History of the SFD

SOMERVILLE, MASS., ORIGINALLY A PART OF CHARLESTOWN,
WAS INCORPORATED A TOWN MARCH 3, 1842, IT EMBRACED AN AREA
OF ABOUT 4 SQUARE MILES. IT HAD A POPULATION OF 1,013,
200 HOUSES, ONE FACTORY, AND HAD NO CHURCH OR STORE.
WHEN PART OF CHARLESTOWN IN 1831 THE CITIZENS ATTEMPTED TO
LOCATE AN ENGINE ON MILK ROW NEAR THE CEMETERY, WHICH IS LOCATED
ON SOMERVILLE AVE. OPP. SCHOOL ST., WHICH NEVER CAME ABOUT. IN
1838 WHEN MYSTIC ENGINE CO. 6 OF CHARLESTOWN (LOCATED ON
BUNKER HILL ST.) WAS REPLACED WITH A MODERN HAND ENGINE, AND
RENAMED FRANKLIN NO. 7. A NEW STATION WAS BUILT IN THE
SOMERVILLE SECTION AT THE CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND PROSPECT ST.
AT A COST OF $400.00, WHERE MYSTIC 6 WAS TRANSFERED TO AT THIS
TIME. JEROME THORPE, A MEMBER OF THE NEWLY FORMED MYSTIC 6,
BORROWED CLARK BENNETT'S HORSE, WENT TO BUNKER HILL AND SHIP
STREETS, HITCHED ONTO MYSTIC 6 AND HAULED IT TO THE HOUSE THAT
THE TOWN BUILT FOR IT. ON AUGUST 6, 1838, THE SELECTMEN
APPOINTED 35 MEN TO TAKE CHARGE OF MYSTIC 6. A SMALL BELL WAS
HUNG IN THE CUPOLA OF THE NEW STATION, AND WAS THE ONLY MEANS OF
SOUNDING AN ALARM OF FIRE FOR YEARS TO COME.
MYSTIC 6 WAS VERY CRUDE, BEING ONLY THREE FEET LONG, AND
TWO FEET WIDE. IT HAD NO SUCTION, MERELY A TANK ON WHEELS,
AND WAS SUPPLIED WITH WATER BY BUCKETS PASSED BY HAND FROM
THE NEAREST WATER SUPPLY . A DOZEN MEN COULD EASILY
OPERATE IT, AND A LAW WAS ENFORCED THAT REQUIRED EVERY MAN
IN TOWN TO HANG TWO BUCKETS IN HIS FRONT HALL. WHEN AN
ALARM WAS SOUNDED, THEY WERE TO HURRY TO THE FIRE AND RANGE
IN LINE WITH OTHERS TO ASSIST IN PASSING WATER FROM WELL OR
CISTERN TO THE MEN WHO WORKED THE ENGINE.
ON MARCH 11, 1839, HIRAM ALLEN WAS APPOINTED AN ASSISTANT
ENGINEER ON THE CHARLESTOWN BOARD OF ENGINEERS, WHICH HE
HELD UNTIL THE TOWN WAS INCORPORATED, AND WAS THE ONLY
REPRESENTATIVE THE SOMERVILLE SECTION EVER HAD.
WHEN SOMERVILLE WAS INCORPORATED AS A TOWN IN 1842, IT
INHERITED MYSTIC 6 WITH ITS STATION VALUED AT $900.00,
WHICH FOR THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS WAS ITS ONLY FIRE PROTECTION.
THEIR SALARY, ALL VOLUNTEERS, WAS $1.50 PER YEAR PAID BY THE
ABATEMENT OF THE POLL TAX.
ON MAY 4, 1842 THE TOWN SELECTMEN APPOINTED A THREE MAN
BOARD OF FIRE WARDS WHO SERVED UNTIL THE APPOINTMENT OF THE
BOARD OF ENGINEERS ON JANUARY 7, 1850. THE TOTAL EXPENSE OF
MAINTAINING THIS ONE COMPANY IN 1842 WAS $2.50. IN 1843 EXPENSES
TOTALED $63.70, PART OF WHICH WAS $50.00 FOR NEW UNDERPINNING
OF THE ENGINE HOUSE; IN 1844 $2.87 FOR A LOCK AND BOLT FOR
THE ENGINE HOUSE. IN 1845 WHEN THE MEMBERS PETITIONED FOR A
NEW ENGINE, THE SELECTMEN VOTED TO REPAIR OLD MYSTIC 6 AND
$50.00 WAS PAID TO S. THAYER TO REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE
YEAR 1846 WAS A BANNER YEAR - NOT A PENNY WAS SPENT. IT WAS
PROBABLY THAT THERE WAS NEITHER A COMPANY NOR A FIRE IN TOWN
THAT YEAR. IN 1846 THE "BOYS' COMPANY" SO CALLED, BECAUSE
IT WAS COMPOSED OF YOUNG MEN FROM 16-20 YEARS OLD, WAS
ORGANIZED.
THE FIRST INDICATION OF A FIRE OR A COMPANY TO MAN THE
ENGINE COMES IN 1847, WHEN OUT OF A TOTAL EXPENSE OF $19.88,
THE BUNKER HILL ENGINE CO. #2 OF CHARLESTOWN RECEIVED
$11.01 FOR REFRESHMENTS FURNISHED THEM AFTER A FIRE IN THAT
TOWN. IN 1848 THE TOTAL EXPENSE WAS $63.87. THERE WAS A
CONSIDERABLE JUMP IN EXPENSES IN 1849 TOTALING $204.98 OF
THAT SUM $146.90 WAS PAID FOR REFRESHMENTS, AND $40.00 FOR
A SIGN ON THE ENGINE HOUSE. ON NOVEMBER 12,1849 AFTER
REPEATED ATTEMPTS, CLARK BENNETT AND OTHERS ASKED THE TOWN
FOR A NEW ENGINE AND THE ORGANIZATION OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT.
