and will not lapse until the project is completed or by December 31, 2001, whichever is sooner. The Selectmen recommend this article.
Excerpt from the Report of the Selectmen, page 52
The Town has purchased three acres on Rte. 127, just south of the school and plans are underway to design a new fire station. At this year’s town meeting we will be asking voters to approve the inclusion of the police department in this building design as the buildings currently housing each department are sadly lacking. It is our intention to build one public safety building to satisfy the needs of both departments.
2001 Town Report and Warrant for 2002, page 4
2. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of nine hundred and five thousand dollars ($905,000) for the construction and equipping of a Public Safety Building, and to authorize the issuance of not more than $805,000 of bonds or notes in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Act (RSA 33) and to authorize the Selectmen to issue and negotiate such bonds or notes and to determine the rate of interest thereon; further- more, to authorize the withdrawal of $100,000 from the Public Safety Building Capital Reserve Fund created for this purpose. The Selectmen recommend this article. (2/3 ballot vote required)
2002 Town Report and Warrant for 2003, page 6
18. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to sell, trade or dispose of the old Hy-Mar Fire station and the land it sits on, located at 1215 Battle Street (Map 3 Lot 102) at an amount, or in a way, that they determine to be in the best interest of the Town. The Selectmen recommend this article.
2003 Annual Report and Warrant for 2004
Excerpt from Board of Selectmen Report, page 49
During the summer of 2003, the Selectmen reached agreements with abutters of the old fire station property; most of the parking area between the old station and Cowdrey’s store was sold to Al and Joan Smith, owners of Cowdrey’s. That portion of the property actually contained the septic system for Cowdrey’s, constructed several years ago under agreement with the Town. The fire station itself and a small part of the parking area was sold to the Society for the Preservation of the Old Meeting House. The Society wishes to restore the building for its meetings and to store the old Webster fire truck it owns, which is currently housed in a building behind the Old Meeting House. The Selectmen are currently working on a plan for disposition of the old police station, but have come to no conclusion at this point.
(Excerpt from Fire Department Report, Page 53)
We moved into the new Public Safety Building in May 2003. This new facility has been a big asset to the fire department, not only for equipment, but also for morale for the people in the department and medical squad.
Check out this link about Clarence and Mary Hyde’s generosity elsewhere – probably in Massachusetts.