USA > Pennsylvania > Bucks County > Bristol > A history of Bristol borough in the county of Bucks, state of Pennsylvania, anciently known as "Buckingham"; being the third oldest town and second chartered borough in Pennsylvania, from its earliest times to the present year 1911 > Part 16
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
Bristol Fire Company No. I .- The action which led to the organization of Bristol Fire Company No. I, was prompted by two disastrous fires, one of which consumed Albernathy's storehouse on the canal basin, and the other the frame houses on Mill Street, near Radcliffe. At its first meeting, held in the Town Hall, on March 10, 1857, a committee consisting of H. G. Stelwagon, C. W. Peirce, Jr., Dr. J. D. Mendenhall, L. A. Hoguet and A. L. Packer, was appointed to make inquiry relative to the purchase of an apparatus. This committee succeeded in raising $1,800 by public subscription and placed an order with John Agdew, of Philadelphia, to build a new fire engine, to cost $950, and be completed in six months. The com- mittee also ordered 500 feet of leather hose. Mr. Agdew kindly loaned the company a second-hand engine until the new one was completed. At the same meeting the committee was authorized to purchase a lot at the corner of Wood and Market Streets, of Ellen Johnson, for $600, upon which to erect an engine house. Subsequently a hose carriage was purchased for $400. It was an antique affair, consisting of a reel, supported by two heavy wheels, with a short tongue or pole to which the rope was attached.
The first officers of the company were Lucius H. Scott, president ; A. L. Packer, vice president ; E. D. Buckman, secretary ; J. K. Wildman, assistant secretary ; Louis A. Hoguet, treasurer, and H. G. Stelwagon, C. W. Peirce, Jr., H. L. Strong, R. W. Brooks, Joseph B. Bailey, I. S. Tomlinson, W. S. Sulger, John Vanzant, Elwood Doron, Samuel S. Rue, Edward C. Brudon, Valentine Booz, Nathan A. Gaskill, Chas. C. Douglass and Robert Pat- terson as directors or engineers. At the meeting of July
197
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
7th, a committee reported that the charter had been re- ceived and was in the possession of the treasurer.
On December 23rd, the new engine arrived and the members gave a short street parade in order to show it to the people, after which a demonstration of its working qualities was given, which proved entirely satisfactory. The first fire at which the new engine was in service, occurred about 12 o'clock on Thursday night, March 18th, 1858, when a frame stable belonging to Jacob Poole was entirely consumed at a loss of $600. On the same night a frame dwelling and stable owned by J. Merrick Brown, was burned and also two houses, owned by John Davis and Robert Sanderson were partly destroyed. The en- gine was in service for three hours and threw two streams of water constantly.
In 1868 the members became disheartened over the apathy in the community, with regard to the support of the company, and a special meeting was called to con- sider the advisability of handing over the engine to the borough authorities, but it was reported at this meeting that council expressed a willingness to assist in defraying the expenses of the company, and the members gained fresh courage, deciding to struggle on in the good work. Several disastrous fires occurred this year, notably St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, Wm. Young's hay press, the Farmers' Hotel stables on Bath Street, Budd Doble's training stables and the Bristol Woolen Mfg. Co.'s mill.
In February, 1872, ninety-two new members were elected to membership. A new era appeared to be estab- lished and on March 5th the committee reported that they had purchased the hose carriage formerly owned by the Diligent Hose Company, of Philadelphia, for $500, and 800 feet of new leather hose at 75 cents per foot. The carriage and hose had been housed on February 21st and taken out for exhibition and parade on Washington's birthday.
The agitation for the purchase of a steamer began in July, 1872, and in a short time $2,000 were raised by sub- scription. On October Ist, the order was placed for a third size Silsby steam fire engine, to be delivered in thirty days. On the arrival of the steamer a parade was
198
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
held, the steamer being drawn by the horses of Good Will Fire Company, of Trenton, which were kindly loaned for the occasion. The steamer cost $5,000, and was paid for by a cash payment of $2,000, a note of $1,180 at one year, note of $1,120 at two years and a note of $1,060 at three years, and John R. Boyd was elected engineer. The bell was purchased in 1873, having been formerly the Union Street Station bell at Philadelphia, weighing 1,423 pounds. In 1874, at a fire at the canal stables, on the property of Joseph Allen, the steamer was damaged by having the smoke stack and headlight torn off by striking the trestle under the railroad bridge, but by the substitu- tion of a flour barrel for the smoke stack, good service was done and the injury was repaired after reaching the engine house.