AT THIS TIME IT WAS VOTED " THAT THE SELECTMEN PURCHASE AN
ENGINE AS SOON AT POSSIBLE, AND SELL MYSTIC NO. 6 IF THEY
DEEM BEST." THE SELECTMEN ORDERED FROM HUNNEMAN AND CO. OF
ROXBURY ONE OF THE VERY BEST ENGINES WITH HOSE CART, 500
FEET OF LEATHER HOSE, AND ALL THE NECESSARY MINOR EQUIPMENT
TO COST $1,438.75. THE NEW ENGINE ARRIVED JANUARY OF 185O
AND WAS LETTERED SOMERVILLE NO. 1 AND HAD ALL THE LATEST
IMPROVEMENTS ACCORDING TO 1850 STANDARDS. THE COMPANY
CONSISTED ALTOGETHER OF 55 MEMBERS. THIS COMPANY ORGANIZED
AS AN ASSOCIATION KNOWN AS THE SOMERVILLE FIRE ASSOCIATION
NO. 1, WITH A MOTTO OF "FAITHFUL AND FEARLESS".
ALSO IN JANUARY OF 1850 THE TOWN SELECTMEN APPOINTED A
BOARD OF ENGINEERS WITH NATHAN TUFTS JR. AS CHIEF ENGINEER
AND GEORGE O. BRASTOW AS THE CLERK. WITH THE ABOVE APPOINTMENTS
CAME THE ORGANIZATION OF THE SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE TOTAL EXPENSE OF THE DEPARTMENT IN 1850 INCLUDING THE
COST OF THE NEW ENGINE WAS $1,843.20.
WHEN THE NEW ENGINE WAS PLACED IN SERVICE, MYSTIC 6 WAS
TAKEN TO A STABLE ON BROADWAY NEAR MARSHALL ST. WHERE IT
REMAINED UNTIL SOMETIME IN 1856, WHEN THE TOWN AUTHORIZED
ABRAM WELCH TO SELL IT FOR $30.00. IT WAS THEN TAKEN TO
EAST BOSTON AND BROKEN UP FOR JUNK.
LEONARD ARNOLD WAS PAID A SALARY OF $34.00 FOR TAKING
CARE OF THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST SALARY EVER
PAID TO A SOMERVILLE FIREFIGHTER. THE EXPENSE FOR 1851 WAS
$453.47, INCLUDING $15.00 FOR A SHED IN WHICH TO KEEP HOOKS AND
LADDERS. IN 1852 THE TOWN VOTED TO ALLOW THE
FIREFIGHTERS THE AMOUNT OF THEIR POLL TAX ($2.00) AS
COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES. THE TOTAL EXPENSE WAS
$488.62, INCLUDING $56.00 IN POLL TAXES ALLOWED TO 28
MEMBERS OF THE ENGINE CO.
SOMERVILLE'S NEAREST NEIGHBOR, AND MOST FREQUENT
ANTAGONIST, WAS THE NIAGARA NO. 3 OF EAST CAMBRIDGE. THE
RIVALY BETWEEN THESE TWO COMPANIES WAS KEPT UP UNTIL THE
NIAGARA WENT OUT OF SERVICE EARLY IN THE 1860'S. THE
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANIES WAS ALWAYS FRIENDLY,
NOTWITHSTANDING THEIR CONSTANT EFFORTS TO DEFEAT EACH OTHER.
ONE SUCH CONTEST TOOK PLACE ON BROADWAY, CAMBRIDGE, APRIL
10,1852, FAST DAY. THE NIAGARA STRIPPED THEIR ENGINE OF
EVERYTHING BUT ITS WORKING PARTS, EVEN THE STERN BOX WAS
REMOVED. IT IS SAID THAT OUTSIDE OF THE NECESSARY
APPLIANCES TO WORK THE ENGINE, THE ONLY EQUIPMENT THEY TOOK
WITH THEM WERE TWO AXES, IT BEING THEIR DETERMINATION TO
SMASH THEIR ENGINE INTO SMITHEREENS IF IT WAS DEFEATED BY
SOMERVILLE NO. 1. IT WAS NOT SMASHED, BUT QUITE THE
CONTRARY IT WENT HOME THE PRIDE OF CAMBRIDGE, AND A VICTOR.
THE SOMERVILLE COMPANY DID ONE OF THOSE FOOLISH THINGS WHICH
HAVE FREQUENTLY BEEN DONE, BOTH BEFORE AND SINCE THAT TIME,
THEY REPACKED THEIR ENGINE THE DAY BEFORE THE CONTEST, WHICH
PROBABLY COST THEM ONE, IF NOT ALL OF THE TRIALS.
IN MAY OF 1852, ABRAM WELCH WAS APPOINTED CHIEF ENGINEER
ALSO, CAPTAIN B.F. DARLING RESIGNED THE FOREMANSHIP IN JULY
1852, AND WAS SUCCEEDED BY GEORGE H. FOSTER, ONE OF THE BEST
KNOWN HAND ENGINE COMPANY COMMANDERS IN THE STATE.
