USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume II > Part 73
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Meanwhile the council had passed an ordinance designed to reorganize the fire service, but which, by confused investiture of the control of the service as between the chairman of its Fire Department Committee and the Fire Engineer, seems to have produced a great deal of dissension. After a prolonged contest,
550
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
Charles M. Ridgway was elected Chief Engineer on the one hundred seventieth ballot. The new ordinance provided :
That the Fire Department of this city shall consist of one Chief Engineer and one assistant for the entire department ; one captain, one lieutenant and forty men for each hand company ; one operator and machinist ; one assistant operator and fireman ; three drivers and horsemen and pipemen for a steam fire engine ; and as many hook and ladder meu, not exceeding twentyfive, as the number and quality of the fire apparatus belonging to the eity shall from time to time require.
Unable to agree with the Fire Committee the operators of the steam engine threw up their positions in disgust. Worse still, the engine failed to do what was expected of it. The four story furniture factory of Brotherlin & Halm took fire one very cold night in February, 1856, and burned to the ground in thirtyfive minutes. " The steam fire engine was on the ground," said the State Journal, " but owing to the extreme cold of the weather, the thermometer being at 16º below zero, was unable to throw a drop of water owing to the freezing of the water in the suction pipes." The same paper, referring to a fire in Hall, Brown & Company's dryhouse in the Penitentiary on February 6, same year, said : " The steam engine was sent for and immediately put into service, but the machine was in operation only a few minutes when it was rendered entirely useless by the water freezing in the hose. " Under date of March 7, 1856, we have these state- ments :
The Columbus Fire Department is composed of two unequal parts - the ornamental and the useful The ornamental but by no manner of means useful part is called the com- mittee of the council on the Fire Department. The useful, but not at all ornamental, is eom- posed of one Chief Engineer, one operator, five men, five horses, three wheels and a great squirt.
In this state of affairs a handengine company was organized on March 15, 1856, and asked for the Franklin engine and the Niagara hosecarriage. The Cap- tain of this company was James Westwater. On May 3, 1856, Ridgway & Kim- ball's car factory, on the west bank of the Scioto, fell a prey to the flames. The Franklin Engine Company was promptly on hand, and saved the adjoining build- ings. The steam fire engine could not render any service because its chimney was too high to let it go through the bridge, and for the additional reason that if it could have got through it might have set the bridge on fire.
On May 11, 1856, a new ordinance for reorganization of the Fire Department was passed. This measure repealed all antecedent legislation for the department, and vested its control entirely in the Fire Committee. Charles Ridgway resigned as Chief Engineer and Mr. Trowbridge was chosen his successor. A new engine house was provided for, to be erected on a High Street lot owned by the eity, opposite the Montgomery House. In June, 1856, it was announced that the steam fire engine had been put in complete order, having been entirely " overhauled by the new engineer, Mr. Trowbridge, under the direction of Mr. Latta, the builder." St. Paul's Lutheran Church took fire October 10, 1856, and was destroyed, except- ing its walls. A serious part of the loss was that of the organ, which had cost $2,300. The steamer and one handengine were present, " but from the situation of the buildings they were unable to throw water directly on the fire." C. P. L. But- ler's bakery was burned March 29, 1857. The Ohio Statesman of April 1, that year, contained the following :
On the door of the Steam Fire Engine house is posted the motto semper paratus. A countryman, on seeing it, walked into the house, and addressing the engineer, said he would like to look at some of his " sample purtators."
551
FIRE PROTECTION.
On March 12, 1857, a state Firemen's Convention was held in Columbus. About fifty delegates were present. On June 8, same year, the sale of a part or all of the handengines was ordered by the council. The steam engine acquitted itself with credit during a fire in the Penitentiary shops October 23. Its services on that occasion more than paid, it was said, for its cost. In April, 1858, a hose company was organized. The city was at that time provided with fortyfive pub- lic cisterns and as many wells. A new independent fire company called the Columbian Independent Hook and Ladder Company was organized in August, and a new hand engine, named the Capital, arrived in September. The Lafayette Hose and Engine Company and the American Hook and Ladder Company were contemporary organizations The Fame Fire Company was reorganized and revived in 1859; the old Franklin engine was about the same time fitted up and put into service. The Lafayette company was disbanded in May for want of pecuniary encouragement. On September 5, 1859, the council passed a resolution to sell the steam fire engine, with its entire equipment, and " organize good and efficient hand companies in each ward in the city," which, the resolution added, "are all suffi- cient for the protection of the city and a greater protection to the pockets of the taxpayers."
