USA > Indiana > Marion County > Indianapolis > Logan's History of Indianapolis from 1818. Giving a carefully compiled record of events of the city from the organization of the state government > Part 7
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Good Intent, and occupying an old frame The trustees levied the tax, and subscrip- house at the fork of Washington street and tions were also made by individuals; the the National road, near the race, using a State furnished her quota, and in the sum- large iron triangle for a bell, but they mer of 1835 the old Marion, a box. hand- moved in 1857 to the house now used by brake engine, was bought in Philadelphia the steam engine No. 1, west of the canal. for about $1,800, and duly received here in In April, 1857, a new hand-brake engine, September. A one-story frame house was
the Indiana, was bought for them, and used first built for it by the State in 1836, but on till November, 1859, when the company the 6th of February, 1837, a two-story was disbanded, and the steam engine No. 1 frame house was ordered to be built on the afterward stationed in their house. The north side of the Circle, and was erected Indiana was afterward sold.
during the summer. It was occupied as an The Invincibles, a company mostly com- engine house and council chamber till the posed of Germans, was formed in May, summer of 1851, when it was burned and 1852, in the first ward, and the Victory, a the records of the town were destroyed with small hand-brake engine, procured shortly the house. On the 20th of February, 1838, afterward, and used by them till March, the Marion Fire Company was incorporated. 1857, when the Conqueror, a fine hand- In the spring of 1840, the Good Intent, a brake engine, was bought and used by them box, hand - brake engine, was bought in till August, 1859, when the company dis- Philadelphia, and used for a time by the banded and surrendered its property to the Marion company with the old Marion, but city. The house of this company, built in in 1841 the company was divided, and the; 1854-5, just north of Washington on New Independent Relief Company was formed Jersey street, is now occupied by the hook and took the Good Intent. After the burn- and ladder company. The company was ing of the Marion house on the circle, a large, prompt and effective, and during its brick house was built in 1855-6, at the cor-jexistence made several trips to other cities. ner of Massachusetts avenue and New York, After the new engine was bought the Vic-
32
LOGAN'S HISTORY OF
tory was used by a company of boys. After retary and messenger for ordinary business, the first paid department was organized, and its chief and assistant engine directors, the Invincible company was re-organized as pipemen, hosemen and brakemen for sery- a part of it, and the Conqueror continued in ice. The corporate authorities exercised use till the summer of 1830, when the com- little control over the firemen until after the pany was finally disbanded, and the engine city charter in 1847, and not much then till sold shortly after to the town of Ft. Wayne. 1853, when the office of chief fire engineer
The Union Company, No. 5, was organ- was created and rules prescribed for the ized in 1855, and a house built on South government of the department. Joseph street for it in 1856, and in April of that Little was chosen first chief May 6th, 1853. year the "Spirit of 7 & 6," a Jeffers hand- His successors since that date have been Ja- brake engine was bought and used by the cob B. Fitler, elected 1854; Chas. W. Purcell, company till November, 1859, when the 1855; Andrew Wallace, 1855; Joseph W. company was disbanded and surrendered its Davis, 1858; John E. Foudray, 1859; and apparatus to the city. Some effort was af- under the paid department, Joseph W. Da- terward made to re-organize the company vis, 1859; Charles Richmann, 1803: Geo. under the paid department, but without suc- W. Buchanan, 1867 ; Charles Richmann, cess. The engine was sold at 8600 in Oeto- May, 1868.
The volunteer system worked well till No. 3, which was subsequently stationed in 1857. The rivalry between the companies the Union house.