IN APRIL OF 1853, IN RESPONSE TO A PETITION FROM CAPTAIN
FOSTER, AND MEMBERS OF ENGINE ONE, FOR $500.00 ANNUALLY FOR
SERVICES IN ADDITION TO POLL TAX ABATEMENT. IT WAS VOTED TO
GRANT THE REQUEST ON CONDITION "THAT THE COMPANY CONSIST OF
NOT LESS THAN 35 ACTIVE MEMBERS, FURNISH A COMPETENT STEWARD
AND PAY HIM FOR HIS SERVICES, FURNISH ITS OWN OIL AND FUEL,
FURNISH ITS OWN REFRESHMENTS AND FOR THE OUT OF TOWN
COMPANIES WHEN AT SOMERVILLE FIRES WHEN REQUESTED TO DO SO
BY THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS, AN ADDITIONAL $6.00 FOR EVERY OUT
OF TOWN COMPANY, AS COMPENSATION FOR THEIR SERVICES, NO
MEMBER ALLOWED AN ABATEMENT OF POLL TAXES: PAYMENTS TO BE
MADE QUARTERLY WHEN ENDORSED BY THE ENGINEERS."
THIS WAS UNSATISFACTORY TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ENGINE
COMPANY, THE MEN WALKED OUT. IN SEPTEMBER OF 1854, WILLIAM
D. ORCUTT AND OTHERS PETITIONED THE SELECTMEN TO APPOINT
THEM FIREFIGHTERS TO TAKE CHARGE OF ENGINE ONE. ON OCTOBER
28, 1854, THE TOWN VOTED "THAT WHENEVER A FIRE COMPANY SHALL
BE ORGANIZED IN THIS TOWN IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW,
EACH MEMBER SHALL BE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE FOR HIS SERVICES AT
THE RATE OF $12.00 PER YEAR, PAID SEMI-ANNUALLY, EACH
COMPANY NOT TO EXCEED 45 MEMBERS"'ALSO THAT THE ENGINEERS
RECEIVE $24.00 EACH PER ANNUM. THIS WAS THE FIRST SALARY
PAID TO ENGINEERS. ON DECEMBER 6,1854 THE RE-ORGANIZED
COMPANY WAS CONFIRMED BY THE SELECTMEN. ON MAY 1, 1855
ROBERT A. VINAL WAS APPOINTED CHIEF ENGINEER.
THE ENGINE HOUSE, WHICH WAS BUILT BY CHARLESTOWN FOR
MYSTIC 6, WAS HARDLY SUITED FOR THE NEW SOMERVILLE 1. THE
SELECTMEN WERE INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE HOUSE WHICH
THEY DID TO A CERTAIN EXTENT. ON DECEMBER 24, 1855 BETWEEN
THE HOURS OF TEN AND 11 P.M. A FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE
ENGINE HOUSE, WHICH WAS SO WELL INVOLVED THAT IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE, AND ONLY BY DEDICATION WAS THE ENGINE
SAVED. TEMPORARY QUARTERS WERE FOUND IN J.Q. TWOMBLY'S
PAINT SHOP AT A COST OF $3.00 PER WEEK. THE SELECTMEN VOTED
TO BUILD A BRICK STATION WITH AN ARMORY ON THE SECOND FLOOR,
AND A LOCK UP WITH 4 CELLS IN THE REAR. THE TOTAL COST WAS
$5,000.00. THIS NEW HOUSE WAS ERECTED ON THE SAME SITE IN
1856 ALSO IN THIS YEAR THE FIREMEN WERE STILL RELYING ON
WELLS AND RESERVOIRS FOR THEIR WATER SUPPLY. IT HAD BEEN
THE PRACTICE SINCE 1850 TO PLACE RESERVOIRS AT CERTAIN
IMPORTANT INTERSECTIONS UNDER THE STREET, THEY WERE USUALLY
TWENTY FEET LONG AND SEVEN FEET WIDE, LINED WITH STONE WITH
A CLAY BOTTOM, HAVING AS THEIR SOURCE OF WATER, THE RUN-OFF
FROM THE STREET. THE ENGINEMEN DESIRING WATER, REMOVED A
MANHOLE COVER AND DROPPED IN THEIR SUCTION. BY THIS TIME
THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS OF THE TOWN WERE BEGINNING
TO FILL IN RAPIDLY.
THE FIRST MUSTER ATTENDED BY THE SOMERVILLE COMPANY WAS
HELD IN WORCESTER ON SEPT. 7, 1857 AND WAS ONE OF THE
LARGEST HAND-ENGINE MUSTERS EVER HELD, WITH COMPANIES
PRESENT FROM ALL SECTIONS OF THE EAST. SOMERVILLE PLACED
NUMBER FIFTEEN WITH A STREAM OF ONE-HUNDRED AND FIFTY-ONE
FEET. THE BEST ENGINES IN THE COUNTRY AT THAT TIME WERE
THERE. THE SOMERVILLE COMPANY REGULARLY HELD DANCES AND
CHOWDER PARTIES AT PORTER'S HALL IN NORTH CAMBRIDGE. WHEN
THE COMPANY ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO LEAVE SOMERVILLE,
EITHER FOR A MUSTER, SOCIAL OR DANCE, THE ENTIRE COMPANY WENT
ALONG AND LEFT THE TOWN WITHOUT ANY FIRE PROTECTION.
IN MAY OF 1858 JOHN RUNEY BECAME THE 4th CHIEF ENGINEER OF
THE DEPARTMENT. DURING THIS YEAR THE CAMBRIDGE WATER
WORKS BEGAN TO SUPPLY WATER TO THE SECTION OF
SOMERVILLE BETWEEN THE CAMBRIDGE LINE AT BEACON ST.
