USA > New York > Wyoming County > Perry > History of the town of Perry, New York > Part 18
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In November, 1857, the stores from the Bailey block on the corner of Covington and Main streets, north, were burned. These were occupied, in the order named, by R. D. Higgins' crockery store; George Chapin, leather dealer ; Bullard Bros.' hardware; and Buttre's furniture store, which was the last in the block.
On December 19th, 1857, the Walker House and barns were burned, together with other smaller buildings. The Wal- ker House then stood on the present site of The Tavern.
On February 1st, 1866, the block between the old National Hotel and Covington street was burned. The stores destroyed were occupied by E. H. Wygant's book store (once Henry Bar- ton's dry goods store, now the J. H. Owen block) ; also Cyrus
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Merrill's dry goods store, on the Covington street corner. James Thayer's photograph studio was over Wygant's store. Mr. Wygant was clerk at the time, and the town and village
DP .. GILBERT R. TRAVER
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
records were destroyed in this fire. In 1867, the late Alexander Cole erected the brick block on the corner of Main and Coving- ton streets, and E. H. Wygant erected the present J. H. Owen block during the same year.
On August 7th, 1880, the Perry Woolen Mills, operated by James Wylie & Son, were destroyed by fire with a loss of $20,000.
In the Spring of 1887, the trustees of the village recogniz- ing the need of modern fire protection, decided to organize a fire department consisting of an engine company, hook and lad- der company and a hose company. Volunteers were called for and the citizens of the village responded nobly in the worthy cause. Within a short time, 75 men had called at Smith's Bank and signed the roll.
Apparatus consiting of an engine (20-man brake), a hook and ladder truck, a hose cart with 600 feet of hose and acces- sories, were purchased of Rumsey & Co. of Seneca Falls, N. Y., by the Village Trustees at a total cost of $1250. The regular organization of the Fire Department were effected on June 7th of that year, and the following named were chosen as officers :
DEPARTMENT OFFICERS
Chief-Dr. Gilbert R. Traver First Assistant-John Stockwell Second Assistant-E. M. Wyckoff Secretary-G. K. Page.
COMPANY OFFICERS
Engine Co. No. 1-Foreman, A. D. Taylor; Assistant, F. H. Stryker.
Hose Co. (afterward Traver Hose Co.)-Foreman, Michael Whelan; Assistant, G. K. Smith.
Hook and Ladder Co. (afterward M. H. Olin H. & L. Co.)-
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Foreman, Benjamin Prindle; First Assistant, Wm. V. Nye; Second Assistant, J. Harry Watson.
The Citizens Chemical Company was organized on June 5th, 1890, with the following named as officers: Foreman, Michael Whelan; Assistant, Wallace A. Hunt ; Secretary-Treas- urer, John T. Riley; Engineers, Albert Richards and J. Harry Watson.
The Active Hose Company (now I. S. Robeson Hose Co.) was organized on Oct. 10th, 1890, and the following named were elected officers : Foreman, Walter T. Olin ; Assistant, Earl V. Jenks ; Secretary-Treasurer, John Washburn.
With the establishment of the municipal water works sys- tem in 1896 the Engine Company became obsolete and the mem- bers formed themselves into the T. H. Bussey Protective Co. on August 29th, 1902.
The C. A. Toan Hose Company of Silver Lake was admitted to membership in the Department in May, 1907.
The first rooms used by the Department as a meeting place and also as a place in which to store the apparatus were secured in the basement of White's Hall, now used by Buck- nam's Livery. These were the quarters until the erection of the Department building near the culvert on the east side of Main street. This building was the headquarters of the Perry Fire Department for a quarter of a century, or until 1913, at which time the Department moved into their present beautiful and complete quarters in the new Village building.
The first alarm of fire following the organization was sounded on August 16th, 1887, at 4 o'clock p. m. The fire was only a slight one, however, and was extinguished before the companies arrived. The first fire at which water was turned on occurred on Jan. 26th, 1888, at the Reaper Works. Since the organization in 1887, the Department has responded to
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
about 200 alarms. The total loss by fire during that period is approximately $260,000.
