The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1891-07-16
THE GOLUMBIAS.
CLOSE OF THE HISTORY OF
THE COMPANY.
FROM FEB. 9TH, 1883, TO DATE.
Names of Those Who Have
Served as Officers of the Com
pany-The Great Fire
Of 1888.

Of 1888.
The officers of the Columbia Hose and
Steam Fire Engine Company, No. l, for
the year 1888 were elected on February 9th
OF that year and were as follows: Presi-
dent, Frank Lewis Vice Presiden Chas
Blaker; Secretary, E. w. Amour; Finan-
cial Secretary, c. D. Amour, Treasurer,
P. j. Ferguson; Foreman, John Schultz;
Assistant Foreman, John Bartsch; Chief
Eogneer, c., D. Amour
The year 1888 will never be forgotten by
the tiremen of Shenandoah, for during that
year the town was visited by two of the
most destructive and hardest fought fires
recorded in the history of the town, name
ly the fire on May Both at joseph Rowse's
lumber and feed establishment on East
Centre street and tho big fire" of Novem-
Der 18th.
The officers elected on February 85h,
1884 were; President, Frank Lewis; Vice
President, Charles Baker,. Secretary, E..
W. AMOUR Financial Secretary, q. D..
Amour Treasurer, =, j. Ferguson; Fore
man, E. w. Amour; Assistant Foreman.
James Tempest Chief Engineer, G. d,
! Amour.
The company, after considerable talk and
study at meeting held March 14tb, 1884
appointed u committee consisting of John
Schultz, Matthias Schultz and William
Donohue to purchase horses, wagons, har-
ness in fact complete outfit for haulinc
purposes. On March 18th, 1884, the com.
nittee purchased q team and hired the use
OF stable from Mr.. j. Slattery on June
berry alley. On April 10th the committee
purchased secondhand sprinkler at Mt.
Carmel and on the 18th of the same month
an order was given to Mr.. James Klees for
new sprinkler, which is the one now in
service, the sprinkler being first used on
June 20Lh 1884.
On February l3, 1885, the following Of
ticers were elected: President, Charles
| Baker; Vice President j. Butts; Secre-
tary, E. w. Amour Financial Secretary,
Thomas Lewis; Treasurer, P. j. Ferguson;
Foreman, Anthony Guy; Assistant Fore
man, Jonathan Butts Chief Engineer,
JOS ph Dusto.
The members of the company having
| been alarmed for some time as to the
safety of the engine house and consider
| able correspondence having taken place be-
tween committee of the company and
the Borough Council, the company Sc
cured the services of the following name d
gentlemen as a committee to examine the
building William D. Hill, architect,
Pottsvillei Thomas V. Pensyl, bricklayer,
Danvillei Daniel x. Maurer, bricklayer,
Ashland; George Katz, stone mason, Shen-
| andoah; q. Dornbach, stone mason, Shen-
andoah. Under date of July 10, 1885. the
committee reported, I'VE consider the
foundation very poor under the hose house.
| Also the rest of the walls. The stone wall is
| a very poor piece of work in every respect.
We find no headers whatever in the wall
and do not consider it sufficient to carry
the walls resting theron. The brickwork
is very good piece of work. The poor
| stone wall and foundation is the cause OF
The settling of the walls and has caused
| hem to become unsafe" The company,
| fully aware of the poor financial condition
Of the borough, made several propositions
| 70 the Council about the tearing down OF
he old building and the building of new
one which were rejected by the Council.
The old building was torn down by drec-
lion of Council and new building was
| put up on the site of the one torn down
The company, during the time of re- build
log, housed one engine and carriage in
Klees's carriage factory and the other en-
| CINE and cart in temporary shed erected
for the purpose at the rear of Ferguson
theatre, while the company met in a room
over the First National Bank. The new
building being completed, it was first oc-
cupied by the company in the latter part Of
December 1885, The company has not
| forgotten, but still remembers the kindness
of the Councilmen who, while laborinR
under serious difficulty, succeeded in
giving the company their present building,
for it has not only given more room to
house the apparatus, but has also been the
means of reducing the time of responding
to alarms of fire fully fifty per cent,
which is of vital Importance in time of fire
During the rebuilding of the engine house
the company did its share in the
work of increasing the efficiency
of the fire department by ordering new
second-sized latest improved Button steam
fire engine, the company deeming the
engine necessary. New and larger water
mains having been laid after the large fire
of November, 1888, the company is enabled
to deliver more and larger sized streams ol
water on fire if required, The engine
was received and tested on Decem Der 18th