ber, 1860, as part pay for the steam engine
produced good results; but the organization
The Rover Fire Company was formed in of the fire association in 1856, while render- the third and fourth wards in March, 1-58. ing the department more efficient, also made A house was secured for them, one of the'it a political machine and increased the de- old engines assigned to them, and steps tak- mands on the treasury. Conflicts and jeal- en to purchase an engine, but before any- ousies gradually arose between the compa- thing was done the approaching change of nies, and on the choice of J. W. Davis as system became evident, and the company chief engineer in May, 1858, disputes arose was disbanded in June, 1859, and the house as to the fairne-s of his election and man- sold in 1860. Hose companies were sinml- agement. The dissension impaired the effi- taneously formed for each of the foregoing ciency of the organization, and the trouble fire companies, and the necessary hose, was not entirely healed the next year under reels and other apparatus furnished to them. Fondray. It broke out afresh in August,
A hook and ladder company was formed 1859, on the proposition to substitute a paid in 1843, as a part of the old volunteer de- department, which was earnestly advocated partment, and the necessary wagon, ladders, by Davis. The Invincibles disbanded in ropes, hooks, axes and buckets procured. August, 1859, the Marions and Westerns in The company continued its organization till October, the Relief, Rover and Union in disbanded with the rest of the department November, and the city was left for a short November 14th, 1859, but was re-organized time without a fire organization. The Mar- as a part of the paid department, and still ions re-entered the service in November, continues in service, occupying the old In- but finally disbanded in February, 1860. vincible house on North New Jersey street. The volunteer department in the spring of
The Young America Hook and Ladder 1859 included six engine and six hose com- Company was formed in May, 1858, and panies, with about four hundred and eighty got their wagon and apparatus in June, re- men ; two hook and ladder companies, with maining in service till disbanded in Novem- about one hundred men : one chief and two ber, 1859. In December. 1849, a number assistant engineers; seven houses, and about of boys formed the "O K Bucket Company," seven thousand feet of hose.
It was evident that a change would have
and procured a wagon and the old ladders! aud leather fire-buckets which belonged to to be made in consequence of the di-sension the State and private citizens, and to the arising over the election of engineer in May, Indianapolis Fire Company in the earliest 1858, and on account of the rapidly-increas- organization of the department. The coun- ing expense of the system. Fire alarms cil subsequently gave them a new wagon were very frequent, and the companies were and buckets, and provided a house for charged with their origin. The council, in them. They were effective-generally get- August, 1859, declared it inexpedient to re- ting the first water on fire --- until they dis- organize the volunteer department. The banded in 1854. The company was revived fire committee reported, September 4th, in in 1855, but disbanded finally in 1856, the favor of a paid system, and the purchase of boys taking the Victory formerly used by a third-class steam engine, and selling the the Invincibles.
old Relief and Good Intent engines. A -
Under the volunteer system each company Latta steam engine was exhibited here Sep- was independent, having its president, sec-|tember 23d-1th at the county fair, and tried
33
INDIANAPOLIS FROM 1818.
at the Palmer House cistern before the com- the building. Two watchmen have since mittee. A Lee & Larned engine was alsolbeen employed, giving the locality of the brought here and tried October 15th and fire by striking the number of the ward. In 22d, at the canal. It was determined to February, ISCS, a fire-alarm telegraph was buy one of the Lee & Larned machines, and adopted. and the wires, boxes and fixtures on the 30th of March, 1860, it was received completed and put in operation by the end and stationed at the Western engine house. of April, at a cost of about 86,000.
On the 14th of November, 1859, the old; During the existence of the first bucket volunteer department was disbanded by or-'fire company the dependence for water was dinance, and a paid department, consisting wholly on private wells. After the Marion of one steam and two hand engines, and a and Good Intent engines were bought a few hook and ladder company, was authorized, large public wells were dug in the central and J. W. Davis made chief engineer at a part of town. The first cisterns two in salary of $300. C. Riehmann and W. Sher- number, holding three hundred barrels wood were made captains of the two hand each,) were built by the trustee government engine companies, W. W. Darnell of the in the spring of 1840, but it was not till Oc- hook and ladder company, and Frank Gla- tober, 1852, when a cistern tax was ordered zier engineer of the steamer. Some diffi- by special election, that any number of cis- culty was experienced in forming the hand terns were built. Sixteen were constructed companies on account of the general oppo- by the elose of 1853, and since that date fifty sition to the chief engineer, but the force two, ranging from three hundred to eighteen was fully organized by January, 1880. The hundred harrols, have been built in various engineer was ordered to sell the old and quarters of the city, and though the supply surplus apparatus. The Marion engine was is still inadequate, the protection is ample sold in April, 1860, to Peru ; the Union in'against all ordinary fires. In the spring of October to the Seneca Falls Company ; the 1868 8300 were appropriated to bore an ar- Conqueror in February, 1861, and the re- tesian well to test the project for supplying mainder since that period, the last one be- cisterns from underneath the surface. At ing sold within the last year.
present they are filled from wells, and the
In August, 1860, a third-elass Latta en- creek and canal by the engines, or by a gine was bought, arriving here in October, steam pump, built for the purpose in 1864, and was stitioned at the old Marion house. at a cost of about $1,000.
