John Carew, chief of the Allingtown Volunteers, has been working for months on the event, and is looking forward to a great convention and a great parade.

“It’s a great honor for the volunteers, and special marking of our 100th anniversary as a unit,” he said.

The parade is scheduled to begin at noon on Sunday, and run a 1-mile route for at least 3 hours. More than 100 units will be involved in the parade, including marching and truck units. Marchers will turn on Center Street to Savin Avenue and disassemble at the Green, according to details provided. Motorized units will continue to Elm Street. They will proceed to WHHS where they will go on display.

State Rep. Stephen Dargan (D-115) will be a guest of honor of the Allingtown Volunteers, and will give a welcoming address Saturday morning at Dodd’s Hall. Dargan, the House Chairman of the General Assembly’s Public Safety and Security Committee, has been instrumental in guiding legislation for firefighters through the process.

Meanwhile, Mayor John Picard congratulated the AVFA and welcomed the delegates to the convention.

“We’re thrilled the Allingtown Volunteers are marking their 100th anniversary by hosting the 124th convention,” he said. “The city is especially proud of hosting a convention that is focusing on the contributions volunteer firefighters make not only here in West Haven, but throughout the state.”

The section of West Haven, known as Allingtown, made plans for organizing a fire company on Sept. 23, 1907, in a local basement, with 19 members present. 

“We, the undersigned, met and organized the Allingtown Volunteer Fire Association: Levi Alling, James W. O’Brien, B. G. Fitzharris, Otto Helbig, Peter Wols, Eugene O’Connell, John Nissen, James Murray, August Beck, H.C. Singerhof, Sigmund Beck, Walter Hamm, Willie Confrey, William Foster, William Murray, Max Hamm, Robert Downs, John Somers, W.A. Gilbert.

 A motion was made and seconded that James W. O’Brien be chairman, William Murray as secretary, Peter Wols as treasurer, and Otto Helbig and H.C. Singerhof as Auditing Committee members.  William Gilbert, with a three-year term, Walter Hamm, with a two-year term, and John Somers, with a one-year term, became the trustees.  A motion was made and seconded that they create a Constitution and Bylaws Committee, made up of members: Peter Wols, Walter Hamm, and H.C. Singerhof.

At the meeting on September 30, 1907, a motion was made and seconded to create a committee to solicit funds from the taxpayers committee – William Gilbert, William Foster, and Walter Hamm were chosen.

 On Oct, 15, 1907, a meeting was held to accept bylaws and create a committee of Fitzharris, Synder,  Max Hamm, to rent Mrs. Plum’s house or a suitable place to go evenings to sit and enjoy themselves, and report prices and terms for members to vote on at the next meeting.  At the meeting on Oct. 22, the first election, under the accepted bylaws, was held.  Peter Wols was elected captain, others nominated were: H. Singerhof, B.G. Fitzharris.  Otto Helbig was elected lieutenant, others nominated were: H. Singerhof, E. O’Connell.  H. Singerhof was elected second lieutenant, other nominated was: E. O’Connell.  W. Murray was elected recording secretary, other nominated was: B. Joyce.  W. Hamm was elected financial secretary, other nominated was: W. Foster.  Gilbert was elected treasurer, other nominated was: Synder.  O’Connell, Hamm, and Synder were elected to the board of Trustees, one-year term, others nominated were: Foster, Allen.  B. Joyce and L. Alling were elected as auditors.  Also at this meeting, Mr. Wols was willing to give his lot for the AVFA to erect a building and, if in the future, the AVFA wished to have a new site, Mr. Wols would buy the building or they could move the building.  He also donated $25 towards the new building.