A design to honor firefighters.

Byline: Anna L. Griffin

LEOMINSTER - Capping off nearly a decade of effort, Leominster firefighters are moving forward with a proposed addition to the Firefighters Memorial on the Common, Monument Square.

Firefighter Roger H. LaPointe is co-chairing the effort with Firefighter Robert J. Penning.

The addition will be two panels in the same or a similar type of the granite used on the existing memorial.

These two stones will bear the names of 184 deceased firefighters.

The project was originally envisioned by Firefighter Kevin Sideleau, now retired.

"Kevin started the process and we actually decided to take it up again after this year's Firefighter's Memorial Sunday," said Penning. Retired Firefighter Gregg Hathaway is also involved.

A goal of $16,000 has been set. "We have some donations already set aside, but we are looking for the public to help us out," LaPointe said. For $50, anyone can sponsor a name on the monument, to help offset engraving costs.

According to LaPointe, the city's fire department had its origins in 1820, the year Leominster first purchased fire-fighting equipment. But it would not be until 1828 that the men would form the Leominster Fire Club. Since then, there has been the "Union #2" and "Torrent #1" hand tub, the "Bloody Eight" bucket brigade, and numerous hose and ladder companies.

LaPointe said more than 1,450 are known to have served, and countless others who will never be known. "Dealing with historical records, sometimes not all of the information needed is there." To memorialize as many as possible, a criteria was established for

names on the new monument: Any and all permanent firefighters who retired on pension or disability; any member of the 1800s who served as a volunteer or call firefighter, serving for more than 15 years, and any firefighter who died while still an active member of the department.

Using these criteria, a list of 184 names was drawn up. "Just going over some of the names and doing additional research on these men, they have incredible stories," said LaPointe.

For example, many are also veterans. "We had some of the firefighters killed while serving in wars," LaPointe said.

Organizers said they have been able to contact the family members of many on the list. "We're still trying to make contact with other families, but it's been difficult," said Firefighter Penning.

The following members of the department have no family known to the department or are in need of sponsorship, listed by name and year of death:

Frederick H. Barker, 1951; Henry J. Battis, 1977; Clarence W. Bentley, 1960; Lewis C. Boyden, 1894; Everett L. Burnapp, 1975; Josiah N. Burrage, 1913; Norman C. Chandler, 1911; Phillip Cloutier, 1955; William Cote, 1954 and Walter H. Cushing, 1944.

Also: Charles H. Farnsworth, 1930; George F. Farnsworth, 1936; Frank S.A. Furbush, 1945; James T. Gallagher, 1917; Franklin E. Gleason, 1930; Fredson F. Gray, unknown date of death; Fred A. Harrington, 1931; Edwin V. Hayward, 1921; Alvin K. Hembrow, 1979 and Samuel J. Haskell, 1939.

Also: Charles S. Hildreth, 1939; Charles W. Hubbard, 1959; Ervin R. Hubbard, 1933; Ralph S. Johnson, 1914; Frank H. Kelley, 1936; John J. Killelea, 1910; Patrick H. Killelea, 1933; Anson W. Kipp, 1928; George H. LaBuff, 1956 and Osias Legault, 1963.

Also: Albert D. Leighton, 1948; William A. Look, 1926; Lawrence A. Lundigan, 1934; Fred M. Lynch, 1950; John McGuire, unknown date of death; Harry Mitchell, 1964; Alfred J. Morse, 1955; Timothy J. O'Brien, 1917; James J. O'Donnell, 1960 and Elmer L. Phelps, 1942.

Also: Ernest H. Phelps, 1942; Charles D. Pierce, 1929; Edward L. Pierce, 1894; Harry W. Pierce, 1927; Natale "Ned" Piermarini, 2006.

To help, contact either Firefighter LaPointe or Firefighter Penning at [phone] (the department's main telephone number) or call LaPointe at [phone]. Organizers hope the memorial to dedicate the completed memorial at the June Firefighters Memorial Sunday.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: This drawing, done in 2003 by Scott Richard, shows what the addition of two new monuments to the Firefighters Memorial in Leominster will look like. The Memorial is located on the Common, Monument Square.