Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-01-12
The Fennimere Fire Co.

50 IalSe ana unworthy OF any man O
common sense or decency, We will
call the writer of the article alluded L
No. l. for convenience. He says tina
Two or three years ago, citizens Of tn
village of Fennimnre organized a fir
company, etc. Yes there was fir
company organized and lasted a yer
short time. probably two or tire
months. No. would have you be
iieve the organ zttion continued al.
most to the present time. He say
hat after the necessary fire-apparatu
nd a house to keep it in, had beef
procured. and nothing had been don,
o organize fire company by the vii
age board, number of citizens an,
property owners met and organized th,
Fennimore Hook and Ladder Co. No
|. Now we will give the facts in tn,
ease.
| When the apparatus was housed
whichwas on Saturday the 10th day
lay OF December, one Of the village
Eboard told the village marshal t.
notify the people of the village that the
board would meet on the following
Monday and that after the board meet
lug they would organize "a Fire Com
pauy. But the marshal did not do a,
he was requested. as he should have
done, bat privately notified few t.,
meet on SATURDAY. evening and TOOK
particular care that the majority of the
people should not hear OF the meeting
as If he wanted TO run the Institution
to suit himself.On Monday it was report
ed that fire company had been organ
lied on Saturday evening, that broth
er OF the marshal bad been appointed
| chief-engineer and the marshal assist
ant engineer and foreman. In th,
meantime. one of the members of th,
village board bad told different parties
of the meeting which was to be held
and the objects thereof. At the specia.
meeting of the board, held as per call
on Monday Dec. 18th, and after the rpgu
lar routine of business, a motion was
made that the board meet two weeks
from date, to organize fire company
and that notices be posted to that effect
Also, on notion, the village attorney
and clerk were instructed to draft >
constitution and bylaws for the fir,
| company to be organized. On the 26th
of Dec, as per call, the village board
met and after disposing of some bust.
rsss, Oswald thought that the fire com
pany previously organized should b.
accepted 10y the board. Mr.. Miller
thought it should not be accepted. for
| the reason that the business men and
property holders of the village were nor
represented in the aforesaid company.
! Oswald said he wanted the Board t,
either accept or reject the compan,
and it was rejected by a vote of fiv,.
TO two. There was nothing said abou'
committee having been appointed b,
| said company to confer with the villag,
beard at said meeting, although they
presented acopy Of their by laws. No
says their company proposed thai
they would forego the rights of liremen
aud work their own poll tax That W.
consider very generous, and we think
would cause some of their members Il,
perform a duty they may have frequent
ly neglected to perform.
Under the village ordinances, all fire
companies and apparatus are under the
control of the village board A motion
was carried that there be fire com
pany organized with thirty members.
and that committee be appointed t.
select the mem bers from among thost
who would join. No. l. says that bur
4 one member of the board, together
with village board attache. waxed
wroth upon hearing that there was :
company organized without applying
/ TO them for perm lssion. No. l, yot
show will 20 defame the good nam,
of those two men, who arc well known
throughout this county, but your effort,
to backmail them will fail. You at
tribute to them a motive that you know
to be false. They are not men who ar,
afraid of any clique, nor afraid TO d,
their duty, and they were backed "
by the whole village board, except two
No. also says that the 10Th of Decem
Der was legal holiday. We knew i
and it seems you knew it also, but VIII
did you attend the meeting? Probabl
you would not have found out it was
holiday, if a certain member could hav
had his own way. even if it was.
No. again alludps to one member
of the board as follows: ale and ever
person in the room were asked to ion
the company if hev wished, and
they did not like the officers, the
could call a new election and elect ney
officers. There was no such PROPOSE
ton made by the so-caled No. /; bu
the village board did not debar an,
person that had joined said compan
from joining the organic ltion ther
about to be organized. In fact larp
number of those who bad joined com
pany No. l. Withdrew therefrom an,
joined the Hook aud Ladder compan,
No. l." organized and approved by tn,
village board. Names of others wer
placed on the roll. but one Of the so
called No. /. when any of the names o
the old company were called who wer
absent. he would say: HE will no
serve. : TIE president told him tina
those parties could answer for them
I SalvaS Sad ipd;.,;,i,,aI fo,,r,l -. , .