USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Brookline > Proceedings of the Brookline Historical Society at the annual meeting > Part 15
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Elaborate preparations for the annual supper of 1842 were made, and it was voted to invite Dr. Pierce and Rev. Mr. Shailer free of charge, and also to engage two or more glee singers. Forty-three subscribers agreed to pay one dollar each for a supper at the Cattle Fair Hotel (Brighton), all liquors, cigars, and amusements to be extra. As soon as so large an attendance was assured, the company "reconsidered the vote of invitation to the two reverend dispensers of the gospel," so the record reads, but the glee singers evidently were on hand when the celebration took place.
It was the custom to ring the church bell when an alarm of fire was to be given, and the bell on the Baptist Church
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was the one usually rung. The Baptist Church was then what is now known as Harvard Building, facing Harvard Square. It was erected in 1828 and used until the present church was built in 1859. The deacons and brethren, however, did not allow any interference with the services even for an alarm of fire, as is recorded in at least two instances.
To quote the record of the Clerk of January 20, 1843 : -
" An alarm of fire was given this eve at 12 past eight (I said alarm, it was not an alarm inasmuch as the bell did not ring, though the Co. did what they could towards it by hullooing).
" There was an attempt to ring the bell, but the proprietors of the church (as there was a meeting in the vestry) dispatched their infatigable [?] sexton, Mr. Luther Seaverns, to allow no one to ring the bell. The fire was on the old Porter Estate in Cambridge near the Colleges.
" April 16, 1843. An alarm of fire was given this eve. Came from Roxbury. The proprietors of the Brookline Baptist Church Refused to allow the Bell to be rung because they had a meeting in the vestry, thereby refusing that the engine and company should help their Roxbury neighbors in case of fire."
In 1843 the Engine Company manifested much zeal in the cause of the Temperance Reform movement. This was shown principally by the acceptance of invitations and attendance at the anniversary exercises of the Roxbury Washington Total Abstinence Society, and the Jamaica Plain Total Abstinence Society. Brookline Engine Company was present at both these anniversary functions with considerable style and en- · thusiasm, which called forth the following from the Jamaica Plain Society :-
"Resolved, that the thanks of this society be extended to the Brookline Engine Company No. I for their attendance at the anni- versary of our Society, and that we hail with pleasure the glorious example which they have set in uniting themselves in the great and glorious cause of temperance."
This being held up for an example was too much for the Engine Company, and at the next meeting after formally accepting the resolutions the company voted to disband.
Another organization immediately followed with James Bartlett, foreman ; Thomas Seaverns, assistant foreman ; James
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Morse, clerk; and during this regime the department met with a serious misfortune, as fully set forth in the records : -
"Sept. 12, 1843. Was called out to a fire which proved to be the engine house, which was totally consumed. Engine was saved, although in a ruinous condition, and the total loss of the hose carriage and hose attached."
. It was supposed that this fire was caused by somebody who was disgruntled over some personal slight, real or imagined, as the engine was so blocked that there was much delay and difficulty in getting it out of the house.
Before the engine could be repaired, the company was called out on September 14th, and responded with the usual readiness to a request for assistance from Boston, for a great fire in which were burned ten buildings on Harrison avenue, and six buildings on Washington street. The com- pany clerk records the event as follows : --
" Sept. 14. Was called out to a fire. Went a short distance when it was found to be in the city, and owing to the rapidity with which it was raging and the high state of the wind it was deemed advisable by a majority of the company to proceed, which was accordingly done and proved of great service to them."
No. I was sent to Hunneman for repairs, a substitute engine was supplied for emergencies, and a barn was utilized as a temporary engine house.
The Town Hall, now Pierce Hall, Walnut street, had been set apart for a High School, and in 1843, a committee consist- ing of Samuel Philbrick, Charles Stearns, Jr., Abijah W. Goddard, Daniel Sanderson, and Timothy Corey was ap- pointed to consider the matter of a new Town Hall and a store-house for the engine.
This action of the town was no doubt hastened by the impatience of the Engine Company, which adopted the follow- ing Preamble and Resolutions : -
" Nov. 14, 1843. Whereas, Owing to the inconveniences that the members of the Brookline Engine Company have been subjected to of late by the desolation of their engine house by fire and the long time that has elapsed since they have had any deposit for their engine save that of a Barn, and the prospect of a still longer time owing to the neglect of the officers of said town to take decisive
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action for said company, who are in duty bound to secure and protect all public property of said town, therefore,
" Resolved, That we as Members of Brookline Engine Company feel it a sense of duty which we owe to ourselves to adopt meas- ures for the total annihilation of said fire department.
