It was on Memorial Day of 1955 that several members of the ambulance corps went to Worcester, MA after the day’s activities and picked up their first ambulance and thus began a new era in emergency care for the residents of Hampton and Chaplin. This group was formed and sponsored by the Leslie L. Jewett – American Legion Post to provide free ambulance service.
Local physician Dr. Bruce R. Valentine of Abington donated the original equipment for the ambulance which consisted of a pole stretcher, a straight jacket stretcher, a bellows type hand operated resuscitator and miscellaneous bandages. Dr. Valentine also gave the membership its starter course in first aid. This was followed by a complete first aid course given by the state police. Both Dr. Valentine and Dr. Harry Eaton, also of Abington, acted as unofficial advisors for the Corps.
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Founding Officers
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There were 15 members of the original group who began the Corps and the first officers of the corps were Capt. Maurice H. Hall, Lt. Robert Fitts, Sgt. Clyde Prescott, Treasurer Charles Chesters and Secretary Henry Moon.
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Early Days
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The first time the ambulance was used was in August of 1955 during the Putnam flood disaster. Many large milk cans of fresh drinking water and quantities of clothing were taken to Putnam via the ambulance. The first actual emergency call for the Corps came on October 4, 1955. During the first year the ambulance responded to 24 emergency calls.
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Today the Hampton-Chaplin Ambulance Corps responds to over 325 calls for service each year and provides mutual aid support to surrounding communities.
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