USA > Colorado > Arapahoe County > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 37
USA > Colorado > Denver County > Denver > History of the city of Denver, Arapahoe County, and Colorado > Part 37
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control and supervision of Mr. and Mrs. Brinker, whose experience and previous success are a guar- antee of proper management. The third session opens with one hundred matriculates, thirty of them boarders-nearly as many as can be accom- modated. The remarkable prosperity of the school seems to demand more extensive buildings, and President Brinker has determined to erect, next summer, adjoining the school buildings, a boarding house that will accommodate one hundred pupils, and, as soon thereafter as practicable, to make ex- tensive additions to the school property.
PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.
Denver, it must be confessed, is sadly deficient in places of legitimate amusement, though concert halls are unhappily only too plenty in the lower part of the city. Since the destruction of the old Denver Theater by fire-which was not much loss to be sure-Guard Hall, now the Denver Opera House, has been the only regular theater in the city. It is small and uncomfortable, being poorly ventilated. No regular stock company is main- tained by the manager, but it is often occupied by traveling troupes, and occasionally an excellent per- formance is given, upon which occasions the little theater is crowded from cellar to garret, there being no pit or dome about it. To the shame of Denver it must be written, that Leadville, Central and several other towns in the State, are provided with better theaters than the capital.
Walhalla Hall, corner Curtis and Sixteenth streets, is now the only hall for concerts, lectures, public meetings, etc., in the city. It is a comfort- able, not to say handsome, hall. Turner Hall, on Holladay street, is the German Temple of Art, and is the most commodious hall in Denver, though inconveniently located.
THE FIRE COMPANIES.
When, in the spring of 1863, the best portion of the city of Denver was almost entirely destroyed by fire, her citizens began to consider seriously, perhaps for the first time, the need of an organized
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and systematic protection from fire; but the burnt district was soon rebuilt in a more substantial man- ner than before, and the events of the great civil war in the States, the no less exciting incidents of the border warfare with the Indians, and the mind- absorbing results of a prosperous business era, all combined to divert the publie mind into a channel away from matters the need of which at the time did not seem pressing.
An occasional small fire would move some of the more prudent members of the community to agi- tate the subject of procuring some sort of a fire apparatus; and the Rocky Mountain News, the only daily then published in the city, repeatedly urged upon the City Council the necessity of tak- ing some steps in the matter, but up to the spring of 1866, Denver was entirely without any system- atie protection from fire.
A number of small conflagrations, coming in quick succession, and supposed to have been the work of incendiaries. early in the spring of 1866, produced such an excitement as had rarely been felt in the growing little city of the Plains. A meeting of the citizens was called at the old Peo- ple's Theater, on the evening of the 22d of March, to decide what steps should be taken in the emergency. Speeches were made, resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting were drafted and the meeting adjourned. having made but little progress toward the organization of a fire company. On Sunday afternoon of the 25th, a few men who could work in harmony met in the retail grocery house of Messrs. Davis & Curtis, corner of Larimer and "F" ( Fifteenth ) streets, and there brought into life the first fire company organized in Col- orado.
The Denver Ilook & Ladder Company No. I, began its existence with a membership of thirty men, of whom the following were elected officers for the first year : Foreman, George W. McClure ; First Assistant Foreman, Frank W. Cram ; Second Assistant Foreman, C. C. Davis; Third Assis- tant Foreman, H. L. Rockwell; Secretary, John B. Lesaul; Treasurer, Hyatt Hussey.
At the third meeting, on March 30, the report of the committee appointed to select a uniform was adopted, and the same, with slight alteration, has since been used by the company. Fifty uniforms were at once ordered, each member becoming per- sonally responsible for one. They arrived about the 1st of July, and on the 7th of the same month the company made its first appearance in public in full uniform.
During the month of May, the company ordered a truck and apparatus from Cincinnati, at a cost of $1,685. It arrived late in the fall of the same year, having been hauled from the Missouri River behind a team of horses. Without entering into a discussion of the merits and demerits of this, the first truck in Colorado, suffice to say that is was more substantial than elegant.
The constitution of the company had been re- modeled the preceding September, and the annual election of officers placed at the regular meeting of the company on the first Monday in November ; and on that day a new election of officers was held, resulting in the choice of Mr. Frank Cram for Foreman.