" Resolved, That in so doing we deem it our duty as freemen to be relieved from all duty as a fire department in a town where so little interest is manifested for their welfare.
" Resolved, That we do agree to disband and give up said Engine to the town, return the Book, etc., to the Selectmen of said Town."
This is signed by twelve members of the disbanded com- pany, evidently all that remained of the old guard after the temperance campaign of the year preceding.
The town was now facing a dilemma. The engine had come back from the builders in first class condition, but there was no company to take charge of it, no house to keep it in, and as the resolutions would have it, "no interest in the welfare of the department." The citizens of the town, however, faced the crisis and relieved the situation at once.
Forty-nine names were immediately secured to the follow- ing agreement : -
" The undersigned feeling desirous that the Brookline Fire Engine in case of fire may be in a condition to render all that ser- vice of which it is capable :
" We do therefore cheerfully volunteer to render our best ser- vices, in case of fire in Brookline, or its immediate vicinity, until a more efficient and better organized Fire Department may be con- stituted .- Brookline, Nov. 24, 1843."
Among these, some of the names are those of Thomas Griggs, Otis and Moses Withington, Timothy Corey, Timothy Corey, Jr., F. Henry Corey, Edward Hall, Charles Wild, Daniel Sanderson, Samuel Philbrick, Isaac Dearborn, Jesse Bird, John Bird, George Cushing, Marshall Stearns, Benja- min B. Davis, E. R. Secomb, Harrison Fay, and others.
At a public meeting, Dec. 1, 1843, at the Town House, Deacon Thomas Griggs was called to the chair, Otis With- ington acted as secretary, and Henry S. Ward was chosen foreman, Seth F. Thayer assistant foreman, Marshall Stearns clerk, J. Davenport steward.
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The newly organized company asked the Selectmen to prepare the essential constitution and by-laws, and passed a vote of thanks to be presented to the old company.
At a subsequent meeting time was saved by adopting the old constitution, after which it was decided to provide runners for the engine, and horse power to draw it, and Caleb Clark was "appointed a committee to ring the bell of Dr. Pierce's Meeting House whenever he shall judge it necessary."
This was the only company which did not organize from a most serious sense of duty to themselves and the community, but simply " cheerfully volunteered." After six months' exis- tence, on July Ist, 1844, it was voted to give notice to the Selectmen that it would disband on the first Monday in August, at sunset. Under date of August 3d, however, the record says that the engine was drawn with great velocity to Jamaica Plain, for an alarm which appeared to be produced by the burning of some shavings.
To quote a curious note interpolated in the record :-
" This company disbanded without noise, nobody knows when, and the next we hear of any proceedings of the Fire Department in Brookline bears the date of Sept. 2, 1844. At this eventful era, a new and commodious Engine House having been built by the Town, a convention was held for the purpose of forming a new Engine Company, whose proceedings may be seen on turning over this leaf."
The commodious new house referred to was a two-story wooden building, still remembered by our older residents, erected on Washington street, the present site of Fire Depart- ment headquarters. There was a difference of opinion as to accepting this location, many preferring the old location near the brook where the former house stood, but Seth T. Thayer offered the town 874 square feet of land for $100 for the purpose, which was accepted on the following condition, " Said lot of land to be used for the purpose of erecting there- on a building for an engine house to be used on said land as such exclusively." According to the Town Treasurer's reports, the land and building cost $2,901.41.
A public meeting was held in the new house on the even-
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ing of Sept. 2, 1844, at which an address was drawn up and signed as follows : ---
" Officers of the Town :
" Sirs : Owing to the little interest that has been manifested dur- ing the past year by the young men of the town of Brookline as regards the Fire Department, those who are the Bone and Muscle of your town, and knowing her to have been but feebly manned by our much respected and aged Sires, and for the last two or three months no fire department at all in a town that has justly been termed the 'Garden of New England,' we could not but deem it our duty to unite ourselves together, providing the Town will give us suitable encouragement, once more .to join ourselves together by subscribing our names to a paper, etc."
