History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 83

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094

USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I > Part 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The marshal has power to stop repairs or altera- tions in a building, in case they increase the fire risk. George Dunlap was the first marshal under the law, serving till April 1, 1880, when he was succeeded by W. H. Baxter.

FIRE LIMITS.

Fire limits were first prescribed by ordinance passed October 7, 1845, the limits including all the territory between Randolph and Cass Streets to

Larned, along Larned to Griswold, up Griswold to Michigan Avenue, on Michigan Avenue to Bates Street, on Bates to Larned, along Larned to Ran- dolph, and down Randolph to the river. Within these limits no building was to be erected over twenty feet in height, unless built partly of stone or brick, with fire walls ten inches above the roof.

After the great fire of May 9, 1848, a new or- dinance was passed, which prescribed that wooden buildings of more than twelve feet in height, twenty feet in length, and sixteen feet in width, should not be erected within the limits defined by the follow- ing streets : Beaubien from the river to Congress, along Congress to Randolph, along Randolph to Monroe, down Monroe and Campus Martius to Michigan Avenue, on Michigan Avenue to Shelby, down Shelby to Fort, on Fort to the west line of the city, which, at that time, extended only to the For- syth Farm. Since 1848 the limits have been gradu- ally extended, and they are frequently changed.

CHIMNEY SWEEPS.

The oversight and cleaning of chimneys received the attention of the trustees in 1802. Fines were then inflicted for dirty or defective chimneys, and, in some instances, dangerous chimneys were ordered to be torn down.

A curious illustration of the changes that take place in public opinion and in law is afforded by the fact that, by ordinance of 1836, the fire-wardens were authorized to "cause chimneys to be burned out," while later and present ordinances provide that if any chimney burns out, the owner shall be fined for not preventing it.

By ordinance of November 18, 1845, and up to 1859, the fire-wardens were to nominate, and the council to appoint a chimney sweep ; the fire- wardens, however, held no regular meetings, and oftentimes no sweeps were appointed. By ordinance of November 15, 1869, the office was dignified and disguised under the title of inspector of chimneys. Two or more sweeps are appointed yearly by the council. The present ordinance allows the chimney sweep to charge twenty-five cents for each story that the chimney passes through, and when the chimney has more than one flue, ten cents per story for each additional flue.

CHAPTER LV.

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT. - THE STEAM FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SOCIETY.

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE earliest fire extinguishers consisted of long poles with swabs attached, and with these the first habitans of Detroit literally mopped out the fires. When the sparks flew so thickly as to be dangerous, packs of furs were opened, and deer and bear skins, with the fur downwards, were spread upon the roofs ; if they were green they would not be injured, and in any case a little water did not hurt them, and they often did as good service in protecting their owner's property from fire as they had originally done in protecting their four-footed wearers from the cold.

The first mention of a fire engine occurs in con- nection with the proceedings of the Court of Quarter Sessions. It reads as follows :

Tuesday, March 13, 1798. The Court received the account of Thomas Cox respecting the engine, by which it appears there is a balance remaining in his hands of $16.4776.

How this money came into his hands does not appear ; possibly it had been collected to pay for repairing the engine left by the English when the post was surrendered.

At the second meeting of the trustees of the town, on February 23, 1802, an ordinance entitled " Regu- lations for securing the town of Detroit from injuries from fires " was drafted. It was the first that they acted upon, and was adopted two days later. It required all chimneys to be swept every two weeks between October and April, and every four weeks the rest of the year, the sweeping to be done on Saturdays before 9 A. M., under a penalty of $5.00, and a further penalty of $10.00 if a chimney took fire. Each householder and shopkeeper was also required to have two bags holding three bushels cach, to place goods in, in case of fire, and to keep at his shop, where it would not freeze, a keg or light barrel filled with water, having ears on each side, with a lever or pole to pass through them so that two men could carry it. Two buckets, holding about three gallons each, one ladder to each chim- ney fastened on the roof, and one other long enough to reach up to it, were also to be provided. The householders and shopkeepers were required to take

or send the kegs or buckets to every fire under a penalty of $5.00 for each neglect, and every house- holder capable of assisting was directed to turn out on the first cry of fire ; a line was then to be formed from the river to the fire for the purpose of passing water, and any person refusing to appear, or con- cealing himself, was fined $2.00 or imprisoned for two weeks. James May, Jacques Girardin, and Auguste Laffrey, together with twelve United States soldiers, were required to assemble at the engine house, and take the engine out on the first notice of fire, under penalty of $5.00 for any neglect or refusal; and Francis Frerot, director, Presque Coté, Sen., Theophilus Mettez, Baptiste Peltier, Charles Pou- pard, and Presque Coté, Jr., were required to appear at the same time, each armed with a good felling axe, to be used as circumstances might require. Any one of the above not appearing when alarm was given was to be fined $5.00.