About this time, the " Pioneer Fire Station " of Colorado was completed. on the lot purchased by the City Council, in July-the site of the present Central Station-and was occupied by this com- pany in the latter part of the month of October. The building was of brick, 24x60, two stories high in front and one story back. This was occupied by the company until the Central Station of the Den- ver Fire Department was completed, about the 1st of January, 1876. It was built by the city, and cost when finished $20,000.
On the 11th of that month, the members of this company, together with the members of the Woodie Fisher Hose Company No. 1, moved the apparatus of the two companies into their new quarters, which were formally opened on the 18th of April by a brilliant reception given by the two companies to their lady friends.
The new hall was generously fitted up by the City Council with appropriate furniture, and the
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two companies contributed $500 for the purchase of pictures and oil paintings, with which the walls of the new building were decorated. The citizens of Denver kindly donated many volumes of choice books to the company's library, and these, with the new volumes being constantly received, bid fair to make it one of the best in the city in regard to numbers and quality. Early in the year 1867, the city purchased an alarm bell at a cost of $1.200, which did good service until the spring of 1873, when the new bell now in use at the Central Station was purchased for the city by Phil. Trounstine, Esq. It weighs 3,600 lbs., and was cast from a piece of Spanish artillery captured by the United States troops from the fortifications of Vera Cruz.
The old truck having become inadequate to the requirements of the service, its sale was effected to a Pueblo company for $600; and T. F. McCarthy, who was then foreman of the company, was sent East to purchase a new one. After careful observa- tion throughout the principal establishments in the East, he ordered one from a Brooklyn firm at a cost of $1,475. This truck. with its appliances, is still in use by the company, and is a model of strength and neatness.
The Fire Alarm Telegraph was completed in 1876, at a cost of $5,600. It consists of eight miles of wire, two circuits and fifteen alarm boxes.
For many years, the annual recurrence of this company's balls, at Christmas time. was looked forward to by the citizens of Denver with joyfal anticipation, and they were regarded as the most pleasurable events of the season.
The company was the only one in existence in the city until April 9, 1872, when the James Archer Hose Company, No. 2, was organized.
The company began its existence with the fol- lowing officers, who were elected for one year: President, A. B. Hill; Vice President, J. L. Me- Neil; Foreman, F. D. MeClure; First Assistant, F. A. Driscol; Second Assistant, C. A. Finding ; Sec- retary, F. F. Struby ; Treasurer, C. Y. MeClure. The Vice President having resigned a short time after the organization of the company, C. B.
Patterson was elected to succeed him. He soon resigned and was succeeded by W. J. Fay, and the second assistant was soon succeeded by W. E. Turner.
It was provided that each member should sup- ply himself with a uniform within sixty days after his election, and that each member should bear an equal proportion of all expenses incurred by the company, and have an equal and proportionate interest in all property belonging to the con- pany.
The hose house of this company is situated on Curtis street, where they have continued to re- spond to the call of the fire-bell almost since their organization.
The company was named in honor of Col. James Archer, President of the Denver Water Company. The present officers of the company are: President. W. F. Robinson; Vice President, H. N. Fair- childs ; Foreman, C. E. Cowell; First Assistant Foreman, A. K. Stimson ; Second Assistant Fore- man, George Woodside; Third Assistant Foreman, O. A. Hatten ; Treasurer, C. Y. McClure : Secre- tary, James O'Conner.
Following this company. the Joseph E. Bates Fire and Hose Company, No. 3, was organized in May, 1872, with twenty-three charter members, of whom one, George Duggan, is the present Chief of the Denver Fire Department.
A uniform, consisting of the usual cap and belt, red shirt and black pants, was selected.
From this beginning the company has increased in numbers until it is now one of the best-manned in the city. The hose house of the company in West Denver is a fine brick structure, and is a model of neatness and convenience.
Always prompt to respond to the call of the alarm bell, this company has become noted for its faithful and efficient services, as well as for the harmony which pervades the entire organization. It was named in honor of Hon. Joseph E. Bates, in commemoration of the substantial aid he had rendered the fire department of Denver, upon its first organization.
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HISTORY OF DENVER.