On October 6, 1874, the use of the meeting room was granted to W. H. P. Hall and others for the purpose of organizing a new hose company. This was the first step in the formation of America Hose, Hook and Lad- der Company No. 2, and was followed by formally rent- ing the room to that company free of charge, and the loan to them of the Fame hose carriage, previously bought of Dr. Schenck, with a line of hose. This hose carriage was afterwards sold to the new company and 500 feet of hose was presented to them to fill the reel.
On February 13, 1875, the members attended the trial of the first fire plug in the town, one having been placed at the corner of Radcliffe and Walnut Streets by the newly organized Bristol Water Company, and also put the steamer in service from the river and from the plug, the result being very satisfactory, both as to the plug stream and the line from the steamer.
The company participated in the parade at the com- pletion of the house of America Hose, Hook and Ladder Company No. 2, and attended Divine service at the M. E. Church on invitation of the pastor, the Rev. J. S. Cook, on October 10th. As evidence of the fact that the serv- ices of the company were appreciated by the ladies of the borough, a large and handsome flag was presented on May 4th, 1876, together with a beautiful banner of blue and gold bearing an appropriate inscription.
199
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
On February 22nd, 1877, the hand engine which had been kept in good order and repair, was turned over to the Fire Brigade of the Bristol Woolen Mills and housed in the brigade's building with appropriate ceremonies, after a street parade, in order to afford facilities for the extinguishing of fires on the west side of the canal. The same year a wooden bell tower was erected and the bell removed from the cupola and placed in the tower. On December 6th, 1877, the company with the steamer and hose carriage took part in a parade in Burlington, cele- brating the bi-centennial of the settlement of that city. In August, 1875, permission was granted the Burgess and Town Council to place a third story upon the engine house, to be used as a council chamber.
On October 22, 1882, the company took part in the parade and celebration in Philadelphia of the Bi-Centen- nial Association of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and on August 8, 1885, the company's bell was tolled for the memorial service of General U. S. Grant. On March 15, 1886, a pair of horses was purchased at a cost of $500, with harness costing $25. A brick stable 33 by 24 feet, by 12 feet high, was erected and joined to the engine house. On September 15, 1887, the company took part in the Philadelphia parade in honor of the Constitutional Centennial. The team proving unremunerative, the horses were sold in April, 1888, for $350, and arrange- ments made with the fire committee of council for haul- ing the steamer to and from a fire.
On July 10, 1890, the purchase of leather hose was discontinued, and 400 feet of rubber-lined canvas hose were bought. A two-wheel hose cart was bought of the Silsby Company in May, 1891, at a cost of $166.25, and a pole for drying hose was placed in the lot adjoining the building. On April 7, 1897, the fortieth anniversary of the company was duly celebrated, and the same year the company participated in a parade at the reunion of the One Hundred and Fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Durrell's Battery, held in Bristol on September 16, and also housed a new hose wagon with swinging harness and other modern appurtenances.
On October 21, 1899, the company responded to an
200
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
invitation from Good Will Hose Company No. 3, to assist in the housing of their new combination hose and chemical wagon and on June 6, 1901, the company joined the State Fire Association. During 1903 a hose tower was erected and furnished with all necessary conveniences for drying hose. In 1904 a horse was purchased for draw- ing the hose wagon. On May 19, 1906, the company turned out to take part in the ceremony of housing the new chemical engine of Good Will Hose Company No. 3, and the raising of a flag at the Hall of Mohican Tribe, No. 127, Imp. O. of R. M.
On April 8, 1907, the company celebrated its fiftieth anniversary with a banquet in Pythian Hall. Of those who constituted the company in 1857, but three are known to be alive today: William S. Sulger, I. S. Tom- linson and G. Morris Dorrance. During the existence of the company it has fought successfully about 300 fires. Last year (1910), the company purchased an automobile hose wagon, with chemical apparatus combined, being the first company to introduce an automobile fire ap- paratus in Bristol.
Washington Hall .- This three-storied brick edifice, situated at the westerly corner of Radcliffe and Walnut Streets, was erected by a subscription stock company, expressly with the laudable design of supplying that much wanted desideratum-a public hall adapted to the general convenience of the people, and for the accommo- dation of the several popular societies of the day, which had sprung into existence among the citizens of Bristol and vicinity.
