USA > Michigan > Saginaw County > History of Saginaw County, Michigan; historical, commercial, biographical, Volume II > Part 27
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Reorganization of the Department
As the city expanded and building operations assumed large proportions, the old central station system, with its one or two full pay men, and pipe and ladder men "on call." was deemed entirely inadequate for the protection of valuable property. In 1874, when George D. Walcott was chief of the department, a thorough reorganization was effected and five small hose houses were built and equipped in widely separated sections of the city. Each of these stations was provided with one hand hose cart, four hundred feet of hose, play pipe, wrenches and lantern. The station at South Saginaw had, in addition, the hand fire engine No. 2, three hundred feet of hose, brass play pipe, lanterns and wrenches, and one hook and ladder truck with five ladders, pole and grappling hooks, pick and chopping axes and speaking trumpet.
In perfecting the organization, S. S. Ellsworth, foreman of Valley City No. 1, was appointed secretary of the department, and given a general super- vision of all the auxiliary hose houses and equipment. Under his immediate command at No. 1 were a groomsman, six firemen and two hydrant men. llose house No. 2 was located on Franklin Street, between Astor and Potter. and Henry Naegely was foreman with seven firemen ; hose house No. 3 was located on Sixth Street, between Lapeer and Tuscola, and Charles W. W'rege was the foreman with six firemen ; hose house No. + was located on Emily Street, between Hoyt and Merrill, and William Ellis was the foreman with nine men: hose house No. 5 was located on MeCoskry Street, between Washington and Water, and George C. Merrill was the foreman with six men: and hose house No. 6 was located on Center Street, near Mackinaw, and C. C. Martindale was the foreman and had seven firemen under his com- mand. Hook and Ladder Company No. 6, was also stationed at this house, and comprised eighteen members, including Charles 1. 1less, Kasper Zeigin. 11. Chriscaden, A. Il. Starring, Peter Stine, Daniel Edwards and Henry Blankerts, all old residents of the South Side. The foremen of these hose companies, excepting No. 1, acted as janitors of their respective houses, re- ported on the condition of the equipment every week, and drilled the men in their duties. They were paid ten dollars per month, and the firemen six dollars per month, for their services "on call" in fighting fires.
Stewart S. Ellsworth Becomes Chief
Upon the resignation of Mr. Walcott, on March 31, 1875. Stewart S. Ellsworth was appointed chief engineer of the department, but he retained the position of foreman of Valley City No. 1, at a salary of eight hundred dollars a year. Under his able and wise management of affairs, covering a period of more than ten years, the department was greatly strengthened. the equipment improved, and the men attained a high efficiency. His economical handling of department matters was manifested on various occa- sions. At one time, when better protection was urgently needed at South Saginaw, he repaired the old hand engines, sold one to the village of St. Charles, and one to Vassar, applied the proceeds, by consent of the council.
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VALLEY CITY NO. 3 FIRE STATION Department Headquarter, Corner Germania and Paum.
to the purchase of a new two-horse hose cart for Valley City No. 1, and transferred a good one-horse hose cart from there to Hose House No. 6, on Center Street.
In the early eighties the old call system was gradually superseded by the full pay system, the number of men devoting all their time to the duties of the department being increased to about nineteen. This force included nine men stationed at Valley City No. 1, whose pay ranged from one thou- sand dollars a year for the chief engineer and foreman, three hundred and twenty to five hundred and sixty dollars for foremen who were also drivers of carts, to two hundred and forty dollars for pipemen, and one hundred and eighty for hosemen, the pipemen and hosemen, however, having other occu- pations close to the fire stations. These men lived and slept in the upper portions of the hose houses, which were made quite comfortable for them, and were thus always on hand to respond to alarms.
To each hose house was allotted a foreman and two pipemen ; and one- horse hose carts were substituted for the old hand carts previously used. Hose companies Nos. 2 and 3 were consolidated, and the 'station removed to Third and Potter Streets. In 1885 the Gamewell Fire Alarm System was introduced, with twenty-five boxes well distributed in all sections. This was a great advantage to the department and the city, and was very largely due to the efforts and repeated recommendations of the chief engineer. Mr. Ellsworth died December 15, 1885, shortly after extreme exertions at a fire in the Burnham and Still mill.