During the night of October 18, 1859, the Columbus Machine Manufacturing Company's works were in part destroyed. The steamer was run down to the river on the cast side and its hose extended to the fire through the bridge. On November 24, 1859, the council passed an ordinance reducing the paid force of the Steam Fire Department to two members - the engineer and a helper - and pro- viding for the organization of a volunteer hose company.
The burning of the Neil House on November 6, 1860, may be considered a turning point in the history of the Columbus service. By that event the service and its equipment, as they then existed, were shown to be far from commensurate with the growth and magnitude of the city. Insufficiency of water and inade- quacy of means to apply it were alike demonstrated. The council was there- fore impelled to take action and appointed a special committee to investigate and report upon the condition and needs of the Fire Department. That committee reported on November 19, as follows : The steamer, not in service, requires exten- sive repairs ; the Capital and Fame hand engines in service; hose and hose reels in good order. On receiving this report, the council authorized the purchase of three hand engines - including two small ones - and such additional hose and other apparatus as were needed. A resolution was adopted on the same occasion providing for the appointment of a committee to investigate as to the merits of the rotary steam fire engine constructed by H. C. Silsby, of Seneca Falls, New York. On December 6, 1860, one of these engines was put on trial in Columbus, by its manufacturers, and produced such satisfactory results that its purchase, together with that of an additional steamer of same kind and capacity, was recommended and ordered.8 The order for the purchase of handengines was rescinded. An ordinance of November 26, 1860, created the office of chief engineer, the incumbent of which was vested with control and supervision of the entire Fire Department, with police authority to arrest disobedient members ; salary, $600; term, one year. John Miller was appointed to this position by the council. The Capital City Fire Company, a new organization accepted by the council December 10, asked to be put in charge of the Capital engine and hose carriage. The first Silsby steamer ordered by the council was received in Febru- ary, 1861 ; cost $3,250.9 A companion machine followed a few weeks later. The machine assigned to the Gay Street enginehouse was named Joseph Ridgway, Junior ; that at the Third Street house, Benjamin Blake. The old steamer, at this time known as the Fire Fly, was sold in October, 1862, at public auction. In March, 1863, numerous fires occured in rapid succession, and were believed to be
552
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
the work of ineendiaries. A new Silsby steamer was tested and accepted on July 24, 1863. During the ensuing November John Miller resigned as Chief Engineer and was succeeded by Isaac H. Marrow. When Mr Miller first entered upon his duties he found the Fire Department in a most deplorable condition ; without head, organization or confidence. He left it in an excellent state of efficiency. His successor, soon after entering upon his duties, organized a system of fire alarm by church bells to be rung by policemen. For this purpose the city was divided into five districts. The number of strokes given upon the bell denoted the number of the district where the fire was located. In his report for the year ended April 1, 1865, the Fire Chief, Colonel Marrow, recommended that a system of telegraphic signals be provided. This recommendation was repeated in the report of the same officer for 1866. T. B. A.Kbury's carriage manufactory, corner of Third and Rich streets, was burned April 23, 1865 ; on June 22, same year, John A. Shannon's factory of the same character, on Scioto Street, met the same fate. The burning of the Shannon establishment was said to have been the largest fire which up to that time had taken place in the city, except the burning of the Neil House.
In his report for the year ended April 1, 1867, Chief Engineer Marrow reported that the fire losses for that year had amounted to $17,962 23, and that the city at that time possessed sixtytwo cisterns and fortyfive wells, with an aggregate capacity of 697,064 gallons. The construction of fifty additional cis- terns was recommended. The Scioto River, it was stated, was not available as a source of water supply owing to the bad condition of its front on Canal Street. Under an ordinanee of February 12, 1866, the Fire Engineer had been charged with the duty of inspecting and certifying as to the safety of all new buildings. The construction of an electric fire alarm telegraph was again urged. In pursuance of the recommendations of this report the council appropriated $5,000 for the con- struction of ten new cisterns.
