The Weathersfield Service Award was created in 1999 to recognize those individuals who have served the Town and its residents in an outstanding manner. The Weathersfield Select Board notes that it is the dedication of these individuals that makes small town living the great pleasure it can be.
We publicly acknowledge these individuals with the Weathersfield Service Award and recognition at the Annual Town Meeting.
The Town is pleased to honor two individuals this year with the Weathersfield service award.
Rodney Spaulding
Up until 1956, Weathersfield relied on Windsor and Springfield for fire protection. After a serious fire, a group of citizens saw the need and the Ascutney Volunteer Fire Association was formed.
Rod Spaulding was a founding member of the AVFA. He is the only current member of the original department still serving. The volunteer fire service is a 24/7 commitment. Drills, meetings, fundraising and training, as well as the countless emergency calls require a tremendous amount of time away from family. We cannot even begin to tally the hours that Rod has committed during his 58 years of service.
Rod was born in Weathersfield and attended Weathersfield schools and Windsor High School. He and his wife Nancy raised their family of three children, Kevin, Darrin and Michele at their home on Thrasher Road.
From 1967 to 1969 and from 1978 to 1995, Rod served as Chief. He has also served as deputy chief, president, 1st vice president and as a trustee at some point over the years. He can still be seen behind the wheel of Weathersfield emergency vehicles or on a nozzle at a fire.
With his incredible ability to remember dates and details of happenings, he is a ―walking history book.‖ He is the only remaining firefighter who was at the scene of the Romaine Tenney fire of 1964, where Romaine took his life in protest of having to give up his farm at what is now Exit 8 of the Interstate. His account of this tragedy is on tape, and he was also quoted about the event in Yankee Magazine (March/April 2013). Other memorable fires were the Joy Manufacturing fires in Claremont of 1979 and 1981, and the Center Meeting House/Church in 1985. He has also been witness to countless vehicle accidents and other tragedies. On a happier occasion, he did a presentation about growing up in Ascutney for the Historical Society.
Rod once joked in a Rutland Herald (June 29, 2006) interview during an anniversary celebration at the new station on Route 131 that ―his longevity with the 100 percent volunteer department is because of the great pay.‖ Then on a more serious note he added, ―When your pager goes off, you know someone is in trouble. Sometimes it’s serious. Sometimes it isn’t, but you like to help.‖
Weathersfield owes a tremendous debt to all our volunteers and especially to those willing to serve for so many years.
Thank you, Rod!
Gene Adams
Gene moved from Springfield to Weathersfield in 1969 and has two children, Rick and Joy, from a previous marriage. He has owned and operated his own auto repair business in Weathersfield for many years, beginning at what is now the Jiffy Mart, and in 1988 the adjacent property south of Jiffy Mart. In 1978 Gene married his present wife Alice, and together they have 5 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Gene thought retirement was in order so he sold his Downer's corner property and bought a house near the Town’s highway garage. However, retirement did not last long and a repair garage was soon built and Gene can still be seen every day doing what he loves most, helping people with their auto needs and talking to neighbors.
West Weathersfield Fire Department was formed in 1967 and in 1969 Gene joined the department. He is currently the longest serving member of the department. Being close to the station in proximity, Gene was usually the first to arrive and be behind the wheel on countless emergency calls. He has served as a WWFD trustee for at least 20 years. The history and knowledge that a long serving member brings with them is invaluable to the younger members.
Like Rodney, Gene has spent countless hours with fundraisers, drills, meetings, and emergency calls for WWFD. When there was a mechanical problem with a fire truck, Gene could be found with either his head under the hood or his feet sticking out from under the chassis repairing it. The Town was never asked for remuneration for his professional services, and if the station or dry hydrants needed plowing you could always count on Gene.
Thank you, Gene!
The Town owes a tremendous debt to all our volunteers, especially those willing to serve for so many years.
Together Gene and Rodney have over 100 years of service as Weathersfield firefighters.
Thank you Gene and Rodney for your service to our community!
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