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FIRE
fighting in the early days of Decatur was a
volunteer service. For many years there
was no kind of organized effort, but after the
big fire in the business district in 1859,
Decatur recognized the fact that it should have
some protection against fire. During the
'60s bucket brigades were started, and in 1868 a
hook and ladder company was organized.
Rescue Hose team had its beginning in 1871, with
Franklin Priest as chief and Joseph
Hewes as first assistant. It numbered
about thirty-four men.
At the time of the Revere
hotel fire in April, 1871, it was stated that
there were two volunteer companies, and the only
apparatus was a small hook and ladder wagon and
a number of rubber buckets. Ben Dodson
was captain of one company and Franklin
Priest of the other.
In the days before the
waterworks started it was necessary to have a
bucket brigade. Men were lined up in a row
from the nearest well to the scene of the fire.
As fast as the buckets were filled with water at
the pump, they were passed down the line from
one to another until they reached the fire.
In spite of what was spilled on the way,
considerable water could be thrown on a fire in
this way. The buckets came back to the
well by way of a second line of men.
After the waterworks had been
established at the river, the water mains laid,
hose carts were purchased. The volunteer
fire department was regularly organized in July,
1872, with Franklin Priest as chief
engineer, Joseph S. Hewes first assistant
and H. P. Christie second assistant.1
From that time on until the city organized a
paid fire department, the volunteer companies
had a brilliant record in Decatur and brought
fame by honors won in state and national
firemen's tournaments.
Hose Co. No. 1 of the
Volunteer Fire department was organized at a
meeting held June 20, 1872. H. .
Christie was chairman, and C. P. Housum
secretary of that meeting.
J. S. Hewes, first
assistant engineer of the department, stated the
object of the meeting and called for volunteers.
The following men handed in their names:
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W.
Athons
J. A. Brockway
George
Corwine
F. Calvert
A.
Diehl
W. W. Foster
John
Gray
John Hudson
C. P. Housum
A. F. Imboden
R. F. Jones
P.
Lovergood
W. W. Mason
H.
McClellan
William Montgomery |
J. H.
Miller
E. H. Mills
John
McWhinney
George R. Priest
P. B. Provost
W. A. Ragan
J. Strausbaugh
J. S. Stoy
Peter Schuh
Caleb Smith
William Trowbridge
S. Weitzel
P. J. Williams. |
Officers were chosen as
follows:
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Foreman
- W. W. Mason
Assistant forman - W. W. Foster
Secretary - C. P. Housum
Treasurer - H. McClellan |
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First
pipeman - J. A. Brockway
Second pipeman - P. B. Provost
First plugman - A. Diehl
Second plugman - J. McWhinney |
At a meeting June 26, 1872,
called to organize Hose Company No. 2 J. S.
Hewes, first assistant engineer, was
appointed chairman and W. F. McEwen
secretary. The following enrolled as
members of the company:
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S. H.
Dwight
William Gibson
E. M. Misner
K. Harwood
C. C. Fuller
Charles Morey
C. D. Camp
F. A. Dunn
W. H. Spencer
William Hand |
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D. P.
Elwood
T. F. Adams
Theo. Severns
E. N. Flasig
Emil Henry
B. B. Babcock
W. Cruikshank
Thomas Antrim
C. H. Brown
William Dodson |
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D. N.
Syford
W. O. Betzer,
W. F. McEwen
William Zinn
J. A. Roberts
A. Shoemaker
W. E. Winholtz
D. Bigelow
John Gaul
J. K. Bohrer |
The following officers were
elected:
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Foreman
- William H. Spencer
Assistant - Thomas Antrim
Secretary - W. F. McEwen
Treasurer - William Dodson |
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First
pipeman - T. Severns
Second pipeman - John Gaul
First plugman - B. B. Babcock
Second plugman - William Hand |
At the organization meeting
of Young America Hook and Ladder Company, July
10, 1872, with J. S. Hewes in the chair
and I. W. Ehrman as secretary, the
following members reported:
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John
Ullrich
P. M. Wykoff
John Merriwether
William McClellan
W. H. Close
Samuel Newell
John Haworth
John Mauzy
Charles Laux
Al Ormsby
A. Howenstein
Enos Kepler
J. T. J. Gates
D. Churchman
George B. Peake
A. Zekind |
Thomas
Barrell
A. Bradley
J. F. Roach
Walter Taylor
William Harry
Charles Dempsey
George Martin
Richard Smith
I. W. Ehrman
B. F. Dodson
I. N. Martin
Darwin Greer
A. Nebinger
F. Priest, Jr.
J. G. Cloyd
Henry Holmes |
L. M.
Gill
J. G. Starr
F. Caldwell
William Young
John Schoenle
Godey Shoaff
George E. Ruth
William F. Ballard
William Stevens
A. Misenhelter
F. Pahmeyer
Lon Humphrey
H. Mueller
Robert Patterson
Edward Carter |
Officers were elected as
follows:
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Foreman
- B. F. Dodson
Assistant - F. Caldwell
Secretary - L. W. Ehrman
Treasurer - J. H. Merriwether
Hook director - Enos Kepler |
Ladder
Director - Charles Dempsey
Bucket Director - Darwin Greer
Ax Director - H. Mueller |
Young America had its
constitution and by-laws printed.
Among the rules of the company was one to
the effect that a member was subject to fine
of not more than $5 for using profane or
indecent language at any meeting of the
company, and any member acting in a
disorderly manner could be expelled.
At the time the volunteer
department was being organized in 1872 a
test of the waterworks and fire hose was
held and proved very satisfactory. It
was found the waterworks could throw six to
eight streams of water over the highest
houses very easily. The large crowd
which assembled to see this demonstration
was so enthusiastic that it gave three
cheers for the waterworks.
The firebell signals
adopted were:
Hook and Ladder Co.
Hose Co. No. 1 |
1 - 2 - 3
2 - 1 - 3 |
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Hose Co. No. 2
All Companies |
3 - 2 - 1
3 - 3 - 3 |
Hose Co. No. 1 was called
Rescue Hose Company, and Company No. 2 was
called Eldorado Company. A third company,
called Harris Company, was organized later.
The No. 1 firehouse on West
Main street was erected in 1872.2
In 1873 J. S. Hewes
was named fire chief. He was succeeded in
that office by H. P. Christie, H. B.
Durfee, William Dodson, W. W.
Foster and W. J. Wayne. Mr.
Hewes served a second time, between the
terms of Dodson and Foster.
FIREMEN'S PARADE, JULY
23, 1895
Photo taken at corner of West William and Edward
Streets during firemen's tournament
-photo by J. E. Bering
In 1875 Neptune Hose company
No. 3 was organized, taking the place of Harris
Hose Co.
It was a great honor in those
days to belong to one of the fire companies, for
only swift runners were admitted. The hose
companies were really the athletic clubs of the
day, for they encouraged physical fitness.
Fast work was needed in fighting fires, and only
fast workers were wanted. There was much
rivalry among the teams, each trying to outdo
the other.
Firemen's tournaments were
the big events of the times for many years in
almost all the states and were great drawing
cards. Each city sent its best team to the
tournament to compete with the teams from other
cities. A number of times tournaments were
held in Decatur, the last one being n 1895.
HOSE COMPANY IN 1878
Top Row - Ed Leech, Marion Houck,
Sullivan Burgess, Ned Weddle, Ed
L. Martn, Charlie Matheney, Jake
Weigand
Second Row - Louis Bickes, Henry
Cullen, C. W. Devore, Charlie
Waughop, Bill Dodson, Andy
Shoemaker, Brook Deardorff, Jesse
Kepple, Charlie Hershey
Bottom Row - Mike Canaday, Jim Cherry,
Fred Litterer, Frank Montague, T.
L. Antrim
Rescue Hose running team of
Decatur was developed to a high point of
efficiency and brought all kinds of honor to the
Decatur fire department.3
George Brett and Fred Litterer,
hose couplers for this company, were considered
the world champions. In 1881 they won the
United States championship at the national
tournament held in Council Bluffs, Ia.
From that meeting the Decatur firemen came back
with $1,000 prize money, $1,100 gate receipts,
$600 grand sweepstakes prizes, billiard table,
pool table and various other small prizes for
records they had made. Brett and
Litterer were able to make a coupling in
3-1/2 seconds.
It was a gala day in Decatur
when the firemen came home from this tournament.
Decatur had one of its biggest celebrations to
honor them. Speeches were made from a
platform in Lincoln square. Judge William
E. Nelson gave an address, and Governor
Shelby M. Cullom presented
congratulations on behalf of the state.
Flowers were showered upon the fire heroes;
music, banquet and ball featured the occasion.
One hundred and eighty firemen marched to the
banquet hall in Guard's armory.
George W. Kraft, who
was captain of Rescue Hose company team for
thirteen years, was physical director as well.
