DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission has agreed to help the Fire Department search for its charter so that it can apply for grants. 

 

The department was established Feb. 25, 1884, and granted a charter that April. But Fire Chief James Peltier said he is unsure where to find this document. 

 

Although having a copy of a charter might work in some areas it is very difficult to have one when your department is one of the first in the nation, he said. 

 

"I know we don't have a copy because I've looked high and dry in our building but I don't know what they're gonna do. I've given them all the dates but they're not, [the System for Award Management] are not willing to accept them. So they needed a physical copy," Peltier said told the commissioners last Wednesday. 

 

During the period of 1873 through 1883, Dalton experienced rapid growth to the point its few wells could not keep up with the demand of drinking water and fire protection. 

 

Seven paper-making mills were lost to a fire so "Lt. Governor Byron Weston, Zenas Crane Jr. and other leading citizens examined the area for new sources and ways to supply water," according to the history posted on the fire district's website.

 

The commission has a lot of files and is still educating itself on where everything is, said co-Chair Debora Kovacs, but she is sure there is a section on the Fire Department.

 

Commissioners had a similar situation happen with one of the churches that also needed its charter for a grant and Kovacs found the original while cleaning out a file cabinet. The document from the 1700s is now locked in a fireproof safe, she said. 

 

If the commissioners are able to locate the original document, Peltier requested they also send him a copy so he can hang it in the station. 

 

In other news: 

 

• The commissioners are required to complete the new online conflict of interest law training program by April 1. Public employees must take these trainings every two years, including those holding elected and appointed positions.

 

This training can take two to three hours and can not be stopped half way through which is a problem the fire department ran into when completing it, Peltier said. 

 

• The commission voted to give $500 to First Congregational Church of Dalton to show its appreciation for letting the commission use some of its space as storage while Town Hall is under construction. 

 

• As of Dec. 31, 2022, the commission had $4,177 left of its $4,500 annual budget. The cost of the commission's alarm is not yet included in this amount. It also has $ $2,291.51 in the donations account through the town.