George W. Wallis - Veteran Fire-Fighter
The oldest man now in the department, in point of service if not in years, is George W. Wallis, who has seen thirty-seven years of continuous service to the city, twenty-eight of which he has filled the office of chief. On May
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24, 1878, he was appointed call man at Valley City No. 1, at the munificent salary of ten dollars per month. At that time there were only three full- pay men in the department, two of whom were attached to Valley City No. 1, and the third to Hose House No. 6, at South Saginaw. AAfterward the pay of hosemen was advanced to fifteen dollars per month for call ser- vice; and the records show that in March, 1884, George Wallis and Thomas Passmore were appointed pipemen at twenty dollars a month salary. In 1887 Mr. Wallis was appointed chief of the department, and three years later was reappointed to the same position and responsibilities for the consolidated Saginaws.
During this long and faithful service he has witnessed many changes in the East Side, and has endeavored to keep the department apace with the fire hazard of a growing and prosperous city. Soon after he took charge the fire-fighting force was put on a full-time, full-pay basis, and the number of men increased from time to time, so that now there are thirty-three men in the department on the East Side. The old wooden hose houses have been replaced by substantial brick buildings, in places calculated to best serve the sections in which they are located. All the one-horse hose carts have been replaced with two-horse hose wagons, carrying from seven hun- dred to one thousand feet of hose and tools used in fighting fire; and the hand-drawn ladder trucks have long since been displaced by two-horse hook and ladder equipment. Even these will soon disappear in favor of mutor propelled and motor driven fire engines, ladder trucks and water towers, thus greatly increasing the efficiency of the force.
The City of Saginaw now owns five pieces of motor equipment, engine No. 3, introduced into the department in the fall of 1911, engine No. 13. stationed on the West Side, delivered in 1914, chemical engine No. 6, at the City Hall station, commissioned late in 1915, a motor-driven ladder truck and the chief's motor car. Other equipment will soon be added to the department ; and eventually all the apparatus will be of the machine type.
Of the older members of the force were Thomas J. Passmore, who entered the service February 16, 1880; George Scollen, in February, 1882; 11. F. MeNally, in April, 1882: Edward Taylor, in May, 1883; Fred Beck, in April, 1884; Duncan J. Melntyre, in January, 1886, and Frank Powd, in May, 1886. The only one of these now in the service is H. E. McNally, the captain of hose company No. 1.
The six hose houses on the East Side are located and manned as follows:
No. 1 - At Kirk and Fourth Streets, A. J. Mc Nally, Captain, three men. No. 2 - At Fitzhugh and Sixth Streets. William Feeheley, Captain. three men.
No. 3- At Germania and Baum Streets, William Brockless, Captain. nine men. J. Kreuzberger, Captain Hook and Ladder Company.
No. 6- On South Washington Street, near City Hall, Angus McLeod, Captain, six men.
No. 7- On Perkins Street, near Genesee, H. E. McNally, Captain, three mell
No. 8- On Center Street, near Fordney. Dave Schaefer, Captain, three mien.
The fire alarm system connecting all these houses has also expanded in the thirty years it has been in use, and there are now fifty-four boxes on the East Side. The service thus rendered, together with the aid of the two local telephone systems, with more than six thousand connections, is of the greatest advantage to the department and the city.
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VALLEY CITY BOYS, 1915 With Number 3 Engine, and Chief Wallis and Ass't Chief Hudson.
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
The Fire-Fighters of Saginaw City
Immediately after the incorporation of Saginaw City, in May, 1857, the earliest measures for fire prevention were introduced, and two Fire Wardens were appointed by the council, one for each ward. An ordinance relative to the prevention of fires was passed and approved by the mayor, Gardner D. Williams, on May 13, in which the duties of the fire wardens were clearly defined. The first fire wardens were Nathaniel Gibson and David H. Jerome, and it was their duty, or either of them, in the months of May and Novem- ber, "to enter into any house of building, lot, yard or premises in said city. and examine the fire places, hearths, chimneys, stoves and pipes thereto, and ovens, boilers and other apparatus likely to cause fires, also places where ashes may be deposited, and all places where any gun powder, hemp, flax, rushes, shavings or other combustible materials may be lodged, and to give such directions in regard to these several matters as they may think ex- pedient, either to the removal, alteration, or better care thereof." The penalty for neglect to comply with the directions thus given was fixed at thirty dollars fine, and two dollars per day after thirty days from date of notice.
These measures were evidently regarded as sufficient protection to the infant city. for the primitive "bucket brigade" was still the only means of fighting fire. It was not until 1863, when the city had attained a popula- tion of about three thousand, that the first measures were taken by the council to organize a fire department and to equip it with engine, hose cart, hook and ladder truck, hose and tools. On January 7, 1863. a resolution was passed by the council for the purchase of such equipment, and the lease or erection of a suitable building for a hose house. For this purpose it was proposed to sell city bonds in the sum of two thousand dollars, which was approved by a vote of the people, and the bonds issued.
