The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-14
RUTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT..
A Rhetorical sketcl,--Nick, yackett
No. I.

But little attention appears 10 have been
paid by the citizens of Rutland TO fire de-
partment until the annual meeting of the
corporation held June 6, 1885, when it was
voted to assess tax on the grand list for
the purpose of repairing the engine house,
and for procuring hose, hooks and ladders
and any o,ler apparatus required, and at
a special meeting held January 9TH n tax
of 800 was voted for those purposes.
The only fire extinguishing apparatus then
in the village consisted Of one engine with
limited allowance of hose the engine
being of the Button make, aud the location
in the engine house that formerly stood on
Main street, and which for many years did
duty alone.
AT the annual corporation meeting held
in January, 1S47, an engine company was
organized, ito be styled engine company
No. of the village of Rutland" the Of
ficers to consist of captain, lieutenant,
ensign and clerk. The question of procur-
ing uniform for the company coming up,
at this meeting, it was postponed until
Jan. 10Th, the same year when the COM
mittee ID whom was referred the matter,
reported against it, which report was
| adopted
March 90, 1858, at a special meeting of
| the corporation, it was voted ''that the
trustees be instructed to proceed to procure
an engine tor the village not exceeding in
cost 5000, and also hose carriage and two
hundred feet of leading hose, that will fit
the hose now here
AT an adjourned meeting held May IS,
| 1857, committee appointed previously for
that purpose reported, recommending that
the village procure one carriage for ladders,
and hooks, twelve pike poles with hooks,
which recommendation was adopted. 1t
was also voted that a new engine with hose
and apparatus not to exceed in cost 81 900,
be procured. Washington engine and
hose cart were purchased under this vote.
At a special meeting of the corporation
held August Is, 1859, Frederick CHATTER,
Henry Wescott and lockwood Barrett
were appointed committee to procure
fire engine and apparatus for engine COM
pany No. and to dispose of the one called
Torrent, in part pay therefor if practical
Bile.
Acting upon this order the committee
purchased of Corning & Co.. of Seneca
Falls, N. Y, Nichwacke't engine and hose
cart, pending the purchase of which the
engine house corner of Center and Nick
wackett streets was built. Previous to this
an act of incorporation for Washington
engine company. No. 2, had been granted
by the legislature of the state, and at the
session of the legislature held in 1860 a pc
tition was presented asking for an act of
incorporation for engine company No. /,
which was granted. Section first of the
act being as follows:
SECTION Michael Quinn, ]. NJ. Haven.
e. Reynolds, N. s. Stearns, N. F. Page.
their associates and successors are hereby
constituted body polite and corporate by
the name of Observation-Disclosures company
number one, of Rutland, for the purpose
OF aiding in the extinguishing of fires and
in the preservation of properly from fire.
and by that name may sue and be sued may
have common seal and the same alter at
pleasure, and may purchase, hold and con.
vey real and personal estate to an amount
not exceeding $4,000, and shall have and
ENJOY all the privileges incident to corpora
tons.
The first meeting under this act of in
corporation was held on the 9th day of
December, 1860, in the court house,
Michael Quinn and Edwin Reynolds two
of the corporate members beng present.
They adjourned to meet at the new engine
house on Center street, Saturday evening
the 29th inst, at which meeting all of the
corporate members were present, Michael
Quinn being appointed chairman and Mr..
Reynolds clerk PRO tenn The act of in
corporation as passed by the legislature
was accepted and all the members of En-
CINE Co. No. /, under its Oheir) present
organization were elected members under
the act of incorporation and forty.one
Joined the company under that vote. At
that meeting bylaws and the motto of
the company, "We strive to save were
adopted. The first foreman of the COM
pany was James L. Bagley, who held
that position until the next annual meeting,
when John b. Page, was elected, holding
that position four years. s. g. Staley sue
ceeded him, who was foreman for four
years, when Edward Sou,hwick was
chosen, he holding the position for one
year. The next two years s. G.. Staley
was again foreman, followed by N. +.
Page, who served two years. S. G. Stalcy
succeeded him, he being the present fore
man.
OF the forty-one original members of the
company only five are at present connected
with it, viz: N. f. Page, Horace Bate
man, Anthony Austin, c. f. Davis, r. d.
Minis. Two hundred and ninety-five diff
ferent persons have signed the bylaws of
the company since its reorganization. Of
this number thirty-four entered the service
of the United States during the late rebel.
lion.
On the roll of the company can be seen
the name of one who has filled the position
of governor of this state--and who has
done much to build up the company-and
those who have been members of the state
senate and house of representatives, as
sistant judges of the county court,
those who have held the position of
colonel, major, captain, lieutenants and
lower grades of officer in the army.
together with large number of the prom
inent business men of this town, and al
though most Of them have severed their
connection with the company, they still
take great pride and delight in the exploits
of the machine.