Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-23

|
She has recently come out in favor of Wen
dell Phillips for Mr.. Summers vacant seat in
the Senate.
The Augusta Fire Department Fifty Years
ARo-The sold Boys" that iran wild der
| Machine.''
| Fifty years ago the pride Of Augusta in its
fire department, conferred in one little hand
engine; but it was manned by a noble COM
pany of men-in fact, the fathers Of the good
old town that shaped our institutions in their
infancy, and gave to Them character and per
manency. A venerable friend who loves to
delve among the records of the past, has
placed in our hands the record book of the
"Augusta Engine Company" covering a
period Of time from April 1928, to April 1884.
The records are kept very carefully, not q
blot appearing on the book. We give a list
| of the members Of the company who appeared
| at roll call, January 8, 1924: John Potter,
Samuel r. Mason, Mark Mason, Luke N.
Barton, josiah Heath, Jacob Stanwood,
Elisha Child, William Pillsbury, William
Dewey, Solomon Richmond. Were the roll
| called now, william Dewey, who was many
years the clerk of the company, would be the
only one that could answer" Here :" all the
others having passed away with "the unnum-
bered hosts" Mr.. Dewey is supposed to be
still living in Philadelphia. In the two fol-
lowing months, other members joined the
company, being voted in after forwarding their
written application, as follows: Samuel Will
liams, Charles keene, Benz. Parker, Eben
Caldwell, Chas. E. Morton. With the ex-
ception Of Parker, (aLd his case is uncertain)
all the above are known to be dead. Mr..
Morton was in company with Mason, in bust
ness.
In February, 1884, the company was COM
posed of the following members: VIM. A.
Brooks, John T. Gilpatrick, Henry Williams,
well, John Fisher, Jacob Stanwood, Jr.,
Daniel c. Stanwood, Henry c. Hamlen, Jo-
seph W. Patterson, Benz. Parker, Russell
Eaton, j. H. Hartwell, I'd, Henry Winslow,
Thomas Little, J. 2. Dillingham;, Stephen
Mayo. OF the above there are living:
Charles Town, furniture manufacturer; VIM.
Caldwell, recently State Treasurer; Moses
E. Hamlen; John Fisher, living in New Jer.
sey; Henry C. Hamlen Joseph w. Patter.
son, several times Mayor of the city, and
holding other important positions; Russell
Eaton, formerly publisher OF the Maine Farm
err; Thomas Little, City Treasurer; and J.
II. Hartwell, I'd. In addition to the names,
we learn on consulting the records, that Lu.
Their Severance, who started the Kennebec
journal, and who was SO much respected and
beloved in public and private life, was for
several years a member of the company.
Other honorable names also appear on the
rolls, which we have not space to publish.
Members were discharged from the COM
pany or fined for non attendance. The Off
GERS consisted Of Captain, sub Captain, and
Clerk A Superintendent was appointed at
each monthly meeting, whose duty we sup
pose was similar to that of the Steward now.
All the members had to take their turn in
that position.
Nov. %, Mark Mason was appointed COM
mittee "to procure a short hose" They had
no city council then to order thousand feet
of hose at demand. There was a terrible
struggle to raise the funds to buy a dozen
buckets. 1t lay in the line Of their duty to
| run to fires in Hallowell. At an alarm OF FIRE
in that town Aug. 3, 1924, the record is made:
Engine men repaired to the spot with the
engine, with the exception of S. r. Mason
hos
Severance were admitted members of the
company May %, 1925; Charles Hamlen
was admitted Jan. 2, 1926. At that meeting
the bill for buckets, amounting to SlS.25, was
allowed and paid. At the next meeting it
was Voted, that the thanks of the company
be presented to Theophilus Hamlen and Oil.
yer Welch, for their exertions in furnishing
the horses to draw the engine Sept. 4,
1896, Charles Keen humbly petitioned to be
admitted into membership, which petition was
granted. Elias Craig, Sd, petitioned for the
same privilege Jan. /, 1927, and was accept
ed. VIM. Pillsbury was allowed two dollars
for cleaning the engine. August 1928, VIM.
Dewey was authorized to purchase a suitable
copper fastened hose. Thomas Little and
! Charles Town were elected members Oct. 4,
1880. The next November, VIM. Caldwell,
Joseph T. Dillingham;, John Fisher and Mo-
scs E. Hamlen were elected. Daniel Stick
ney, now the editor and publisher Of the
Presque Isle Sunrise, was elected a
member in 1881. Jos. w. Patterson became
member in March 1, 1885, In '35 COM
mittee appointed to examine the hose, report
ed "the old hose to be useless and the expense
of new to be 60 l-2 cents per foot" The
subject was recommitted with instruction to
provide ways and means to purchase new
hose. The department was active, vigilant
and well organized, and with the means at