He trained the men vigorously. Rescue's
prize team in 1881 was composed of Captain
Kraft; First Assistant Frank Winebrenner,
Second Assistant C. W. Devore; Couplers
Fred Litterer
and George Brett; Plugmen Emil
Young and William Young; and the
following ropemen: William Rawley, Herman
Martin, Tony
Walser, Elmer Troutmen, Fred
Mueller, William
Hardin, Mark Gates, Louie Bikes,
Harvey W.
Downing, Ed
Leech, Charles Bennett, Willialm
Stewart, and Henry Cullen.
Troutman and
Devore, leaders, were exceptionally fast
runners.
Rescue Company had for its
motto "Spectemur Agendo" (Let us be tried by our
actions). Constitution and by-laws of the
company were adopted March 15, 1877, and copies
printed. Members had to "toe the mark".
They were subject to expulsion for disobedience,
intoxication, failure to pay dues, absence from
meetings and other causes. If a member
failed to attend the funeral of a deceased
member he was subject to fine.
FIRST HOOK AND LADDER
TRUCK
Left to right - Dick Devore, Ed Gates
and Bill
Young
When a fire occurred, the
first man at the hose house rang the bell.
That wa the signal for all the firemen to gather
as soon as possible. They dropped their
work and rushed to the hose house, and as soon
as enough had gathered they started off with the
hose cart to the scene of the fire.
These volunteer companies
served faithfully and well, with honor to
themselves as well as to the city.
CHIEF DEVORE, 1900
The city established a paid
fire department in October, 1884, and this
brought the career of the volunteers to an end,
although their organizations were kept up for
years afterwards for exhibition purposes.
When the paid fire department
was started Will J. Wayne was made
chief. He was at that time a member of the
city council. There were only three men on
the force, W. W. Devore, William Leiby
and Edward
Gates. Devore, who
afterwards became chief, served first as pipeman
on the chemical at No. 1 house. Later when
No. 2 firehouse was built, he was appointed
captain and served there until June 16, 1890,
when he was made chief.4
On March 1, 1885, the city
purchased the first team of fire horses and a
hose wagon, and James Park was made
driver. The first horses were "Frank" and
"Rowdy".
For many years the fire
wagons were drawn by horses. After
automobiles came into general use, the fire
department was outfitted with motor equipment.
By 1916 the last of the horses was gone.
OFF TO THE FIRE! (NO.
1 HOUSE)
There was genuine regret at
the passing of the fire horses. No auto
fire wagon can produce the thrill which a run of
the fire department gave, when the sleek horses
dashed through the streets. The chief's
horse was the first to give way to the
automobile. Others followed quickly.
To the firemen it was like parting with old
friends when the splendid horses, which had been
their comrades, were led away. The annual
run of the fire department in the days when
horses drew the wagons, always brought out
thousands of spectators. It was a sight
worth seeing.
NEPTUNE HOSE HOUSE
The man in the picture is Chief Dodson
The next first chief after W.
J. Wayne was Frank Winebrenner,
and he was succeeded by W. W. Foster.
Foster was followed by C W. Devore, who
was chief from 1890 until his death in 1920.
He was succeeded by Edward Platt, who
served until 1928, when S. T. Lowry was
made chief.
Decatur's first first house
was No. 1 on West Main street, erected in 1872.
Neptune Hose house on East Eldorado street, was
the next, but it was afterwards sold. The
Morgan street house was built in 1888. In
the early history of the department, the
tabernacle at Prairie and Main streets, and a
building at Cerro Gordo and Franklin also were
used as headquarters for hose companies.
The No. 3 house on North Main
street was built in 1902. Since then,
three more houses have been added, No. 4 at
Locust and Jasper streets, No. 5 on South 22nd
street, and No. 6 at Fairview and Eldorado.
DECATUR ARCADE HOTEL
FIRE
No. 1. station was moved in
1920 to a new building at Franklin and Woods
streets.
Approximately sixty men make
up the fire department of today. In 1929
they answered 536 alarms. Since the
beginning of the department thousands of fires
have been fought, and millions of dollars worth
of property saved.5
Some of the biggest firs in
the history of Decatur were:
Union elevator, Nov.
21, 1890, $100,000
Library block, Feb. 21, 1892, $100,000
Powers opera house, Linn & Scruggs, Nov.
