Somerville Journal Fire Department Archives
SOMERVILLE JOURNAL JULY 22, 1876 FIRE DEPARTMENT ITEMS FROM OLD RECORDS January 8, 1866 FIRE AT 4 P.M., PROVED TO BE THE BAPTIST CHURCH ON PERKINS STREET. THE ENGINE WAS ON HAND, BUT DID NOT WORK. THE CHURCH WAS ENTIRELY DESTROYED. THE STEEPLE FELL AT THREE O'CLOCK. ENGINES PRESENT, STEAMER 1 AND BUNKER HILL NO. 2 FROM CHARLESTOWN, WITH HOOK AND LADDER CO.; STEAMER NO. 3, EAST CAMBRIDGE; GEN. TAYLOR HAND ENGINE FROM MALDEN (NOW EVERETT), THE LAST NAMED BEING WITHOUT HOSE WAS NOT IN SERVICE. FEBRUARY 18,1866 FIRE SUNDAY NOON, BURNING OF THE GRAMMER SCHOOL HOUSE, SYCAMORE STREET, WINTER HILL. THE ENGINE WAS PROMPTLY ON HAND WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS. ENGINES PRESENT FROM CHARLESTOWN, EAST CAMBRIDGE AND MEDFORD. FEBRUARY 22, 1866 THE FIRE THIS EVENING AT 11 1/2 O'CLOCK PROVED TO BE THE BARN ON THE OLD CUTTER ESTATE, NEAR THE NUNNERY GROUNDS, BROADWAY, EAST SOMERVILLE. THE ENGINE WAS SOON ON THE GROUND AND RENDERED EFFICIENT SERVICE. HOWARD STEAMER FROM CHARLESTOWN WAS PRESENT. SOMERVILLE JOURNAL MARCH 24,1877 FIRE DEPT. ITEMS FROM 1852 APRIL 16; THERE WAS A FIRE IN SOMERVILLE; BARN WITH FIVE HORSES AND ONE COW BELONGING TO MR. WYETH, OF CAMBRIDGE ST. WAS CONSUMED. MAY 27; FIRE BROKE OUT AT 11 P.M. IN AN OLD BARN ON MEDFORD ST, SOMERVILLE, AND WHILE AT WORK THERE, ANOTHER BROKE OUT IN A DWELLING HOUSE ON THE SAME STREET. JULY 24; FIRE BROKE OUT IN MEDFORD ABOUT 11 P.M. THREE HAD A RACE WITH ONE OF SOMERVILLE, AND BEAT THEM; SO AT LAST THEY GOT A HORSE, BUT WE RAN HIM OFF HIS FEET. THE FIRE WAS IN A SHIP YARD. 3 DID NOT WORK. JULY 25; A FIRE BROKE OUT AT 10 P.M. IN THE ROOM WHERE WE DINED ON FAST DAY AFTER THE TRIAL WITH SOMERVILLE 1. DID NOT WORK. SEPT. 14; A FIRE STARTED IN A DWELLING IN SOMERVILLE, ON POWDER HILL FARM, BELONGING TO N. TUFTS. THREE TOOK ONE'S OF SOMERVILLE WATER AND PLAYED INTO 4 OF CHARLESTOWN. SEPT. 28; FIRE ON WINTER HILL. THREE WENT THROUGH CHARLESTOWN; DID NOT WORK. OCT. 6; A FIRE BROKE OUT IN SOMERVILLE, IN A BARN BELONGING TO N. TUFTS. THREE TOOK WATER FROM EUREKA 1 OF WEST CAMBRIDGE. OCT. 21; THE COMPANY WENT TO ALEWIVE BROOK TO WORK ON 1 OF WEST CAMBRIDGE, IN A TRIAL BETWEEN THAT ENGINE AND 1 OF SOMERVILLE. THE LATTER WAS BEATEN. OCT. 23; THE COMPANY WENT TO A CONCERT GOT UP BY THEMSELVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. ESTES. OCT. 28; FIRE BROKE OUT IN SOMERVILLE, AT THE SPIKE FACTORY AT 11 A.M. ENGINE DID NOT WORK. FOR THE YEAR 1852 THE ENGINE WAS RUN TO SOMERVILLE ELEVEN TIMES AND WORKED AT EIGHT FIRES. THIS INFORMATION IS FROM THE NIAGARA 3 FIRE ENGINE COMPANY OF EAST CAMBRIDGE. FROM THE SOMERVILLE NEWS MAY 9, 1870 THE SOMERVILLE FIREMANS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION WAS ORGANIZED THIS DAY. IT IS MOST FORTUNATE TO HAVE AS ONE OF ITS FOUNDERS, CAPTAIN ROBERT A. VINAL. ITS DUES ARE $1.00 PER YEAR FOR EACH MEMBER. IN THE CASE OF THE DEATH OF ONE OF OUR LOYAL FIREMEN "$100.00 SHALL BE PAID TO THE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES." FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL DECEMBER 10, 1870 NEW ENGINE HOUSE THE NEW ENGINE