The present officers of the company are : Fore- man, James Duggan ; First Assistant Foreman, Austin Banks ; Second Assistant Foreman, Will- iam Campbell; Third Assistant Foreman, Charles Foster; Secretary, C. W. Thurlow ; Treasurer, William E. Edom.
This company was a welcome addition to the Denver Fire Department, and did some good serv- ice, especially in West Denver; but the rapid growth of the city required still additional protec- tion, and to meet this demand a petition signed by many of the leading citizens of Denver was pre- sented to the City Council, asking permission to organize a hose company, to be known as the Woodie Fisher Hose Company, No. 1.
The petition being granted. a meeting was called for July 31, 1872, to effect an organization.
The following officers were chosen for the first year : Foreman, W. C. Bucklin; First Assistant Foreman. W. C. Hill; Second Assistant Foreman, Samuel Dorsey; Secretary, W. S. Clark ; Treas- nrer, F. W. Hill.
The company was named in commemoration of Redwood Fisher, Foreman of Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, who, on the 12th day of May, 1870. met a violent death in attempting to stop a runaway team, at the corner of Fourteenth and California streets.
A uniform, consisting of a white flannel shirt, red cap, and black belt and pants, was decided upon.
On the 25th day of November, 1874, the com- pany gave their first annual ball, at Guard Hall. Every company in the city was present in full- dress uniform; altogether it was one of the largest and finest parties ever given in the city of Denver.
At the first fire tournament of Colorado, held in Central City on the 21st of May, 1875, in honor of "Central Re-built," this company carried off the first prize for hose companies-a handsome silver trumpet.
The next company to be organized in the city was the Denver Hook and Ladder Company, No. 2.
At a meeting of the citizens of the Fifth Ward, held at National Park on the evening of March 4, 1874, the Denver Hook and Ladder Company, No. 2, was organized.
At the first annual election of the com- pany, held the 1st day of March, the following officers were elected for the first year: Foreman, E. B. Sleeth ; First Assistant Foreman, Henry Stewart; Second Assistant Foreman, John S. Venom; Third Assistant Foreman, William Ma- son; Secretary, M. M. Seavy; Treasurer, C. G. Richardson.
The committee appointed to select a uniform recommended the one still in use by the company, viz: Red shirt, black belt and hat with red letters, black pants and necktie.
An old second-hand truck was procured, which, in lieu of better accommodations, was housed in an old cow-shed at the corner of Twenty-third and Lawrence streets, and from this place, and with this truck, the company responded to many calls of the fire-bell, and in many instances rendered effect- ive and invaluable service, receiving on one occa- sion a card of thanks from Mr. J. L. Bailey, then Chief of the Fire Department, for good services.
On July 4, 1874, the company were enabled to occupy their new quarters in the house erected by the City Council, at the corner of Twenty-sixth and Curtis streets.
Soon after moving into their new quarters, the sale of the old truck was effected to a Boulder company, and the North Denver Company having disbanded, their beautiful little "Babcock " was secured in its stead, and is still in use by the com- pany.
At the Golden tournament, on Thanksgiving Day, 1875, the company made the best record, for 1,000 feet, ever made by any Denver company up to that time.
On the resignation of the foreman, Mr. E. B. Sleeth, in January, 1876, Bryce P. Smith was elected to fill the vacancy thus made. Ile was suc- ceeded by John W. Jay, and he in turn by Scott Arbuckle, the present efficient and popular foreman.
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This company is well organized, manned and equipped, and by its promptness has made itself well worthy of its motto, "On Time."
The Tabor Hose Company, No. 5, was organized on the 27th of January, 1879, with thirty-five names on the charter roll.
The officers chosen for the first year were: Foreman, J. W. Wilber; First Assistant Foreman, Samuel Murray; Second Assistant Foreman, Ed. Fox ; Third Assistant Foreman, H. Pritchard ; Secretary, D. R. Clay; Treasurer, George Anstee. The building of the company was completed and occupied by the company late in the fall of the same year. It is a handsome two-story brick, 25x60 feet, and is situated on Fifteenth street, North Denver. The uniform of the company con- sists of dark blue pants with red stripe down the side, red shirt with the figure "5" in front, and the usual fireman's cap and belt. The company was named in honor of Lieut. Gov. Tabor, the well-known bonanza king of Colorado, and the colors, "Cardinal Red," and the motto "Dirigo" were selected by Mrs. Tabor.
