History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 86

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158

USA > Pennsylvania > Lehigh County > History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I > Part 86

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The roads were extended to Siegfried and Coplay, and all the lines operated together until Jan. 1, 1895, when all were transferred to A. and L. V. T. Company. In 1897, the system was extended to Hellertown, and in 1898 to Emaus. In 1898, the system operated 90 cars, with 65 equipments, and 48 miles of single track, included the Central Park and Manhat- tan Park at Rittersville, and employed 200 men on the cars and in the shops.

On December 1, 1899, all the properties here- tofore built and operated under the Allentown system were merged into what was afterwards known as the "Lehigh Valley Traction Co." In February, 1900, the Bethlehem & Nazareth Pas- senger Railway Co., from Bethlehem to Naza- reth, was leased for 999 years; and in December, the Allentown & Slatington Street Railway Co. was leased, and also the properties constituting the Easton Consolidated Electric Company, and the Slate Belt Electric Street Railway Company.

During 1901, the Philadelphia & Lehigh Val- ley Traction Company was organized by mer- ger of the Inland Traction Company and the

454

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

Allentown & Coopersburg Street Railway Com- pany, and in the Fall of that year, it was leased to the Lehigh Valley Traction Co. At approxi- mately the same time, the Quakertown Traction Co. was acquired by the Philadelphia & Lehigh Valley Traction Company and remained a part of its main line from Allentown to Chestnut Hill. By reason of unfortunate occurrences in 1902, such as fires at the power station, car barn and repair shop, floods, etc., the company met with financial reverses, and in May, 1903, was forced into the hands of Receivers ( Robert E. Wright, C. M. Bates and George W. Nor- ris). It was operated several years by the re- ceivers, who reorganized the entire system and the resultant Company was the present Lehigh Valley Transit Co. In the process of reorgani- zation, the leases of the Easton Consolidated Electric Co. and the Slate Belt Electric Street Railway Company were cancelled, and those properties returned to their respective stock- holders for operation.

The Transit Company, after its organiza- tion, effected a thorough rehabilitation, and es- tablished a thoroughly up-to-date power station in the First ward of Allentown, with various sub-stations along its several lines. In October, 19II, the company acquired the property of the Montgomery Traction Co., extending from Lansdale to Norristown, and practically re- located and rebuilt the entire line.

In March, 1914, the Transit Company oper- ated 155 miles of track and 170 passenger cars; and it employed about 800 persons, one-third of them being trainmen.

Management .- The following constitute the Board of Directors for 1914:

Charles H. Bean

Charles M. Schwab

John C. Dawson

Edward B. Smith

Harrison R. Fehr

Warren A. Wilbur

George H. Frazier

Harry C. Trexler

Charles E. Ingersoll E. M. Young

The following officers are residents of Allen- town : Harry C. Trexler, Chairman of Board; Harrison R. Fehr, president ; Edward M. Young, vice-president; Charles N. Wagner, secretary- treasurer ; Charles M. Walter, auditor.

Messrs. Trexler, Young and Wagner have filled their respective positions since 1905, and Mr. Walter has been connected with the local street railway system for nearly twenty years.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

The first public action at Allentown in behalf of establishing protection against fire was an ordinance passed by the town council on July 15, 18II, in which the street commissioners were directed to provide three fire ladders for

the borough, one to be at least 35 feet long, one 30 feet, and the other 20 feet. The next action was taken on Jan. 2, 1816, which pro- hibited the misuse of the fire ladders, hooks and other property of the borough.

The first company, the Friendship Fire Com- pany, was organized Nov. 2, 1818, at George Savitz' tavern. Charles L. Hutter was the secretary.

The first fire engine with buckets, which cost $524, was supplied in 1820 by the county com- missioners.

Mention was made in 1830 of the Lehigh Hose Company, when a hose carriage was sup- plied for this company. It was afterward also supplied with a fire engine.