THROUGH UNION SQ. TO MEDFORD ST. WITH ONLY ONE
HYDRANT BEING PLACED IN UNION SQUARE. AND IN 1860 THE
CHARLESTOWN WATER WORKS BEGAN LAYING PIPE FROM THE MYSTIC
LAKES TO CHARLESTOWN THROUGH MEDFORD AND SOMERVILLE. THE
WATER WAS PUMPED TO A RESERVOIR ON THE TOP OF WALNUT HILL IN
SOMERVILLE. THE SIZE OF THIS RESERVOIR WAS 4.5 ACRES WITH A
CAPACITY OF 26 MILLION GALS.
BETWEEN THE YEARS 1858 AND 1863 DISPUTES OVER REFRESHMENT
BILLS BETWEEN SOMERVILLE AND CAMBRIDGE CAUSED EACH TOWN TO
REFUSE TO CROSS THE TOWN LINE TO ASSIST IN FIRE FIGHTING
UNTIL CAMBRIDGE HAD A LARGE FIRE ON THIRD ST. IN JANUARY
OF 1863.
THE YEAR 1861 SAMUEL GOODING BECOMES CHIEF ENGINEER, ALSO
IN THIS YEAR THE POPULATION INCREASED TO 6,523, AND ALSO
MOVED WESTWARD, BUILDING LARGER HOMES IN THE EAST, WINTER
HILL AND SPRING HILL AREAS, CAUSING THE NEED FOR A LADDER
COMPANY TO BE ORGANIZED IN THE TOWN.
WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF SAM GOODING AS CHIEF ENGINEER,
THE DEPARTMENT HAD A LOT OF CHANGES MADE TO IT BECAUSE OF
THE ENERGY THE NEW CHIEF GAVE THE JOB ( BEING 14 YEARS
YOUNGER THAN THE CHIEFS BEFORE HIM ). CHIEF GOODING ORDERED
THE REPAIR OF THE ENGINE, SET UP A REGULAR DRILL PERIOD FROM
MAY 1 TO NOVEMBER 1 IN THE EVENING HOURS PRACTICE ALARMS
WERE SOUNDED FROM TIME TO TIME AND THE COMPANY WAS TIMED AS
TO IT'S RESPONSE TO THIS ALARM, AND ALSO ENFORCED STRICTER
DISCIPLINE AMONG THE MEN. THIS WAS ALSO A TRYING TIME FOR
THE FIRE DEPT. DUE TO THE CIVIL WAR WHICH CALLED ALMOST HALF
OF THE COMPANY TO WAR, LEAVING CHIEF GOODING ALMOST WITHOUT
A FIRE COMPANY. FIRES IN THE SUMMER MONTHS WERE BROUGHT TO
THE ATTENTION OF THE SELECTMEN THAT THE ADDITION OF A HOSE
WAGON WAS NEEDED BECAUSE OF THE DELAY IN GETTING WATER AND
THE HIGH LOSSES THE TOWN WAS SUFFERING. BY YEARS' END THE
CHIEF RECOMMENDED THE ADDITION OF A LADDER TRUCK AND A CREW
TO MAN IT. BOTH OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS WENT UPON DEAF EARS,
AND NO HOSE WAGON OR LADDER TRUCK WAS PURCHASED.
THE YEAR 1862 BROUGHT A RASH OF INCENDIARY BLAZES.
SCARCELY A WEEK WENT BY WITHOUT A BARN, FACTORY OR HOUSE
FIRE OF SUSPICIOUS ORIGIN. THE SELECTMEN VOTED A FIFTY
DOLLAR REWARD TO ANY PERSON BRINGING AN ARSONIST TO JUSTICE.
IN THE SPRING OF 1863 THE VOTERS AT A TOWN MEETING AGREED
THAT WHEN ABUTTORS SHOULD FURNISH POSTS AND LAMPS, GAS
LIGHTS WOULD BE LIGHTED ON THE STREETS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
TOWN. 92 LIGHTS WERE INSTALLED IN THE FIRST YEAR AND THE
WAVE OF ARSON LESSENED APPRECIABLY. AT A TOWN MEETING IN MARCH
OF 1864 THE SELECTMEN WERE AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE A "HOOK AND
LADDER CARRIAGE" TO BE HOUSED AND RUN BY A PARTY WITH WHOM A
CONTRACT SHALL BE MADE FOR THAT PURPOSE. AT THE SAME TIME THE
CHIEF WAS ALSO URGING THE TOWN FATHERS TO PURCHASE A STEAM FIRE
ENGINE. CHIEF GOODING'S MAJOR PROBLEM OF 1864 WAS THE ENLISTING
OF SO MANY OF HIS FIREMEN INTO THE FEDERAL ARMY. HE FOUND
HIMSELF DEPENDING MORE AND MORE ON INEXPERIENCED BUT EAGER YOUTHS
OF THE TOWN. THE YEAR 1865 BROUGHT WITH IT A NEW CHIEF ENGINEER,
DAVID A. SANBORN JR. AND THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR IN APRIL. THIS
BROUGHT BACK ALL OF THE MEMBERS FROM THE WAR EXECPT FIVE. JUNE
12, 1865, HOSE CO. NO. 1 WAS ORGANIZED IN A HOUSE ON THE CORNER
OF WEBSTER AND RUSH STS. EAST SOMERVILLE. THIS COMPANY WAS
ORGANIZED AS LIBERTY HOSE CO. NO. 1 WITH ALFRED HORTON, FOREMAN
AND JAMES R. HOPKINS, CLERK. THE HOSE CARRIAGE WAS BUILT BY C.E.
HARTSHORNE OF NEW YORK, AND WAS ONCE USED AS THE JOHN E. WOOL NO.
