The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-24
FIREMEN,s REUNION.
DirigO Company No S.-Annual Reunion
and supper-A Jolly Affair.

| known as CrotOn Engine company No. g. They
| received bran new tub from Boston, aud as
they had no house to keep it in they engaged
| the use of a barn on the lower end of Lime
street. This company were composed of as
plucky f1remen as could be found in the city
and they did think that they could get to fire
little quicker than any other company.
In 1851 the company obtained new tub and
at that time they changed their name to
Drigo Engine Company. The organization
was kept up until 1860, when they gave way to
the steam fire engines, The following list Of
officers may be of interest:
1849-Bepjamin Knight, foreman; Geo. S.
Sylvester and r. B. Todd, assistants; Henry
Robinson, clerk.
1885, 81 and SOB Knight, foreman; R. B.
Todd and Alvin Neal, assistants; Henry Robin
son. clerk
1854. Neal, foreman; Henry Robinson
and w. b. Cleaves, assistants; e. II. Dunn,
clerk.
1S54-A. Neal, foreman; H. Robinson and
K. II. Dunn, assistants; G. o. Leach. clerk
1S55-E. I'll. Dunn, foreman; Geo S. Sylves-
Ter and George Gray, assistants; Daniel
Roundy, clerk.
1S56-R. B. Todd, foreman; N. Littlefield
and James W. Plaisted, assistants; Henry A.
Brown, clerk.
1S57-N. Littlefield, foremen: James w.
Plaisted and Perry Oliver assistants; Charles
Littleheid, clerk.
1858, $50 and '6o-N. Littlefe,d, foreman; ;
James Plaisted, assistant. and Chas. Lift le-
field, clerk.
In 1858 the city offered silver trumpet for
the hand engine which would play the furthest
This prize was taken by the Dirigos. The
next year the city decided that the trumpet
must be put up and contested for again. This
did not please the Drigos but they at last en-
tered with the other companies to contest for
their own property. This time the prize was
to go to the company which could start from
the corner of India and Fore streets, run
quarter of mile down near where the Port
land Company's works now are, get under way
and get water through 400 feet of hose first.
The Dirigos performed this task in just three
minutes and three seconds, thus winning
the prize. A. P. Waite and John Noyes were
pipemen at that contest. But this did not set.
tie the trumpet question. The next year the
company went out of the department and as
they had won the trumpet twice they had no
idea Of giving it up to be contested for by the
steamers. To settle the matter Mr.. Pasted
bought the trumpet from the city. After the
company disorganized they formed what was
known as the Drigo Association. A room was
engaged in the third story of Moulton block
in Market Square. The year before the great
fire they moved into Mussey's block on Middle
street, and were burned out. This ended the
Dirigo Association. At the time of the fire
the trumpet was not in the hall and thus es-
capped destruction Thus concludes brief his
tory of Croton and Dirigo Engine Companies
No. 8, and Dirigo Association.
On the eve of Washington's birthday the
surviving members of the above organizations
made ready to celebrate their reunion. A lit.
tie before o'clock company of gentlemen
gathered in the Chief Engineers Office and
soon formed and marched to Johnson's saloon,
where bountiful repast had been spread The
line of march was down Market street. The
Eagles saluted them and in return received
three cheers. Arriving at the saloon it was
found that there were just AZ of the veterans
present. After doing ample justice to the
sunptuous supper, Capt E. III. Dunn called
tie meeting to order and alluded to the organ
ization of the original company He exhibited
the old trumpet, which caused much enthu-
siasm.
Mr.. George Fl. Holden then gave history of
the old company. From his remarks many of
the facts given above we're taken. He sug-
gested that if the city had few such COM
panies as the Dirigo was the town would not
have been burned in '66.
Capt. Todd was the next speaker. He gave
"reminiscences of the old company and described
the sceEe when the boys received their first
tub, one Sunday morning; also the turning out
on the next Fourth of July.
@. O. Leach former clerk of the company,
amused those present with few stories. He
was followed by Capt. Nahum Littlefeld, who
was in excellent spirits.
j. W. Plaisted proposed to have annual re.
unions hereafter. This proposition was heart
lily received and endorsed.
Edward Small told the story of the sheep be-
ing fastened to the engine by the minors.
Harry Daniels was next called for and he
told number Of stories and described the trip
to Bath.
Mr.. Stephen Berry. as representative of the
press and also an old fireman, was next called
fer. Mr.. Berry responded in his usual happy
vein and entertained the company for some
time.
Then came stories and jokes at random.
Most of the jokes had personal application,
which made them interesting. 1t was grand
good time and did not break up until late
hour. At the close Capt Dunn presented Mr..
Daniels with monster tin horn in honor of
the occasion. 1t is proposed to reasonable on
Feb. %, 1877, when it is expected that gen.
eral reunion of all the old fire companies will
be held.