The first ball of the company was given on the 15th of January, 1880, and was attended by many of the prominent citizens of Denver, including Mr. and Mrs. Tabor. Two hundred and fifty dol- lars were cleared, with which the walls of the com- pany's rooms were decorated. At the tournament held in Denver in the fall of 1879, the running team of this company made a record of 39} sec- onds in the plug races.
THE MILITARY COMPANIES.
Never backward in any enterprise, the citizens of Denver are not lacking in military spirit, as is evidenced by the three excellent military companies of which they can boast.
The Governor's Guard was organized April 18, 1872, and numbers about forty members. The uniform of the company is the same throughout as that of the famous Eighth New York Regiment. The officers of the company, under the civil organ- ization, were as follows: President, George T.
Clark ; First Vice President, Frank W. Cram ; Second Vice President, James B. Thompson ; Treasurer, Hyatt Hussey; Secretary, A. B. Jones. Under the military organization, the first officers were: Captain, Israel C. Smith ; First Lieutenant, Andrew S. Hughes ; Second Lieutenant, James B. Thompson; Orderly Sergeant, Albert H. Jones. Capt. Jones remained with the company until July, 1877, and was succeeded by Lieut. J. B. Thomp- son. He resigned, and S. A. Shepperd held the office six months, and was succeeded by M. L. Paddock, the present Captain.
The annual balls of this company are among the finest social events of the season, and are attended by the elite of the city.
At the last annual election held at "Guard Hall," December 5, 1879, the following officers were elected: Captain, M. L. Paddock; First Lieutenant, Martin Trosper ; Second Lieutenant, A. H. Lehman; Treasurer, Charles E. Weeks ; Secretary, George E. Lester.
The only other State company is the Chaffee Light Artillery, which was organized January 10, 1878, with about forty members. The officers elected for the first year were : Captain, A. H. Jones; First Lieutenant, Samuel L. Chapin; Sec- ond Lieutenant, R. C. Webster; Orderly Sergeant, F. A. Robertson; and these, with the exception of the Second Lieutenant, are the present officers, and Mr. B. S. Knowlton is the Secretary and Treas- urer. The uniform is of dark blue, trimmed with red, with the usual army cap.
This company participated in the ceremonies at the inauguration of Gov. Pitkin, and, in the fall of 1878, received Gen. W. T. Sherman when on his visit to Denver. On the 4th of July, 1879, the company received and entertained Company B, of the Colorado Springs Cavalry, and were in camp at Camp Pitkin four days.
The meetings of the company are held at Guard Hall, and, under the efficient management of its officers, the company has become one of the best drilled military organizations of the West. The two Napoleon twelve-pound guns used by this
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company were furnished by the United States Goverment from the arsenal at Rock Island, Ill.
The Mitchell Guards, the only independent Irish military company in the State, was organized in 1873. The first officers of the company were: Captain, Edward J. Burke; First Lieutenant, Jas. Conway; Second Lieutenant, Con. O'Rourke. Capt. Burke retained command of the company six years, receiving the unanimous vote of the members of the organization. Through the efforts of this company, a fund was raised to build the main altar of the Roman Catholic cathedral at Denver.
The present officers of the company are: Cap- tain, Robert Morris; First Lieutenant, M. J. Burke; Second Lieutenant, Edward McGinn. The company has participated in most of the pub- lie celebrations since its organization, and its thor- ough training shows the efficient management under which it has been conducted.
DENVER PECULIARITIES.
Nothing amuses the people of Colorado more than the very vague ideas of Easterners in general, in regard to Indian affairs about Denver. Many people think that Denver is a sort of frontier military station-an outpost of civilization, so to speak-and that the Indians are as thick about here as they used to be in New England in the Colonial days. The raid of a band of redskins across the Plains, in 1878, gave rise to many exaggerated rumors of Indian troubles in this direction, although, in fact, Coloradoans knew little or nothing of the affair until it was over, and the marauders had departed.