2 OF TROY, NEW YORK. IN JULY OF 1866 LIBERTY HOSE DISBANDED AND
WAS AT ONCE RE-ORGANIZED AS THE JOHN E. WOOL HOSE CO. NO. 1. AT
THE END OF 1865 THE DEPARTMENT CONSISTED OF 1- HAND ENGINE, 1-
FOUR WHEELED HOSE CARRIAGE, AND 1- HOOK AND LADDER CARRIAGE DRAWN
BY A HORSE. AT THE APRIL 1866 TOWN MEETING, AT THE URGING OF
CHIEF SANBORN, "AS THE DAY OF THE STAGECOACH HAS MADE WAY FOR THE
LOCOMOTIVE, SO THE DAY FOR THE HAND ENGINES HAS PASSED AWAY AND
THEY MUST GIVE ROOM FOR STEAM FIRE ENGINES". THE TOWN VOTED TO
PROCURE A STEAM FIRE ENGINE, A HOSE CARRIAGE TO ACCOMPANY IT AND
HORSES TO DRAW THEM. THE CONTRACT FOR BOTH THE STEAM FIRE ENGINE
AND THE HOSE CARRIAGE WAS GRANTED TO HUNNEMAN COMPANY OF ROXBURY
FOR A SUM OF $10,000. WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE STEAM FIRE ENGINE
WAS THE APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES TRULL AS DRIVER AND HARRY A.
WHITING AS ENGINEER, BY THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS AND THUS BECAME
THE FIRST PERMANENT FIREMEN EMPLOYED BY SOMERVILLE AND THUS
ENDING THE VOLUNTEER DAYS OF THE SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
THE VOLUNTEER SYSTEM WAS ABOLISHED ON MARCH 30, 1866.

History of the Somerville Fire Department
The Call Men
1866-1920

The firm of Hunneman and Co. was established by William Cooper
Hunneman in 1792 and Hunneman Hand Engines were considered among
the very best. Joseph and John, his grandsons, drew up plans for
a steam fire engine in 1865 and began to build their first engine
in 1866.
The engine was demonstrated in many towns and cities in New
England but did not attract a buyer until it was viewed by the
Somerville Selectmen.
The original cost of building the engine was placed at
$7,000.00 but it was sold to Somerville for $4,500.00 because of
its use as a demonstrator.
The steam fire engine was received and placed into service on
May 26, 1866 and a 2 wheel hose cart was run with the steamer as
the first two piece engine company, this two wheel hose cart was
used for about a year until a larger hose carriage was built by
Hunneman. This was a two reel hose carriage which was the first
of its kind and only one of a few of this description ever built.
The addition of the Steam fire engine also caused the reduction
of the company manpower from 45 members to 12 members, this of
course was due to the change from hand pumping to steam. This
reduction took place about June 15, 1866.
The year 1867 saw the organization of the ladder carriage which
up until this time was brought to fires by a private contractor.
May 15, 1867 saw Caleb Page as Foreman as well as 7 other
members. This company retained its organization less than a year
when it lapsed out of existence, due to a lack of interest.
This lack of interest was not evident with the John E.
Wool Hose Co. #1. During the fall of 1867 Hose Co. 1 was
remodeled and repainted, on one reelhead was a representation of
the burning of the Franklin Street Congregational Church in 1867,
and on the other a fine carving of a wreath, horn of plenty,
etc. enclosing a picture of the burning of the armory of the
Prescott Light Guards of Charlestown with the machine coming out
of its house.
At this time it should be noted that the first major fire
attended by the Steamer Co. was on January 21, 1868 at the
burning of the Universalist Church on Cross St.
The year of 1869 saw the addition of 2 two wheel hose carriages
which were put in charge of private citizens, one in the Winter
Hill Area and the other on Spring Hill. The Company on Winter
Hill organized in December of 1869 and adopted the name
"Carlton". The other hose carriage was housed on Summer St. near
Central St. and a company was never formed for it.
May 9, 1870 saw the formation of the Somerville Fireman's
Charitable Association, which was organized as a relief
association to assist members injured while in the performance of
their duty.
On July 9th the ladder carriage was again re-organized and
adopted the name of "Prescott Hook and Ladder Company #1". The
company took the name of Prescott in honor of General William
Prescott of Bunker Hill Fame.
The year 1871 brought about the new steam fire engine house
located on Highland Ave. at Walnut St. The site of the public
library. The total cost of this building was $20,576.31. The
steamer company moved into its new quarters on July 20, 1871.
With the transfer of the steam fire engine from Union Sq. to its
new station brought about the formation of the George H. Foster
Hose Co. #3. This company organized on May 9, 1871 and received
a new one horse 4 wheel hose carriage for a cost of $3,109.88.
At this time the town was having trouble trying to find a
location to build a hose house for the company on Winter Hill,
because the owners of the real estate were unwilling to sell land
in that district for the purpose intended. The city finally
found a lot on Marshall St. near Broadway to build the hose
house. This was completed around December of 1872. When the
company moved into its new quarters they also received a new 4
wheel hose carriage and changed their name to the Winter Hill
Hose Co. #2. November 9, 1872 brought the Great Boston Fire.
About 8:30 p.m. Charles Trull received a message, by messenger,
from Chief Damrell of the Boston Fire Dept. requesting help from
surrounding communities. Charles Trull sounded Box 31 from the
bell tower. When Chief Hopkins arrived he ordered the entire
Fire Dept. to respond to aid Boston in this time of need. The
Dept. reported to Chief Damrell in Winthrop Sq. They fought the
fire in this general area until about 11 pm when they aided in
preventing the fire from crossing Washington St. at the South
Meeting House. The Somerville Dept. was released at about 4 am
Sunday morning. The Steamer Company returned Monday morning and
did render her services till late Thursday afternoon.