It appears that the trustees were not observant of their own regulations, for on March 24, 1803, they fined three of their own number, and also their sec- retary and assessor, for violation of the fire ordi- nance, and the next day another trustee, Joseph Campau, was also reported to be fined.

On May 2, 1803, Joseph Harrison and Joseph Campau were appointed inspectors of ladders, buck- ets, fire bags, water barrels, etc.

There was continual trouble in enforcing the fire ordinance, the inspectors reporting some persons without buckets, others without ladders ; the barrel of water frozen in some places, and the barrel empty in others, the shop bags filled with goods instead of being ready for use, the ears off the barrels and the poles missing. In a word, then as now, ordi- nances were not obeyed. On one of their rounds a quick-witted widow saw the inspectors coming, and knowing that her barrel was empty and that her excuses for previous neglect would not avail, she jumped into the water-cask herself, saying, "You see, gentlemen, the cask is full." Of course there was a hearty laugh, and the gallant inspectors could do no less than to obtain water and fill the widow's cask themselves.

The old records make it evident that the trustees

LivI ]

502

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

were morbidly apprehensive of fire; regulations were made and inspectors of chimneys appointed at almost every meeting. On September 19, 1803, a committee was appointed to ascertain whether the engine was in order for immediate use ; on Septem- ber 26 thirteen persons were appointed to work the · engine, under direction of "Dr. Wm. M. Scott, Esq.," and on Monday, March 4, 1804, James Dode- mead was appointed in his stead. On May II Charles Curry and J. Bte. Piquette were appointed inspectors of fire regulations. On Monday, October I, the trustees ordered "the screws of the engine to be put in good order." May 11, 1805, they resolved that "the Board do determine that from and after the first Monday in June next, the Inspectors of fire regulations do go around once every week dur- ing the time of their appointment." On Monday, June 3, Dr. McCoskry and Robert Munroe were appointed inspectors of fire regulations "within the pickets," and John Gentle and John Harvey "for the suburbs," with orders to go around once a week. Before the time for their second tour there were neither houses nor chimneys to inspect, for the fire of June II had destroyed the town. (See history of fire.)

After the fire of 1805, no traces of fire regula- tions or apparatus appear until April 1, 1811. George McDougall then applied to the Governor and Judges for a donation lot in the city of Detroit, near the center thereof, whereon to erect a frame building for the fire engine. There is a tradition that during the War of 1812 Commodore Perry's flag-ship was provided with a fire-pump, which, after the war, became the property of Detroit.

On December 4, 1815, an ordinance provided for the appointment, by the trustees, of six household- ers, who were to be furnished with three "battering rams," to demolish buildings in case of fire; and another, of January, 1816, appointed twelve house- holders as "axemen," six as " battering men," and twenty-four as "fire-hook men." On February 5, 1817, the ordinance was revised, but no important changes were made. The next year, on September 23, the Board of Trustees organized a fire company of eleven axemen, with B. Woodworth as captain ; fourteen fire-engine men, with D. C. Mckinstry as captain ; and fourteen bagmen, with H. J. Hunt as captain. There was evidently much trouble this year occasioned by evil or mischievously disposed persons stealing or hiding some of the apparatus. On September 30 the secretary of the trustees was directed to "procure information as to where the Fire hooks and Battering rams are," and on Novem- ber 14 John R. Williams was authorized to provide eight battering rams and two fire hooks. The Gazette of December 16, 1818, contained the fol- - lowing :

NOTICE.

Any person who will give such information as will lead to the recovery of the fire hooks and battering rams belonging to the city, which have for some time been lost or concealed, will be duly rewarded.

THOS. ROWLAND, Secretary.

