The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-07-29
BENNINGTON FIRE-DEPARTMENT.


some OF its hIstOry.-InterestIng
Facts About the Local Department.
The officers and delegates of the Ben
nington fire department attended the
annual convention and tournament at
Middlebury Wednesday and Thursday of
/ this week. The Putnams and the City
Band went up on the sleeper Wednesday
night and participated in the parade
yesterday We condense from Mr.. Burt's
history with few minor corrections of
the Herald print: Bennington has always
been proud of its fire department, which
ranks second to none in the State. The
village has never been niggardly in its
expenditures for it and the result is a
department well equipped in every es-
sential. The first company of which
there is any record was Spartan, No. 1,
which was organized in December, 1850
and of which Serene Peck was first fore
man and Merritt Allen clerk. Within
year Protection, No. 2, was also formed,
David F. Squires being its foreman, and
although both companies had been duly
organized and Differed, there were no
machines for them. In 1851, Spartan
engine, No. I, and Protection, No. 2,
were bought by the village. They were
both of the Zimmerman make and classed
AOA ~ blOhs IAdOh llftu ITO OMh
hose cart. At that time there was no
railroad to the village, and the engines
were brought overland from North
Adams, Mass. They were met outside
the village by the companies that had
been formed for each and citizens and
taken to the houses that had already
been prepared for them, and the day was
one, the incidents of which are
yet fresh in the minds of the older citi-
zens. In 1857 Spartan Hose company,
No. l, was organized, and the original
roster of the company now hangs in the
rooms of Stark Hose company, and is as
follows: William H. Cady, foreman; f.
b. Fenton, first assistant; II. G. Perry,
second assistant; H. NJ. futile, secretary;
G. b. Sibley, treasurer; members-H.
NJ. Harris, G.. II. Burton, j. II. Cush-
man, S. o. Cromac, j. B. johnson, F. S.
Kimball, A. G. Patchin, G. G. Kimball,
G. Wadsworth, w. II. Enwright, F.
Robinson. Nearly all the members of
the company were at that time employed
in the pottery works here, and it was
often designated Pottery hose.
For 20 years the above companies
comprised the Bennington fire depart
ment, but with other modern improve
ments came reorganized fire depart
no llOm CONSTITUENT are OuG
steam fire engine, three hose companies
and one hook and ladder company.
With the completion of the village water
works the days of the steamer we're
practically ended, but it is yet retained
ready at all times for service. The vii
lage is supplied with the Gamewell fire
alarm, for which there are 10 stations.
There are 80 water hydrants, the water
from any one being easily thrown over
the highest building in the village.
There are seven fire wardens and the
department is Differed as follows: Chief
engineer, f. NJ. Tiffany; first assistant,
Q. f. Sullivan; second assistant, r. S.
Buss. The companies are as follows:
Stark engine (steamer). This engine
was procured by the village from the
Silsby Manufacturing company of Seneca
Falls, N. Y, in 1871 and is one of their
most powerful machines. 1t is hand
somely finished in nickel and steel.
When it arrived here there was COM
pany of 40 men ready to take charge of
it, and it was housed in the house until
then occupied by the Spartan Engine
and Hose company. Its foreman was
Olney Fuller, native of and for num-
Der of years resident of Castleton. He
served in that capacity several years,
and for ten years was chief of the depart
ment. The first engineer of the machine
was George III. Harwood, and he yet fills
that position, having held IL Tor II years,
and is with probably one exception the
Oldest steam fire engine engineer in the
State. The engine is now kept in the
house.
The next is Stark Hose Company, No.
l, over the door of which is the shield
nj tbara tubap Sparta,, anmina Noo,.-
pied it i'll 1851, and on which are the
letters "B. f. D." This company was
formed after the disbandment of Stark
Engine company and was organized
February 18th, 1887. The membership
is %. Since it's organization the com
pany has spent $1,000 in increasing the
size of the building and furnishing, all
of which was paid from the treasury
and by privatesubscription. The ground
floor is used as an engine house for the
steamer and the hose cart. 1t is fur
nished with all necessary appliances for
washing hose and hanging it up to dry,
with a china locker, alarm indicator, etc.
The upper floor contains the hall and
parlOr. These rooms are wainscOtted to
the height of three feet with hard wood.
The walls and ceiling are frescoed in
light and blue. A billiard table occupies
one room, which is for the exclusive use
of the members. The parlor, which &C.
cupies the front half of the floor, faces
on Pleasant street, is handsomely fur
nished with black walnut furniture
trimmed with plush, the floors being
covered with Brussels carpet The walls
are adorned with steel engravings, and
statuettes are in the corners. Opening |
from the front is piazza No pains |
have been spared to make it attractivein |
every respect. The company has no uni |
forms as yet, but are accommodating fund |
with which to get them. The officers of |
the company are: President, f. NJ.
Thomas; vice president, A. W. BREASTED;
foreman, G. F. Van Vleeck; first assist
ant, II. b. Hutchins; second assistant, |
G.. r. Matthews; secretary, George II. |
Burch; treasurer, F. o. Graves. The |
delegate to the State convention is ID. b. |
Haynes. The company's hose cart was |
made by the Silsby Manufacturing COM |
pany. 1t is two-wheeled, with red run
ming gear and carries 500 feet of hose,
with 800 in reserve.
F. NJ. Tiffany Hose company, No. 2, was |
organized soon after the completion of
the water works. Its house is located at
the east end of Main street, being especi-
ally arranged for it. Its hose cart, which
was made by the Button Manufacturer
of Waterford, was presented to the COM
pany F. NJ. Tiffany, after whom the COM
pany was named. Its carrying capacity
is 700 feet of hose. The ground floor is