The next few years came a period of updating the Fire Dept. and
the public safety with the addition of a hose wagon and the
introduction of the fire alarm system. On January 16, 1873 the
John E. Wool Hose Co. received a new Horse Hose carriage and the
old John E. Wool from Troy N.Y. was sold to the City of Everett
for the price of $400.00. Everett used the hand carriage for a
period of time and from what has been recorded, this carriage
found its way back to its original company in Troy N.Y.
November 12, 1873 brought the organization of the George O.
Brastow Hose Co. #4. The company was located at the corner of
Highland Ave. and Grove St. (where the parking lot for Osco Drug
is located) this company was named for the then Mayor George O.
Brastow. The company delayed its dedication until April 22, 1874
because their new hose carriage had not arrived. For the first
few months Hose 4 used the old double reel hose carriage (until
the Spring of 1874).
March 1874 the city ordered a new ladder truck and the company
voted to name it the "James R. Hopkins" which Chief Hopkins
vetoed. The company then named the new truck after Ex-Chief
Robert A. Vinal. On June 30, 1874 the new truck arrived, this
was a 2 horse hitch ladder carriage.
At this period of time it was voted by the city council to make
the Chief of Department's job a permanent full time position.
Chief Hopkins became a full time chief on May 6, 1874, and took
the title as Chief Engineer which is the same title used to this
day.
Also the new fire alarm signal wires were being installed and
on June 17, 1874 the Gamewell Fire Alarm System was completed.
When the system was put into operation there were 17 alarm boxes
in service they were;
4 Hose 4 Highland Ave. and Grove St.
12 Linwood and Somerville Ave.
15 Myrtle and Washington St.
16 Hose 1 Webster and Rush St.
17 Perkins and Lincoln St.
18 Broadway and Union St.
21 South and Medford St.
24 School House Webster St.
25 Hose 3 Prospect St. and Somerville Ave
28 Laurel St. and Somerville Ave
31 Steamer 1 Highland Ave. and Walnut St.
34 Hose 2 Marshall St.
35 Broadway and Main St.
38 Cedar and Clyde St.
41 Broadway and Warner St.
45 Spring and Summer St.
48 Broadway and Holland St.
The Dept. did not have to wait to long for the first alarm of
fire. The first alarm came on June 25, 1874 at 11:01pm, Box 34
began to strike on the house gongs. The box was located on the
outer wall of Hose 2 on Marshall St., the fire was confined to a
small carpenter shop at the rear of 26 Marshall St.. This fire
had a small loss of about $300.00.
The practice of sounding a second alarm began in 1877. Prior
to this the entire Fire Dept. responded to each box alarm of
fire. Now with the running card the Steamer, Ladder Company, and
a Hose Company would respond on the first alarm and when a second
alarm of fire was sounded from the same box the 2 remaining hose
companies would respond. The first Second alarm came from Box 14
on September 6, 1877 at 12:40a.m. for a fire in McCarthy Bros.
Pottery on Otis St., this fire was caused by a defective kiln
flue.
Sunday June 6, 1878 Box 21 was sounded at 10:35 pm which called
the Dept. to the largest fire in Somerville to date, This fire
also had the greatest loss. This fire was the Pork Packing
Establishment of C.H. North and Co. on Medford St. The services
of Boston, Cambridge, and Everett were called. The companies
that worked the fire were Somerville Eng. 1, Lad. 1, and Hose
Co's 1, 2, 3, 4; Cambridge Eng's. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Lad's. 1, 2;
Boston Eng. Co's 6, 10, 27, Chemical 1, and Lad. Co. 1; and
Everett Engine 1.
As could be seen in the decade between 1870 - 1880, the firemen
of Somerville saw more fire and destruction at home and in the
other communities than did their predecessors and many of their
successors.
The next few years saw many changes in the Fire Department.
The increased availability of water supplied by the water works,
and the addition of many hydrants, also on the Boston and
Cambridge lines, brought about the elimination of the last two
cisterns in Somerville. They were filled-in during the Summer of
1882, and were located on Temple Street and the other on Central
Street near Broadway.
The year 1883 saw the addition of a new Steam Fire Engine to
replace Steamer One which was 17 years old and did do much
service. This new machine was received in June of 1883 and was a
Silsby Steam Fire Engine. This engine was given a public
exhibition test in Broadway Park before a large number of people
including many out of town firemen. The old engine was retired
to Hose 4's Station and held in reserve for many years. Also by
years' end there were two men sleeping in every hose house, one
being the driver and the other man to assist the driver in making
the engine ready for service.
In 1884 the pay of the call force was increased from $75.00
per year to $96.00 per year, with this increase of money came the
reduction of manpower. Each hose company (there were four of
them) was reduced from 10 men to 8 men and the Steamer Company
was reduced from 14 men to 12 men. The result of this change is,
that the number of call men absent at fires has averaged but one
man from each company at each alarm; showing that under this new
plan the call men are better paid, and the department has a
larger force at fires, than under the old system. This brought
the department down from 71 to 61 members.
Chief Hopkins request of outfitting a hose carriage to carry
ladders or put an additional ladder truck in service in West
Somerville came about late in 1884. On October 12, a new
combination hose and ladder carriage was placed in service as
Hose Co. #4. This combination carriage was also intended to use
rubber covers to protect goods at fires, but as the insurance
people would not furnish the covers this idea was abandoned, and
in 1887 two 40 gallon Babcock Chemical Tanks replaced the box
intended for the covers. This was probably the first combined
apparatus of that description in the country and was designed by
Chief Hopkins. The old carriage was then transfered to the
steamer company where it was placed in service as its carriage.