On October 21, 1867, the City Council accepted a proposition from H. C. Silsby to build a steam fire engine for the city and repair the Third Street engine, for $6,000. Five barns in Noble Alley were burned October 29. On November 2 a fire in the Penitentiary shops caused a loss of $70,000. The new steam fire engine arrived in December, and was named L. Donaldson. A contract with Gamewell & Company for a fire alarm telegraph was ratified by the council in February, 1868; contract price, 84,500. In a message of this year the Mayor spoke of the Fire Department of Columbus as the best organization of the kind in the West. The entire working force of the department had been newly uniformed; blue pantaloons, coat, cap and vest, and blue shirt. The badges consisted of the legend "C. F. D," in a silver wreath, worn on the cap, and a silver shield bearing the same letters, the engine number and the image of an eagle, worn on the breast. Excepting the badges and caps, the uniforms were paid for by the men On August 10, 1868, William S. Huffman was appointed Fire Engineer, vice Isaae H. Marrow, resigned. On September 15, same year, a firemen's State convention was held at the City Hall. An appropriation of $3,000 to connect the State insti- tutions with the enginehouse by telegraph was inserted in the appropriation bill by the House of Representatives April 22, 1868. The appropriation had previ- ously been stricken from the bill. On April 27, same year, the work of putting the firealarm telegraph in position was begun.10
The force and equipment of the department on April 1, 1869, were thus stated : One chief engineer, one superintendent of fire alarm telegraph, three steamer engines, three foremen, three enginedrivers, three horsemen, two truckmen, four steamers, four carriages, one hook and ladder apparatus, ten horses and a supply of hose. The city possessed fiftyfour wells and seventytwo cisterns. On April 12, 1869 Henry Heinmiller succeeded William S. Huffman as Chief Engineer.11
553
FIRE PROTECTION.
The steamer Ridgway, which had become almost useless, was reconstructed, this year, at the Franklin Machine Works.
The Columbus Woolen Factory, ereeted in 1851, was destroyed by fire August 4, 1870; estimated loss, $75,000. In December, 1871, the fire alarm telegraph system was completed. The works of the Columbus Cabinet Company were burned October 30, 1872. In November of that year a volunteer fire company was organized by Chief Heinmiller to work the steamers during disability of the horses of the department from epizootic. The Iron Buggy Company's building was destroyed by fire May 27, and a part of the Gill carworks on June 26, 1874. The Flowers enginehouse, on North High Street, neared its completion in July of that year. The purchase of a Babcock truekwagon, with chemical fire extin- guishers, was authorized June 29. Anderson's papermill was burned April 15, 1875.
After the Holly system of water supply had been introduced and fairly tested the belief was entertained by many that the steamers, then four in number, were no longer necessary. Chief Heinmiller maintained the opposite view, which experience has since fully justified. The cisterns were maintained for several years as a reserve to be resorted to in ease of bursting of the waterpipes. On July 12, 1875, the council accepted the following proposition from the insurance companies represented in Columbus :
That they will purchase, for the use of the city, at their own expense, one chemical engine and salvage wagon combined [and equipped, the entire outfit to cost not less than $2,500, and] . . . will forthwith organize and equip a competent salvage corps consisting of at least twelve men [to be under the control of the Fire Marshal, to act as a special fire police, and to be paid by the insurance companies ; provided the city would] furnish snita- ble room for storing said apparatus and also furnish one span of horses and the keeping of the same [and employ and pay one pipeman and one driver].
The new South High Street enginehouse was formally opened with feasting and speeches February 8, 1877. The warehouse of Keyes & Company, near the Broad Street bridge, was burned May 22, and that of McAlister & Sons, corner of Naghten and Fourth, on October 27, same year. On June 27, 1878, the Franklin County Infirmary buildings, and on August 13, same year, Anderson's paper mill were partially burned. Monypeny's warehouse, on the west side of the river, was burned during the night of March 2, 1879; estimated loss, $70,000. Doney & Dent's elevator, on West Friend Street, was destroyed during the night of March 5, same year. This was one of several fires believed to be incendiary, and proba- bly the work of discharged convicts. So numerous were the fires in March, 1879, that much excitement prevailed, public meetings were held, and the city was, dur- ing several nights, placed under military patrol and guard. Thomas Bergin's warehouse and G. W. Weinman's machine shop were burned September 7. The sum of 85,000 was appropriated in 1879 for enginehouses on Oak and West Broad streets.