The first meeting which was held for the purpose of building this hall, convened June 17, 1846; and it was then proposed to confine the subscriptions to the building among the Odd Fellows (Hopkins Lodge, No. 87), for whose accommodation it was in the outset originally de- signed. But after consideration among the members, and consultation with the citizens, the proposition was modi- fied to allow any one to buy shares from the original projectors and stockholders, provided the same was first offered to Hopkins Lodge, and declined ..
20I
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
In 1847 the building was completed, and since then has accommodated a number of societies and organiza- tions, and for several years was the headquarters of the old Franklin Building Association, instituted November 7, 1853. April 7, 1848, the charter was granted, under which Trustees were elected annually. The lower story which for many years has been the home of "The Bucks County Gazette," was in its early days a "lecture room," and was transiently rented for all purposes of public interest or pastime. Some years after the building was erected, Hopkins Lodge, No. 87, absorbed all the stock of the company and had the title transferred to them, thus winding up the affairs of said company.
Building Associations .- It is not often in a manufac- turing town that so many of the operatives own the houses they occupy as is the case in Bristol. This condi- tion of things, so desirable and necessary in every well- ordered community, has been brought about mainly through the agency of building and loan associations. The second organization of this character in the state, the Bristol Building Association, came into existence Febru- ary 22, 1847, when Joshua V. Buckman was elected presi- dent, Anthony Swain secretary, Robert C. Beatty trea- surer, and Lewis P. Kinsey, Charles W. Peirce, Charles T. Iredell, Walter Laing, Joshua Fell, Jonathan Milnor, John Dorrance, L. A. Hoguet and William Hauk, direc- tors. The plan was simple; the funds first realized amounted to $400, which was loaned in sums of half that much to the person offering the highest premium. Mort- gages on real estate and the shares of the borrower were held as collateral security. The principal and interest on the debt were paid in monthly instalments of one dollar a share and one dollar for every two hundred borrowed. This association was closed in 1859. Two others had, meanwhile, come into existence, the "Franklin" and the "Union." The former was organized November 7, 1853, with Anthony Swain secretary and Robert C. Beatty treasurer. The "Union" was established about the same time with Andrew Gilkeson secretary. The "Home" and
202
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
"Cottage" building associations were started in 1867 and 1870 respectively, the principal promoters being William Hauk, L. A. Hoguet and Samuel Swain. The Bristol Building Association was incorporated in December, 1866, having organized August 6th the previous year with William Hauk, president ; J. V. Buckman, secretary, and L. A. Hoguet, treasurer. The Union Building and Loan Association was organized June 8, 1874, with the following officers: President, Jonathan Milnor; secre- tary, Samuel Swain; treasurer, Charles T. Iredell. The Fidelity Building Association was organized February 8, 1885, and incorporated March 26, 1885. Original offi- cers : President, James Wright; secretary, A. Weir Gil- keson; treasurer, Robert W. Rogers. This was the first association in Bristol to adopt the instalment plan of paying premiums. The Merchants and Mechanics' Building Association was organized October 21, 1885, with Charles W. Peirce president, John C. Stuckert, sec- retary and Dr. Howard Pursell treasurer. The "Bristol," "Union," "Fidelity" and . "Merchants and Mechanics'," are in active and prosperous operation at the present time.
