Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-05
The Fennimore Fire Co.


About two or three years ago the
citizens of the village of Fennimore or
ganized Hook and Ladder company
in order to protect themselves in case
of fire. Repeated efforts were made to
have the village board furnish the
necessary fire apparatus and through
the efforts of Mr. Oswald. foreman,
and other prominent members of the
company, the board, after waiting two
years, finally purchased the necessary
apparatus. In the meantime the
members, not having any apparatus
| lost their interest in the organization
and held no more meetings. A few
weeks ago after the village had all the
necessary fire apparatus and house
built to keep it in and nothing be-
ing done to organize fire company by
the village board, number of citi-
zens and property owners met and or
ganized The Fennimore Volunteer
Hook aud Ladder Company No. l. All
persons not ever so years of age and
not crippled or sickly were eligible to
become members on application. This
company appointed committee of
three to confer with the village board
at their next regular meeting and adj
wise them of the organization and ask
them to accept them as the regular
village Fire Company. The company
also proposed that they would forego
the rights of firemen and work their
own poll taxes. But one member of
the board, together with village
board attache waxed wroth upon hear
ing there was company organized
without applying to them for permits
sion. They ordered special meeting
of the village board and put out notices
that the village board would organize
fire company to consist of 20 members
on the night of Dec &c, which is illegal
holiday. The meeting was held at the
appointed time and Trustee Oswald
presented to the board the bylaws, list
of officers and members of the fire
company already organized and moved
the board accept the company, but this
the members of tho board above named
objected to on the grounds that the
business men were not notified Of the
proposed organization of company No.
|, also that he was not even notified.
He aad every person in the room were
asked to join the company if they
wished and IL they did not like the
officers they could call new election
and elect new officers. But no The
members of the board and the board
attache could see no way of their own
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in this scheme so they
objected as they knew they could carry
any question which would be brought
before the board, they having gained
control of three soft headed members
who would vote as they dictated
Ill dDN LudJltI. IL ID HSCuISSo " say
the motion to accept Fire Company
No. was lost They then proceeded
to get members for a new company.
They succeeded in getting some blind,
lame old men and crippIes and seeing
they could not get enough to pull the
trucks they drafted men out of the old
fire company and put down their
names against their will, to which the
men objected, and no man who is a
member of the old company will join
the new one if he has any self respect
or decency about him.
In conclusion let me say that the first
company organized is composed of all
young and strong men while the one
that they are attempting to org anzo is
composed mostly of men who are grey
headed and near the grave. The village
board should resign forthwith for fear
of making their stupidity and gross
ignorance more conspicuous.
FIREMAN No. 1.
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