With the year of 1885 brings about the increase of
maintaining the fire alarm system, with the many additions of
alarm boxes and the running of many new wires, the permanent men
of the department were being distracted from their main duty of
firefighting, should the duties of extinguishing fires increase,
it would be required to employ a person to make the required
repairs of the telegraph. As usual this request like so many
others will be put on hold for a few years. A fire alarm
operator was hired in 1890. Also in 1885 the department became
uniformed for the first time. A manual of the Fire Department
was published in August 1885, stating the rules and regulations
of the Dept. and describing the new uniform to be worn. The
badge is said to have been designed by Chief Hopkins about 1874.
The badge is very distinguished, being the shape of an acorn, and
has not changed much since that year. It is still being worn by
the Department today.
The next few years were relatively quiet in the Fire
Department, the year 1888 begins the change from hose carriage to
hose wagons. As the mayor mentioned in his address "Our heavy
carriages, with reels, painted in high colors, with brass and
silver plated trimmings, are the relics of the volunteer system.
The paid fireman is hired to work, and he wants handy and
serviceable tools to work with. A wagon with the necessary
amount of hose and other fine implements, can be hauled as easily
with one horse as the carriages now in use can be with two. It
is evident that if the change is made there will be quite a
savings in labor and money."
The first company to receive a new hose wagon was the John
E. Wool, Hose Co. #1. The company received this new wagon on
December 18, 1888. 1888 sees the R.A. Vinal truck out of service
and the company using the old "Prescott" hook and ladder truck,
this truck was used for some time until the new ladder carriage
was delivered in January 1889. Chief Hopkins urges the City
Council to purchase a chemical engine. He states that in cities
like Somerville which have many wooden buildings with shingled
roofs, this type of engine would be of great value.
Somerville needs such an engine, and it should be located at the
corner of Highland Ave and Walnut Street, because of its central
location. With the end of the eighties comes the addition of
another hose company, this company was located on Somerville Ave.
at the corner of Lowell St., the new company was equipped with
the new style hose wagon and was organized August 15, 1889. Hose
2 received a new wagon during 1889, by years' end, Hose Co's
1,2,and 5 have the new style wagons while Hose 3 and the
steamer's tender still use the heavier hose carriage.
Chief Hopkins recommends the rebuilding of Hose House 1
since all the other houses are built of brick . This is a wooden
building built in 1868 as a hose house for a hand carriage; it is
always needing repairs and a new house will soon be a necessity.
Before another building is erected, I recommend a change in its
location for a number of reasons, namely that the present lot is
not large enough, it having a frontage of only forty feet. The
chief also renews his call for a chemical engine, this would mean
making alterations at the Steamer House to accompany this
addition to the department, and also at the same time the battery
room for the fire alarm telegraph should be enlarged to make room
for the additions needed in the very near future of expanding the
circuits for new boxes. Again the chief asked for an additional
steam fire engine from the City Council.
The year 1890 brings with it the realization of a few of
Chief Hopkins recommendations over the past couple of years. The
first of which was the appointment of Edward T. Backus to
maintain the fire alarm system. This appointment came about on
May 6, 1890, and took Chief Hopkins away from this time consuming
job to be a more effective chief engineer of the fire dept. The
modernization of the departments apparatus was continued in 1890
with hose company 3'shose carriage being replaced with one of the
new style hose wagons, this leaves only the carriage run in
connection with steamer 1 that needs replacing, the wagon was put
in service on October 18, 1890. Also the new Silsby Steam Engine
arrived in early October and was placed in service as Engine 4 on
November 1, 1890.
During 1891 the condition of hose co. 1's quarters on
Webster st. were so bad that it would be better to build a new
station with accomondations for a steam fire engine, a hose
wagon, and a ladder truck. A site that was being considered for
this new house was on Broadway near Franklin St.
The major highlight for 1891 was the Great Fire at J.P.
Squires on October 5th. The fire was discovered by the watchman.
Box 112 was sounded at 6:15 pm, Hose co. 3 was first due with
Captain Charles Trull in charge. Captain Trull at once ordered a
second alarm, and also ordered hoseman James Furguson to pull
Cambridge Box 114 on Gore St. Three alarms were sounded in quick
succession in both cities. This was the first time a third alarm
was ever sounded in Somerville. The fire involved the Hog House,
Smoke House, and two other buildings on the Squire Property, as
well as the cooperage establishment of S. Armstrong and Company,
Seventeen Freight Cars on the Fitchburg Railroad. The heat
generated by the fire was by now so great that the rails on the
Fitchburg Railroad were bent as if by some great force, and the
firemen at this point were forced to retreat. The refrigeration
plant was next to go, and was consumed together with 6,000
dressed hogs stored within. The fire had burned out of control
for six hours. The Somerville and Cambridge Departments were in
service at the fire for 27 hours without relief. After some
investigation it was decided that sparks from a switch engine on
the Fitchburg Railroad had ignited straw in the hog run, which
was fanned by a brisk wind into Somerville's second conflagration
in thirteen years.
In 1892 Steamer 1 receives its hose wagon, which completes
the removal of the old style hose reels from active service, also
Chief Hopkins asks for a new ladder company to be formed in West
Somerville, since ladder 1 is located in Union Square. The Chief
again renews his cry for a chemical engine to be located in the
house of Steamer 1 since it could easily respond to alarms of
fire in wards 1, 2, and 3.