In 1836, the town council passed an ordinance which required "that a joint committee, to con- sist of one member of the Lehigh Fire Company, one of the Hose Company, and one of the Friend- ship Fire Company, be appointed to procure, on the credit of the borough, 400 feet of hose, 4 axes (two for each engine company), and one goose-neck for the Lehigh Fire Company, and to have repaired the engine house of the Friend- ship Fire Company." This committee consisted of George Keck, of the Lehigh Company, Wil- liam Boas, of the Friendship Company, and Jos- eph Weiss, of the Hose Company.

In 1837, a new fire engine was provided by council for the Friendship Company, towards which the county commissioners appropriated $100. R. F. Smith was its secretary. About this time, the Humane Fire Company was or- ganized, the officers being Joseph F. Newhard, president, and Augustus P. Rhoads, secretary.

In 1840, the officers of the Lehigh Company were Eli J. Saeger, president ; Benjamin Hagen- buch, vice-president; Ephraim Grim, secretary, and Charles L. Geidner, treasurer.

The first firemen's parade at Allentown was held on Saturday, August 26, 1843, of which the Lehigh Bulletin, published by John Royer, and the first issue of the Democrat, both dated August 30, 1843, have full accounts. The day was clear and warm and the companies turned out strong. Major Reuben Strauss acted as chief marshal. The Lehigh Hose Company was first in line, with four horses and 45 men, dressed in black coats and white trousers. The Friendship Fire Company came next, their engine drawn by two horses. They had about 50 men in line, attired in light coats, dark trousers and black caps. The Lehigh Engine Company followed with about 50 men, their engine drawn by four gray horses, and last was the Humane Engine Company, with about 75 men and four horses. The Allentown Band was in line and all the

455

ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

FIRE ENGINE HOUSES

Liberty Good Will

Allen Franklin

Hibernia

456

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

carriages and engines were decorated with lau- rels, evergreens and flowers. After the parade the companies tried their skill at throwing streams of water, which developed into a "cold water fight." The Humane had two pipes, which were directed on the Friendship and Le- high, but as the Humane first ran out of water, the other companies claimed the victory.

The committee of arrangements consisted of the following citizens: Lehigh Hose Company, Joseph Weiss, Joseph Hartman and Jonathan Reichard; Friendship Engine Company, Fran- cis Samuels, Mark S. Young and Thomas Seip; Lehigh Engine Company, James W. Wilson, E. R. Newhard and Benjamin Hagenbuch ; Humane Engine Company, Reuben Strauss, Joseph Young, R. E. Wright and Joseph F. Newhard.

The first hook and ladder company was or- ganized in 1843, chiefly through the instrumen- tality of Benjamin Hagenbuch.

The Good Will Company was organized June 27, 1850, and received the engine formerly owned by the Humane, which in later years passed into the possession of the Slatington Com- pany. Tilghman H. Good was its first presi- dent. This company obtained the first steamer used in the town in 1865, the company paying $2,500, and the borough a like amount. A Silsby rotary engine was bought in 1876, the company contributing $800 toward its cost. Henry H. Mertz became a member in 1865, and acted as the engineer for 48 years. The foreman since 1910 has been Charles H. Ziegler. A new Silsby engine was supplied in 1900, and a chemi- cal combination wagon in 1908. The present superior three-story brick building was erected in 1906.

The Columbia Fire Company was organized in 1853 and its first location was on Hamilton street, between Seventh and Eighth. Joseph F. Newhard was the first president ; James W. Wil- son, secretary; and Wm. H. Blumer, treasurer. It became the successor of the Friendship. A hand engine and hose carriage were supplied in 1854, and a steamer was substituted in 1866, the second in town. Its quarters were removed to the northwest corner of Tenth and Court streets in October, 1888, in a fine two-story brick build- ing. A new Ahrens-Fox steamer was purchased in 1909, and a combination wagon in 1914. John Getter has been a member since 1896, and has filled the position of engineer since 1908. The oldest surviving member is W. W. Washburn, who became a member in 1863.

