Memory: Fires, alarms, trucks. and a chief

One of the most consistent memories I have from my childhood is that of fire alarms. We lived in Darien, which had only a volunteer fire department, and three fire stations. We learned from an early age to run for the little red book that would decode the alarms, and we could tell which of the three stations the call was coming from just by listening to the whistle. As non-firefighters we weren't supposed to have the little red book, but my father (Christopher Adelbert Adams) had coerced a young fellow he knew to give it to him...

But the first fire I really remember happened much earlier. It was before my sister was born, so no later than Spring 1946. I was 3, maybe less, depending on when it was. I was awakened in the middle of the night and taken with my parents to a barn fire. It was huge, horrible, scary - especially when my father told me not to stand on the big hose, and I was afraid I might by mistake. He told me there had been animals in the barn...

I was interested when I later found out that my grandfather Christopher Joseph Adams was supposedly killed when the firetruck he was on as tillerman turned over. His death certificate mentions a car, not a firetruck, so I wonder. Does anyone know this story? I'd love to learn more. I could picture him chasing the firetruck, but it's hard for me to imagine their family having a car. Much to learn here! It must be in the Norwalk newspaper...

Another incident related to a fire concerned my father when he was about 6 and living in Norwalk. He had gone to first grade, then was immediately promoted to second. He went to second for a few days, then walked home sick. They knew he was very sick because a major fire was happening in Norwalk near where he was walking and he didn't even try to go see it, he just shuffled home. He was in bed for a year because he had rheumatic fever. This would have been about 1914. Does anyone know about a big fire in Norwalk in the Fall of 1914?

The final fire-related memory is that Lorenzo Jackson Adams, my ggrandfather, was a fire chief. I used to have a portrait of him in his uniform, but someone who was staying at my mother's house must have thrown it away. That's all I know about him, just about. The photo was taken in Norwalk. Does anyone have a photo of him? I'd love to get a copy and see it posted on the Adams Family Tree. I wonder if the old negatives are available at some photographer's still?

Please share your memories of your related loved ones on these pages. We'll all enjoy them. Comments welcome.