Photograph taken in winter of 1895, showing old Department Building
The following named gentlement have held the office of Chief of the Perry Fire Department : Dr. Gilbert R. Traver, who was one of the principal organizers, held the office from the date of organization until his death on July 7th, 1896. He was succeeded, in the order named, by J. Harry Watson, J. W. Dennison Olmsted, Patrick J. O'Leary, Elmer Lee, Fred Blanck, Frank A. Coleman, Adelbert D. Campbell and Myron J. Kershaw.
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
PERRY'S GREATEST CONFLAGRATION
broke out on the afternoon of May 18th, 1891, and consumed all of the buildings between the present site of the First National Bank and the Olin block, which was seriously damaged. It seemed that a small quantity of paper had been ignited in the rear of the clothing store of S. Goldwater & Brother and that an oil barrel had sprung a leak in the rear of W. H. Herron's grocery store, adjoining. Supposing that the fire was out, the clerk went back into the store without any apprehension of danger, but it proved that the fire remained and was driven against the oil by a gust of wind. In a moment, flames leaped up and passed into Herron's store, setting fire to the oil tanks in the rear room. An explosion was the result, and the win- dows in the front of the store were blown out. The extreme heat from the blazing oil almost instantly burned off the wires of the Bell Telephone Co., thus cutting off telephone communi- cation with the surrounding towns. The Fire Department was promptly on the ground and the Engine Company dropped their suction pipe into the mill pond and the Active Hose Com- pany made quick connection. The Traver Hose Co. attached to the old foundry hydrant, and in a short time two streams were playing upon the flames, but with no preceptible effect. The Chemicals found their way to the rear of the buildings, but were almost instantly driven out by the explosion of the oil. Most of their attention was given to the protection of property and contributed in a large measure to saving the storehouse of M. H. Olin & Son.
When the flames had made such progress as to render it impossible with the means at hand for the local firemen to ar- rest the conflagration and the indications seemed to be the complete destruction of the business section, telegrams were sent to different points for assistance. Wallace Hose Co. of Castile was the first to reach the scene and soon its hose was at-
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-Photograph by M. N. Crocker.
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HARNESS SHOP
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
tached to the hydrant at the Andrus saw mill. McNair Hose Co. of Warsaw came next and coupled at the same place. These two companies did splendid work and were largely instrumen- tal in bringing the fire under control. They were followed by the Hornell Steamer Company, who with their engine, rendered valuable service in the latter part of the fight.
The buildings destroyed in this conflagration were occu- pied by S. Goldwater & Brother, clothiers; W. H. Herron, grocer; W. A. Gillet & Co., dry goods; Fred Seeger, clothier ; C. S. Smith & Co., shoe dealers; M. H. Olin & Son, hardware; M. A. Lovejoy, law office ; H. M. Scranton, dentist ; C. C. Lewis, picture framing ; Gates & Handyside, dressmakers; Olin Opera - House. The approximate fire loss was $100,000, with insurance of about $56,000.
Three years later, on Oct. 10th, 1894, Perry firemen recip- rocated Warsaw's kindness by responding to call for help from that place, where the business section was threatened with des- truction by fire. Perry's chemical, both hose carts and the hand engine were loaded on the train and made the run to Warsaw in 45 minutes. The Perry boys did good work and were credited with great assistance in subduing the fire.
Other important fires in and near the village were: March 22, 1894, Dow's warehouse, loss $4,500; June 15, 1900, at Caleb Tarplee's furniture store; Aug. 27, 1901, Andrus' saw mill ; Dec. 14th, 1901, Jacob Schmidt's bakery ; Aug. 4th, 1902, Perry Knitting Co .; May 13, 1904, Silver Lake Assembly, $15,000 loss ; April 2d, 1905, Hatch property; April 27th, 1906, Silver Lake Assembly, $3,000 loss ; Sept. 23d, 1906, Silver Lake Assem- bly, $5,000 loss; March 7th, 1910, Garrison block, containing Hovey's Grocery, Natural Gas Supply House, Lovejoy's law office. Supervisor Bussey's office, E. J. Webster's real estate office, loss about $14,000; July 15th, 1911, grand stand at the fair grounds, loss $3,000; June 4th, 1912, plant of Perry electric
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Light Co., loss $20,000; Ewart & Lake, loss $11,000; W. H. Hawley, Jr., loss $1200; June 15, 1913, Farina & Co., Polish Club and Rosinski's residence, total loss $5,000; May 10, 1914, Silver Lake Assembly, total loss about $5,000.
