The Somerset reporter., 1899-10-26
Capt. Asa b. Emery.

Emery OF the Skowhegan fire depart
ment has answered fire alarms. He Is
still on duty. The Commercial reporter
visited the central fire station the other
day and found the captain as usual busy
In the care Of the apparatus. Capt.
Emery found time for the reporter and
seated between the truck of the J. Vos-
mus Hook & Ladder company and the
steamer, the veteran fireman told some
of his experiences as member OF the
fire department Of this town.
He took the reporter back into the
days of the old hand tub, those noisy,
cumbersome, strength testing, breath
exhausting machines, the air chambers
of which were usually decorated with
such inscriptions, as "Our duty Is our
pride" ave will endeavor," and such
other inscriptions as were supposed to
instill life into the fireman az he locked
his fingers around the wide-spreading
arms of the brakes and pumped water
through riveted leather hose for nothing.
1t was in those days when firemen
were expected to do n good deal aud to
do it quickly, just the same as they are
now. Where is the old volunteer fire.
man who does not remember that ex.
plcit rule In the by laws of his company
which read Upon the sounding of an
alarm of fire, you will repair to the
apparatus house, and thence proceed
with alacrity and dispatch to the scene
Of confagration, breaking down all OBJ
structions." The last three words of
that rule had an ominous sound as read
to the new man. They seemed to indi-
cate that somebody or something was In
the habit OF obstructing the work of the
| fireman and 1t became his duty when
responding to an alarm to grab the rope,
set his teeth, shut his eyes, and run.
IL anything in the way of carriage,
truck wagon, or a rival engine got In the
way he was not supposed to turn out.
Those were the days Of the "middle OF
| the road" flremen. Racing to the fire,
purposely colliding with rival apparatus,
| frequent scraps, were as necessary In
the direct line of duty as 1t is now to
avoid such. The writer remembers even
as little boy, when he could steal away
from his grandmother's apron string and
attend Ire, hearing the stentorian
tones of Capt. Emery In those halcyon
days, shouting words of encouragement
to his men and as exhausted fire fighters
dropped one by one, the captain would
shift his quid of tobacco to safe and
comfortable position between his Jaw
and cheek and then raise the alarming
cry of "More men on the brake" Who
has not heard that cry? How the
crowds around the burning building
would break apart and run for the
brakes. How the men looked confid-
ingly upon the captain? How proud the
women were of him, and the small boy.
too had his share of appreciation for the
noble fire fighters.
Capt. Asa Steward Emery was born
on farm near what is known as Bge.
low hill in the town of Bloomfield, now
part of Skowhegan, the son of Levi
and Lydia Leighton Emery, May 4,
1929. When Asa was a young boy his
father moved to the village and opened
the general store so common in country
towns of that period. Asa was educated
in the common schools and Bloomfield
academy. Upon graduating he entered
the store of his father as clerk. La 1859
he built the large brick store on the
north side of the river and started in
business for himself.
Two years later, Chas. Folsom became !
his partner and two years later Isaiah
Allen made up the firm Of Emery, Fol |
som & Allen. This firm conducted for
several years the largest general mer-
chandise establishment In Somerset |
county. Emery sold out TO Folsom &
Allen, who continued the business for "a
number of years, Asa clerking for the
firm until its suspension. Capt. Emery
took the store again and had for part
ner Chas. X. Turner of Skowhegan, who |
had for number of years been clerk
nnudnctad no I'm
until 1883, when business reverses caused |
suspension.
Down through all the years that have |
come and gone since 184S, Capt. Emery
has been identified with the Skowhegan
fire department continually. He was
for many years captain of the r. E. |
Lyon engine company, No. 2, afterward |
foreman of the Union Hose company, |
No. 3, and later was made steward In |
charge Of all the apparatus In town. A.
the central fire station, where the cap
tain has bis headquarters are located the
steamer company, hose company No. /,
Hose g. and Ladder |. Hose 2 Is situ-
ated on Jewett street on the plains, and
Hose on Pine street, south side. 1t is
the captains duty to keep all the appara-
tus In the best repair and In the winter |
to see that the hydrants are easily to be
approached.
la 1872, Capt Emery was elected
to the command Of Co. f, then of the
First regiment, M. V. NJ, and for eight
years served In that capacity. He is a
member Of Somerset lodge, No. "a, F.
& A. NJ, Somerset r. A. chapter, No.
15, Mt. Moriah council, and De Molay |
commandery, No. 10. X. T., having held
high offices In these bodies.
When you have time drop into the CEN
tral fire station and smoke a II. d. with
the faithful old public servant; you will
find the captain full of "reminiscences Of
the past, alive to what is required of
him, and the boys of the department
will tell you that he Is faithful and a
favorite, in fact the bows all swear by
"Capt. Asa" Bangor Commercial
Lieut.. Col. York.