MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE - FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY ---------------------------------- Information located at http://www.nh.searchroots.com On a web site about GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE and its counties TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1885 ******* FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY, MANCHESTER NH page 113 ******* [Webmaster's note: what is not mentioned in the following history is that prior to an official paid city fire department, Manchester maintained for many years an entirely volunteer department. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company also, early on, maintained its own fire department] In 1839 the town voted to buy a fire-engine and necessary apparatus. To this single engine others were added from time to time under the city's control, when the first steam fire-engine was bought in 1859. This was also the first one made by the Amoskeag Company, whose engines have since gained a world-wide celebrity. This invention wrought a revolution in the Fire Department, and, as more steamers were added, the hand-machines were withdrawn and the membership diminished until the department acquired its present proportions. The following is the organization of the department: Chief Engineer, Thomas W. Lane; Clerk, Frederick S. Bean; Assistant Engineers, Orrin E. Kimball, James F. Pherson, Frederick S. Bean, Horatio Fradd. The following is a list of the companies, giving the location and the names of members: AMOSKEAG STEAM FIRE-ENGINE COMPANY NO. 1--House, 30 Vine Street Foreman, James R. Carr; Assistant Foreman, Charles F. McCoy; Clerk, Frank E. Stearns; Driver, George W. Butterfield. N.S. BEAN STEAM FIRE-ENGINE COMPANY, No. 4.--House, 22 Vine Street. Foreman, Eugene S. Whitney; Assistant Foreman, Edgar G. Abbott; Clerk, John Martin; Driver, Jeremiah Lane. PENNACOOK HOSE COMPANY, No. 1.--House, 24 Vine Street. Foreman, Albert Maxfield; Assistant Foreman, Clarence D. Palmer; Clerk, Joseph E. Merrill; Driver, Walter L. Blenus. MASSABESIC HOSE COMPANY, No. 2.--House, Maple Street, corner East High. Foreman, John F. Seaward; Assistant Foreman, Revillo G. Houghton; Clerk, Parker W. Hannaford; Driver, Walter Seaward. E.W. HARRINGTON HOSE COMPANY, No. 3.--House, Clinton Street, Piscataquog. Foreman, John T.G. Dinsmore; Assistant Foreman, William Doran; Clerk, Joseph Schofield; Driver, John T. O'Dowd. MERRIMACK HOSE COMPANY, No. 4.--House, Park Street, corner Massabesic Street. Foreman, George B. Forsaith; Assistant Foreman, Louis N. Dufrain; Clerk, John S. Avery; Driver, Charles H. Rogers. EXCELSIOR HOOK-AND-LADDER COMPANY, No. 1.--House, 16 Vine Street. Foreman, Milo B. Wilson; Assistant Foreman, Jerome J. Lovering; Clerk, Oscar P. Stone; Driver, Charles M. Denyou. INDEPENDENT HOSE COMPANY, No. 5 (Volunteer Company)--House, Main Street, corner Old Falls road (Amoskeag). Foreman, George I. Ayer; Assistant Foreman, Sherman L. Flanders; Clerk, George L. Stearns. Two steamers, FIRE KING, No. 2, and E.W. HARRINGTON, No. 3., also one hook-and-ladder truck, are "on reserve duty," to be called in case of need, and manned by members of the department. There is also a two-wheeled hose-carriage at Derry Mills, Goffe's Falls, for use by men employed at mills. There are three hundred and seventy-one hydrants (not including those in mill-yards) scattered over the city, supplied from water-works. There is in the department nineteen thousand five hundred and fifty feet of fire-hose. Total value of apparatus is fifty-seven thousand four hundred and thirty-four dollars. FIRE-ALARM TELEGRAPH--This valuable adjunct to the Fire Department was constructed in 1872, and comprises about twenty miles of wire, traversing the compact part of the city, and reaching to Amoskeag and West Manchester, Hallsville and Bakersville. There are thirty-six alarm boxes, whose keys are kept at adjacent houses or stores, and six strikers, situated on the city hall, the Lincoln Street, Webster Street and Ash Street School-houses, the engine-house in West Manchester and a tower at the north end of the city. There are also gongs at the engine-houses and the residences of the engineers and others. FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION--Organized February 14, 1873. Designed for the relief of any of its members who may be injured or disabled at a fire. The following is a list of its officers: President, Thomas W. Lane; Vice-President, James F. Pherson; Secretary, Joseph E. Merrill; Treasurer, Horatio Fradd; Executive Committee- Amoskeag No. 1, George R. Simmons; N.S. Bean, No. 4, E.G. Abbott; Penacook Hose No. 1., W L. Blenus; Massabesic Hose No. 2, R.G. Houghton; E.W. Warrington Hose No. 3, Joseph Patterson; Merrimack Hose No. 4, George B. Forsaith; Hook-and-Ladder No. 1, Jerome J. Lovering. (end)