HOUSE, NOW BEING ERECTED ON THE CORNER OF WALNUT STREET, AND HIGHLAND AVENUE, WILL NO DOUBT BE ORNAMENTAL, AS WELL AS USEFUL, TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WILL PROBABLY BE FINISHED BY THE FIRST OF MARCH. THE BASEMENT IS TO BE USED FOR WASHING HOSE, THE GROUND FLOOR FOR THE ENGINE AND HOSE CARRIAGE, AND A STABLE IN THE REAR. THE UPPER ROOMS ARE DIVIDED INTO SLEEPING APARTMENTS, BATHROOM, RECEPTION HALL, AND A HAY LOFT. THE SUM OF $16,000 WAS APPROPRIATED FOR THE BUILDING, BUT ITS COST WILL DOUBTLESS EXCEED $20,000 BEFORE IT IS READY FOR USE. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL MARCH 18,1871 THE HARVARD SCHOOL THE HARVARD SCHOOL HOUSE ON BEACON STREET, NEAR KIRKLAND AND CLOSE TO THE SOUTH WESTERN BOUNDRY OF THE TOWN WAS SET ON FIRE AT 5 O'CLOCK WEDNESDAY MORNING IN TWO PLACES, AND WHEN THE ALARM WAS GIVEN IT WAS ENVELOPED IN FLAMES. THE SOMERVILLE STEAMER WAS SOON ON THE GROUND AND NOT FINDING WATER NEARER, WAS OBLIGED TO GO TO THE RESIDENCE OF MR. DANIEL E. CHASE AND PLAY THROUGH SIXTEEN HUNDRED FEET OF HOSE AND FEED TWO STEAMERS. IT WAS HOWEVER DONE SUCCESSFULLY AND THE FIRE SOON SUBDUED. THE ALARM FAILED TO REACH THE WINTER HILL HOSE COMPANY, AND THE "STEAMER BOYS" WERE OBLIGED TO GET THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CAMBRIDGE HOSE CARRIAGES WHICH ARRIVED ON THE GROUNDS IN GOOD TIME. IT IS THOUGHT THAT A ROOM CAN BE OBTAINED IN WHICH TO CONTINUE THE SCHOOL UNTIL THE BUILDING CAN BE REBUILT. THE LOSS WAS SMALL AS THE STRUCTURE WAS OF WOOD AND ONE OF THE SMALLEST IN TOWN. IT CAN BE REBUILT FOR $1,000. WAS INSURED FOR $800. JULY 15, 1871 FIRE A LARGE FIRE OCCURED AT NORTH SOMERVILLE ON MONDAY NIGHT LAST, ABOUT 12 O'CLOCK. A LARGE WOODEN BUILDING, SITUATED ON THE POWDER HOUSE FARM, OWNED BY MR. NATHAN TUFTS, AND OCCUPIED BY JACOB EMERSON FOR THE PURPOSE OF MANUFACTURING TIN CANS AND CANNING FRUITS, TOMATOES, &C., WAS ENTIRELY CONSUMED. A LARGE STEAM ENGINE, A QUANTITY OF CANNED FRUIT, AND SOME THREE THOUSAND TIN CANS WERE DESTROYED WITH THE BUILDING. OWING TO THE SCARCITY OF WATER, THE ENGINES WERE ENABLED TO DO LITTLE EXCEPT SAVE THE DWELLING HOUSE OF MR. EMERSON, WHICH WAS SITUATED ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE FACTORY, AND THE ROOF OF WHICH WAS BADLY BURNED. ENGINES WERE PRESENT FROM CAMBRIDGE AND MEDFORD, BUT THE WANT OF WATER PREVENTED THEIR RENDERING MUCH SERVICE. SCARCELY A VESTIGE OF THE FACTORY WAS LEFT, EVERYTHING BEING BURNT CLEAN. LOSS ABOUT $6,000.00 , FULLY COVERED BY INSURANCE. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL JULY 29, 1871 SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT THE NEW ENGINE HOUSE, ON HIGHLAND AVENUE, WAS DEDICATED BY A SELECT LITTLE PARTY ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, CONSISTING OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND A FEW OF THEIR FRIENDS. THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE IN THE CHARGE OF CHIEF ENGINEER SANBORN, AND THE PROGRAMME CONSISTED OF SINGING, SPEECH-MAKING, EATING, AND DANCING. CHIEF ENGINEER DAMRELL, OF BOSTON, MADE A FORCIBLE SPEECH, SHOWING HOW COMPLETELY HIS SOUL WRAPPED UP