THE MOTOR TRUCK
On Nov. 23d, 1914, at a special election the taxpayers voted to raise $4,500 by taxation for the purpose of buying a triple combination motor fire truck. To this sum was added about $3,000 raised in private subscriptions by the Citizen's Chemical Co. At the election there were 332 votes cast, 254 for the proposition and 77 against ; one void. A larger vote was polled at this election involving an expenditure of $4,500 than when the proposition to raise $30,000 for a new Fire Depart- ment building and village hall was voted upon.
The Citizens' Chemical Co. worked zealously in promoting the motor truck proposition, and the special committee, of which Ralph S. Baker was chairman, accomplished a splendid work in securing private pledges of $3,000. Of this amount, the Citizens' Chemical Co. guaranteed $500.
The contract for the truck was awarded to the American LaFrance Fire Engine Co. of Elmira, N. Y., on Feb. 15th, 1915, and the truck was officially accepted by the Village Trustees at a public test made on July 24th of the same year.
During the year 1910, agitation began for a suitable new building for Fire Department headquarters. The old frame building near the culvert on the east side of Main street, which housed the apparatus on the ground floor, with a tool room and lock-up in the basement, and two rooms on the second floor, was considered by the firemen as inadequate quarters for the five companies of the village, and they advocated a new build-
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
ing that would be more acceptable for their requirements and convenience. This agitation was continued for several months when, on June 21st, 1910, a special election was held to vote upon a proposition to expend not to exceed $30,000 for a new Fire Department building. There were 226 votes cast, of which 155 were in the affirmative, 62 in the negative, and 9 blank. Several sites were under discussion, the existing location near the culvert and the Hildum property on Main street, a short distance south of Gardeau street, being the most favored. As the matter was discussed and plans were outlined, the Village Board of Trustees took into consideration the various demands for better facilities for village organizations.
The State Department had condemned the existing lock-up and had notified the village officials of their obligation to pro- vide proper and safe quarters for prisoners. The village clerk's office and trustees' room were in rented quarters, and as the matter was considered by them in all of its bearings upon future as well as present needs, they reached the unanimous conclusion that in the long run it would be wisdom and econ- omy to provide a building that would accommodate all of the departments of the village under one roof. The reason for their conclusion was that in addition to the fact that the clerk's office and trustees' room were in rented quarters, the building of a new lock-up was imperative, and to purchase a site and erect a lock-up as a separate building would require a separate heating system and involve other expense in maintenance. To combine all departments in one building therefore seemed to them to be the wisest and most economical purpose.
Plans were prepared by F. W. Kirkland, architect, of Rome, N. Y., and on May 17th, 1912, contract was Iet to Jones & Dennison of Hornell for the construction of a brick and tile fire-proof building at their bid of $25,843.00. Changes and additions were made to the original plan to meet the desires of
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
the firemen and to increase the facilities, which finally pro- vided a room for each of the five fire companies on the ground floor, in the rear of the large room for the apparatus, also office for the village clerk, with large fire-proof vault for the village records ; room for the Village Trustees, toilet rooms, etc. In the basement a large tool room for the Street Department, an office for the Police Department, an office for the Street Superintend-
ent, a JJustice Court room, vagrant room, detention room for women prisoners, and lock-up with steel cells in the rear. On the second floor a large assembly room for meetings of the Fire Department, coat rooms and toilet rooms for men and women, large room for banquets or parties, kitchen with full equip- ment, dishes, silverware, etc.
Bonds were issued for $25,000 and the old frame building was sold for $1500. The several changes made in the original plan involved an additional expense, and on July 7th, 1913, a proposition was submitted for the raising of an additional $11,000 to complete the building. There were 204 votes cast,
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PERRY FIRE DEPARTMENT
of which 126 were in the affirmative, 67 in the negative, and 11 blank. The cost of the building, including the jail equipment, heating and plumbing plant, etc., totaled $41,000.
The building is complete in all of its appointments, com- mands the admiration of all who see it, and contractors and others who have examined it have stated that it represents 100 cents on every dollar expended upon it.
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CHAPTER XX
Agitation for and Installation of Municipal Water Works System- Difficulties Encountered and Overcome - It's Success Beyond Expectations of the Most Sanguine Advocates.
