The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-08-17
CANTON AFoRETIME.
Early Fires and Fire Department in the
Long Ago.

1916, in a one-story double frame
house on North Cherry street,
owned and occupied by John Schaef-
er and his father. 1t started early
in the morning, in the part occupied by
the old people, from a defect in the
chimney, and before help came sufficient
to control the flames, their part of the
house was measurably destroyed.
The next was in the winter of 1920,
at the house of William Capper, near
the corner Of North and Cherry. 1t was
a two-stOry frame, not weatherboarded
| but walled in with brick, with board
kitchen attached. How the fire Origi-
mated is not known, but the family were
aroused at midnight, hearing the crack
ling of the fire in the kitchen. Capper
was an active, vigorous man, and taking
in at a glance his inability to cope,
single-handed, with the destructive ele-
ment, he lost no time in arOusing the
nearest neighbors, and soon the alarm
became general. There was no bell in
town, but every body who turned out
screamed at the top of his voice. 1t is
said the two Buckius boys, Valentine
and Sylvester, then with their father in
the tin business, corner of Market and
Fifth, each blew horn with such EN-
phasis, that the women thought the
Judgment day had come.
The total population of Canton at that
time did not exceed eight hundred.
Fifty or more soon reached the fire, and
| by means of snow gathered up in hand
| fuls and thrown upon the flames, to-
| gether with the water carried in buck
cts from Shriver's run, the fire was con-
| trOlled without serious damage to the
main building, though the kitchen was
| destroyed. The night was long remem-
| bered, as it was so intensely cold that
| me frnVa nr
A word commemorative of Capper, as
he was a well known character in his
day, a Sir Oracle, who always had an
| opinion "what was an opinion" He
had no visible occupation, unless an Oc-
| casiOnal horse-swOp would be considered
legitimate business. He always ap-
peared in comfortable circumstances,
and as his source of supply was un-
known, there was a lurking suspicion
that he was in some way connected with
dark and illegal transactions, Showing"
| counterfeit paper, or horse stealing.
The families who live off the earnings
of others are still extant, though the
| kinsfOlk of Capper are extinct.
Tom DraytOn had a brick-yard, of
which Schaefer's Rink is yet part. He
erected near by temporary boarding
house for the accommodation of his
hands, over which Polly PrOuse was the
presiding genius. This boarding house
caught fire in the summer of '22, and
was entirely consumed.
The next fire was in 1827-the board
kiln of Philip Dewalt, situated on the
Common Immediately north of the
| Academy. This lumber was in process
of drying for the building erected for a
| tavern, corner of Tuscarawas and Pop
| lar, yet standing, and now occupied by
DR.. Whiting. The summer following
Or. Rappe met with similar loss in the
destruction of a kiln located on the lot
now occupied by Wirt's carriage shop.
| These several fires, though not at
| tended with great pecuniary loss, yet
seemed to awaken feeling among the
| citizens that some measures should be
| taken looking toward securing means OF
overcoming or subduing the dread ele'
ment. To that end, town meeting
was called at the Court House. An or
ganizatiOn was effected by appointing
John Harris Chairman, and Orlando
Metcalf Secretary. After considerable
discussion of the subject, a committee
we're appointed to solicit subscriptions
for the purchase of a fire engine, and
John Harris was instructed to open ne
gOtiatiOns for the same.
A sufficient amount being subscribed
Mr. Harris went to Pittsburgh and made
a contract for the engine proper, with
out the running gear. The engiue was
brought to Canton in wagon, and the
running gear was made by, William
Roberts, blacksmith, who had
by Mrs. Lester. The engine was called
The PHENIX, and its complement OF
men was tWelve-fOur below and two
on deck at each end of the brakes.
About the same time of the purchase
of the first fire engine, the County Com
missiOners ordered new bell for the
Courthouse, which was not only used
for calling court but to give the alarm
of fire, beside indicating the morning
hour for school, tolling for funerals, and
sending most people, old as well as
young, to bed.
Before company was properly organ
lied to !man the engine, a fire broke out
in frame building on West Tuscaraw.
as street, owned by Abraham Lind and
occupied by a tenant. From here il
soon extended to the adjoining resi-
dence of Joseph Hartman. Both were
completely DESTROYED; As might
lack of method and discipline, the same
being frequently observed at fires of {
later date. Bill Roberts, the black
smith, was chief fugleman, giving di
rectiOns to everybody. Jonas Poll.
acted as nOzzleman. Water was sup
piled the engine by buckets passed b,
hand. A double row of men and wOmel
was formed from Dewalt's pump to thr
engine. Full buckets of water wer
. passed down Que line and when emptiet
into the engine passed back by the Othe
to be refilled. Notwithstanding tina
,, the house was destroyed, it was cOnsid
cred that the engine did good service Il
preventing the spread of the fire.
As the improv ements of the town in
creased a second fire engine was deeme
necessary for the protection of property
In 1884 the town authorities empOwere
! the mercantile house of Christmas, Ha7
lett & Co. to negotiate for one of large
size. The "FairmOunt," a secOnd-han
engine, was purchased in Philadelphia
where it had been in use several year
+ and sold because it was too heavy an
t cumbersome. The advent of the ne
9 engine created quite an enthusiast
Y among the young men of town to vO
unteer as fremen, especially as it relic
ed them of militia duty and working 9
the roads. As there was no limit to tt
8 size of the company large number h6
q their names enrolled. At the organic
g tion, George n. Webb was elected Ca
tain, and John.HOOyer, Nozzleman, bot
very efficient officers. Twenty-four W;
n the full complement required to ma
4 the brakes of the "FairmoQnt." 81
vi 4.