In April the council authorized alderman William H. Taylor "to pur- chase for fifteen hundred dollars the best fire engine offered for sale by the City of Detroit, and for one hundred and fifty dollars the best hose cart, hook and ladder truck and other appurtenances," he having inspected fire engines there and in Cincinnati and other cities the preceding January. On May 4, aldermen Taylor and Paine were appointed a committee, "to purchase five hundred feet of new hose in addition to what has already been purchased for use of the fire department." The following month Augustus S. Gaylord was appointed the first chief engineer of the department, and Isaac Parsons, Jr., was appointed assistant chief. The engineer was then authorized "to expend five dollars for putting an attachment to the Presbyterian Church bell, to be used for fire alarms." On June 25, James M. Gale was appointed fire warden to succeed P. C. Andre, resigned.
The fire department was thus organized under very auspicious circum- stances, and the first company was styled the "Active Hook, Ladder and Hose Company No. 1." Its engine and hose house was situated on North Hamilton Street, in the middle of the block between Ames and Jefferson (now Cleveland) Streets, on the site of the present brick livery and sales stables. Adjoining it on the north was the blacksmith shop of Robert Wiley. and on the corner stood the original frame portion of the Kerby House, which is now a landmark of the West Side. Although the hand engine and other apparatus was second-hand equipment, the needs of the city were filled for a time, and the citizens no doubt felt some measure of security in their fire-fighters. That the company was well drilled and took a certain pride in their equipment is evident by their turning out and going to Bay City. on the occasion of the Fourth of July celebration, in 1863.
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Two years after, not to be outdone by their more progressive neigh- bors across the river, some of the leading men advocated the purchase of a steam fire engine, as a further safeguard of valuable property. The need of such additional means of fire protection was apparent, and soon a third-class Silsby rotary fire engine was added to the equipment of the fire-fighters. It was capable of throwing four hundred gallons of water a minute, and was regarded as a valuable acquisition to the department. Prior to the inaugura- tion of the water works system, in 1872, this fire engine was used at nearly all fires, sometimes running for eight or ten hours without stopping. For forty-nine years it was continually in commission, and was only retired from service by the purchase of the motor driven fire engine No. 13. in the sum- mer of 1914. The old steamer is now kept in reserve at Hose House No. 6. to be called out only under stress of extreme necessity.
LEY'S
HORSE-SHOEING. 8. REPAIRING SHOP.
ACTIVE ON010 H,L ANO HOSE COMPANY.
REF L NG
ACTIVE HOSE, HOOK AND LADDER COMPANY NO. 1 Saginaw City in the Early Days (Left to right) Robert Wiley, chief. John Lamont, John Sharrow. Frank Vondette.
In 1869 Saginaw City attained a population of about seven thousand. with the western boundaries extended some distance back from the river, and it was deemed a public necessity to erect a new fire engine and hose house. The site selected was on the northeast corner of Harrison and Van Buren Streets, and a two-story brick structure with mansard roof and tower was soon completed and turned over to the department. For many years this was the headquarters of the "smoke-eaters," but in time it proved too small for the increasing needs of the city, and was rebuilt and enlarged. It is the most pretentious fire station in Saginaw, and houses Company No. 13. comprising ten men, with the latest type of motor-driven fire engine, hook and ladder truck (horse drawn) and complete equipment.
HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
In addition to the new fire station, another precautionary measure was taken in the construction of four cisterns, or reservoirs, to hold twenty thou- sand gallons each. These cisterns were placed under ground below the action of frost, and were on Harrison Street at the intersection of Monroe. Franklin ( Cleveland), Van Buren and Williams Streets. They were con- structed entirely of brick and were twelve by twenty-four feet in size, and eight feet deep. The cost of these improvements was more than thirteen thousand dollars, and was derived from the sale of city bonds drawing ten per cent. interest. T. S. North was then chief engineer of the department. and Fred Clifton was engineer of Steamer No. 1. In 1874 and succeeding years George L. Burrows was chief engineer, and G. A. Lyon was the assist- ant chief. The department was then well organized and thoroughly effi- cient. comprising five hose companies, one hook and ladder company, three thousand feet of hose, and one steam fire engine.