Perhaps the most ridiculous story ever told about Indian raids in the " Far West," was pub- lished last summer in the Elmira Advertiser, a prominent New York newspaper, old enough to know better. The scene of the blood-curdling adventure was laid in Kansas, "about four miles west of Kansas City." (!) George Simons, a peaceful settler, was raided by redskins, who "destroyed his crops," according to the veracious
chronicle, and carried away captive his daughter, aged eleven years. Mr. Simons and a party of his infuriated neighbors pursued the red devils "two hundred miles west," according to the story from which we quote; but, "at last accounts," had not been heard from. and " fears were entertained" that the pursuing host had themselves fallen into the hands of the savages, and would never again be heard from.
Now, a glance at any map of the country would have shown the Advertiser that an Indian raid four miles from Kansas City would have been quite impossible, and, if it had been possible, a pursuit of two hundred miles west would have carried Mr. Simons and his friends into the heart of Kansas, into the midst of populous settlements, whence he could have returned home by rail over any one of three or four railroads in a few hours' time. But, evidently, it never occurred to the Advertiser man that a country so far west of New York was aught but an Indian reservation. where the whites must live in constant deadly peril of their lives.
In the minds of such men, Denver can never be dissociated from border warfare and ruffianism. If business calls them here, they come loaded down with arms, ever on the alert for the first indications of danger, and are much surprised to find Denver not only peaceful but metropolitan, and as amply protected by civil authority as any Eastern community. Indeed, Denver is exception- ally well governed, nor is its small police force exposed to any danger from contact with the criminal classes. As to Indian raids, the grand army of Eastern tramps are tenfold more terrible than the Colorado Utes. If compelled to choose between our Indians and an equal number of tramps, the choice of the former, much as they are despised by our people, would be almost unanimous.
Of course this ignorance of the conditions of social life in the West, is confined to but few indi- viduals, and their number is decreasing every day, thanks to the influences of railway and telegraph
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lines, and the constant contact between Western and Eastern men. It is only the marvelous development of Denver which surprises most of our visitors. They do not expect to see Indians in our streets. but they are astonished to discover evidences of refinement and civilization superior to those of most Eastern cities of the same size.
Among the peculiarities, not to say eccentrici- ties, of the average Coloradoan, particularly those who have lived long in the land, or those who have taken kindly to the new country, is his perfect poise and admirable self-possession. Nothing dis- turbs him, short of a tragedy or some strong con- vulsion of nature like an earthquake. He is a trifle exacting. perhaps. considering nothing too good for a Colorado man, but that is most mani- fest when he takes his journeys abroad "strange countries for to see." He is equally at home in Paris or Denver. though of course secretly pre- ferring the latter. Royalty charms him not, nor meretricious displays of wealth. Ever free and frank, he is never obtrusive or demonstrative. He manifests no interest he does not feel, and greets all strangers cordially. but not affectionately, as though desirons of impressing them with false ideas of their own importance. If. as often hap-
pens, an old acquaintance of other days and dis- tant scenes should suddenly turn up in Denver. the pioneer never goes wild with enthusiasm at sight of the familiar face.
But it must not be considered that this natural repression of sentimental feeling tends to harden the heart. or to destroy the prior feelings of hos- pitality and fraternity. The Coloradoan is as true as steel, if he is as unimpressible as iron. He will go out of his way to do you a favor quicker than most men who beslobber you with demonstrative affection. He has lived on the frontier long enough to wear off all the sham of civilization, and what is left is the genuine article. This is abundantly shown in the deference paid to the gentler sex. Women are nowhere more respected than in Colorado. They can go anywhere, not only without fear but with assurance that if an insult should be offered to them it would be lucky for the offender if he escaped alive. The Old World has no such civilization within its border, and even the Eastern States of our own beloved land of the free do not carry their chivalry to such fine perfection. Men who are brave enough to always resent insults are not quick to offer them.
CHAPTER XXVII. THE LEARNED PROFESSIONS.
TT would be unfair to close even this imperfect sketch of Denver without some reference to the able men in her midst who represent the learned pro- fessions. First in importance. perhaps, stand the ministers. of whom there are a goodly number in Denver, among them men of the highest order of talent. In a general way, it may be said that Den- ver demands the best, and is but half-satisfied with mediocre men. Her church-goers are intelligent people who have been accustomed, perhaps, to at- tend leading churches in large Eastern cities, or who, if they have lived long on the border, have
orado ought to have the best preaching that can be had for pay, and so the new minister who wends westward with an idea that his audiences here will not be intelligent and perhaps severely critical. is doomed to disappointment.
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