A Seneca Falls engine was exhibited at the Though so largely built of wood, this State fair, and tried October 22d before a city has been remarkably fortunate in re- committee of the council in competition gard to fires. The streets are so wide, and with the other engines, the result being that the department has been so prompt, that the council purchased it at $3,500, giving fires rarely go beyond the houses in which the old Union at $600 in part pay, and sta- they originate. As the present buildings tioned it at the Union house on South street.'are replaced by brick, stone or iron struc- Frank Glazier was appointed engineer of tures, with fire-proof walls and roofs, the the No. 1, Charles Curtis of the No. 2, and immunity from destructive conflagrations Daniel Glazier of the No. 3. Hosemen and will be still greater. The ordinary rates of pipemen were also appointed, and but few insurance are too high for this city, and our changes have since been made in the force. people are now helping to insure property After seven years' trial of the three engines, in cities like Chicago, where more loss is the council in 1867 purchased an additional frequently suffered in a single fire than oc- Seneca Falls machine, No. 4, which was re-leurs here in a year. ceived and put in service in December, and
The State Board of Agriculture was char- the No. 3 sent back for repairs. These tered in February, 1835, Jas. Blake, Larkin were completed and the engine returned in Simms, John Owen and M. M. Henkle, di- March, 1868, the whole cost of the new rectors ; James Blake, president, M. M. engine and the repairs on the old one being Henkle, secretary. Premiums were offered about $6,500. The Latta engine was then April 28th for essays on specified subjects, relieved irom service for repairs, and theland rules adopted for organizing county so- Lee & Larned will be repaired in its turn. cieties. The first State agricultural conven- The department is now in an efficient state. tion met December 14th, 1835, in Repre- All the horses, hose, reels and other appar-|sentatives' Hall, and several annual meetings atus have been provided by the council. were afterwards held, but the enterprise For some years after the organization of the died in a few years. Meetings were held at paid department no central alarm existed, the court house June 6th and 27th. to form but in the spring of 1863 an alarm tower a county agricultural society under the and bell was placed in the rear of Glenns"State Board rules. N. B. Palmer was pres- block, and connected by wires and pulley- ident, D. Maguire, secretary. Subscriptions with the watchmen's station on the tower of were made for premiums, and the Board of (1)
34
HISTORY OF
Justices also appropriated fifty dollars. The the Legislature had given $100.000 for first fair was held October 30-1 in the court. opening roads, had often asked aid to im- house vard. One hundred and eighty-four'prove the rivers, and had chartered many dollars were awarded in premiums. Much railways. From various cause, these ex- interest was manifested. Four hundred penditures and efforts had effected little. dollars were subscribed for the next fair.| With increasing resources the demand for Annual fairs were held by the society for greater facilities increased. The National two or three years.
road gave an impetus to other projects of
In the fall the papers said much im- more doubtful utility. A pressure from all provement was going on. Property had sides was brought to bear on the Assembly, doubled in value in two years, and businessfand on the 26th of January, 1836, the in- lots on Washington street were selling at ternal improvement bill was passed. The fifty, sixty-two and seventy-five dollars per State not only undertook several great works, but extended aid to others under pri- front foot.
The Benevolent Society was formed No- vate companies. The act was greeted with Bonfires and illuminations
vember, 1835, with a president, secretary, rejoicing. treasurer, depository and visitors, and has marked the spread of the news. Our eiti -- been active and efficient to the present date.|zens were especially elated, for several of Its system has always been the same, and the works terminated or crossed at this prevents street begging. Funds and cloth-lpoint, and more than one outlet would ex- ing are collected in specified districts in thelist to the world. A general illumination fall by visitors, who depo-it the same with took place here on the night of January the officers, and who also accessin and re-leth, after the revenge of the hill had be- port all cases needing aid. Written ordersjeome a certainty. The bill at once im- for money, clothes or provisions are given proved the prospects of the town. Property to applicants, and transient cases are cared rose in price rapidly, new houses were built,
for by a special committee. The society has been sustained by private contributions, the city and town-hip authorities furnishing
the settled limits extended westward, me- chanics were busy, merchants soki large stocks, money was plenty, and every one wood only when needed. Mr. James Blake prosperous. This continued nearly three has been the pre-ident for many years, and years, when funds gave out, public works much of the good effeeted by the enterprize stopped, trade ceased, property declined, la- has been dne to his zeal and energy.