As years passed and the city increased in population. the old hand-drawn hose carts gave way to one and two-horse hose carts, the old time hook and ladder truck to more modern apparatus, and the force placed on full-time. full-pay basis. Later hose wagons supplanted the old reel hose carts. At present there are four hose companies on the West Side, located as follows:
No. 10-On North Michigan Avenue, near Genesee. George Fradd. Captain, three men.
No. 13- At Harrison and Van Buren Streets, John Duncan, Captain, nine men.
No. 15 - On South Hamilton Street, near Lee Street, Albert Hudson, Captain, three men.
No. 19- At South Michigan and Sherman Street. Fred Schunecht. Captain, three men.
Robert Hudson is the efficient assistant chief of the Saginaw Fire De- partment, and makes his headquarters at the hose house of Company No. 13. Ile is one of the few veterans of the department, having entered the service
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HOSE HOUSE NO. 13. HARRISON AND VAN BUREN STREETS Headquarters of Ass't Chief Robert Hudson
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April 1, 1887, and was appointed assistant chief on December 5, 1892. Dur- ing his twenty-seven years of faithful duty, he has witnessed many changes and betterments in the department, some of which were made through his untiring efforts for improvement.
Some Big Losses by Fire
The first saw mill erected on the Saginaw River, operated by the Wil- liams Brothers, was burned on July 4. 1854, the blaze being started by a fire- cracker. On May 7, 1861, a disastrous fire started in the Jeffers Block on Water Street, and wiped out twenty-three buildings and other property, entailing a loss of fifty-five thousand dollars. The steam grist mill of W. L. P. Little &Company was burned on May 10, 1860, the loss being thirty-five thousand. A. W. Wright's mill was wiped out on June 13, 1865. with a loss of eighty thousand dollars; and the Chicago mill at Carrollton was burned the same day, loss ten thousand.
On Saturday, February 27. 1870, a fire broke out in Eolah Ilall, in the Van Wey Block, adjoining the Taylor House, and spread rapidly. Mayor A. F. R. Braley sent a messenger to East Saginaw for assistance, and in a short time B. B. Buckhout and his fire-fighters appeared with the steamer Valley City No. 1. After a severe battle the flames were brought under control, but not without considerable loss to the property.
The Crouse Block, which stood on the site of the Eddy Building, was entirely destroyed by fire in October. 1872, with heavy loss to merchants and other tenants. On May 26. 1873. Jackson Hall on South Washington Street, opposite the Bancroft House, was burned. William E. Pringle and P. A. Burns, pipemen of the Valley City Company, were stationed in an archway of the building when they had warning that the wall was falling. Burns jumped further under the arch and escaped injury, but his comrade jumped to the other side and was instantly crushed to death.
The Janes, Mead & Lee planing mill, lumber yard. and a number of dwellings were destroyed June 20. 1873, with a loss of seventy-five thou- sand dollars: and on August 23 following. Paine's mill and salt block were burned with a loss of seventy thousand. On June 30, 1874, George T. Williams & Brother's saw mill burned, with a loss of forty thousand dollars : and on August 16, 1875, occurred the fire at Grant & Saylor's mill, which was totally destroyed with a loss of thirty-five thousand.
On December 4, 1878. A. P. Brewer's saw mill. John G. Owen's lumber and salt sheds, Tuttle & Pease's saw mill and property belonging to B. B. Buckhout were destroyed, entailing a loss of two hundred and fifty-four thousand dollars. Sanborn & Bliss' mill at Carrollton was burned on August 20, 1879, the loss being one hundred and thirty-seven thousand. Wells Stone & Company lost sixty thousand dollars' worth of property on January 2, 1880; and A. D. Camp lost his saw mill and salt block by fire on Novem- ber 24, the same year. On December 8, 1882, fire destroyed the large plant of the Saginaw Barrel Company, at the foot of Wayne Street, with a loss of two hundred thousand dollars.
The Hoyt planing mill was totally destroyed on May 16, 1882, the loss being seventy thousand dollars: and on October 28. Hamilton & McClure's plant at Zilwaukee burned, loss ninety-three thousand. On April 4, 1884. the Michigan Saw & File Company's works, at the corner of Washington and Astor Streets, burned, involving a loss of ninety-five thousand dollars; and the same night St. Paul's Episcopal Church, at the corner of Lapeer and Warren Streets, was totally destroyed. In August, 1887, John G. Owen's planing mill was burned. the loss being one hundred and twenty-one thou- sand dollars: and on August 8, 1888. Lee's planing mill and a number of
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HISTORY OF SAGINAW COUNTY
residences burned, with a loss of one hundred thousand. On November 6. 1890, C. S. Bliss & Company's saw mill, at the west end of the F. & P. M. R R. bridge, was destroyed. the loss being twenty thousand dollars.