IN THE WORK OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS, AND, COMPLIMENTING THE TOWN UPON THE BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE AND EFFICIENT FIRE BRIGADE. SPEECHES WERE MADE BY S.Z. BOWMAN, MR. CHARLES H. GUILD, CHARLES S. LINCOLN, MR. WOODCOCK, THE ARCHITECT OF THE BUILDING, AND THE CHIEF AND THE ASSISTANT ENGINEERS OF MEDFORD. MISS GOODING, DAUGHTER OF ENGINEER HOPKINS SANG A POPULAR SONG. NO PREVIOUS NOTICE HAVING BEEN GIVEN US, WE WERE NOT PRESENT TO MAKE AN EXTENDED REPORT. A COLLATION WAS SERVED IN THE ENGINE ROOM, WHICH WAS PREPARED BY PLACING THE ENGINE IN THE PARK, AND REMOVING THE APPARATUS TO OTHER PARTS OF THE HOUSE. AFTER THE COLLATION, THE ASSEMBLY, WHICH CONSISTED OF ABOUT ONE HUNDRED COUPLES, PASSED A FEW HOURS IN DANCING TO THE MUSIC OF ALLEN'S QUADRILLE BAND. IT IS SAID THAT THE ENGINE AND CARRIAGE WERE IN EXCELLENT TRIM, AND SHONE IN A MOST ORNAMENTAL MANNER. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL APRIL 23, 1892 FOUR ALARMS FOR A $1000 BLAZE FOUR ALARMS WERE RUNG IN AT ABOUT 6 O'CLOCK THURSDAY EVENING FOR A FIRE IN THE STORAGE SHOP OF THE FITCHBURG RAILROAD, SOMERVILLE. THE SHOP IS SITUATED IN A BAD PLACE IN CASE OF FIRE, ABOUT MID-WAY BETWEEN SOMERVILLE AVENUE AND PRISON POINT BRIDGE, AND IN SUCH A POSITION THAT IT WAS WITH DIFFICULTY THE FIREMEN SUCCEEDED IN GETTING A LINE OF HOSE TO IT. THE DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND CONTENTS WAS ABOUT $1000. IT IS THOUGHT TO BE INSURED. THE BUILDING IS USED AS A SORT OF STORAGE SHED FOR SILS AND SIL FEEDERS. IT ALSO CONTAINS A BOILER, IN WHICH PETROLEUM IS SAID TO BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF GAS. WHILE THE CAUSE OF FIRE IS AS YET UNKNOWN, IT IS THOUGHT TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THIS BOILER. THE FIRST ALARM WAS RANG IN FROM BOX 113, THE COMPANY'S PRIVATE BOX, IN THE FREIGHT YARD. THEN DURING THE EXCITEMENT, INCIDENT TO GETTING A HOSE LINE TO THE FIRE-WHICH HAD TO BE DONE BY MEANS OF A SHIFTING ENGINE-SOMEBODY RANG IN AN ALARM FROM BOX 12, CORNER OF LINWOOD STREET AND SOMERVILLE AVE. BEFORE THE WATER COULD BE GOT TO THE BUILDING, WHICH IS A ONE AND ONE HALF STORY WOOKEN STRUCTURE, WITH AN OLD CAR FOR AN L, IT WAS A MASS OF FLAMES. IT LOOKED A MUCH BIGGER FIRE THAN IN REALITY, AND SOME ONE PULLED IN A SECOND ALARM FROM BOX 113. THIS BROUGHT OUT ABOUT ALL THE AVAILABLE APPARATUS IN SOMERVILLE. THE FIRE WAS ALSO NOTICED ON THE CAMBRIDGE SIDE, ACROSS MILLER'S RIVER, AND AN ALARM WAS RUNG IN FROM BOX 12, CAMBRIDGE. THIS SUMMONED A LOT OF APPARATUS FROM CAMBRIDGE. THE FLAMES WERE FINALLY EXTINGUISHED, AFTER THE ENTIRE CITY HAD BEEN BADLY SCARED BY THE NUMBER OF ALARMS SOUNDED. CHIEF HOPKINS SAYS THAT THE EXTRA ALARMS WERE ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY AND UNAUTHORIZED. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL OCTOBER 5, 1878 FIRE IN WEST SOMERVILLE A LITTLE BEFORE THREE O'CLOCK ON MONDAY MORNING LAST, FIRE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE TWO-STORY WOODEN BUILDING USED AS A PICKLE FACTORY, ON THE CORNER OF ELM STREET AND BROADWAY, OF THIS CITY. THE BUILDING WAS THE PROPERTY OF GEORGE R. EMERSON, WHOSE DWELLING HOUSE IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT, AND THE ALARM WAS GIVEN BY A DOMESTIC IN THE FAMILY WHO WAS ALARMED BY SEEING THE REFLECTED LIGHT OF THE FLAMES. IT IS SAID THAT THE RESIDENCE ON THE HILL NEARBY SAW THE FIRE BREAK OUT OF THE DOOMED BUILDING NEARLY THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR PREVIOUS TO THE DISCOVERY OF THE SAME BY THE SERVANTS, AND WHY THEY MADE NO ATTEMPTS TO COMMUNICATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT APPEAR. AN ALARM FROM THE BOX AT THE CORNER PROMPTLY BROUGHT A PORTION OF THE SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO THE SPOT, BUT FLAMES HAD ALREADY GOT UNDER SO GOOD HEADWAY THAT ALL THEIR EFFORTS WERE OF LITTLE AVAIL, AND THE AID OF THE MEDFORD DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED IN. THEIR UNITED ENDEAVORS UTTERLY FAILED, HOWEVER, TO SAVE THE BUILDING, WHICH WAS BURNED TO THE GROUND. FORTUNATELY, THE WIND WAS BLOWING AWAY FROM THE DWELLING HOUSE AND OVER THE OPENING FIELD; OTHERWISE IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE FALLEN A PREY TO THE DEVOURING ELEMENT. THE INMATES WERE CONSIDERABLY ALARMED AS IT WAS, AND EXPERIENCED SOMETHING OF A "HOUSE-WARMING." THE PRINCIPAL BUSINESS DONE HERE WAS IN THE LINE OF CANNING TOMATOES, ETC., AND SOME SEVENTY PERSONS WERE EMPLOYED IN THE SEASON. AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE, HOWEVER, BUT COMPARATIVELY FEW HANDS WERE UNDER PAY, THE SEASON BEING OVER. THERE WERE 75,000 CANS OF CANNED GOODS DESTROYED; BUT MANY OF THE CANS HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE RUINS AND STORED. THE INSURANCE ON THE WORKS IS $5,400, WHICH IS THOUGHT WILL FULLY COVER ALL DAMAGES. MR. EMERSON STATES THAT THE BUSINESS WILL BE RESUMED IMMEDIATELY, AND THE NECESSARY APPARATUS HAS ALREADY BEEN LOCATED IN A BUILDING NEAR BY ON BROADWAY. NO CAUSE FOR THE ORIGINATION OF THE FIRE IS GIVEN. TEN HORSES PERISHED. FROM SOMERVILLE JOURNAL MAY 27, 1898 GEORGE W. PRICHARD'S LOSS AT THE FIRE WEDNESDAY EVENING. THE TWO-STORY STABLE AT THE CORNER OF MYSTIC AVENUE AND AUSTIN STREET WAS BURNED WEDNESDAY EVENING, AND TEN HORSES OWNED BY GEORGE W. PRICHARD PERISHED. THE STABLE WAS OWNED BY WILLIAM A. SANBORN. LOSS, $1,000 ON BUILDING, $1,200 ON HORSES, AND $500 ON STOCK. ENGINE 32 OF CHARLESTOWN RESPONDED QUICKLY TO THE ALARM AND GOT FIRST WATER ON THE FIRE. THE SEWER EXCAVATIONS ON CROSS STREET AND BROADWAY INTERFERED WITH THE SOMERVILLE DEPARTMENT GREATLY. FIRE DEPARTMENT CHANGES FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL DECEMBER 14, 1895 ON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, JOHN E. TUCKER WAS DISCHARGED FROM HOSE 1 COMPANY AT HIS OWN REQUEST. LUTHER F. BICKERS WAS APPOINTED A MEMBER OF LADDER 1 COMPANY, AND JOSEPH LORD A MEMBER OF HOSE 1 COMPANY, TO FILL VACANCIES. UNDER A SUSPENSION OF THE RULES, THE APPOINTMENTS WERE CONFIRMED. WEBSTER SCHOOLHOUSE DESTROYED. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL DECEMBER 16,1893 AN UGLY FIRE IN THE OLD WEBSTER SCHOOLHOUSE ON WEBSTER AVENUE, BROUGHT THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT OUT EARLY FRIDAY MORNING IM RESPONSE TO TWO ALARMS FROM BOX 24. ASSISTANCE WAS RECEIVED FROM CAMBRIDGE, AND AFTER AN HOUR'S HARD FIGHT THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, BUT NOT BEFORE IT HAD COMPLETELY GUTTED THE BUILDING. THE FIRE WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE FLUE. LARGEST BELL IN SOMERVILLE FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL NOVEMBER 3, 1894 THE 3,000 POUND BELL WHICH HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR THE NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATION HAS BEEN CAST, AND WILL SOON BE DELIVERED. IT IS A MONSTER, AND WILL BE BY FAR THE LARGEST BELL IN THE CITY. FROM THE HIGH TOWER IN WHICH IT WILL BE PLACED, AND ON ACCOUNT OF ITS LOUD RINGING QUALITIES, IT WILL PROBABLY BE HEARD FOR SEVERAL MILES AROUND. TO TAKE POSSESSION NEXT WEEK NEW FIRE STATION AT CLARENDON HILL TO BE OCCUPIED BY HOSE 6. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL SEPT. 22, 1899 FOR CONVENIENCE, THE NEW FIRE COMPANY, WHICH IS TO HAVE ITS HEADQUARTERS IN THE HANDSOME NEW FIRE STATION AT THE CORNER OF HOLLAND AND NEWBURY STREETS, CLARENDON HILL, WILL BE KNOWN AS "HOSE 6." THE STATION WILL BE OCCUPIED FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT THURSDAY BY THE APPARATUS AND PERMANENT MEN. THE APPARATUS WILL CONSIST OF A RENOVATED CHEMICAL AND HOSE WAGON WHICH WAS FORMERLY STATIONED AT THE HOUSE OF ENGINE 4 ON HIGHLAND AVE. THE WAGON HAS BEEN REMODELED AT AN EXPENSE OF $300.00. THE COMPANY WILL GO INTO COMMISSION AT 12.01 O'CLOCK SUNDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 1. IT WILL ANSWER FIRST ALARMS FROM THE FOLLOWING BOXES: 38, 4, 41, 45, 47, 48, 49, 337, 424, 425, 427, 428, 441, 442, 443, 445, 446, 447, AND 448. THE COMPANY WILL GO TO THE HOUSE OF ENGINE 4 ON ALARMS FROM BOXES, 37, 421, 422, 423, 426, 46, 42, AND 43. ON A SECOND ALARM FROM ANY OTHER BOX THE COMPANY WILL GO TO THE HOUSE OF LADDER 2, WHERE IT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY OTHER BOX WHILE THE OTHER PORTION OF THE DEPARTMENT IS IN SERVICE. BY THESE ARRANGEMENTS AT NO TIME WILL WEST SOMERVILLE BE LEFT WITHOUT FIRE PROTECTION. THE NEW COMPANY IS MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING MEN: CAPTAIN JOSEPH A. CRIBBY, LIEUTENANT WILFRED YOUNG, DRIVER GEORGE W. BRIDGES, RELIEF DRIVER GEORGE R. DALE, HOSEMEN WALTER M. BROWN, WILLIAM E. DROWNE, AND FRANK M. OTT. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 21, 1872 THE NEW STEAMER HOSE CARRIAGE WAS RECEIVED THURSDAY, AND DULY INSPECTED AND INSTALLED IN THE STEAMER HOUSE YESTERDAY. IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND SUBSTANTIAL VEHICLE, AND JUDGING FROM THE WORKMANSHIP TO BE SEEN IS WELL WORTH THE CONTRACT PRICE, $900, PAID BY THE CITY. IT HAS NEW PATENT IRON HUB WITH WOOD FACING, SO CONSTRUCTED THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MUD OR SAND TO WORK INTO THE AXLE. INSTEAD OF A WHIPPLE-TREE THE TRACES ARE HITCHED TO SPRINGS WHICH IT IS CLAIMED WILL EXPEDITE HITCHING UP, AND GIVE A STEADIER MOTION TO THE DRAFT. ONE THOUSAND FEET OF HOSE CAN BE CARRIED ON ITS SINGLE