The American Hose Company was organized in 1864, and its first locality was at No. 16 South Sixth street, where it continued until 1897, when its quarters were removed to the east end of the

City Hall. Its early names were Eagle, Young America and Lehigh. The first hand drawn carriage was generally called the "Shoo-Fly." This was in use until 1866 when a new hand drawn carriage was secured and this latter was continued until 1895, when a horse drawn car- riage was supplied, costing $1,850; and the last was improved in May, 1914, at a cost of $2,700, by adding a motor chemical engine. It carries 250 feet of hose and 120 gallons of chemicals. The horses, "Duke and George," which pulled the carriage for five years before 1914, were well trained and recognized as the finest "fire team" in the service in the entire state of Pennsylvania, and the members regretted to part with them by a public sale. The first members were all young men under age, numbering about fifty; the only survivor now is James Hausman, city controller. The "50th Anniversary" was appropriately cele- brated in March, 1914.

The Liberty Fire Company was organized in 1869 with forty members. John W. Sepp was the first president, and Alvin Zellner, secretary. Its building was established at No. 711 Chew street in 1871, and rebuilt (three-story brick) in 1900. The apparatus comprises a steam en- gine and combination wagon. The surviving first members are Charles Wolf, Levan Troxell, Henry Hillegass, Samuel Burger, Alfred Ganga- were, William Bast, and Charles Carr.

Hibernia Hose Company was organized March 17, 1871, at No. 635 Ridge avenue, and the quar- ters continued there until 1907, when a superior three-story brick building was supplied by the city at the southeast corner of Ridge avenue and Tilghman streets, at a cost of $22,000. A hand drawn hose carriage was in use until 1898, when a combination wagon was substituted; and a hook and ladder truck was supplied in 1907. The company has four horses, including the "speediest fire team in the state." The old hose carriage is still retained as a great curiosity of the "early fire service," which stands in its quiet unpretenti- ousness on a platform in the rear of the large hall on the third floor. It was presented to the com- pany in 1871 by the Hibernia Fire Company, No. I, of Philadelphia, and the presentation commit- tee then said that it had been made in 1771, and had survived many "fire fights," which grew out of the great rivalry of fire companies there. The company also highly regards a silver horn pre- sented by the Perth Amboy fire department in 1903.

The Allen Fire Company was organized in May, 1871. It had been started under the name of the "Vigilant Fire Company" in 1865. The first meetings were held in the basement of Rex's Hotel at the corner of Hamilton and Wood

457

ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

streets, and the first president was Alfred Fried. In September, 1871, the first steam fire apparatus was supplied at a cost of $4,000, the city paying half, and the members the other half, which they raised by subscriptions, holding fairs, etc. It had been used by the Southwark Fire Company, of Philadelphia. At the same time a hose carriage was bought by the company for $400; and in July, 1872, a pair of superior roan horses. Its quarters were at Second and Hamilton streets for a time until 1874, when they were removed to a frame building at Ridge avenue and Linden street, which was improved by adding a bell tower in 1889. In 1875, the membership dwind- led down to twenty owing to the panic, but the people of the vicinity fortunately came to the rescue. A new steam engine was purchased in 1882, which was rebuilt in 1906. A combination wagon was supplied in 1909. The present supe- rior three-story brick structure was erected in 1902 by the city, at a cost of $25,000; the bell tower is 62 feet high. The only surviving member from 1865 is James F. Butz. Ulysses Kleckner has been a member since 1884, serving as engineer since 1897. This company highly values a num- ber of gifts from fire companies-an old, beauti- ful gilt mantle mirror and silver trumpet from the Southwark Fire Company, of Philadelphia, in 1871; silver trumpet from the Norristown Hose Company, in 1897; full size trumpet, made out of anthracite coal, (superb piece of workman- ship with appropriate inscriptions) from the Col- umbia Fire Company, of Scranton, in 1902; and a valuable bust figure in marble of "Laura," from the same company in 1903; and a cut glass punch bowl (complete set) from the Franklin Fire Company, of South Easton, in 1908.

