The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-09-21
SALEM FIRE COMPANY
Some Statistics on the Department!
Early History.


translated from German by Messrs.
E. T. Blum. VIM. Peterson, G. T.
| Pfohl and J. +. Lineback. 1t was
compiled by Mr. w. S. Pfohl:
Fellow members and friends of the
Salem Fire Co.:-We have met to
, gether for the purpose of celebrating
| the fiftieth anniversary of the Vigil
| liant, now the Rough and Ready Fire
| Company, and it is right and proper
| that we should, for when we consider
| how seldom there was actual need for
| such services it is a wonder that an
| organization should have existed for
| so long time.
There are some present tonight who
will remember the meeting held in
| the old town hall on Friday, Sept.
18th, 1913, for the purpose OF electIng
| the first officers of the "Salem Vigi-
| liant Fire Co." No doubt it seems a
| long time since that important meet
| ing was called to order, but did you
know fellow members of the Vjgilant
Company that on the night you organ
lied more than three score years and
ten had passed away since the first
steps were taken which led to the for
nation of a fire company. and that to-
night the Salem Fire Company is in
reality celebrating its one hundred
and twentieth anniversary
In the year 1866 the settlement Of
Salem was begun by a company of Mo
rayian settlers from Bethabara and
from Germany.
In growth, when compared to other
towns, it was slow but steady: in I'M
provements we can truly say it was
near to, if rot quite in the lead. In
1872, six years after its beginning it
contained the following principal
houses: The church which stood
where the main Academy building
now stands; the Brothers House,
now the Widows House; tavern, a
tannery and about seven dwelling
houses, in all about eighteen houses
situated mostly on Main street be-
tween new ShallOwford and the old
Salem Hotel. The population num-
bered one hundred and fifty eight.
AS everything in those early days
belonged to the Moravian church, the
church through It's various governing
boards made and enforced the rules
pertaining to the welfare of the town.
1t worked the streets, it owned the
tavern and the tannery, the bakery
and the store and it made the rules
for governing each. 1t also organized
the first fire company and passed the
fire regulations. AS the town could
not boast of a printing press in those
days, it was the custom of the people
to assemble in the church at least
once year to hear the minister read
the rules of the church, and town and
the fire regulations. The first rules
and regulations relating to fire were
read in 1913 just one hundred and
twenty years ago this year. The fol-
lowing is a fair translation: "Regu-
lations referring to chimney sweeping
January, 1913. AT meeting of the
Fire Inspectors, held January 25th,
1913, the following observations were
made:
First-It would seem necessary that
| in the larger kitchens, as the hotel,
the Sisters House and in the Breth-
ren's House, the chimneys should be
swept out five times during the year,
in family houses twice or three
times might be sufficient. But, as in
the burning of dry wood, in stoves as
well as in fire-places, less SCOT is form
ed, than where green wood is used,
the fire master should consider the
| necessities of each case, rather than
conffne himself to stated periods.
Second-It is desirable that young
man be selected, who should be in-
structed in the business of chimney
sweeping who could in time relieve
Bro. Braising. Bro. Aust, his appren-
tice boy was suggested. To him, no
objections were found. ChimneyS
that measure 16X18 inches,-also 14x18
inches are most convenient to be
swept-although the latter, if not
straight, present some difficulties.
Third-In reference to log houses,
it was resolved and ordered that all
pipe openings into the chimneys must
Certainly be examined once a wear.
and even if no special flaw be found,
the plaStering must DE renewed. In
this connection an instance was re-
called, where a fire could easily have
occurred, if similar precautions had
not been taken. 1t was especially
recommended that Daniel Schnepf's
house be carefully examined in this
particular.
Fourth-It was agreed that the pay
of the chimney sweeper should be
about the same that was paid in
Pennsylvania.
Fifth-Paragraph first was again
brought under consideration and in
reference to it, was decided unani
| moGsly that in family dwellings,
chimneys should be swept out once
during the summer and twice during
the winter. The sweeper is to be eau
| toned, when ascending the chimney,
not to rest on top of it when his work
is done lest he fall with the chimney
laid in lime mortar.
Sixth-In conclusion, it was asked,
would it not be advisable to make it a
rule that all chimneys be swept out,
and that henceforth the burning out
| of chimneys should be altogether dis
allowed and discontinued
| The next step undertaken by the
! church authorities was the system of
| water works which was commenced in
/ ret tar l-G lifs1,
consisted merely in bringing the wa
| ter in earthen pipes from Cool Spring
near where Calvary Chapel now
stands, to various places in the cen
trail part of town, was greatly i'm
proved in 1928 by the erection of q
pump in the hollow at the east end o.
Bank street. This pump forced the
water up the hill into the reservoir al
the south end of the Avenue from
| whence it was conducted in earther
| pipes to some ten or twelve cisterns
situated in various parts of town..
These cisterns were supplied witt
a common wooden pump into thu
stock of which was screwed a bras:
nipple, to which hose could b.
coupled for pumping water into the
fire engine. These cisterns were tn
fire MIGRANTS of olden times.
The first fire in Salem is recorded
as follows:
early in the morning of Januar,
31st, 1881, tie cry OF fire DISTURBED
the peaceful slumbers of the citizens
of Salem. The tavern was in flame
and the inmaf es with their children
had barely time to escape. TIL
kitchen building was destroyed bu
the stables and other out building
were saved"
i This fire, no doubt had some effec
upon the citizens for in 17s5 two fir