5, 1895, $250,000
Mueller, Platt & Wheeland, Feb. 11, 1901,
$116,000
Decatur Cereal Mill, June 8, 1909,
$265,000
Morehouse & Wells, and others, Aug. 22,
1909, $508,000
Mantel factory, Jan. 8, 1911, $200,000
Powers theater, Linn & Scruggs, April 7,
1914, $565,117
Decatur and Arcade hotels, April 21, 1916,
$180,000
Scovill Furniture store, Oct. 1, 1917,
$140,000
Leader Iron Works, Nov. 6, 1920, $125,000
Shellabarger elevator Co., Feb. 3, 1923,
$125,000
Wabash shops and cars, Feb. 26, 1924,
$750,000
Irwin, Neisler Co., Decatur Tent and
Awning Co., Dec. 25, 1925, $100,000
W. C. Starr garage, and others, May 23,
1928, $165,000 |
VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S
ASSOCIATION
The Volunteer Firemen's
association was organized in 1895. Its object
was to perpetuate the good fellowship and
traditions of the years the volunteer firemen
had spent together fighting fires, and to be of
any assistance, if needed, to the regular city
fire department.
Of the 180 original members
of the association only five were able to attend
the meeting early in the year 1930. At
that time only twelve members were still living,
and only eight of them in Decatur.
Officers elected at that meeting were:
President - George W. Kraft
First Vice - William Danzeisen
Second Vice - Homer Jimison
Third Vice - W. H. Barnett
Secretary-treasurer - W. H. Barnett |
------------------
1. It was due to
leading business men of the city, among them
James Millikin, that the fire department was
organized. They called attention to the
fact that the city did not have money to have a
paid department and must depend on volunteers.
The business men agreed to purchase hose and
hose reel, and otherwise assist, if the young
men would form volunteer organizations for
fighting fires.
2. When the hose house on
West Main street was built in 1872 the idea was
conceived that a tower would be a good thing as
a lookout, so the firemen could look out for
fires over the city. In the tower was hung
the bell to call the firemen together. The
tower may have done good service as a lookout
for some years, but eventually such service was
considerably restricted by the tall buildings.
The tower was taken down in 1910.
3. Charles
Winebrenner was said to have been the fastest
runner on the team. His record was 150
yards in fifteen seconds. Winebrenner
afterwards went to Spokane, Wash., where he
became fire chief.
4
C. W. Devore started his career as a farm hand.
He was working on a farm east of Decatur at $17
a month in 1878, when two of Decatur's firemen,
Tom Antrim and Andy Shoemaker, happened to see a
fast run Devore made one Saturday at a game of
rounder.
"We must have that a fellow on
our team," they said. "We'll get him if we
have to draft him."
When the matter was presented to
Devore he objected, saying he had to work and he
had a good job on the farm. Tom and Andy
then got busy. Before night they had found
a job for Devore at a furniture factory at $1.50
a day. Board and room could be had for 50
cents a day. Devore accepted the job and
became a member of the hose company. From
that time until his death he was connected with
Decatur's fire department.
5.
One of the most spectacular fires
ever seen in Decatur was the Decatur Gun store
fire on July 4, 1901. It started at
midnight and in fifteen minutes the building and
contents were destroyed.
There were thousands of
explosions. People within hearing distance
thought some one was shooting off fireworks.
The fireworks which exploded shot in all
directions. A newspaper writer who was one
of the first on hand wrote the following
description of the conflagration:
"Added to the awful grandeur of
flames leaping to the sky was the wierdness and
fearsomeness of countless and tremendous
explosions. It was a young volcano with a
peak of rapid fire artillery booming from its
midst. Payne's most spectacular production
would look tame beside it.
"There was no slow creeping of
the flames hidden behind clouds of smoke, but in
a flash report of the first explosion was heard,
the flames were leaping from the front and top
of the building, and the air was filled with the
crash of the burning explosives.
"Prairie avenue in front and for
the rest of the block on either side was swept
by a rain of sky rockets and other fiery
missiles, making it apparently certain death to
venture into range. Buildings across the
street were bombarded with every kind of
fireworks. It looked as if every building
in the neighborhood would be burned.
"The noise was like a regiment of
musketry in action, and the flutter of the small
arms was punctuated from time to time by a
louder detonation, suggesting the support of a
battery of light artillery. Early arrivals
on the scene peered fearfully around the corners
but kept carefully out of range.
"As the rockets shot up, through
the network of wires on Prairie Avenue the lines
were crossed and spat zig-zag lightning, adding
to the picturesqueness of the scene and to the
danger as well."
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