The Rescue Hook and Ladder Company was organized in 1881. Its first name was Rainbow, which was retained for a year. The first meet- ings were held in the livery stable of James W. Crader, at Sixth and Church streets, until 1887, when the place was removed to Nos. 632-34 Lin- den street, the west end of the old market house; and till then the old hook and ladder truck continued in use when a new truck was substituted. New quarters were then supplied by the erection of the City Hall, a fine three-story brick structure. The first officers were Samuel Ott, president; James W. Crader, secretary ; and Henry Heilman, treasurer. In 1907 an improved truck was secured, which was modernized in 1914 by the addition of a new motor engine. The old truck was given to the Hibernia Company.

Of the first members, the following are sur- vivors: Lyman J. Keck, Peter J. Beisel, Oscar G. Beisel, Charles Schmoyer, William Dutt, and William Seagreaves.

The Pioneer Fire Company was organized in 1897 and was first located on Allen street, above Seventh, where it remained two years. In 1899, the city supplied a superior two-story brick build- ing on the northeast corner of Tilghman and Eighth streets at a cost of $16,000. The old Silsby rotary steam fire engine (third size) and hose carriage of the Liberty Fire Company were given to this company, and have been used until now. In 1912 a horse drawn combination wagon was supplied, and this was afterward improved by at- taching a Webb motor engine, which was the first introduced in the local fire department. Alex- ander Schrader has been the engineer from the beginning; and the driver, M. C. M. Kratzer. The first officers were: William Wieand, presi- dent; W. W. Wetzel, secretary; George H. Hardner, foreman.

The Franklin Fire Company was organized in 1900, and the city supplied a spacious three-story brick building at the southeast corner of Four- teenth and Turner streets in 1901, at a cost of $20,000, when a combination chemical wagon was also secured. An America-LaFrance steam fire engine was purchased in 1908. The first president was Elmer Heimbach, and William Conrad, secretary. Members of this company erected on the adjoining lot to the east, a superb two-story brick "Home" for social purposes, which has proven a complete success. Its ap- pointments for providing entertainment for their families are complete. On Sept. 19, 1913, they entertained the Veteran Firemen's Association, of Reading, in a most hospitable manner, and in appreciation of this extraordinary occasion, the association presented to the "Home" a costly solid mahogany grandfather's clock, with chimes, which is truly an attractive and highly valued ornament in the reception room. The president is B. A. Beauchner. This is regarded as one of the finest, best equipped places of a fraternal or- ganization in the state.

The Fairwiew Fire Company held its first meeting May 15, 1903, with six members, at the South Allentown Hotel, in Salisbury town- ship, and the name of Fairview Fire Company, No. I, was adopted April 22, 1904, when the membership was increased to forty-one. The

meetings were afterward held in the township school house at Fifth and Auburn streets, and then on premises at No. 1012 South Sixth street, which were bought by the company and remod- eled in 1908. A fine two-story brick building was supplied by the city in 1911, at No. 929 South Seventh street, and the company has since secured the adjoining lot on the north for con- templated improvements. A combination ap- paratus was purchased Oct. 1, 1909, the horses

458

HISTORY OF LEHIGH COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

having been previously secured. The first presi- dent was A. J. Heller; and secretary, Henry Hildebrand.

The East Allentown Fire Company was organ- ized in 1897 in the Cottage Inn on the "Bethle- hem Pike," half a mile east of the river, in Han- over township. After several meetings, the mem- bers then assembled in the township school house in that vicinity (Union and Carlisle streets) until 1902, when Jacob Saeger presented to the company a lot of ground on the northeast corner of Dauphin and East Walnut streets, 20 by IIO feet, which included a one-story frame building; and to this the company added the adjoining lot 20 by 110 fet. The meetings have been held here since. A two-story brick building was erected by the company in 1911, at a cost of $4,200, which was purchased by the city in 1914. The

company became a part of the fire department in 1913. In 1903, a Holloway chemical hand drawn wagon was supplied. The company has 750 feet of hose, but it cannot be used in case of fire because the city government has not yet planted fire hydrants in the ward for purposes of extinguishing fires. The first president was Lovely Moll. The membership is 80.

On Feb. 9, 1870, the various companies were brought under the present collective organiza- tion as a Fire Department of the city. Simon P. Snyder, who had been chief under the old or- ganization, was the first under the new.

