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Our First Engine House.
At a special meeting held in Uhler’s store on May 25, 1912 it was voted to buy Odd Fellows hall at 56 Main Street for use as an engine house. This became our home for the next 34 years. This building had been built in 1852 by the I. O. O. F and at the time of purchase was owned by the Independent Order of Red Men. The purchase price was $1500, of which $500 was paid in cash and a mortgage assumed the balance. The deed was signed on July 14, 1914. The first floor needed considerable remodeling to fit it to the company’s needs and much of this work was done by the members.
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Our First Engine.
In May 1914 the first fire truck was purchased with funds raised with public subscriptions and an appropriation of $2000 by the county commissioners. This was a rebuilt 1912 Packard 60 H.P. truck with 2 thirty five gallon chemical and it was kept in Uhler’s barn until remodeling of the engine house was completed. The cost of this truck was $3400 of which $2000 was paid in cash and a note signed for the balance. This was a right hand drive vehicle with carbide headlamps which had to be lighted for driving at night, a hand crank, and no cab or windshield. The driver and captain wore goggles in bad weather and later were provided with gauntlet gloves. Wilbur Kelly was the first driver of this truck. The first fire on record which the company responded with the new truck was on September 30, 1914, at the residence of W.M. Harden. The report states that the company saved fifty logs, a pile of cordwood, and an oak tree.
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