REEL, AND IT IS RIGGED TO BE USED WITH SHAFTS OR POLE, USING ONE OR TWO HORSES AS MAY BE DESIRABLE. ITS WEIGHT IS 1900 lbs., WHICH IS INCREASED TO 2850 WHEN LOADED WITH HOSE READY FOR USE. THE PAINTING OF THE VEHICLE IS VERY ELABORATE AND ALONE COST NEARLY TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. ON THE DASHER IS INSCRIBED THE MOTTO OF THE OLD SOMERVILLE HAND ENGINE NO.1, "FAITHFUL AND TRUE." A PORTRAIT OF JOHN RUNEY, FORMERLY CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, UNDER THE OLD TOWN GOVERNMENT, IS PAINTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT, AND ONE OF ALDERMAN CHASE, THE PRESENT CHAIRMAN OF THE CITY COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT, ON THE OTHER; THUS REPRESENTING THE OLD TOWN AND THE NEW CITY. THE CARRIAGE WAS BUILT BY MESSRS. DOLE & OSGOOD OF PEABODY, MASS., AND APPEARS TO BE IN EVERY RESPECT A CREDIT TO THE MAKERS. ANNUAL MEETING OF THE C.A.S.F.D. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL JANUARY 22, 1887 THE CHARITABLE ASSOCIATION OF THE SOMERVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT HELD ITS ANNUAL MEETING AT THE HOUSE OF THE WINTER HILL HOSE COMPANY, ON MARSHALL STREET, LAST MONDAY EVENING. CHIEF JAMES R. HOPKINS PRESIDED, AND JOHN E. HILL WAS SECRETARY. THE TREASURER'S REPORT SHOWED A BALANCE IN THE TREASURY OF $2,262.72, $28 ONLY HAVING BEEN PAID OUT IN BENEFITS DURING THE YEAR. THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR THE ENSUING YEAR RESULTED IN THE CHOICE OF JAMES R. HOPKINS, PRESIDENT; DAVID A. SANBORN, VICE-PRESIDENT; JOHN E. HILL, SECRETARY; CAPT. R. A. VINAL, TREASURER; D.C. BARTLETT, J.A. McLANE, C.H. BRIDGES, EDGAR F. SHAW, E.H. BRIGHT, FRANK W. RING AND C.H. THRESHER; TRUSTEES. AFTER THE BUSINESS PORTION OF THE MEETING WAS FINISHED ALL PRESENT SAT DOWN TO A FINE COLLATION, WHICH BEING PROPERLY ATTENDED TO SPEECHES WERE MADE BY MANY PRESENT, AND A SOCIAL GOOD TIME WAS ENJOYED. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL DECEMBER 14, 1895 GRAIN MILL BURNED NATHAN TUFTS & SON'S ESTABLISHMENT BADLY GUTTED BY FIRE THURSDAY NIGHT TWO ALARMS WERE SOUNDED FROM BOX 224 AT TEN MINUTES BEFORE 8 O'CLOCK THURSDAY EVENING FOR A FIRE IN THE GRAIN MILL OWNED BY NATHAN TUFTS & SONS, AT THE CORNER OF PROSPECT STREET AND CONCORD AVENUE. WHEN THE DEPT. ARRIVED THE FLAMES WERE BURSTING FIERCELY OUT OF THE HAY SHED AT THE SIDE OF THE MAIN BUILDING NEAREST THE RAILROAD. THE FIREMEN FOUGHT HARD TO CONFINE THE FIRE TO THE SHED, BUT THE FLAMES WORKED THEIR WAY RAPIDLY TO THE MAIN BLDG., AND FINALLY UP TO THE ROOF. THE HAY SHED WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY GUTTED, AND MUCH OF THE GRAIN AND CONTENTS OF THE MAIN BLDG. WERE DAMAGED BY SMOKE AND WATER. A HORSE WHICH WAS KEPT IN THE SHED WAS TAKEN OUT SOON AFTER THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED, AND REMOVED TO A PLACE OF SAFETY. THE DAMAGE IS ESTIMATED AS BEING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $5,000. THE FIRE OFFICIALS THINK THAT THE FIRE WAS OF INCENDIARY ORIGIN. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL APRIL 30,1897 SCOURGED BY FIRE ---------------- DANGEROUS SERIES OF MYSTERIOUS BLAZES ENTAILS A HEAVY LOSS. SOMERVILLE WAS VISITED WITH A DANGEROUS SERIES OF FIRES SUNDAY, WITH LOSSES AGGREGATING $30,000 TO $40,000. THE FIRST AT ABOUT 3 a.m. WAS AT THE PAINT FACTORY OF H.E. WRIGHT & CO., 80 MYSTIC AVENUE. IN THE AFTERNOON THERE WAS A SERIES OF FIRES, BEGINNING WITH THE ONE IN THE STANDARD VINEGAR FACTORY ON WASHINGTON STREET. WHILE THIS WAS IN PROGRESS, THE SOMERVILLE IRON FOUNDRY BUILDING, A FEW HUNDRED FEET AWAY, BEGAN TO BURN. BEFORE THIS FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED THE BUILDING WAS DESTROYED, ANOTHER BADLY DAMAGED, TWO OF THE BUILDINGS OF HAYNES' VINEGAR FACTORY DAMAGED, AND NEARLY A DOZEN HOUSES ON MYRTLE AND WASHINGTON STREETS HAD THEIR ROOFS IGNITED BY FALLING SPARKS. THE STRONG SOUTH WIND CARRIED BLAZING BRANDS AS LARGE AS A MAN'S HAND BEYOND WEBSTER STREET. THE GREAT FOURTEEN-TENEMENT, FOUR-STORY HOUSE AT THE CORNER OF FLORENCE STREET ALSO GOT ON FIRE, BUT WAS SOON EXTINGUISHED. IT WAS THE NARROWEST ESCAPE THAT SOMERVILLE EVER EXPERIENCED. BUT FOR THE GALLANT WORK OF THE FIREMEN UNDER CHIEF HOPKINS THE LOSSES WOULD HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES GREATER. THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE IN THE FOUNDRY IS A SOURCE OF DISPUTE; SOME SAY IT WAS SPARKS FROM A FIRE ENGINE WHICH WAS PLAYING IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING, AND OTHERS THAT IT WAS THE WORK OF INCENDIARIES. THE FIRES IN THE STANDARD VINEGAR FACTORY AND THE WRIGHT PAINT FACTORY HAD MANY SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL IS MAKING AN INVESTIGATION. DURING THE FIRE SEVERAL OF THE FIREMEN WERE SCORCHED OR CUT BY GLASS, NOTABLY CAPTAIN FRAND W. RING, OF HOSE 2, WHO HAD HIS NECK AND HAND BADLY BURNED, AND F. McINTIRE, WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM A SEVERED ARTERY IN THE WRIST. CAPTAIN RING WA ATTENDED BY "DR." WILLIAM HUTCHINS, DRIVER OF ENGINE 1, WHO HAD A CHANCE TO USE THE NEW EMERGENCY OUTFIT. THERE WAS A LONG DELAY IN GIVING THE ALARM FOR THE MORNING FIRE ON ACCOUNT OF THE DISTANCE FROM THE FIRE ALARM BOX. IT IS FOR A BOX IN THIS SECTION THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE PETITIONED THE CITY COUNCIL. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL APRIL 8, 1898 OLD LANDMARK GONE. RUSSELL HOUSE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ROADSIDE INN, DESTROYED BY FIRE. THE "ROADSIDE INN" A LARGE TWO AND A HALF STORY WOODEN DWELLING AT 1241 BROADWAY, CLARENDON HILL, WAS PRACTICALLY DESTROYED BY AN INCENDIARY FIRE TUESDAY EVENING. THE BUILDING WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST IN THE CITY. THE MAIN PORTION IS SAID TO HAVE BEEN BUILT 150 YEARS AGO, AND AN ELL WAS ADDED FIFTY YEARS LATER. THE STRUCTURE HAD NEVER BEEN MATERIALLY ALTERED, AND VERY SLIGHT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE, EVEN THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER HAVING BEEN INTACT UP TO THE TIME OF THE FIRE. THE BUILDING WAS OWNED BY THE WILLIAM RUSSELL HEIRS. ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO IT WAS KNOWN AS THE "ROADSIDE INN" AN INSTITUTION WHICH LOCAL HISTORY SAYS WAS LIBERALLY PATRONIZED BY TRAVELERS BETWEEN BOSTON AND LOWELL. THE PRESENT OWNERS HAD RECENTLY COMMENCED THE WORK OF TEARING DOWN THE BUILDING, AND THE ROOF HAD BEEN PARTIALLY REMOVED. THE SECOND FLOOR AND BLIND ATTIC HAD NOT BEEN OCCUPIED FOR SEVERAL YEARS. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO THE SECOND FLOOR WAS CONVERTED INTO A DANCE HALL, AND PROVED TO BE THE FAVORITE RESORT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE LOCALITY AT THAT TIME. OF LATE MRS. C.T. SHEEHAN, A WIDOW, HAS BEEN LIVING ON THE GROUND FLOOR. SHE HAD INTENDED MOVING TUESDAY, BUT THE INCLEMENT WEATHER PREVENTED. THAT EVENING SHE WAS AT HER SISTER'S HOUSE WHEN THE FIRE WAS DISCOVERED BURNING FIERCELY ON THE SECOND FLOOR. BOX 448 WAS RUNG IN AT 8.15 O'CLOCK, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WORKED NEARLY TWO HOURS BEFORE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. THE BUILDING WAS BADLY GUTTED, BUT THE LOSS IS ONLY REPRESENTED BY THE VALUE OF THE FIREWOOD WHICH WAS DESTROYED. INVESTIGATION BY CHIEF ENGINEER HOPKINS SHOWED THAT FIRES HAD EVIDENTLY BEEN SET IN SEVERAL PLACES ON THE SECOND FLOOR. IT WAS AN EASY MATTER TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BUILDING. FROM THE SOMERVILLE JOURNAL OCTOBER 13, 1899 PENSIONS FOR FIREMEN. THE QUESTION MAY BE PASSED UPON AT THE NEXT CITY ELECTIONS. SOMERVILLE FIREMEN ARE CIRCULATING A PETITION AMONG THE VOTERS, IN QUEST OF SIGNATURES, REQUESTING THAT THE MATTER OF PENSIONING DISABLED FIREMEN BE PASSED UPON BY THE VOTERS AT THE NEXT CITY ELECTION. ONLY 200 SIGNATURES ARE NEEDED, AND THERE IS NO DOUBT BUT THAT THIS NUMBER CAN BE EASILY SECURED. THE ACTION OF THE FIREMEN IS BASED ON CHAPTER 267, OF THE ACTS OF 1808, WHICH READS AS FOLLOWS:- SECTION 1. ANY CITY MAY, BY VOTE OF ITS CITY COUNCIL, AND UNDER SUCH RESTRICTIONS AND SUBJECT TO SUCH PROVISIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY SUCH VOTE OR BY ORDINANCE, PENSION ANY FIREMAN WHO, BY REASON OF PERMANENT DISABILITY INCURRED WHILE IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY AS FIREMAN, IS NO LONGER ABLE TO PERFORM ACTIVE SERVICE AS SUCH FIREMAN. SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL NOT TAKE EFFECT UNTIL IT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS OF SUCH CITY PRESENT AND VOTING THEREIN AT AN ANNUAL OR SPECIAL CITY ELECTION. SECTION 3. WHENEVER A PETITION SIGNED BY NOT LESS THAN 200 REGISTERED VOTERS OF ANY CITY, REQUESTING THAT THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTANCE OF THIS ACT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF SUCH CITY AT ITS NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION, SHALL BE FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK OF SUCH CITY NOT LESS THAN THIRTY DAYS BEFORE THE DAY ON WHICH SAID ELECTION IS TO BE HELD, THE QUESTION OF ACCEPTANCE OF THIS ACT SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS OF SAID CITY, TO BE VOTED UPON AT THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION NEXT HELD THEREIN AFTER THE FILING OF SUCH PETITION WITH THE CITY CLERK.
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