In 1893 the talk of remodeling the Steamer House on Highland
Ave. shifted to the talk of building a new Steamer House. This
is largely due to the extent of repairs needed in the old station
to make it suitable for the enlargement of the fire alarm system
and the addition of a chemical engine.
The building at the junction of Medford St. and Highland
Ave., formerly known as the Brastow School house, has by order of
the city council, been placed in charge of the committee on fire
department. In it are kept the relief engine, and hose carriage,
which are ready for immediate service, and supplies for the fire
alarm system. By years end, the department consisted of 2 steam
fire engine companies with hose wagons, 4 hose companies, 1
ladder company, and a new steamer for reserve which was obtained
during the year by purchase and exchange of and old steamer worn
out in service. Also a lot of land was purchased on Highland
Ave. near Cedar St. for a ladder truck.
After years of recommending the purchase of a chemical
engine, Chief Hopkins dream became a reality in 1894. July 1st
the engine was placed in service and placed in the relief engine
house until the new Central Fire Station was completed. The Unit
was designated Chemical A and was the first unit to be staffed by
all permanent men since it responded to all Box Alarms and nearly
all still alarms.
The new Hook and Ladder Station was completed @ November 25,
1894 and the new Seagrave combination ladder truck was put in
service on December 1, 1894. The new Central Fire Station on
Medford St. was occupied by Engine Co. 1 and Chemical A.
The fire alarm system was moved into the third floor of the
new station and the system was enlarged from 3 circuits to 6
circuits, with a possibility to increase the system capacity to
eight circuits. The fire alarm system was divorced from the fire
department on January 16, 1894.
Under the provisions of Chapter 95 of the Acts of the
Legislature of 1893, the Board of Alderman on June 28, 1894
passed an order requesting the civil service commissioners to
include in the classified service all permanent members and those
thereafter to be appointed to the fire department. The request
was complied with and the appointments to the permanent force
since September 4, 1894 have been made under the civil service
rule.
The spectacular fire of 1894 occured at Walker's Oil works
on June 23rd. The building involved contained Kerosene, Naphtha,
Benzene, and other Flammable materials. A second alarm was
sounded by Asst. Chief Barker. For a while it was feared that
this fire might touch off a conflagration. This fire was long
remembered by those who fought it because of the great number of
firemen overcome by the heat and smoke. The official temperature
on that day was 97 degrees F.
Late November a Second Alarm was transmitted for a fire in
St. Ann's Church which spread to the roofs of two houses on
Thurston St. before it was brought under control.
1895 brings a change in location for the proposed fire
station on Broadway opposite Franklin St. the new location is on
Broadway at the corner of Cross St. also, pertaining to fire
stations, a recommondation was made to purchase land for a
station on Clarendon Hill. The working schedule of the permanent
firemen was to work a 24 hour day for 9 days at which time they
were allowed 22 hours leave for which they were compensated
$12.50 per week. The callmen were paid $45.00 per month with a
fime of 50 cents imposed for each alarm not answered. Lt's were
paid $14.75 per week, Capt's. $18.00 per week, Asst. Chief $25.00
per week, and the Chief of Department was paid $40.00 per week.
In 1896 a new station was opened and a new Engine company
was organized. Engine 2 was organized on June 12.1896 with the
relief engine and hose 1 was moved from its quarters on Webster
St. and became the hose wagon for Engine 2. Hose 1's old station
was purchased by private citizens and moved to 37 Meacham St.
where it was converted to a grocery store and is now a private
residence. Land was also purchased at the corner of Holland and
Newbury Sts. for the future needs of the fire department.
The year 1898 was long remembered by the members of the
department. Construction began in Teele Sq. for the new station,
and in November the 3 story Ice house of J.P. Squires was found
to be fully involved in fire on the 10th. Both Somerville and
Cambridge ordered Second Alarms in their respective cities. This
fire claimed the life of Lt. James F. Dalton of Cambridge Ladder
2 when the roof of the building collapsed and sent him falling
down 3 stories to his death.
The 21st of November found the six story lard and oil
storehouse of J.P. Squires to be set to flames. Somerville and
Cambridge both sounded second alarms for this fire. Again this
fire was a tragic one, the south wall of the building collapsed
and trapped 11 Cambridge Firemen, of the 11, five were seriously
injured; 1 Louis Fairbain, a callman from Cambridge Engine 5 died
at M.G.H. and the remaining 4 were pensioned by the city, the
oldest of these men being only 34 years of age. Also at the time
of the collapse a night watchman was seen at one of the 4th floor
windows. A rescue effort was at once started and Hoseman James
Sheehan of Cambridge Engine 7 quickly climbed the ladder and as
he was halfway up, that section of the roof collapsed and took
that part of the 4th floor, with it taking the watchman to his
death. Hoseman Skeehan was badly injured, later losing sight in
his left eye.
In 1899 Hose and Chemical 6 was organized on October 1st,
with the wagon from Engine 4 in the new station at Holland and
Newbury Sts. Engine 4 at this time received a new hose wagon,
also Chief Hopkins renewed an appeal for a hose wagon to be
located with Ladder 2 on Highland Ave. This was after a fire at
254 Highland Ave. that spread to a major fire involving 8
buildings. Seventeen months later Hose 7 was organized Christmas
Eve 1900. At the end of the 1800's the department consists of
Engine Co.'s 1, 2, and 4 with hose wagons, Hose Co.'s 2, 3, and
5, Hose and Chemical Co. 6, Chemical Co. A, Hook and Ladder Co.'s
1, and 2.

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