The purchase of a chemical engine, at a cost of $2,250, and of a fourwheeled hose carriage costing $700, was authorized February 16, 1880, a condemned steamer to be turned in as part pay at $500. The chemical engine was placed in service at the Gay Street enginehouse February 21, next ensning. An association of survivors of the Fame Engine and the Hornet and Niagara Hose companies was organized August 13, 1880. On September 6, same year, D. D. Tresenrider was appointed Fire Engineer vice Henry Heinmiller, who had served eleven years. A testimonial in silverware was presented to the retiring engineer by the men of the department. On charges made by former employés Engineer Tresenrider was suspended from office ou March 2, 1882, by the mayor. The council refused to concur in this action, and directed Mr. Tresenrider to resume the duties of Chief Engineer. The controversy was terminated April 25, by a decision of the
554
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
Supreme Court sustaining the City Council. The planing mill of Slade & Kelton was burned June 26, 1882; that of W. A. Hershiser on May 10, 1883. Wesley Chapel, on High Street, was burned May 13, 1883. On November 18 of that year a fire broke out in the Asylum for the Feeble Minded, which destroyed the central or main building of that institution. The resources of the institution for its own protection against fire proved to be far from adequate. The Columbus fire depart- ment turned out promptly and rendered all possible assistance. A steamer at London, Ohio, was telegraphed for, arrived within two hours after being sum- moned, and aided materially in preventing the entire asylum from being destroyed. The water thrown by the steamers was derived from cisterns, the institution not being then connected with the city waterworks. Among the other fires of 1883 were the burning of Blasch & Sons' warehouse, July 19; that of McCord & Decker's elevator September 6, and that of the Columbus Basket Factory September 24. The Case Manufacturing Company's works were visited with an extensive fire October 23, 1884. The Huston Spring Wagon Works were burned January 16, 1885, in which year T. Ewing Miller's business block, southwest corner of Long and High streets, was burned on January 22, Joseph Gardiner's slaughterhouse on May 19, and the Ohio Pipe Company's works December 16. The Central Chris- tian Church was partially burned on January 10, 1886. Other fires of that year took place in the Penitentiary shops of Brown, Hinman & Company and the Ohio Tool Company February 18; Lovejoy's planingmill April 27, Hershiser & Snyder's planingmill August 8, and the Wheel and Bending Company's shops October 20.
On June 7, 1886, Charles Bryson was nominated by the mayor for appoint- ment as Fire Engineer vice D. D. Tresenrider, but the council refused to confirm the nomination. Bryson was reappointed by the mayor and both he and Tresen- rider undertook to act, causing much confusion in the department. The matter was carried to the Supreme Court, which gave a decision October 11 adverse to the tenure of Bryson. Joseph Grovenbery was then appointed and installed by the mayor, but resigned soon afterwards on account of an injury received at a fire, wherenpon the mayor appointed W. P. Callahan, but on November 8 Callahan's nomination was rejected by the council, and on November 29 a committee of that body reported that the charges on which Tresenrider had been suspended were not sustained Nevertheless, on November 30, the mayor again suspended Tresen- rider and reappointed Callahan. The case was taken before Judge Bingham, of the Common Pleas, on application for an injunction, which was granted, restrain- ing the mayor, Callahan and all others from interfering with the department. Tresenrider therefore again took charge of it December 1.
The following important fires took place in 1887: Grand Opera House, Feb- ruary 21 ; Frederick Jaeger's icehouse June 22 ; Robert Wood's planing mill Decem- ber 19. During the night of January 12, 1888, the large rink building on West Spring Street, then known and used as the Fourteenth Regiment Armory, took fire and, being of a very combustible nature, was speedily destroyed. The build- ing was at the time being used for the purposes of an extensive and very interest- ing bench show then in progress, and contained many hundreds of pet dogs, birds and choice specimens of poultry, most of which were destoyed. This was one of the most distressing and deeply lamented fires which ever took place in the city. The loss was of such a nature that it could scarcely be measured in money, and could not be replaced. On March 13, same year, the Buckeye Buggy Company's works were burned ; estimated loss, $150,000. Other fires in 1888: B. S. Brown's block on North High Street March 22; Fitch's warehouse May 3; tileworks of A. O. Jones & Company September 2; the street railway stables on East Main Street September 24; and the Columbus. Bridge Company's works November 1. In 1889 the Case Manufacturing Company's works were burned May 10; the Fish Manu- facturing Company's establishment May 23; the store rooms of Wells & Tracy on
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STREET LIGHTING.