Thirty-nine of the " Bone and Muscle of the town " signed this address, and after the list was approved by the Selectmen the company organized with Alfred Tufts, foreman ; Augus- tus Allen, assistant foreman ; James Morse, clerk; Alfred Tufts, Moses Withington, and B. F. Baker, standing com- mittee.
It was voted to procure a bell to be placed on top of the engine house and also a sign with the name of the engine for the front of the house. The " Bone and Muscle " also pro- vided that twenty-five feet of rope additional be annexed to the engine. Among some of the new names in 1844 were Ephraim Church, Oliver Cousens, Edward A. Wild, Thomas Pettengill, Ansel Waterman, Joshua A. Little.
The clerk chosen failed to give satisfaction, and the vacancy caused by his resignation was filled by the election of Dr. Edward A. Wild.
"Ned Wild," afterwards Captain of Co. A, First Massachu- setts Volunteers, and later Brigadier-General, gave to his duties as clerk of Brookline No. I the same ability and en- thusiasm which he later in life manifested in wider fields. He served from November II, 1844, until October 6, 1845, when he was given an honorable discharge on account of leaving town for the winter. The records during his incum- bency make amusing and interesting reading and a few items may well be quoted : -
" Dec. 26, 1844. An alarm of fire from Charlestown about 14 before 9 P. M. The Company drew the engine 12 mile, and then,
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rather than be disappointed of their fun, playfully squirted at Lyceum Hall and over the neighboring hickory pole.
"Jan. 29, 1845. The company met and drew the engine to the top of the hill in Roxbury. The fire was in Salem.
"Jan. 30, 1845. 1 o'clock A. M. A serious fire having been burn- ing for some time in Roxbury, the Roxbury department at I o'clock this morning sent up for our aid with two horses. The company went and worked for a long time under very embarrassing and difficult circumstances ; then they were supplied with refresh- ments by Roxbury No. I.
" March 3, 1845. Voted, That a committee of three be appointed to keep an eye upon the officers of the town and assist them with their advice in case the town at their next meeting shall grant us better suction, &c.
" April 30, 1845. About 834 o'clock on Wednesday evening, a fire was seen in West Roxbury or Dorchester, about five miles distant. The company (without a horse) was the second to reach the spot. Returned at 12.
" May 10, 1845. Saturday afternoon about 3 o'clock an alarm . came from Newton. The company ran to the top of Vengeance Hill and walked back.
" May 12, 1845. Monday morning at 814, the barn of Mr. Benjamin B. Davis, our townsman, was burnt, including pigs, hay, horse, carryall, etc. It was set on fire by an enraged beggar, who escaped, notwithstanding a vigorous pursuit by several patriotic · individuals (one in particular). Half the houses in the Village were in danger of being set on fire by flying cinders. About 15 engines were here from the neighboring towns. Some companies were refreshed. The same evening (May 12) at 9%, the house of Thos. A. Davis, present Mayor of Boston, in Linden place, was discovered to be on fire in the cellar (probably from carelessness). The engine was on the spot in an instant, but the fire was extin- guished by hand. Damage small, being confined to hay, shavings, and nice rustin apples.
" Aug. 19, 1845. Tuesday noon at 2 o'clock an alarm of fire from some unknown land. The company ran to the railroad in Roxbury and found themselves no nearer the fire than at starting.
"Oct. 6, 1845. After the regular monthly meeting, the company proceeded to organize themselves as a militia company, and to drum up volunteers for the celebration of the defeat of Cornwallis, soon to be held. On the appointed day they proceeded to the battle field and showed their patriotism and valor and then dis- persed and returned from their military to their civil duties.
E. A. W. SURGEON."
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B. F. Baker succeeded Clerk Wild and served until May, 1846. During his incumbency, it is recorded that Brookline No. I did good service at the burning of the mills of the Roxbury Iron Co., when the loss was $100,000, and also gained much credit for their assistance at a fire on the Brook Farm, West Roxbury, at which they were handsomely enter- tained by the proprietors.
A large gang was required to work the old hand engine with success, and the population of Brookline sixty years ago was only 852 males and 830 females. To secure the neces- sary membership for the company, a canvasser was paid to circulate a paper for thirty-five or forty signatures in the spring of 1846, and his efforts brought a great deal of new life into the organization. Fifty members signed the constitu tion and started making history with a new record book.