The notice was evidently of no avail ; new fire- hooks had to be obtained, and at a meeting of the trustees, January 28, 1819, Harvey Williams pre- sented an account of $55 for making them. On March 13, 1819, a meeting of the citizens was held at the call of the trustees " to consider the propriety of raising a tax to buy a fire engine." The tax was voted down, because a scheme was in progress to procure one by means of a lottery to come off April I. A communication in the Gazette of March 26 made the following plea for the plan : "Let every citizen buy a lottery ticket as soon as possible in order to procure the means to lessen the danger from fire." Ten per cent was to be deducted from the eighty-four prizes for the purpose of purchasing the engine. The value of the property put up was $4,040, and it was to be disposed of by selling 808 tickets at $5.00 each. The lottery did not draw, and meantime the old engine was repaired and the following notice appeared :

FIRE ! FIRE !

The members of the Eagle Engine Company are hereby in- formed that the engine is now fit for use, and that agreeably to the by-laws of the Company, they must assemble every Monday morning at sunrise for the space of six months.

N. B .- There not being a suitable building erected in which to keep the engine, it is in the care of Captain H. Sanderson, at whose house the Company will meet until further directions.

By order of the Acting Captain.

March 31, 1819.

J. W. COLBORN, Clerk.

On April 28, 1819, a bill for repairing the engine, amounting to $87.10, was presented by H. Sander- son ; it was paid May II, and on the same day John W. Tompkins was paid $130 for building a house for the engine and for fire-hooks.

In January, 1820, J. D. Doty was secretary of the fire company and Robert Irwin director. On September 11 following, another meeting was held to consider the voting of a tax to purchase an engine, but the people again voted against taxation. The condition of affairs at this time is set forth in the following from an editorial in the Gazette for Janu- ary 19, 1821.

The Corporation, it is true, is in possession of a small engine, but it is much too small and is believed to be out of repair and unfit for use. The fire company met once a week at sunrise for several weeks for drill, but at this date the organization is extinct.

The article further argued that buckets were pre- ferable to "tubs with ears " to be carried on a pole, and complained of the unwillingness of the citizens

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

503

to "shoulder their tubs when alarmed by cry of fire."

On March 29, 1821, the chairman of the Board of Trustees and H. J. Hunt were appointed a commit- tee to wait on the Governor and Judges, and solicit an appropriation towards procuring an engine. It is to be presumed that the committee were unsuccess- ful, for on April 9 a citizens' meeting voted $400 to procure one, the amount to be collected by a tax on real and personal property.

Meantime the editorial in the Gazette bore some fruit, for on May 16 the board of trustees repealed that part of the ordinance which required a wooden vessel with loops and pole to be kept by citizens.

Notwithstanding the vote in favor of purchasing a fire engine, the trustees were slow in procuring it ; but finally, on December 24, they resolved "to carry into immediate effect the vote of April 9 last, and to raise $600 instead of $400 to purchase a fire engine." This resolution, like many others, was never carried out.

On October 16, 1824, a committee of the newly created Common Council was appointed "to ascer- tain where a suitable site for the Engine house could be obtained, and to make an estimate of the expense of removing said building," and application was made to the trustees of the university for the privilege of "placing the engine house in front of the academy."

On March 2, 1825, the council appointed a "committee to procure information from New York, Philadelphia, and such other places as they may think proper, relative to the price and quality of a Fire Engine for the City," and on March 15 the committee "was authorized to remit the funds in the Treasury, applicable to the purchase of a. Fire Engine, directly to such maker of engines as they might think proper, accom- panied with an order for the immediate for- warding of a Fire Engine; provided the price thereof did not exceed six hundred dollars." On April 7 a committee was ap- pointed to apply to the Legislative Council for such exemptions and other provisions as would facilitate the establishment of a Fire Company; and on June 4 a committee of the Council was appointed "to superintend the removal, repairs and painting of Engine House." The building was moved " in front" of the old academy, on the site now occupied by the store of Farrand, Williams, & Co.

On June 4, 1825, an elaborate fire ordinance, modelled after the New York ordinance, was passed ; among its various provisions was one making it the duty of every watchman or patrolman, upon the breaking out of fire, to alarm the citizens by crying "Fire!" mentioning the street where it was, that

the firemen and citizens might know where to go, and householders were enjoined to "place a lighted candle at the windows of their respective dwellings, in order that citizens might pass along the streets with greater safety." This custom was kept up until the telegraph alarm went into operation, and many a time the nights were filled with terror by the hoarse shouting of "Fire!" the hurrying crowds of men and boys, and the rattling of the engines as they were pulled over the uneven walks and pavements.