Firemen's Parade .- On Monday afternoon, Nov. 8, 1909, the fire department of Allentown held a large and most imposing parade with ten companies in line with apparatus as follows :

America, 50

Good Will, 80

Columbia, 50

Liberty,

Hibernia, 45

Allen, 60

Rescue,

Pioneer, 90

Franklin, 65

Fairview, 60

*Not uniformed and only apparatus in line.

The fire chief, Charles H. Cohn, with three assistants, mobilized the department on North Seventh street beyond Liberty, which moved at 2 o'clock over the following route: From Seventh and Liberty to Fifth, to Hamilton, to Fifteenth, and counter-marched to Centre Square where it was reviewed and dismissed.

The weather was fine and all the streets along the line of march were crowded.

A quartet of mounted police took the lead, followed by a dozen automobiles with city offi- cials and visiting fire officials, then the fire chief and assistants and the several companies accord-

ing to number. The parade was proclaimed by all as a great success, and displayed the superior condition of the department.

State Convention .- The Second State Fire- men's Convention was held at Allentown on Oct. 9, 1903, and all the arrangements had been care- fully made to bring about on this occasion the greatest firemen's parade ever witnessed in the state; but unfortunately when the parade was about to form, rain began to fall and this ended in a veritable cloudburst which caused the crowds to disperse, the firemen to separate and the pub- lic interest to vanish.

Fire Alarm System .- The Gamewell fire alarm system was adopted and introduced by the city in 1895; and in 1900 the city was di- vided into four fire districts which were placed under the control of a chief engineer, and three assistant engineers. Until now, the following fire alarm boxes have been set up in the several sections of the city :

Box Location. 5-2d and Hamilton.

6-Front and Allen.

7-5th and Gordon.

8-6th and Tilghman.

9-5th and Walnut.

14-8th and Hamilton.

15-Lehigh and Union.

16-8th and Linden.

17-8th and Liberty.

18-9th and Chew.

19-4th and Liberty.

21-6th and Linden.

23-6th and Hamilton.

24-Ridge Ave. and Chew.

25-Fountain and Walnut.

26-7th and Hamilton.

27-3d and Linden.

28-Jordan and Union.

29-Front and Furnace.

31-10th and Hamilton.

32-4th and Hamilton.

34-Roberts' Furnace.

35-7th and Turner.

36-5th and Hamilton.

37-9th and Hamilton.

38-11th and Turner.

39-6th and Liberty.

41-9th and Tilghman.

42-7th and Gordon.

43-Thread Mill.

45-13th and Hamilton. 46-Fourth and Turner.

51-6th and Chew.

52-11th and Hamilton.

53-Chew and Madison.

54-4th and Tilghman.

61-Hess Brothers.

62-8th and Union.

63-10th and Liberty.

64-7th and Washington.

65-2d and Allen.

71-15th and Turner.

72-16th and Chew.

73-Allentown Hospital.

74-15th and Hamilton.

75-14th and Walnut.

76-17th and Linden.

81-Jefferson and Gordon.

82-5th and Washington.

83-Allentown Flint Bottle Works.

84-Phobe Home, 19th and Turner. 91-7th and Ward.

112-Allentown Gas Works.

113-Thirteenth and Liberty.

114-16th and Liberty.

115-17th and Liberty.

116-Diehl's Furniture House.

117-Race and Hamilton.

121-Madison, between Chew and Gordon.

123-14th and Gordon.

459

ALLENTOWN AS A CITY-1867-1914.

124-Adelaide Silk Mill.

312-24th and Chew.

313-17th and Walnut.

126-Franklin and Gordon.

314-10th and Washington.

127-Front and Linden.

315-New and Washington.

131-12th and Hamilton.

132-3d and Gordon.

316-L. V. Freight Station. 321-13th and Union. 322-14tlı and Hamilton.

133-Water Works.

134-5th and Lawrence.

323-Water and Lawrence.

135-Dietrich Motor Car. Co.

324-12th and Tilghman.

141-Balliet's Cigar Box Factory.