William K. Melcher, James M. Seamans, Reuben A. Chace, and Royal Woodward were signers of the roll in 1846, with G. H. Peck as foreman and Edward F. Brigden as clerk.
At the first meeting of this company it was decided to be inexpedient to go out of Brookline unless absolutely needed at some large fire in some of the adjoining towns.
On the morning of July 4th, 1846, the company met at half past five o'clock, proceeded with the tub to the Village, played her out through three hundred feet of hose, then pro- ceeded to the Orthodox meeting-house and played her out again, then returned to the engine house and sat down to breakfast prepared by friends of the company.
During this year, and for the next few years, few alarms were given for fires in Brookline, and the company devoted nearly all its time to a strenuous social life. On the 7th of December, 1846, the Selectmen by vote were invited to par- take of the company chowder.
"The company formed themselves into couples, proceeded down stairs, and after waiting some time the Fathers of the town arrived. The company arose and remained uncovered while they passed up- stairs. The chowder was then attacked as though we were half starved - and such a chowder, as fit to his Majesty, the best ever made in Brookline."
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The temperance question came to the front again in 1847, but alas for the company, the glorious example of the Wash- ingtonian era was not followed. Trouble ensued and out of it the Fire Department gained much discredit, although the innocent majority no doubt suffered for the offensive minority. The immediate cause of the trouble was a small bill of $13.75 for refreshments furnished after a fire in the Village. These refreshments, so the records say, " were liquid, something carried in a bucket and which smelt very strong of brandy." This bill the Selectmen refused to approve, and this disapproval displeased a considerable num- ber of the company. The Selectmen's account of the affair recites that the Engine Company met, and raised the flag half-mast, union down, evidently as a public demonstration of contempt and disrespect for the authority of the Selectmen.
The Selectmen at once enforced measures for discipline, discharging some of the members and putting new officers in charge. At the June meeting a long evening was spent in very acrimonious discussion by the company, which was becoming much heated and quite personal, when the gather- ing was broken up by an alarm of fire; the company manned the rope, ran as far as Jamaica Plain, returned to the house, and disbanded.
The Selectmen without delay took action officially and passed this order : -
"In view of the present deranged state of the Fire Department and the abandonment of the engine by the company for the cur- rent year, the town being without any adequate fire protection, the Selectmen appoint officers to serve the remainder of the year, and invite such young men, to the number of thirty-seven, who feel an interest in the public welfare to become members."
The officers appointed were George Stoddard foreman, George Peck assistant foreman, Oliver Whyte clerk.
This company of 1847 gave strict attention to the duty for which they were appointed, and the Selectmen published the following in January, 1848 :-
"The undersigned avail themselves of the opportunity of ex- pressing their entire satisfaction with the management of the Fire
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Department under its present organization, and the disposition manifested by the officers and members of the company to attend to the necessary duties of firemen in a quiet and orderly manner, in accordance with the wishes and feelings of the inhabitants of the town, meets with their unqualified approbation."
The fires of 1848 resulted in serious loss, the "Green " house, Pleasant street, and the "Harris" house, Harvard street, both due to a lack of water, and it is a coincidence that immediately following these losses' the present system of water supply was introduced into town by the laying of the Cochituate water supply pipes through Brookline to Boston. A hydrant was located in the Village and others along the line of the main on Boylston street.
The next year the Selectmen voted "to form a Hydrant company who are to have the whole charge of the hydrant at all fires, under the general supervision of the Selectmen, said company to consist of eight men."
In 1849 the engine was thoroughly repaired and $30 of the company's funds were expended in ornamenting the engine, including the inscription of the new motto selected from many suggested : -
"OUR AIM THE PUBLIC GOOD."
The roll for 1850 shows Charles P. Trowbridge foreman, B. F. Baker second foreman, C. L. Palmer clerk; and among the members Alfred Kenrick, Dennis Driscoll, Daniel Duffley, Francis Henry Corey, Peter W. Pierce, George S. Cushing, and Reuben Chace.
The worst fire for some time occurred Sept. 30, 1850, the burning of Col. Perkins' house at one o'clock in the morning. The Engine Company did good work and later received a substantial present from Col. Perkins.
(Of the 1851 company some members are still living in Brookline : William K. Melcher, Terrence Gallagher, Michael Quinlan, and Daniel Duffley.)
