Union City Village approves purchase of the village's first fire fighting equipment - May 28, 1872

To view other postings regarding the fire department ...click on Fire Department, or click on Fire Station in the Labels Column on the right side of the blog.

Comments from my brother Marty - On May 28, 1872, the village council appropriated $1,500 for the purpose of procuring a hand fire engine.  The following month a hand fire engine was purchased from Messrs, Rumsey & Company, of Seneca Falls, New York.  The early fire engine was able to move water to the fire scene but had no capacity to transport hose or ladders.  The purchase included 500 feet of rubber hose, necessary hose couplings, a ladder truck, and a hose cart which cost an additional $150.  The ladder wagon, (you have a picture of it) built by the American LaFrance Fire Engine Company, carried axes, pike poles, lanterns, buckets and other tools along with the ladders.  The equipment cost $1,489 with an additional $20 for freight.  When the engine arrived in July, it was christened "The St. Joseph." Water for fighting fires was provided from cisterns constructed in various parts of the village.  Of known cisterns, one was located in front of the Union City National Bank (SMB&T) and one was located on Barry Street. With the fire equipment, a fire department became necessary.  On February 4, 1873, a fire company was organized composed of 43 volunteer members. The fire engine was drawn by horses and the ladder wagon and hose cart by men. In 1876, a lot east of Broadway on East High Street was purchased form Mrs. A.P. West, for an engine house.  The two story brick engine house cost $2,450.  The building had a roof top bell tower which was used to call the firemen and notify the citizens of a fire. The hand engine serve very well until the spring of 1883 when a part of the east side of Broadway suffered a fire for a third time. In May, 1886 a new Button steam driven pump type fire engine was purchased.  The new steam fire engine arrived on June 10.  The engine was drawn by a team of horses which were stabled in the engine house. With the addition of a municipal water system in 1892 and expanded in 1894, the steam fire engine became obsolete and no longer saw service.  The fire department sold the steam fire engine to Homer. (Homer still has the fire engine.  I talked to a fireman at a basketball game about taking a picture.  He said I would have to wait several months as it had been sent out to be restored.  They are starting a fire museum.