A New Charter Obtained for the Borough .- At a gen- eral town meeting, held July 26, 1850, Samuel Allen, Dr. Benjamin Malone, Andrew W. Gilkeson, Anthony Swain, William H. Swift, Isaac Van Horn, Pugh Dungan, Wil- liam M. Downing, Gilbert Tomlinson and William Bache were constituted a committee to prepare a draft of a new charter, which, with slight amendments, was passed by the legislature and approved February 15, 1851. It in- creased the number of councilmen to nine, but abolished the office of second burgess. The burgess and council, in meeting on the 25th of February, 1853, took into con- sideration the propriety of asking such amendments in the borough charter as shall secure to the corporation the power and control in opening and extending streets, and the jurisdiction of the port in building and extending wharves and landings. It was determined that these privileges should be asked; and an Act was passed at the session of 1853, giving burgess and council the necessary
203
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
powers. The council was increased to ten members in 1863, and to twelve in 1878, when the borough was divid- ed into three wards for election purposes. Today it num- bers twenty members, the borough being divided into five wards. Prior to 1863 all officers were elected annually ; but subsequently the burgess and councilmen were elected for two years, two of the latter being chosen every year from each ward. Within the last few years the burgess has been elected for three years. The borough records now extant begin with the year 1730. The official acts of the town fathers reflect much that is of interest in connection with village politics in the early history of the borough. The ferry, encroachments upon the streets, and local nuisances were the most fruitful sources of legislation. Public morals were jealously guarded. In 1769, when it appeared that crowds were accustomed to collect at the Baths on Sunday and be- come disorderly, an ordinance was passed forbidding any one to loiter in that vicinity; and in the following year the custom of collecting on the street corners was severely censured. It was disorder incident to the fairs that resulted in their discontinuance. The penalty for Sabbath-breaking was confinement in the workhouse five days at hard labor upon an allowance of bread and water. Election days were some times disorderly; and that this might not occur, the council decreed in 1751, that the polls should be opened at I o'clock in the afternoon and close precisely at 6 in the evening.
The Bristol Gas Light Company .- The Bristol Gas Light Company was incorporated March 29, 1856, and organized with Lucius H. Scott, president, and Charles W. Peirce, secretary and treasurer. The manufacture of gas was begun July 30, 1857. Several miles of pipe have been laid and the conveniences of gas light brought with- in the reach of all. A few years ago the company sold out its interest to the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey. The price of gas at this time (1911) is $1.50 per 1,000 cubic feet.
14
204
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
Bristol in 1853 .- Wm. Bache, writing in 1853, thus summarizes Bristol's industrial and business interests at that time :
"At present the greater amount of business in general storekeeping is carried on in Mill Street; which now has twelve retail stores for the sale of groceries, provisions, clothing, dry goods and housekeeping articles generally. Besides these, there are now, on the same street, two fancy dry goods and trimming stores, two leather and shoe-finding stores, three tin and sheet iron manufac- tories, three millinery and two tailoring establish- ments, three harness manufactories, three boot and shoe makers, a grain and a saw mill, two hat manufacturers, one smith-shop, two drug and medicine stores, two tobac- conists, one soap and candle manufactory, one cabinet- ware maker, a printing office, a watchmaker and jeweler, two bakers and one public house.
"On Radcliffe Street we have three or four stands for general store-keeping, one millinery and one ladies' shoe store, a confectionery, two public houses, a few shop- keepers, and a boat yard.
"Bath Street is at present chiefly occupied with private residences. The property on the upper side, however, has been rendered very valuable for landings on the canal and on a small inlet of sufficient capacity to admit canal boats. Two extensive lumber and coal yards are upon this inlet, which yards open on Bath Street.
"On Cedar Street, one small grocery store, one black- smith shop, one wheelwright shop and a livery stable.
"On Wood Street are two small grocery shops, an iron foundry, one ladies' shoe shop, one blacksmith and one paint shop.
"On Market Street, one blacksmith shop, one paint shop, one cooper shop, one ladies' shoe shop and two livery stables.
"At Mulberry and Pond Streets is erected Hibbs, Fry and Company's machine shops for the manufacture of clover hullers and cleaners invented and patented by Jonathan Hibbs, one of the partners. Also on Mulberry street is carried on the business of grain cradle making.
205
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
"On Walnut Street, several boot and shoe manu- factories.
"On Buckley Street has recently been erected Strang & Morgan's malleable iron and tilt-hammer works, now going into active operation. The business of rope mak- ing is also carried on in this street.
"In Otter Street have recently been erected one wheel- wright shop and a pump-maker's shop. Otter Street is becoming one of the most favorable localities for the erection of shops for carrying on the mechanic arts, par- ticularly such as are more generally required by our neighboring farmers. A small grocery store has recently been opened on this street, required by the rapid advance- ment in building up the lots opened for improvement in that neighborhood in 1851.
"On Linden Street is erected an extensive and complete coach, wheelwright, blacksmith, painting and coach- trimming establishment.
"A large amount of the river front, and sites on the canal, are occupied by coal operators, and some portions for boat building.
"Along the line of the canal, within the limits of the town, are several extensive stables, smith shops, a coop- er's shop, and stores adapted to the wants of watermen."