325-16th and Union.

142-16th and Roth Avenue.

326-10th and Linden.

143-17th and Fairview.

331-6th and Greenleaf.

145-Front and Hamilton.

332-Washington and Meadow.

151-7th and Linden.

334-2d and Turner. 412-Auburn and Pike.

213-Penn and Greenleaf.

413-6th and St. John.

214-13th and Turner.

414-9th and St. John.

215-Ridge Ave. and Liberty.

415-Mack Motor Car Co.

216-15th and Tilghman.

416-Lehigh and Race.

217-Penn and Chew.

417-Traylor Engineering Co.

221-20th and Chew.

512-2d and Hamilton, East Side.

223-15th and Liberty.

513-Third and Hamilton, East Side.

224-8th and Cedar.

514-3d and Lawrence, East Side.

225-Wire Mill, 5th street Entrance.

515-2d and Saeger, East Side.

226-Wire Mill, S. Penn St. Entrance.

516-National Silk Dyeing Co.

231-Franklin and Union.

517-East Allentown, 14th Ward.

232-Fifth and Allen.

518-Rittersville State Hospital.

FIRE ORGANIZATIONS.

Name.

No.

Instituted.

Members.

America, 624-26 Linden,

Mar. 9, 1864

Good-Will, 22 South Eighth,

Jan. 25, 1850

117

Columbia, Tenth and Court,

Dec. 13, 1853

Liberty, 711 Chew,

Sept. 20, 1869

107

Hibernia, 635 Ridge,

March 17, 1871

180

Allen, 136 Linden,

May 16, 1871

102

Rescue, 632-34 Linden,

March 17, 1881

Pioneer, 701-03 Eighth,

July 21, 1897

I19

Franklin, 14th and Turner,

Nov. 30, 1900

226

Fairview, 929 S. Seventh,

Sept. 28, 1908

193

East Allentown,

July 24, 1901

There is no Company No. I because upon the reorganization of the department, when Allen- town was made a city in 1867, no company could claim direct lineal descent from the Friendship and, as a compromise, that number was dropped from the Fire Department. The America was known earlier as the Lehigh, Washington, Young America and Eagles; the Allens as the Vigilant.

Schools .- With the year 1866 began a new era in the educational history of Allentown. The various educational forces having attained their full development, then rapidly assumed their final form. At a special meeting of the board of directors of the Allentown school district, in January, 1866, at which E. B. Young, president ; C. W. Cooper, T. Good, George H. Hagenbuch, Boas Hausman, H. J. Saeger, and J. S. Dillinger were present, was taken the initiatory step in the unanimous passage of the following resolution :

"Resolved, That, in the opinion of this board. it is deemed policy to combine all the wards of this city in one school district.

"Resolved, That Messrs. Saeger, Dillinger and Cooper, be a committee to draft certain sections cov- ering the suggestions of the board, with power to confer with a committee of the town councils."

The result of this action was the Act of 1866,

constituting the entire borough one school dis- trict, under the control of a board of controllers elected by the board of school directors of each ward, who were elected by the people. In the board of controllers was vested the right and title to all the property and the entire corporate power of the district, and they were given power to establish schools, erect buildings, assess and collect taxes, etc .; appoint all teachers of gram- mar and high schools and a superintendent, and enter into all contracts and agreements, on be- half of the district. To the boards of school di- rectors of the different sections was reserved the power to elect the teachers below the grade of grammar, to admit pupils into and to visit the schools of their respective sections. A sup- plementary act, passed in 1869, granted them the power to participate in the election of city superintendent, and a further supplement, passed in 1871, increased the number of controllers from one to two for each section.

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History of Lehigh county, Pennsylvania and a genealogical and biographical record of its families, Vol. I, Part 86

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society Publication date: 1914 Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1158

Author: Roberts, Charles Rhoads; Stoudt, John Baer, 1878- joint comp; Krick, Thomas H., 1868- joint comp; Dietrich, William Joseph, 1875- joint comp; Lehigh County Historical Society
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Allentown, Pa. : Lehigh Valley Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1158