On September 28, 1825, the council gave notice that a Fire Company would be organized the suc- ceeding day, and it was resolved "that it be the duty of the Chief Engineer to raise a hook and ladder company, to consist of not less than eighteen men." On October 4 inquiry was made in the Detroit Gazette as to the whereabouts of the fire engine, for which the citizens had paid four or five years previously.

The engine finally arrived, and the Common Council records for December 1, 1825, say that "an account was audited and allowed of $54 for trans- portation and storage of a Fire Engine from New York." On January 11, 1826, the council tendered the thanks of the corporation to W. & J. James, of New York, for gratuitous commission services, in procuring a fire engine on September 21, 1825. As the balance due William & John James, in pay- ment for the engine, was not remitted until June 13, a resolution of thanks was certainly their due. The engine, the first one really purchased by the corporation, was named "Protection No. I." It remained in use for upwards of thirty years, and

- COPYRIGHT 1881, BY SILAS FARMER.

OLD NO. 1, "THE GOOSENECK."

served as the organizing machine for Engine Com- panies Nos. 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. For many years after it was laid aside it occupied the post of honor on review days, and in Fourth of July processions was drawn about on a platform. Concerning the man-

504

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

agement of this engine at a fire, on February 17, 1827, the Detroit Gazette says:

Those citizens who had the management of our little engine deserve praise for their activity and perseverance, yet it was a general remark that not sufficient alacrity was displayed by them in getting their engine to the scene of action. The disaster will doubtless lead to the permanent organization of a fire company, and to the adoption of such regulations, by our citizens generally as will, at a future time, prevent a recurrence of the confusion which then existed.

A few days after, on February 22, the records of the council show the appointment of a "committee to ascertain the practicability of repairing the old Fire Engine belonging to this city, and to contract for said repairs at any sum not exceeding $25." At the same meeting it was resolved that "E. P. Hast- ings, Marshall Chapin, R. A. Forsyth, Henry S. Cole, and Edmund A. Brush be requested to asso- ciate to themselves such persons as they may think proper for the purpose of taking care of said En- gine;" also that " Aldermen Palmer and Chapin be a committee to ascertain the number and condition of the fire hooks belonging to this city; and, if necessary, to procure so many as that the whole number shall amount to six ; and, also, to report on the practicability of converting the Flag staff at the cantonment into ladders for the use of the city."

On March 12 a council committee on improve- ments reported in favor of purchasing a new engine, repairing the old one, procuring twelve good fire hooks, well provided with handles, the organization of suitable fire companies, and the procuring of a "triangular bell for fire alarms only.'

On March 31 Fire Company No. 2, with thirty- one members, was organized, and required by the council to have the old engine repaired at a cost of not exceeding $127, and to use the same for a time. On May 14 they were authorized to increase their number to thirty-six; on September 9 the old fire engine was again ordered to be repaired at a cost of not exceeding $275, and on November 26 a bill for repairs was audited at $313.63.

Great encouragement was afforded to firemen by an Act of the Legislative Council of April 4, 1827, which exempted them from military service in time of peace and from serving on a jury. By Act of July 31, 1830, the number exempted was limited to forty. By Act of March 14. 1840, all firemen were exempted from military and jury duty.

On January 21, 1830, the council contracted for four additional fire ladders. On April 28 they de- cided to organize a Hook and Ladder Company, and the chief engineer was directed to procure more fire hooks, also six ladders, and caps and wands for use of himself and wardens. The following day the first firemen's inspection and review was held. It took place on the Public Wharf at 4 P. M., and

was participated in by Companies Nos. I and 2, and the newly organized Hook and Ladder Company. The organization of the last company was fully per- fected two days afterward.

In January, 1831, a new engine was procured for Eagle Company No. 2, and on April 13 following the council borrowed $800 of the Bank of Michigan to pay for it. On September 14, 1831, the chief engineer was directed "to procure a tub or cask mounted on wheels, to be attached to one of the engines for use in case of fire." On May 3, 1832, the council supplemented that primitive arrange- ment by ordering "six reservoirs, to contain 10,000 gallons each, to be built and connected with logs of five-inch calibre for use in case of fire." On September 4, 1833, the council disbanded Company No. 2 for neglect of duty.

