Alfred Hermon Koltonski
10/21/1894-5/4/1977
His father, “Jake”, brought his family from Russia to America and Alfred truly found the American dream. His family lived behind the firehouse building. At the age of three Alfred would find his way to the house, waiting for the alarm to go off. He told the story that he was kicked out of the firehouse over 1,000 times as a kid. A real pest. As he grew older, the age of 12, he remembers that he would play checkers with the Fire Chief Dunn and in 1912 when he was old enough, Chief Dunn finally relented and gave him a job at the fire station. Years later, Chief Dunn became Mayor Dunn and Al was the Mayors choice for Fire Chief, a job he kept for 52 years. Mayors said he was the most dependable Chief that worked for the people of Rutland. It did not matter what political affiliation took office, they all relied on Al Koltonski.
Enlisted in the Navy 4/9/17 became active 11/13/17 and was discharged 11/11/18. He was left with the rank of electrician 1st class. He served in the US Naval Reserve Force,
He was twice President of the Vermont Firefighters Association.
President of the New England Assoc. of Fire Chiefs
President of the Vermont Fire Chiefs club
He ran for National President of Firefighters Assoc. and he lost by 4 votes to the L.A. California Fire Chief.
Started the Chamber of Commerce Fire Service Extension Committee
1938-39 Besides holding the office of Rutland Post #31 Commander (a Post he was forever supportive of). He belonged to the following:
WWI veterans Association
Rutland Masons, Elks, Eagles
Board of Directors the Vermont Veterans Home, Bennington
Salvation Army Board of Directors
Vt Boy Scout Commission
Rutland Rotary Club
He received many awards and accolades for his involvement. He received the Rutland Man of The Year Award and the Rutland Firehouse was named after Alfred H. Koltonski.
He retired April 1, 1976 and died, due to complications that arose from his diabetes on May 4, 1977 13 months after he retired.
A veteran, a firefighter and a hero. A man that never hesitated to come to the rescue of his fellow man. Al liked to check his fire alarms. He would ring the alarm from home 8:50am and 8:50pm. April 1st he rang the morning alarm...it was silent the night he died. That alarm now can be heard in Rutland every Wed at 0850 and 8:50pm and true honor for a gentleman.