borers went elsewhere, and ruin stared
The Young Men's Literary Society, de- every one in the face. The hard times of signed for debate, composition and general 1839-42 were sorely felt. The leading bus- mental improvement, was formed in 1$35, iness men were most involved, and for years and continued its meetings for twelve or fif- their lives were struggles to save something teen years. It was incorporated in April, from the wreck. The forbearance of ered- 18.17, under the general law, collected a itors alone saved them from utter poverty. considerable library, and from 1943 to 1848 The bankrupt act of 1841 afforded relief to gave each winter a series of lectures by its the whole country, easing the general dis- members, and others from abroad. It was the successor here of the Indianapolis Ath-
tress, and enabling many to get another From this time till 1847 the town start. eneum, and the precursor of the lecture so- remained a dull country village, with so cieties of the present day. unfavorable an experience of internal im- provements that our capitalists subsequently
The winter of 1834-5 had been eold and protracted. The spring was backward. kept out of them or aided them but little.
More rain fell in May and June than in Under the internal improvement system any season before for ten years, and at Fort the central canal, from the Wabash to Ev- Wayne ten inches of water fell in two hours, ansville, together with several railroads from the storm being limited to a small space. various points, had been intended to centre This statement was made by Jesse L. Wil- here. All were abandoned in 1939, after liams, State engineer on the Wabash canal. much work had been done. The Madison There was a hard frost on the morning of railroad had been completed nearly to Ver- July Ist, followed by a hot and dry season,'non and graded to Columbus. It was oper- closing on the night of August 1sth in a ated by the State till 1843, then surrendered tornado of wind and rain, unroofing houses, to a company, and finally finished in Oeto- destroying fences, timber and erops, and ber, 1547. Before competing lines reduced killing horses, cattle and hogs. The follow- its trathe it made more money than any
road in the country. The State was cheated out of her interest in the road, and the road
1836. The want of natural channels itself, after losing business and importance, for trade had prompted many improvement, was finally bought and operated by the Jer- schemes in past years, and at an early day fersonville line.
ing winter lasted till April.
---
35
INDIANAPOLIS FROM IS18.
1589392
The canal was nearly done when aban- urer's report showed $1.610 receipts for the doned ; $1.600,000 had been expended, and year, and $1,150 of this sum had been ex- a comparatively small sum would have pended for the Marion engine and in dig- completed it from Noblesville to Martins- ging five public wells, and other fire de- ville. It was begun in October, 1536, work partment expenses. A balance of $124 was being pro-ceuted simultaneously along its turned over to the new government. The line by gangs of Irishmen, whose disputes new board passed ordinances regulating with spade and shillelah gave animation to markets, ordering the streets to be opened, their encampments. A great debate of this and prohibiting riots, drankenness, horse- kind occurred in 1838 near town, between racing and indecent language on the streets. the Corkonians and fardowners, several| The work on the National road in the hundred disputants being engaged, and the last few years had attracted many men of discussion occupying the greater part of the bad character and habits to this point. day. The sections to Noblesville and Mar- These, banded together under a leader of tinsville were nearly ready, and that to great size and strength, were long known as Broad Ripple was finished late in Novem- "the chain gang," and kept the town in a ber, 1838. and opened for use June 27th, half subjugated state. Assaults were often 1839, with an excursion by boats to Broad committed. citizens threatened and insulted, Ripple in July. Considerable preparationsland petty outrages perpetrated, umii at last were made for traffic on it. Several freight a meeting was called March 9th at the court and passenger boats were built, and flour, house to take the matter under advisement. timber, grain, de, were hennight from Broad Harrod Nessland, a revolutionary soldier. Ripple and above. The mill sites here was chosen president and made a radical were leased June 11th, 1538, and one wool- speech against the gang. Resolutions were adopted to abate the nuisance. The citizens resolved to elect trustees and officers who would see the ordinances enforced, and pledged themselves to assist them. The en, one cotton, two paper, one oil, two grist and two saw mills built shortly afterward. The power proved less than was promised, the canal not having fall enough to cause a free flow of water, but the mills wert to determined stand taken somewhat awed the work, and with others since built have gang, and they became less bold in their greatly benefitted the place. The millers demonstrations. At the camp-meeting in were always complaining of seant water and Angust on the military grounds. the leader much moss ; the people grumbled when the made some disturbance and was knocked water was drawn off to clean the bed ; and down and subjugated by Rev. James Hav- the Assembly, wearied by the incessant ens, the preacher in charge, and shortly af- complaint, January 19th, 1850, ordered the terward was also soundly whipped by Sam- canal to be sold. It was soon after sold tofuel Merrill. These defeats broke his pres- tige, the gang was demoralized, and most of them left the town or ceased their lawless
persons who were chartered as a company in February, 1851. In April the company sold to Gould & Jackson, who sold in Octo- conduet.
