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Top: Left to right: U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney, Putnam Mayor Anthony Falzarano, E. Putnam Fire District President Douglas Cutler Jr.  and E. Putnam Fire Chief Abe Walker cut the ribbon of the new E. Putnam firehouse. Right: Fire helmet. Below: The view from the balcony into a spacious modern firehouse. Linda Lemmon photos.

 

 

By Linda Lemmon

Town Crier Editor

E. PUTNAM ---  The tale of perseverance, of dogged pursuit, culminated in the official opening of the East Putnam Fire District Firehouse Nov. 15.

Douglas Cutler Jr. told the crowd that when he became district president in 2001 he urged the district to think ahead and consider the future needs of the district --- a new firehouse that would take the district through the next 100 years. The fire department did outgrow the small building it had used for 50 years. A little over a year ago the district broke ground on the 13,000-square-foot building on 21 acres purchased on Rt. 44. The total cost of the project is about $4.4 million.

Cutler thanked U.S. Congressman Joseph Courtney for helping the district secure a $3.3 million low-interest loan from the USDA, Rural Development. "Courtney came through for us in a very big way," Cutler said. 

Courtney extended kudos himself to the district members. Unforeseen hurdles kept popping up and the members persevered "and get where we are today." Courtney acknowledged that the USDA Rural Development is a lifeblood "but it's not for the faint of heart." He also presented the district with a U.S. Flag flown over the U.S. Capitol.

Scott Belleville, who headed the project, said it was a "huge project bigger than I ever thought it'd be."  He added, "To see it up brings a tear to the eye." 

Fire Chief Abe Walker said without the membership "this would have been 10 times harder." 

Putnam Mayor Anthony Falzarano acknowledged the district experienced some "tough going" but commended all for getting it done.

Tours of the modern facility followed the ribbon cutting.