The costly fire of 1891, referred to in the last chapter, in- spired considerable discussion of the necessity for an adequate system of fire protection, but the temporary agitation of the matter ended in discussion. The fire at Warsaw three years later revived the interest, but no definite steps were taken. On March 27th, 1895, the Village of Canaseraga suffered a fire loss of $125,000 because of lack of proper protection and its busi- ness section was practically wiped out. In an editorial com- ment in the Perry Record of April 3d, 1895, the writer said :
"Perry can take a lesson from Canaseraga's misfortune. While this place is favored in many respects and we have an ample supply of water for fire protection in portions of the village, there are other portions where there is practically no fire protection whatever. And while we regret to say it, we must admit that had a fire occurred during the recent severe weather, when the water supply from the lake was cut off, the . firemen would have been powerless to fight it and a conflagra- tion would have been a certain result. We do not wish to be classed as a 'calamity howler' by any means, but it is a fact that Perry needs better fire protection, such as would be af- forded by a good system of water works. This is a subject for thoughtful consideration and one that should be acted upon before we have such another costly lesson as Canaseraga has just experienced. Let the matter be investigated, that Perry may take its place among the towns that are up-to-date in the way of proper fire protection."
Canaseraga's misfortune brought fresh to the mind the ex- perience of Perry in 1891, and the necessity of some action was
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THE WATER WORKS SYSTEM
impressed upon the minds of public spirited citizens. The Vil- lage Board of Trustees was composed at that time of the fol- lowing named: T. H. Bussey, president; W. D. Page, S. A.
Hatch, C. H. Toan and C. A. Carmichael. C. M. Smith was clerk. Mr. Smith took the initiative in urging the Board to
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
take preliminary steps to learn what was best to do, and the suggestion met with a ready response on the part of the mem- bers of the Board.
On May 13th, 1895, E. Delevan Smalley of Syracuse came to Perry at their request, and as an engineer made an investi- gation of springs hereabouts and the lake as a source of supply for a water system. A meeting of the Board of Trustees was held on the evening of the same day to hear his report and suggestions. It was decided that the Board act as a committee to take active measures to learn the sentiment of the majority of citizens; to submit blank contracts for supplying water to citizens; to learn the probable amount of revenue that would be derived. If enough revenue was assured to pay interest on the cost of a water system and the expense of its operation, it was decided to submit to voters the question of bonding the village in a sufficient sum to furnish a plant to be owend by the village.
In the local newspapers of May 22d, 1895, the Trustees published a statement of nearly one column in length, giving their conclusions in brief, followed by the names of those who had signed contracts for yearly use of water for a term of years, viz: Perry Knitting Co., $25; M. H. Olin, $25: W. D. Page, $18; G. K. Page, $18; J. C. Lillibridge, $12; G. M. Traber, $10; Charles Wise, $10; Dr. C. R. Calkins, $10; W.T. Olin, $10: C. D. Barber, $10; J. H. Owen, $10; Jacob Schmidt, $10; B. F. Rollah, $10; J. W. Olin, $10: S. Goldwater, $10; C. G. Clarke, $10; J. E. Cole, $7 ; Jenks & Bliss, $5; W. H. Herron, $5; Citi- zens Bank, $5; C. M. Smith, $5; M. H. Olin & Son, $5; First National Bank, $5; Albert Richards, $5. Total, $250. Those contracts had been easily secured during the time intervening between the visit of Engineer Smalley and the publication of their statement, and further revealed the strength of the senti- ment in favor of the movement.
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THE WATER WORKS SYSTEM
On Monday, June 3d, 1895, the voters of Warsaw (which was supplied with water by an inadequate private system) de- cided at a special election by a vote of 216 to 35 in favor of a municipal water works system. On Sunday, June 9th, Wm. Sullivan and Henry Newton, employees at the salt plant, dis- covered a fire about 2 p. m. in some shavings at the plant, and by their quick and timely action prevented a fire that would have seriously damaged if not destroyed the buildings. These experiences further strengthened the sentiment in favor of ade- quate protection.