North High Street March 10; the Breyfogle block on North High Street July 17; and the Chittenden, Hoster and McCune buildings (in part) August 25. On December 16, 1889, the council authorized a contract with the Ahrens Manufae- tnring Company, of Cincinnati, for six new steamers, at a cost of $27,000, the Silsby engine known as Ben. Blake to be taken at $1,500 in exchange. During the same month and year Chief Engineer Tresenrider recommended a reconstruc- tion of the enginehouses, the erection of several new ones and extensive additions to the equipments of the department, incurring an aggregate expenditure, in all, of about $200,000. According to the report of Engineer Heinmiller for the year ended April 1, 1891, the department then possessed, fully manned and equipped, six steam fire engine companies, seven hose companies, two hook and ladder com - panies, one engine supply wagon and one telegraph wagon. The following appa- ratus, not manned, was held in reserve: Two second class Ahrens steam fire engines, three chemieal engines and one fourwheeled hose carriage. Arrange- ments had been made for reconstruction of six of the existing engine houses and the erection of four new ones.
STREET LIGHTING.
The use of gas for street illumination had its inception in England in 1813. When the Capital of Ohio began its existence in 1812, the use of such an agent for lighting either streets or honses was yet a matter of the future. . Matches were unknown,12 fires were started by the use of flint, or steel, and tinder, and the resources for nighttime light were the lard lamp, the tallow dip and the blaze and sparkle of the woodburning fireplace. The streets of the borough, when the borough began to have streets, were not lighted at all except by planetary agency and such cheerful rays as reached them from the windows of the cabins. When starlight and moonlight failed, nightly streetgoers and travelers resorted to the use of lanterns. The Statehouse and other public buildings were lighted with candles and spermoil lamps. During the last half of the thirties a socalled double reflecting lamp was brought into use in the theatre and a few of the churches. 18 Meetings of all kinds continued to be announced for " early candlelighting " down to the fifties. On February 18, 1840, a local chronicler wrote :
Arrangements are making to illuminate a part of the city on the eve of the birthday of Washington (Friday, 21st. inst.) We understand that High Street, from the south side of Friend Street to the north side of Broad Street, and Broad Street from the east side of High Street to the river. will be generally illuminated ; and other parts of the city partially so. We are requested to state that 7 o'clock is the hour designated for lighting up; and that the lights should all be extinguished by 9 o'clock. We hope all things will be done in order, and with dne regard to safety.14
This illumination was made with candles. The special occasion for it was the great Harrison convention described in another chapter. Under date of Decem- ber 8, 1842, we find the following in the Ohio Statesman :
The Messrs. Lennox, of this city, have fitted up experimental gas works at the store of Mr. George, in the Buckeye Buildings, on Broadway. We examined them last night, and, when we take into consideration that the experiment is on a small scale, hastily got up, we must admit that the burners make a very beautiful light. This is the first experiment of gas lights in Ohio, we believe.
The same paper of June 13, 1843, contained the following card, signed by J. Vaile :
556
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
The subscriber has purchased the right for the State of Ohio of Walker's patent for mak- ing Gas for lights from stone coal, etc., with the same stove that is used to warm the home, and offers to sell rights, either by towns or counties. The apparatus and process are so sim- plified that they can be successfully used in dwelling houses, stores, all public buildings and for lighting streets.
On July 30, 1844, an ordinance was passed intended, as declared in its title; " to authorize Richard Page and others to light the city of Columbus with gas." This ordinance vested in said Page and his associates, assigns and successors " the full and exclusive privilege of using the streets, lanes, alleys and commons of Col- umbus for the purpose of conveying gas to the said city and citizens thereof for the term of twentyfive years," except that the council should have the option to purchase the works after fifteen years. In reference to the compensation of the contractors the ordinance provided that for such quantity of gas as the council might require for public lamps they should receive " twenty dollars per annum for each lamp using not less than five cubic feet of gas per hour and being lighted the average number of hours which public lamps are lighted in the cities of Cincin- nati, Louisville and Pittsburgh, and giving light equal to the lamps in said cities." The lamp posts and their connecting pipes, lamps and meters were to be furnished by the city. Page was required to begin laying his pipes within six months from the date of his contract but does not seem to have laid them. In 1848, John Lockwood & Company, of Cincinnati, in pursuance of a resolution of the General Assembly, introduced a process for gas illumination in the Ohio Penitentiary. This event received the following newspaper mention under date of September 9, year last named :
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