The organization of a hose company was recom- mended by a committee of the council on July 9, 1834, and on October 8 a hose company was or- ganized, and also a new company for No. 2.

On December 2, 1835. Company No. 3 was or- ganized, placed in possession of the "old original" engine, and located near the Berthelet Market, at northwest corner of Randolph and Atwater Streets. On April 13, 1836, the company was disbanded by the council, and another company, consisting of David Smart and twenty-two others, was recognized as Company No. 3.

On August II the council

Resolved, that a committee be appointed with authority to contract for the erection of a building on the Female Seminary lot, on northeast corner of Fort and Griswold streets, for use of Engine Company No. 2.

The building was duly erected, and occupied by the company until December 12, 1853; they then moved into their new building, on the north side of Larned Street, between Woodward Avenue and Bates Street. This building was elegantly fitted up, and at the time, and for many years, was the finest in the city. The engine house for No. 3 was on the north side of Larned, between Brush and Beaubien Streets, and in 1884 was still standing.

In September, 1836, a new and elaborate fire or- dinance was passed by the council. It provided that at the time of a fire the mayor, recorder, and aldermen should severally carry "a white wand with a gilded flame at the top, and each of the en- gineers shall wear a leathern cap, painted white, with a gilded front thereto, and a fire engine blazoned thereon; and shall, also, carry a speaking trumpet, painted black, with the words 'Chief En- gineer, Engine No. I,' etc., as the case may be, in white letters." Each of the fire wardens was to wear a similar cap, painted white, with the city arms emblazoned on the front, and to carry a speak-

505

THE OLD FIRE DEPARTMENT.

ing trumpet, painted white, with the words "Chief Fire Warden," and "Fire Warden No. 1," etc., in black letters. The cap of each foreman was to have the word "Foreman" painted on the front, together with the number of the company to which he be- longed, and each member was to have the number of his company painted upon the front of his cap.

The same ordinance required each building in the city to have one fire bucket for every fireplace or stove, to hold two and a half gallons each, marked with owner's name, number of his house, and name of street; the buckets were to be "sus- pended in some conspicuous place in the entry near the front door of each house, so as to be ready for delivery and use in extinguishing fires." One half of the number of buckets required might be de- posited with the city, and if lost two dollars was paid the owner for them. After a fire all buckets that were unclaimed were left at the market house, to be called for by their owners.

AN OLD FIRE BUCKET.

By the same ordinance the council, in the month of May of each year, was to appoint one or more fire wardens in each ward, who were clothed with power to enter any house and examine all chimneys and fireplaces. They were also authorized, at the time of a fire, to "direct the inhabitants to form themselves in ranks for the purpose of handing buckets and supplying water." Soon after the pas- sage of this ordinance the number of wardens was increased to five in each ward. In 1845 there were three for the first ward, and two each for the other wards; the following year there were four in the first, and three in each of the other wards. The number of wardens was subsequently increased to a chief and four assistants, and finally seven war- dens were assigned to each ward; the office by this time became a sinecure, and in June, 1857, it was publicly affirmed that, with a single exception, not a warden had been present at a fire for two years

previous. The office existed in name up to 1867, but on the creation of the Fire Commission it was discontinued.

In 1836 the council provided for paying five dol- lars to the person first giving an alarm and ringing the bell. At this time the bells were tolled instead of rung. In 1841, a change from tolling to ringing was made, and those who had charge of the bell rung it so effectively that the whole city was startled by the quick and rattling character of the alarm.

In 1847 the council divided the city into districts, and a watch was kept in the steeple of the Presby- terian Church, on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Larned Street. The locality of a fire was indi- cated, then as now, by taps upon a bell. A night watchman was subsequently stationed in the cupola of the National Hotel, now the Russell House, and afterwards in the steeples of the State Street and Jefferson Avenue Presbyterian Churches. In March, 1857, a steel triangle was ordered, upon which alarms were to be given. It was hung in the cupola of the old City Hall, and for years periodic efforts were made to so place it that it would give a satis- factory alarm, but all efforts were fruitless.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I, Part 83

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902 Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York Number of Pages: 1094

Author: Farmer, Silas, 1839-1902
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Detroit, Pub. by S. Farmer & co., for Munsell & co., New York
Number of Pages: 1094