Book Notice: "Groton-Mystic Emergency Services"

Notes from the Old Noank Jail Dec 1, 2016

by
Ed Johnson

Book Notice -
"Groton-Mystic Emergency Services"

On Monday 11/28/16 at 6:00 PM, I attended a talk hosted at the Groton City
Bill Library by co-authors James L Streeter and William J. Tischer on their new
book as listed above. The authors provided historical overviews covering all of the emergency service organizations in the entire Town of Groton, which currently include 13 Fire Departments, three Police Departments, two Ambulance Associations, a Paramedic Service and a Dispatch Center.

Jim Streeter is a former Groton City Police Officer and Town Mayor who
currently also serves as the Town Historian. Bill Tischer is a career
firefighter who started as a 17 year old volunteer in Salem and Montville,
finally serving and retiring as Captain of the Groton City Fire Department. They
described the changes that have occurred in the fire services since 1900 through
the 1940's, a time when many volunteer departments operated more informally, at
least by today's standards. The volume of calls has increased dramatically,
along with the hours of professional training. Gone are the days of "local
business owners shutting their doors when the horn or siren sounded and then
jumping into a fire truck, police car or ambulance" in order to respond to an
alarm.

Their presentation, as well as the book itself, provided a visual history
of each department, establishing changes that occurred with the facilities and
equipment over the years. The open discussion following the presentation
provided the audience the opportunity to ask questions about the services as
well as the overall shift, in some heavily commercial/industrial areas, from
volunteer to paid personnel. It was also noted that there are separate,
professional departments at the Navy Base, General Dynamics and Pfizer.

A formal book presentation will be conducted at the PAR 4 Restaurant at the
Shennecosset Golf Club during a public safety gathering on Saturday December 10
from six to nine PM. I'm told there will be an admission charge of $20 which
will include a beer tasting and large raffle with proceeds going to such
organizations as the Bridgeport Burn Center and the Salvation Army Emergency
Disaster Services.

The book is published by Arcadia and is currently on sale (and signed by
both authors) in Groton City at Buford's Family Restaurant on Poquonnock
Road and at Ken's Tackle Shop on Thames Street, next to Paul's Pasta. For me, it
is a delight to see the book completed since I first discussed it with Jim
Streeter back in 2008. Retirement is a blessing when there is finally time
to tackle such a project....and the generosity of both authors donating their
book royalties to the Salvation Army should be duly noted.