Naturally, there was considerable diversity of opinion re- garding the best method to be taken. The volunteer firemen had done splendidly effective work with the existing facilities and there were people who felt that what we had was good enough for a long time to come, ignoring the danger to prop- erty situated outside of the reach of the ponds. Others said that they were opposed to bonding the village, which amounted to the same as placing mortgages upon homes as a result of an affirmative vote. They were in accord with several of Perry's most substantial and conservative business men of advanced years whose opinions were held in high respect, who favored the construction of a system by private capital, thus avoiding the necessity of bonding the village and taking the risk of making the project a financial success. They looked upon the plan of a municipal system as a visionary scheme on the part of a group of young men who were over enthusiastic and whose judgment and experience were not sufficiently matured to be wise or safe to trust. As the agitation of the matter grew in strength, naturally a feeling of bitterness developed between two factions. The sincerity of the opponents was not doubted, nor was that of those who favored the project. However, in the heat of the arguments there were a few who questioned the motives of some of those on either side. Exaggerations were
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
made pro and con, upon theory instead of knowledge. Stories were circulated that wells and cisterns would be condemned to force people to use the city water; that a system would cost twice as much or more than was estimated. It cansed a line-up of the middle-aged men of the village against the younger ele- ment, the late M. H. Olin being practically the only prominent one of the middle-aged class of our citizens who separated him- self from his elose associates and aligned himself with the young men who were fighting for a municipally owned water system. While optimism possibly in an extreme influ- enced the younger men. yet they were sineere in their belief in the benefits that would acerne and in the certainty of its fin- aneial success as well. There was in fact a time when they were tempted to give up the fight for what they believed to be the best interest of the village and show their own faith in the pro- jeet by organizing a stock company for the purpose of construct. ing a privately owned water system for supplying water for fire protection and domestie purposes. They learned that such companies seeured from villages for fire protection, contracts for a period of years for $25 to $50 per hydrant per year, which at the lowest figure would yield them $2,000 per year for fire protection alone for 80 hydrants, as proposed. But profiting by the experience of the neighboring village of Warsaw, as well as others that were either advocating or changing from private to municipal ownership, they made their fight to win on that issue, for the larger purpose of the public good. This is not an idle statement, for the writer has personal and inti- mate knowledge of the fact stated.
Enginneer J. F. Witmer, of the firm of Voorhees & Witmer of Buffalo, was engaged to make a preliminary survey of the sit- uation, and he recommended Silver Lake as the proper source of an unfailing supply for fire protection and domestic pur- poses, the water being in his opinion best adapted for all uses, and estimated the cost of a complete system at $40,000.
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THE WATER WORKS SYSTEM
Strong objection was raised to using the water from Silver Lake, as being detrimental to existing water powers, which would have to be indemnified for any injury, inviting extended legal complications and probably involving heavy expense, also because it was believed by some that it would be undesirable for domestic services, etc.
A special election to vote upon the proposition was called for July 5th, 1895, at the Fire Department building, from 11 o'clock a. m. to 4 p. m.
In its issue of June 26th, under the heading "What Shall We do?" the Perry Record said editorially :
"The question of water works for the village having been agitated for some time past, the Board of Trustees have de- cided to put the question to the taxpayers in order to get an expression of the people. While each member of the Board is in favor of such a project, and while under the law the Board would have a right to grant a franchise for the construction of a system for fire protection, they decided that the people's voice should be heard in the matter. It is their opinion that none of the people's money should be spent until the people decide that they are in favor of the project .... The Trustees have decided to submit the question to the people as to whether there shall be a municipal ownership-profiting by the exper- iences of other villages, notably Warsaw and Canandaigua .... If it will pay a company of men to construct and operate a sys- tem of water works it will also pay a municipality .... If a com- pany can operate at a profit, so can a municipality."
To be certain as to the quality of Silver Lake water the Trustees submitted samples to S. A. Lattimore, Professor of Chemistry at the Reynolds Laboratory, University of Roches- ter. He made a careful and extended analysis and under date of July 27, 1895, submitted a detailed report, accompanied by notes stating his opinions, the closing paragraph of which said:
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF PERRY
"The present freedom of this water from drainage pollu- tion, as demonstrated at every point in the analysis, is most satisfactory, and if efficient measures are instituted and main- tained to protect the lake from future contamination, the Vil- lage of Perry may be justly and sincerely congratulated upon possessing one of the purest supplies in the country."
The Trustees also submitted from W. B. Wilson of Buffalo, a contractor, a proposition to construct a complete system, ac- cording to designs prepared by Voorhees & Witmer, for the sum of $39,675.00, and to furnish bond for faithful performance of the work.
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