Guilford, CT
Guilford Connecticut Fire History
Man Dies in Guilford Hotel Explosion
A contractor who was applying a combustable
floor finishing varnish at the Sachem Hotel was
killed in the winter of 1973 when fumes were
ignited and flames raced through the aging
waterfront structure. (Photo ID by R. Andrew).
Man Dies In Fire At Guilford Restaurant
One man perished during a fire at the Black Swan Restaurant in the winter of 1963. The well-known eatery on US Route 1 was destroyed when firefighters were driven back by flames that eventually consumed the interior of the
single-story wood frame structure.
1 Man Fire Department Protects Guilford Shoreline
Guilford, CT - For several years in the 1930's a tenacious and dedicated Guilford man operated his own private fire department and responded, usually by himself, to fires in the Chaffinch Island section of this shoreline community.
Francis Engall was the sole operator of the Chaffinch Island Fire Deptartment and routinely responded with his fire engine wherever and whenever he was called at no charge. (Photos courtesy of Dane Lawrence)
4 Nuns Perish In Guiford Monastery Fire
Guilford, CT - The "Our Lady of Grace Monastery" in North Guilford was reduced to ruins and 4 nuns were killed in a fire that consumed the aging structure on Christmas Eve of 1955. The firefighting effort was hampered by a lack of water. (FF Rich Johnson photos).
