Fire-ettes

The Fire-ettes drum & bugle corps began in the fall of 1962, under the direction of Victor Gauvin, John and Olga Bowman, Alfred and Arlene Roberts, and the sponsorship of the Norwich Firefighters Local 892 and later by the Norwich VFW Post 594.

The corps began as a parade and exhibition unit, entering the field of competition as members of the Yankee “Class B/AII” circuit division where they placed 2^nd in 1964, 6^th in 1965, 1966 & 1968 with a 4^th place finish in 1967. The group also appeared in the 1965 World Open championships, finishing in 27^th position in the “Class A” preliminary round, returning in 1969, placing 39^th. The Fire-ettes joined the 1969 Greater New York (GNY) circuit, ranking 12^th.

The Norwich unit competed in the World Open “All-Girls” class for the first time, placing 9^th in the 1970 prelims along with another 12^th place finish in the GNY contest. Over the next 3 seasons, highlights included a 3rd place finish in the 1971 Yankee “Class B” championships, 7^th in the 1972 World Open “All-Girls” prelims & 9^th place in the GNY circuit and a finalist spot in both the 1973 World Open & US Open “All-Girls” championships, finishing 3^rd & 4^th respectively along with a 5^th place finish in the American International Open (AIO) “All-Girls” preliminaries.

From 1973 to 1978, the corps participated in the Northeastern circuit, winning the 1976 “Class A” title, placing 2^nd in 1974, 1975, 1977 & 1978 with a 4^th position in 1973 along with a 2^nd & 3^rd place finishes in the 1974 AIO & US Open “All-Girls” finals.  The next year saw the Fire-ettes rank 2^nd in the 1975 World Open “All-Girls” finals, 3^rd in the North Tonawanda “Class A” regionals, 4^th in the Girls Corps Internationals and 3^rd in the DCI “All-Girls” finals.

Their success resumed after they were crowned the 1976 AIO “All-Girls champions, finishing in 2^nd position at both the Key to the Sea and US Open & placing 3^rd in the DCI “All-Girls” finals. In their last season of competition, the corps performed in the 1977 US Open and DCI “All-Girls” finals, finishing 4^th & 2^nd respectively. The group also sponsored their annual “Festival of Music”.

They disbanded in 1978.

Paul Legault (DCX)

CORPS 2 items

Fire-ettes

Fire-ettes,Norwich,CT,Pin1-SheDevil(RE-2.0x3.0)AG_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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Fire-ettes

Fire-ettes,Norwich,CT,Pin2-B&RStripe(BJA)AG_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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