The Great Fire of May, 1893
At ten minutes after four o'clock on the afternoon of May 20. 1893, an alarm was turned in for a fire on the old "Middle Ground," in the abandoned saw mill of Sample & Camp. The wind, blowing a gale, carried burning embers to the Bristol Street Bridge, one-half mile distant, setting fire to it and the cooper shop adjoining. The fire spread rapidly to the square bounded by MeCoskry Street, Washington Avenue, Atwater and Tilden Streets. While the department was trying to prevent it from crossing
OLD STYLE HOSE REEL AND FIRE COMPANY, ABOUT 1881 Ben Smith, driver. (Left to right) John Frederick, Frank Vondette, F. Bush, John Lamont, Louis Sharrow.
Washington Avenue, fire broke out in the Standard Lumber Company's property in the bayou; also at St. Vincent's Orphan's Home, at the corner of Emerson and Howard Streets, eight blocks away. The fire-fighters were finally driven off Washington Avenue, being compelled to abandon all lines of hose, and return to Hose House No. 3 for a new supply.
At this time the conflagration was terrific. The wind was blowing a gale and carried huge embers long distances and started fresh fires in dozens of places. It seemed that no human power could stay the progress of the flames. The department made heroic stands at Holden and Tilden Streets. at three points on Jefferson, at Sheridan and Holden, Cornelia and Martha. Owen and Emerson, Emerson and Sheridan, and at the corner of Warren and Martha Streets.
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After a fierce and determined battle, aided by firemen and equipment from Bay City and Flint, the fire was surrounded, and the wind dying down, the fire was placed under control at 6:30 P. M. It had burned over an arca of twenty-three squares, destroying two hundred and fifty-seven buildings, and rendering hundreds of families homeless.
At six o'clock in the evening fire started from some unknown cause in the planing mill of Edward Germain, on Holland Avenue, about a mile from the center of the fire zone, and the plant was totally destroyed, to- gether with a large quantity of lumber. The department was unable to respond to this fire until nine o'clock, owing to the demands of the big fire. The total loss during the day was six hundred and seventy thousand dollars, and the amount of insurance paid was four hundred and sixty-four thousand.
On October 3, 1895. the Saginaw Box Company sustained a loss of thirty-one thousand dollars by the burning of their factory at the corner of Wheeler and Green Streets. The Central School on Court Street was dam- aged on April 15, 1896, to the extent of twenty-six thousand dollars. On November 3, 1896, Crume & Sefton's butter dish factory was burned, loss thirty-two thousand : and on December 30, Gebhart & Estabrook's planing mill, loss twenty-one thousand. The Bliss & Van Auken saw mill was destroyed on December 18, 1898, the loss being thirty-two thousand dollars. In 1899 the plants of F. G. Palmerton Woodenware Company, and Green, Ring & Company, were totally destroyed.
Thomas Jackson & Company's planing mill was burned March 2. 1903. loss forty-two thousand ; and on November 5, 1905, "Old Gray Pat." of Hose Company No. 13, while on a run to a fire dropped dead in front of the new Jackson factory. This faithful old horse was twenty years old, and had been in the service for fifteen years. On December 15, 1907, at the fire at the Saginaw Produce and Storage Company, ten firemen were injured or overcome by the dense smoke. At a fire in the cooperage plant of Malcolm & Brown, on Queen Street, four firemen were seriously injured. one suffer- ing a fracture of the right shoulder, and laid up for thirty-three days.
The Holly Water Works
Under the provisions of a special act of the State Legislature, approved February 28, 1873. it became the duty of the common council of East Sagi- naw to appoint five persons, residents and freeholders of the city, as a Board of Water Commissioners, to hold office for the term of one, two, three, four and five years from the first Tuesday in March, 1873. At its regular meet- ing held on March 3, the council thereupon appointed Wellington R. Burt, James G. Terry, John G. Owen, Conrad Fey and H. H. Hoyt, to fill the respective terms which were decided by lot. Their first meeting was held March 10, 1873, when they proceeded to elect officers for the ensuing year, John G. Owen being chosen president, Wellington R. Burt, treasurer, Ferd A. Ashley, secretary. On April 23 the board contracted with George D. Walcott to act as engineer and superintendent of construction.
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