We do not claim in the above recapitulation to have noticed all the industrial pursuits of the town; while enough has been presented to give a general idea of the borough as to its business character in 1853.
Disastrous Fire; How it Was Fought .- The compiler is indebted to our fellow-townsman, Charles M. Foster, for the following article which gives an interesting ac -: count of one of the most disastrous fires which took place in Bristol prior to the period of the Civil War:
ยท About I o'clock in the morning, on March 4th, 1857, the citizens of the town were awakened by the ringing of the town house bell and the cry of fire. The town was small in comparison with its size today, having about 600 houses and a population of 3,000 souls. No fire apparatus was owned by the town, and when the town house bell sounded the alarm all the men and boys re-
206
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
sponded promptly and with the aid of buckets assisted in extinguishing the flames.
On this particular occasion, fire had broken out in the shoe store of David R. Jamson, on Mill Street, which stood on the site now occupied by Mrs. Sarah Smith. Between it and W. P. Wright's store building, which was then occupied as a trimming store by Mrs. Lydia Lukens and her two daughters, was an alley which alone saved the Lukens' home from destruction. A few days before, snow had fallen to the depth of six or eight inches, being followed by a warm rain, but on the day of the fire the weather had cleared with a strong northwest wind blowing and was very cold. The fire quickly spread to the next house on the east side, occupied by William Scull as a dwelling and oyster house, thence to the little office of Joseph B. Pennington, justice of the peace, adjoining, and continued to spread to the next house, in which was kept a tobacco store by John Vanzant. Mr. Scull had in his home thirty-two silver half-dollars, which he was unable to secure on account of the rapid progress of the fire, but at the end of the conflagration, they were all found in the cellar in good condition.
Bristol having no fire apparatus, water was obtained from a well which was located in the yard back of a restaurant on the opposite side of Mill Street. This pump had been put in order only the day before the fire by our fellow townsman, the late Joseph Tomlinson. Two lines of men were formed across Mill Street, one of which passed the full buckets and the other returned the empty ones. These men worked unceasingly until 9 o'clock in the morning, the fingers of many being almost frozen and were thawed out in warm water.
A New York passenger train was detained at Bristol station by the freezing of the supply pipe which carried the water from the tender to the locomotive boiler, and the passengers were obliged to seek the Delaware House for shelter and refreshments. They were greatly aston- ished at the work accomplished by the fire fighters, with- out the aid of a fire engine. The roofs of the store prop- erty at the corner of Mill and Radcliffe Streets, adjoining the burning buildings and the Delaware House were cov-
207
A HISTORY OF BRISTOL BOROUGH.
ered with frozen snow and slush, which prevented them from catching fire.
The steamboat, Thomas A. Morgan, which made daily trips to and from Philadelphia, was lying at the Mill Street wharf, and when the fire broke out Captain Jona- than Cone sent her over to Burlington for a fire engine. The Burlington firemen very kindly responded and came over with the old Fulton hand engine, not being in pos- session of a steamer. The engine was placed on the for- ward deck of the steamboat and the manhole plate on the Morgan's boiler removed and the suction pipe run into the hot water in the boiler. The fire hose was run up the hill to the fire and the water turned on, but the cold was so intense that the hose was frozen stiff, rendering it useless. All the men did noble work, however, and finally the fire was extinguished. During the fire some one broke into Nathan Tyler's store cellar, at the corner of Mill and Radcliffe Streets, and carried off hams and other provisions.
A few days after the fire a meeting of citizens was called and Fire Company No. I was organized. It was also decided to place an order for a fire engine and to purchase the ground upon which the present fire house now stands. The builders of the new engine kindly loaned the company a second hand engine to use until the new one was completed.
A Singular Accident .- Away back in the fifties of the last century a singular railroad accident occurred at the Bristol station. The old freight depot, which stood on Pond Street, was used in those days as a sort of round- house and train shed. In close proximity to the southern end of the freight station stood a frame dwelling house occupied by William Stewart and his family. At a point opposite Mulberry Street, was a turn-table and the cars which entered the freight house, ran over this turntable. On the day when the accident occurred a passenger coach was standing in the freight house. Through the negli- gence of some one, the switch was left open and an ex- press train coming down from Trenton, ran through the open switch, crossed the turn-table and entering the
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.