ber, 1851, to "The Central Canal, Hydrau- lic Waterworks and Manufacturing Com- pany." This company sold to another The second homicide here occurred April 27th, Zachariah Collins being killed by Ar- nold Lashly. The county agricultural so- company in 1859, who now rent out the ciety held its second fair at the court house power. For years after the first sale it was October 7th and Sth. C. Fletcher delivered regarded as a nuisance, and propositions to an address, stating that 1,300,000 bushels of fill it up were seriously considered in the corn had been raised this year on the thir- conneil, both in 1855 and 1858, but having teen hundred farms in the county. Luke lately been kept in better order the opposi- Munsell copyrighted a map of the town tion has nfeasurably abated. It was dry for May 30th, and Win. Sullivan published a months in 1847, from the breaking of the' map of the town in October. A great camp banks and acqueduct, and in 1866-7 from meeting was held on the military ground the breaking of the feeder dam at Broad August 25-30, under James Havens and Ripple. It now furnishes mill power and John C. Smith. One hundred and thirty transportation for wood and logs. The experienced religion. Professor C. P. Bron- company owning it lately sued for the pos- son [died in New York, April, 1868.] gave session of a part of the military park, on the first lecture here on elocution, August the ground that it passed at the sale as an 30th. Hiram Devinny began the manurhe- ture of miattrasses, cushions and carpets here
appurtenance of the canal.
The town having been specially incorpo- in October.
The new Washington Hall, a three-story
rated in February by the Assembly, the! new board of trustees was elected under the brick hotel, built by a company in 1-36-7, act in April, and the officers of the old on the site of the old frame Washington board settled to April 1st, 1836. The treas- Hall, at a cost of $30,000, was opened by E.
-
36
HISTORY OF
Browning November 16th, and kept by him The Palmer House, a two-and-a-half-story till March 15th, 1851. It was then one of brick, was built in 1840-1 by N. B. Palmer, the largest and best western hotels, had a'on Washington and Illinois streets, and high reputation, and was the Whig head- opened by John C. Parker in the summer quarters for its entire existence. It was of 1841. It was enlarged and raised to four damaged by fire $3,000 in February, 1843, stories in 1856 by Dr. Barbour, the lessce. and came near burning up. Several at- Parker, Barbour, J. D. Carmichael, D. Tut- tempts were made to burn it in May and tle, C. W. Hall, B. Mason, and others have June, 1848. It was sold to F. Wright in been its lessees. It has always kept the March, 1851, was subsequently known as same name, was for some time the leading the Wright House, was successively kept house, and has had a fair share of patron- by Henry Achey, Robert Browning, Burg-jage. Little's Hotel, first built in 1834 or 5, ess & Townley, W. J. Elliott, Louis Eppin-lon New Jersey and Washington streets, by ger and others, and was bought in March John Little, and known then as Little's Sun and remodeled in the summer of 1859 by Tavern, (from the sign, a blazing sun,) was the Glenns, and is now known as Glenns originally a small two-story frame house. block, the lower story being used as businessi A three-story ell was added by M. and 1. rooms, and the upper by the conneil, city Little in 1847, and in 1851 the old frame officers and police, with the fire tower and was moved to East and Washington streets. alarm on the roof. A very brief mention and a three-story brick front building put may be given here of the other leading ho- in its place. It also has frequently changed tels at various datos in the history of thatlessons but has retained its old nome. The town and city.
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