During the years 1848-1851, there were quite a number of fires in Brookline, all evidently of incendiary origin, and the records of the Selectmen show a number of offers of rewards for the detection and conviction of the culprits.
"GEORGE H. STONE HOOK & LADDER CO." MAY 30, 1873.
SITTING (left to right), Ed. Witherell, E. Frank Proctor, J. C. Bense, W. H. Fuller, George H. Johnson, B. Frank Bartlett. STANDING (left to right), Alfred Kenrick, Jr., John Witherell, Samuel Richards, A. Eugene Kenrick, James Sinclair, R. L. Proctor, Herbert Mayo, Frank Spinney, Ed. F. Palmer, Chas. J. Funk.
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Rewards offered specify fires at Higginson's, J. Howe's, T. W. Woodward's, William Dwight's, Gooding's, and E. L. Wetherell's. The town unanimously voted a reward of $1,000, and sundry persons were appointed and paid as special watchmen. J. Davenport supplied $14 worth of watchmen's rattlers and watch hooks.
Every member of the Fire Department became an amateur prototype of Sherlock Holmes, with the result that several arrests followed and at least one conviction. In 1852, Au- gustus Allen and A. H. Clapp received the reward of $200 for arresting one Thaxter Prouty, who was afterwards duly con- victed of having set fire to Thomas N. Woodward's barn.
By vote of the Selectmen June 7, 1852, J. Davenport was made a committee to procure a fire hook and ladder for the use of the Fire Department, and oilcloth suits for hosemen. The Hook and Ladder was purchased in 1855 at a cost of $200, and $30 was expended in repainting. This piece of apparatus was purchased from Roxbury, having been con- demned for use in that department, and remained in the ser- vice of the Brookline department for nearly twenty years, but with no organized company to take charge of it. A company was organized in February, 1871, under the name of George H. Stone Hook and Ladder Co., and the old truck was ex- changed as soon as possible thereafter for something more suitable.
The land and house for the Hook and Ladder truck was provided in 1855, at a cost of $1,694.41, and by vote of the Selectmen was put in charge of Reuben A. Chace.
The Catholic Church was seriously damaged by fire in 1855. The church was a large wooden building on Andem place where today is the Holtzer-Cabot Electric Co. The Engine Company did service deserving of great praise, not only saving the building from total destruction, but also a large amount of valuable property in the immediate vicinity. The efforts of the firemen were much handicapped by some miscreant who deliberately cut the leading hose of the engine, and after repairs had been made cut it again. For informa- tion as to the perpetrator of this offence the Selectmen offered a substantial reward, but no conviction ever followed.
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Fire Department matters were practically at a standstill from 1855 to 1860. For the greater part of the time there was no organized company, but the apparatus was kept in · good condition for emergencies. In 1856 there were no fires, and in 1857 only two alarms and those of little consequence.
In 1858 an attempt was made to organize a company, but of the names suggested not enough met the approval of the Selectmen. The Selectmen sent a communication to the would-be organizers which contained two votes that could not be misunderstood :-
" Voted, Not to approve the names sent in to the Board May 12th.
" Voted, That the remainder of those men who were approved be and are hereby honorably discharged from the company."
Among those who then received their honorable discharge from the company were B. W. Neal, William Stearns, P. S. Allen, Alonzo Bowman, and Charles H. Stearns.
The Clerk of that day faithfully performed his duties, wrote out the full account of the meeting, and closed his record with this expression of personal disappointment :-
"Any person who will examine the foregoing records will be justified in concluding, at the present time, there is 'No Balm in Gilead.'"
In 1860 the Selectmen gave official approval to an organiza- tion to take charge of the department, with these officers : A. H. Waterman, H. Orcutt, and George H. Stearns, foreman and assistants, W. Y. Gross clerk, and D. T. Kenrick, T. S. Pettengill, B. W. Neal, D. B. Sawyer, and J. H. Woods, standing committee.
This company was called out at half past three in the morning of June 27, 1860, for the burning of a house in White place owned by S. A. Walker. At this fire the effi- cient clerk of the company was so severely injured as to disable him for weeks, and to show their appreciation of their fellow fireman the company formally voted to remit his fines incurred by absence, and subscribed liberally to a purse for his benefit.
There were a good many alarms for fires in 1860, but pos- sibly the one of most interest, historically, was the one given
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