Department History:
Frame construction, heated by wood-burning stoves, and lighted by kerosene lamps and other types of open flame, these building and living concepts of the early twentieth century were often ravaged by fire. The woefully equipped “Broom Brigade” of the turn of the century had little success that depended on many factors, including luck. At one time, however, sparks from the for
ge set the blacksmith shop ablaze, and the volunteers doused the fire with the usual bucket brigade and a lot of hard work. Doc Gibbs, who was atop the roof at the time, announced the fact that the fire was out by crowing like a rooster - and indeed, containing a blaze with buckets of water was something to crow about. At a meeting held in Bill Sickel's barber shop on January 28, 1907, the first preliminary steps were taken toward organizing a volunteer fire department in the village. A week later on February 5, 1907, 27 men met and formed the village’s volunteer fire department. A Charter, Constitution and By-Laws were formed by Edwin Hoyt, Jr., Arnie Sanders, William Sickels, B.W. Gaskin, Vern Gaskin, A. Kaiser, Earl Hart, E.J. Lange, E.A. Sanders, Walter Schultz, Leon Dewey, Clifford Harland, Frank Pyburn, J.F. Deppe, Frank Keller, T.T. Pyburn, Clark Baker, Christ Holbach, Charles Gaskin, W. H. Raman, Albert Cast, W.E. Chute, T.B. Sanderson, F.J. Streich, H.A. Betts, W.H. Tasker and Dr. G.L. Gibbs. As these charter members huddled around the wood-burning stove that dominated the center of the bandstand that cold, blustery night, they elected to W.H. Raman as President and Edwin Hoyt as Chief. The first business conducted by the group was to limit the number of members to 50 and to set annual dues at $1.00 per member. The original apparatus and equipment in the company's spartan inventory consisted only of several buckets (inherited by the “Broom Brigade,”) and white coveralls for the running team. Later that year, after they had several fundraising events - including a 4th of July celebration in Bigelow's Park that netted over fifty dollars - and with an appropriation of $150 from the village, a horse-drawn hand-powered pumper was purchased and stored in the barn of S.M. Hatch on Beebe Street. The fast ringing of the Baptist Church bell, with location rings intermittent, as: Depot Street, one ring; east end of village; two rings; west end of village, three rings; was used to summon the firemen. Members were fined twenty-five cents for failing to respond to an alarm unless excused by the chief. A Chicago firm, starting in 1908, provided training sessions to the volunteers. As years passed, the department was able to steadily upgrade its equipment. A fire bell was bought in 1909; a hose cart in 1912, and in 1913 the company could boast of its first motor pumper - a unit mounted on the chassis of a Model T Ford. The old fire bell eventually gave way to a hand siren, an electric siren was purchased in 1920 and in 1929 the siren was hooked into the telephone system. Throughout the years the company continued to upgrade its equipment, replacing the older models after they had served their usefulness. Some of the more notable vehicles were a Howe Chemical and Water Pumper on a Chevrolet chassis purchased in 1926 for $495 (the chemical tank had to be emptied in the winter to avoid freezing), and a Pirsch Special Pumper purchased in 1931. The Pirsch remained the company's first-line vehicle until a new Seagrave unit mounted on a Dodge chassis was bought in 1949. Among the benefits of the new Dodge was an enclosed cab that was particularly appreciated during sub-zero runs to the far corners of the district. This vehicle in turn replaced as the company's number one unit by another Seagrave in 1964 - mounted on an International chassis. The Pirsch and the 1912 hose cart are seen today in parades and other special functions. An annual Fireman’s Fourth of July fundraising event of dances, horse races, coonhound field trials, and more, brought good times to the community, along with other fundraising events for future upgrades to the Fire Department. These activities were replaced with modern day fundraising festivals in 1938. During the early years of this charter, equipment was stored in the Hatch barn, but in 1913, a shed was rented on Beebe Street, belonging to Hartwig Brewing Company. This shed was utilized until 1931, when a 26 x 68-foot brick building was constructed on Main Street. The department housed all of its equipment on Main Street, until the Municipal Building was erected in 1967. The Municipal Building on S. Pardee Street had housed the fire department, until construction began in 2001 for a Public Safety Building on Industrial Drive. The Public Safety Building now holds the Fire Department and the local EMS.
