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Transcribed
by
Ann Selvig, from:
Allerton, Iowa Centennial,
FIRE
DEPARTMENT
In 1874, when the town of Allerton was
incorporated, a Town Council formed and J. D.
Coddington was appointed the first Fire Warden. At that
time he was paid $7.50 for his services that year.
In 1876, the town purchased their first fire
engine from Davenport Pump Co & Chandler which
consisted of: one 5 inch Fire Engine - $250.00, 25
ft. 2 ˝ in. suction hose - $75.00, strainer and
coupling for suction hose - $10.00, 2000 ft 1 ˝ in.
3 ply hose - $120.00, four 1 ˝ in. hose couplings -
$10.00, one hose cart and reel - $25.00 and one pat.
nozzle graduating tips - $10.00. This came
to $500.00, less 25 percent discount of $125.00,
making the actual cost of $375.00. This was
to be paid in one order of $200.00 due in 6 months
and one order for $175.00 due in one year with
interest at 6 percent from date. This
engine would throw from ˝ in to 5/8 in. stream from
50 to 60 ft. high and from 65 to 90 ft.
horizontally. This
engine was fully warranted in its workmanship and
construction for one year. This fine
fire engine was called “The Little Giant”. It was
mounted on a large box and was horse drawn. This
same year 3 cisterns were dug on Central Avenue for
use of the Fire Department. These
cisterns cost $28.00 each and 25 cents per foot for
tubing. The
size of these cisterns were 6 ft. in diameter 12 ft.
deep, circular shape.
4 inch hard bunt brick walls and arched over
at the top in a good substantial manner and drawn in
to a 16 inch hole.
Tops were covered with a frame made of 4 x 12
joists 7 Ft. square and let into the ground to be
level with the street.
The frame was covered with a solid 2 inch
plank with cover and lock which was a straight bar
of iron attached to the lower side of the lid,
fastened with 2 staples so as to slide the same as
bolt in any lock.
The lids had staples and rings on top of the
lid to lift it by.
A box leading from the sewer 6 x 6 inches in
the clear into the cisterns with filter and covered
with wire at the end in the cistern to fire cistern
with pure water.
This was put in the ground in sufficient
depth to prevent freezing.
John W. Rankin, in behalf of the owners of
Brick Block made a proposition with the Town Council
to construct the same type cistern behind Brick
Block to drain their cellars and they would pay all
costs of the bottom 6 ft. and furnish at all times
12 ft. depth of water in this cistern to the Fire
Company in case of fire. This
cistern was 18 ft. deep. These
cisterns were later cemented with 2 coats of cement.
In 1877, an Engine House was built for a
total cost of about $30.00 and a fire bell was
purchased for $25.00.
In June, 1877, the town required a list of
the men of the Fire Company – they were: E. E.
Baldwin, foreman; J. A. Cooper, Assistant; Joe
Evans, foreman of hose; Wm. Wilson, Assist; F. M.
Barnett, F. M. Rust, T. P. Thompson, I. N. Smith, W.
H. Duncan, Ed Falsom, Dick Thomas and G. H. Ormsby.
In 1878, the town purchased a 14 ft. splice
ladder and an axe for the Fire Company.
In 1879, the Council requested a list of
names of the men belonging to the Fire Co. Fire
Marshal Cooper was instructed to ring the fire bell
and report how many had responded immediately to the
call. This
was done to determine how many of the Company would
be except from paying poll tax. One man
failed to show up, was dropped from the list and
replaced by another man and he was ordered to work
out his tax on the streets.
The same year the town purchased 20 ft. hose
for the engine, 1 axe, 2 lanterns, 2 ladders, 6
buckets and had the engine house papered, ceiled and
a new floor laid.
In 1880, the town contracted J. W. Gladman to
build the Town Hall and Engine House 28 x 28 at a
cost of $778.00.
The old Engine House was moved and the Fire
Department had used this building until around 1955
when they purchased the present building which was
Carl Bracewell’s Radio Shop. The men on
the fire department did all of the work on this
building they occupy today.
In 1928 the first fire siren was bought. In 1945, a
2 ˝ hp fire siren costing $175.00 with remote
control and stop-start station was installed. In 1956,
the new dial telephone system method for setting up
fire alarm with the dial phones was installed. In 1964, a
clock was put on the Fire whistle to blow
automatically at noon – later at 7 a.m., noon and 6
p.m.
In the early 1930’s the fire department owned
a fire truck they called “Hot Shot.”
Over the following years, new and modern
equipment was purchased. In 1953, a
new Chev. with 500 gal tank was purchased for
$4285.12. In
1969, a 1961 Chev. Truck with 1000 gal. tank was
purchased. In
1970, they purchased their Chev. Van. This is
equipped with 2 air packs, 1 stretcher, 1 portable
generator, flood lights, exhaust fan, 1 oxygen mask,
1 portable pump, 1 C.B. Radio and 2 ˝ in. hose.
Major fires over the years the fire
department responded to promptly were: 1900 school
burned, around 1920 the livery stable on the east
side of Central Ave. about where the DX station is
today – one man lost his life in this fire; 1914 and
explosion in the Cafe which also burned Goughnours
Monument Co. and again in 1923 an explosion in a
cafe. March
1927 6 buildings in Brick Block on west side of
Central Ave. burned; 1943 the lumber yard burned. The old
lumber yard building just west and south of the
depot is still standing and in use. In 1972
there was a minor fire in Lloyd Cawthorn’s Body shop
on the east side of Central Ave. just south of the
Fire Stations.
The members of the fire department today are
active in community affairs. In 1971,
when the town bought the building two doors north of
Lewis Sundries on the west side of Central Ave. to
use as a Civic Center, the fire department did all
the remodeling and work on the building.
Each year the department has an annual
Fireman’s Banquet to help purchase needed equipment.
The volunteer members of the Fire Department
in 1973 are: Carl Ruark, Fire Chief; Lloyd Thomas,
Assist. Fire Chief; Jim Mitchell, Sec.Treas.; Rex
McGraw, Larry Radcliff, Gerald Sheeham, Leroy
Lunsford, Wm. Downs, George Hemenway, James Davis,
Charles Moore, Roger Randolph, Bill Goodyear, Rick
Fain, Ron Johns, Richard Ruark, Ward Bracewell, Gary
Langloss, David Trumper, Roy VanToorn, Milford
Lewis, Max McClarnon, R. D. Rector and Alan
Ellwanger.
Fire Chief, Carl Ruark, went on the fire
department in 1932.
At that time J. C. Githens was Fire Chief. Carl was
appointed Fire Chief in 1952. He has had
41 consecutive years of service on the fire
department and 21 consecutive years as Fire Chief.
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